James Stout and Michael Shrubb both ended up on the losing side of their matches at the squash's US Junior Olympics in Yale yesterday.

After negotiating the initial stages of the tournament in the US, which features North America's hottest young talent as well as many overseas players, the Bermudian pair both went out in the final 32 of the Under-19 and Under-17 divisions respectively.

Stout lost to Nicholas Chirls, the number five seed from Brooklyn, New York, while Shrubb went down to Juan Camacho of Mexico - also seeded five.

Stout lost 3-2 (7-9; 9-7; 9-6;4-9;5-9) after being up by two games to one.

"In the fourth game he was up 3-2 when there seemed to be a lapse in his concentration level which allowed Nicholas back into the match," said Bermuda's director of squash, Ross Triffitt. "It was a similar story in the fifth game where they were neck and neck up until about five-all and unfortunately James broke a string in his racket, losing that point for 6-5. Nicholas then got on a roll and claimed the last few points to take the match 9-5 in the final game."

Shrubb lost 3-0 (1-9; 6-9; 1-9), but his performance was described as "respectable" by Triffitt.

"The Mexican player was just far too strong and Michael did very well to make some inroads," he said.

The losses did not mean the pair were out of the competition as they then dropped into the consolation round last night. Stout beat Ryan Rayfield 3-1 (9-7; 9-4; 5-9; 9-0) but Shrubb lost 3-0 (3-9; 2-9; 7-9) to North Whipple.

In other matches, Alex Furtado, competing in the girls Under-13 division, lost to Katie Ballaine 3-0 (0-9; 0-9; 0-9), but there was better luck for Caty Luckhurst in the girls Under-15 division. She saw off Kiera Murasko-Blank 3-1(9-6; 9-4; 6-9; 9-4) to continue in the consolation event. Alistair Melvin, in the boys Under-15 consolation, lost to Stephen Peever 3-0 (1-9; 0-9; 0-9).