Squash: Australia make history in victory

IT REQUIRED one of the greatest of upsets for England to relinquish their world title, losing 2-1 to New Zealand in Saturday's semi-final. Yesterday, Australia made history by becoming the first country to hold the women's and men's world team titles.

Add the last match of the career of one of the great players of all time, Susan Devoy, during the final, which New Zealand lost 2-1 to Australia, and the Silver Unicorn World Championships began to pass landmarks as fast as a plane crossing the nearby Rocky Mountains.

It was the first time in the event's 13-year history that England had failed to reach the final. An unranked part-timer, Donna Newton, ensured that this happened with her extraordinary 9-3, 10-9, 9-6 win over the world No 2, Martine le Moignan.

Newton then another made a bold effort in the final against Australia's world No 5, Robyn Lambourne, who came from 4-1 down in the third game to win 2-9, 9-2, 9-6, 9-1.

Devoy ended her career by winning a repeat of the World Open final against Michelle Martin

9-5, 9-1, 9-0. The eight-times British Open champion only looked in trouble when her bra snapped two points from the end and she had to leave the court for quick repairs. 'I always wanted to play topless,' she said later.

WOMEN'S WORLD TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (Vancouver) Final: Australia 2 New Zealand 1 (Aus names first: M Martin lost to S Devoy 5-9 1- 9 0-9; R Lambourne bt D Newton 2-9 9-2 9-6 9-1; L Irving bt P Beans 9-1 9-5 9-1). Third place play- off: England 3 Netherlands 0 (Eng names first: C Jackman bt H Van Hoorn 9-3 9-3 9-1; L Opie bt M Houtsma 9-3 9-6 9-2; S Wright bt D Sommers 9-1 9-2 9-6). Fifth place: South Africa 2 Canada 1; Seventh: Germany 3 Scotland 0 (Ger names first: S Schone bt A Bowie 6-9 9-5 9-0 9-7; D Grzenia bt E Donaldson 1-9 9-4 6-9 10-9 9-6; S Baum bt W Maitland 9-5 9-6 9-0). Ninth: Finland 2 Ireland 1 (Fin names first: T Myllyniemi lost to R O'Callaghan 3-9 1-9 1-9; N Taimiaho bt B Ringland 0-9 9-0 9-0 9-4; M Markkanen bt Y Jackson 4-9 9-7 10-8 1-9 9-6). 11th: United States 2 France 1; 13th: Singapore 3 Malaysia 0; 15th: Japan 3 Sweden 0; 17th: Brazil 2 Cayman Islands 1.