Bermuda's junior squash players ended their trip to the British Virgin Islands on a high note when the boys' team won their play-off match against Barbados to finish third overall in the Caribbean Junior Championships.

And the girls' team went one better, reaching the final of their event before taking second place overall after an epic match against Guyana.

In their play-off for third place, the boys endured the closest of matches with the outcome depending on the key contest between Micah Franklin (Under-17) and Barbadian Matthew Hutchinson.

Kristian Muldoon (U-15) totally dominated his match and triumphed without dropping a single point, Robert Maycock (U-19) also crushed his opponent 9-1, 9-2, 9-3, while Beckett Simmons (U-13) lost in straight games.

Noah Browne fought superblyy against the Barbadian number two in Under-19 action after stepping in as a last minute replacement although he is actually an Under-15 player. Browne lost 4-9, 8-10, 7-9.

The crucial match, however, was between Franklin and Garcia, and what a match it was. Franklin lost the first, levelled at one all, then fell behind 2-1 before making a strong recovery in the fourth to take it 9-2.

It all came down to the fifth and final game and at 7-7 there was no predicting the outcome. Franklin, though, has a habit of never admitting defeat, and despite looking exhausted he rattled off the last two points to take the match and seal the boys' third place finish.

Results of the girls' final were not yet available yesterday although it was known that they went down to to Guyana.

Their performance in the eventament was described as the "surprise package of the tournament" according to Shane Slater reporting on the caribbean squash website (www.squashsite.co.uk/caribbean-juniors.htm).

With their second place finish, the Bermuda squad placed third overall which was considered to be an excellent result according to squash spokesman Roger Sherratt who travelled with the team.

"We sent the largest ever contingent to this year's Junior CASA with quite a few comparative newcomers who were getting their first taste of international competition," he said.

"These included 11-year-old Becket Simmons, D'Vario Thompson, Juliette McComb, Jason Shrubb and Korin Knights.

"Our girls' team had the advantage of being led by Laura Robinson (U-19) who is an experienced competitor while our youngest girl, 11-year-old Emma Keane had the benefit of having played at this level last year.

"She finished up third in the Under-13 which is all the more remarkable because she will still be playing in this age group next year. Emma was also awarded the CASA's 2007 'sportsmanship award'.

"Our boys' team was led by 17-year-old Robert Maycock was has already established himself as a top player in the Caribbean. As last year's Under-17 CASA champion, he had to move up an age group and was one of the youngest players in the Under-19 division.

"He should be very competitive next year in the Under-19. But the strength of the boys' team lay in the fact that we have a nucleus of four exceptionally strong players in Under-15.

Kristian Muldoon held his number one position in this age group to play in the team event, while his fellow Under-15 team members battled it out in both Under-17 and Under-19.

"For example, Micah Franklin proved he could hold his own even when playing in an older division when he triumphed as an Under-17 in the final play-off match against Barbados. Noah Browne and Chris Stout completed this formidable group of young squash stars and they will be a force to be reckoned with in Caribbean squash for years to come.

"Another newcomer, 11-year-old Beckett Simmons also played exceptionally well and has a promising future in the team.

"All the members of our young team deserve tremendous credit for their performances during the tournament. They all gelled together as a team, and by all accounts they thoroughly enjoyed the trip to BVI."