Redbacks subdue city rivals
Cairns squash continues to bound ahead after local players were instrumental in the Northern Redbacks representative side ending Brisbane’s 16-year run of State Teams Titles in Rockhampton on Sunday. Boasting five state age champions, including Cairns players Michael Lawrence and Courtney Mather, the Redbacks produced some scintillating squash across age groups from under 11 to under 19 to take the title.
CAIRNS squash continues to bound ahead after local players were instrumental in the Northern Redbacks representative side ending Brisbane’s 16year run of State Teams Titles in Rockhampton on Sunday.
Boasting five state age champions, including Cairns players Michael Lawrence and Courtney Mather, the Redbacks produced some scintillating squash across age groups from under 11 to under 19 to take the title.
Cairns player Frances Morove produced perhaps the match of the teams event, defeating the Brisbane state individual champion in four games.
Redbacks captain Courtney Mather – who only lost one game in both the individual and teams events – said: “We looked strong going in and the coaches had done their homework. They assured us that we were very close this year and that we could end this drought if we all put in.”
Cairns coaches Marc Forster and Steve Finitsis led the team to Rockhampton and were quietly confident this was their year to beat the Vipers.
But Forster said not all looked like going to plan early.
“A few matches started to go against us,” he said.
“But we ended the day with a flurry of mixed doubles titles and this cemented the win for us.
“The last time we won the teams titles was in 2001.”
The final figures were Brisbane 368 to Northern 394, and when this was announced, the Redbacks – made up of players from Mackay north – erupted with a loud cheer.
Mather will now represent Australia in India this week in the World Junior Championships.
She is also one of three Cairns players who will represent the Queensland Sharks at the National Titles in Darwin this year. Courtney, her sister Kurstyn and Sophie Fadaely are on the team along with Innisfail’s Mathew Finitsis, nephew of Cairns coach and former world tour professional, Steve.
Steve is also the Sharks’ coach.