Kiwi Trio Through In Palmerston North

A trio of New Zealanders dominate the lower half of the Fitzherbert Rowe Lawyers New Zealand International Squash Classic draw after today's first round action in the PSA World Tour Challenger 10 event at SquashGym in Palmerston North, New Zealand.

New national champion Martin Knight, the third seed leading the Kiwi attack, was taken to four games by young compatriot Lance James Beddoes before winning 11-4, 11-8, 8-11, 11-4 in 47 minutes, the longest match of round one.

The 29-year-old world No53 will now take on Palmerston North-based fellow countryman Kashif Shuja in a repeat of their semi-final clash in the national championships a month ago. Shuja looked in control of his match against compatriot Chris Lloyd but had a third game slip up before beating the qualifier 11-8, 11-5, 8-11, 11-9.

Alongside Shuja in the draw is Paul Coll, the New Zealand No3 who ended the other Palmerston North player's interest in the event when he beat wild card Joseph Watts 11-5, 11-4, 7-11, 11-7.

Coll, from Auckland, will now face Leo Au, the No2 seed from Hong Kong who was pushed to four games by Pablo Rawden before overcoming the English qualifier 11-9, 11-5, 11-13, 11-7.

Top seed Alan Clyne secured his anticipated place in the quarter-finals - but had to do so at the expense of fellow Scot Douglas Kempsell. The world No33 from Edinburgh beat 20-year-old Kempsell - also from the Scotland capital, 11-9, 11-1, 11-9.

Quarter-final line-up:
[1] Alan Clyne (SCO) v Matias Tuomi (FIN)
[4] Nasir Iqbal (PAK) v Justin Beard (AUS)
[3] Martin Knight (NZL) v Kashif Shuja (NZL)
[2] Leo Au (HKG) v Paul Coll (NZL)