Junior state squash players got to test their skills against members of the Port Lincoln Squash Club in some friendly competition played at the Port Lincoln Leisure Centre courts at the weekend.
Fourteen SA state squash players aged 11-18 years old made their way to Port Lincoln for the weekend, playing matches against local players on Saturday and Sunday.
Squash SA chief executive officer James Rogers said the junior state team was supposed to take part in the Australian Junior Championships at Canberra in September, but this was cancelled due to COVID-19.
He said Squash SA was keen to provide the young players with some experience of playing together as a team away from home against different levels of competition and Port Lincoln Squash Club provided a good opportunity to do so.
“What I was happy with was the depth of players and support around the (Port Lincoln) club,” he said.
The Port Lincoln team, nicknamed the Sea Eagles, had four junior players with the rest made up of seniors of differing experience levels.
Saturday’s test match saw each side score six wins apiece before the state squad claimed the second day’s test with an 8-6 victory.
Port Lincoln club member Rose Payne said this was the first event of this sort in at least 25 years which was a big thing for Squash SA and the still growing club in Port Lincoln.
“It was a big deal for Squash SA to bring their players here and a big deal for us to see the level of squash they play,” she said.
Port Lincoln player Harry Izzo said it was great to get a look at the level of experience of the state players.
“It definitely puts into perspective where I sit compared to players in Port Lincoln,” he said.
State player Nadia Van Zorn, from South Adelaide Squash Club, said it was good to test her abilities against the players in Port Lincoln.
“They’re really competitive, it’s good the kids from the state team have some good competition,” she said.
Mr Rogers thanked the squash club for hosting the state players and president John Payne for his organisation of the weekend.
Port Lincoln Squash Club has plans in place for when squash returns in the new year, which includes organising some free hits for women of all experience levels, dependent on interest leading to an eventual women’s competition.
Before pennant competition resumes again in March, the club is also planning for individual competition in February.
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Source: https://www.portlincolntimes.com.au/story/7549413/port-lincoln-provides-test-for-sa-squash-team/