Linwood continue to dominate the Blank Trophy, first round of NZ Permanent inter-club men’s squash.

Another convincing victory maintained its 10-point break on the field with just three matches left.

The 8-2 margin over bottom placed Ashburton emphasised its strength in the top three positions. Robbie Burnett, Craig Hibbert, and Gary Monk are unbeaten in interclub after crushing their opponenets, conceding a miserly 20 points between them.

The most exciting encounter was between two lower placed teams Marist and Christchurch 1. What could have been a 10-0 win either way ended in a close 6-4 victory to Marist.

Canterbury selector and team contender Lyn Sparks had all sorts of difficulty heading George Balani (Christchurch 1).

Balani kept Sparks at sixes and sevens with plenty of drop shots. There were no women’s matches this week.

Results:

Marist 6 Christchurch 1 4: L Sparks beat G Balani 9-10 10-9 9-4 5-9 9-7; B Gardiner beat L Wilson 7-9 9-7 9-1 9-7; J Rosevear lost to G Cotton 9-6 9-2 5-9 3-9 4-9; J Pine lost to G Foulds 9-4 9-6 6-9 7-9 7-9.

Linwood 8 Ashburton 2: R Burnett beat M Thompson 9-1 9-5 9-1; C Hibbert beat P Newton 9-0 9-1 9-0; G Monk beat C Hart 9-3 9-7 9-2; M Harley lost to J Stara 5-9 9-7 6-9 0-9.

Suburbs 8 Sumner 2: B Taylor beat J Christensen 9-6 9-0 9-4; V Hargreaves lost to B Michelson 2-9 1-9 3-9; M Morrison beat B Marriott 6-9 9-3 9-0 0-9 9-5; M Carson beat B Petrie 9-3 9-7 9-1.

Christchurch Football 8 Vistalite Sumner 1 2: J Oakley beat R Marshall 9-4 9-3 6-9 9-2; T Cook beat R McCutcheon 9-2 9-3 9-0; I Brooks lost to S Wren 5-9 5-9 8-10; D Welsh beat S Doak 9-6 2-9 9-5 9-3.

High School Old Boys 8 Burnside 2: L Skurr lost to M Crosbie 5-9 9-4 6-9 0-9; J Tolchard beat A Smith 9-1 9-2 8-10 9-3; J Mackinlay beat J Key 9-3 9-3 9-2; J Knight beat G McEwen 6-9 9-2 9-3 8-10 9-2.

Christchurch 2 bye

Points: Linwood 62, HSOB 52, Christchurch 2 42, Burnside 40, Suburbs 36, Sumner 1 34, Christchurch Football 34, Marist 32, Sumner 2 30, Chrsitchurch 1 22, Ashburton 16