The Malta national women’s team has won the fifth edition of the ENCC 2009 in Poznan, Poland.

Organised by the European Squash Federation, this tournament saw the participation of 20 teams from nine different countries, including the hosts Poland, Ukraine, Isle of Man, Gibraltar, Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Russia and Croatia.

The Maltese women’s team was composed of Annabelle Olivieri Monroe, Theresa Brousson, Johanna Rizzo and Collete Sultana.

The final was played against Cyprus who will be their main contenders in the GSSE 2011 and Malta won all three games without dropping a set.

First on was Annabelle who had to work hard against the very experienced Cypriot Vaso Karasava but still managed to win three games to nil.

Johanna Rizzo was in a class of her own against the Cypriot number 3 player Antonia Aristisdemouo and also won by the same score line 3-0. Playing the dead rubber where only two sets are required for a win Team manager Ivan Balzan put in Colette Sultana at only 14 years of age in her first ever final. Collette, currently ranked 21, in the European Under 15 ESF Rankings, kept her composure and sealed a well deserved victory and first place for Malta.

It is well to note that the girls did not drop a set in the whole tournament. The men’s team also took part in this tournament but did not do so well as Malta’s number 2 Mike Fiteni was injured and had to be rested for next week’s European Small Nations tournament being held in Malta.

Malta’s current number 1, Brad Hindle Deguara, a professional player ranked 61 in the PSA world rankings, had a great tournament winning all his games 3-0 against all opposition.

A hamstring injury to Mark Lupi during a match against Gibraltar when Mark was leading 10-5 proved to be fatal for the team, missing the quarter final spot for a mere few points.

The team also included Bernard Bugeja and Carl Camilleri. With the return of Fiteni next week Malta is hoping to do well on home ground.