Squash: Tough clashes decide top titles

Canterbury's Paul Coll and Wellington's Emma Millar have been crowned champions after two thrilling finals at the New Zealand Junior Squash Open in Auckland.

Coll claimed the boys title with a five-game victory over second-seeded Aucklander Lance Beddoes.

The top seed was pushed all the way, but eventually edged home 8-11, 11-9, 11-4, 10-12, 11-9.

Both players will have enhanced their chances of being in the New Zealand team for July's junior men's world championships in Ecuador.

Third seed Bryce Redman also had a good tournament, beating fourth-seeded Michael Sunderland in straight games in the third-place playoff.

Millar defended the title she won in 2009, but it was anything but easy.

The fourth seed had to hold off a superb fightback from second-seeded Cantabrian Megan Craig, who bounced back from two games down to force a deciding fifth. Millar held her nerve to make it two titles in a row with an 11-8, 11-7, 8-11, 5-11, 11-8 victory.

Top seed Lana Harrison also bounced back from the disappointment of losing in the semifinals, winning the third-place playoff against third seed Amanda Landers-Murphy in four.