Mel Caines was the talk of the squash community after a battling performance against world number 78 Nick Kyme in the final of the club championships.

Caines, a product of the club?s junior programme, has been off the scene in recent years due to a succession of injuries, but his performances last week may earn him an international recall for next year?s events.

Although taking just one point in his final defeat to Kyme, it was the scintillating displays in reaching that match which could earn Caines his first appearance in a national strip since the 2002 Pan-Am squash championships in Quito, Ecuador.

Ranked in the 9-16 seeding group, Caines defeated number four seed Colin Alexander in the quarter-finals before overpowering an out-of shape number two seed Sam Stevens to earn a showdown with Kyme.

Although the defeat was inevitable, he battled hard and won enough hand-outs that he was by no means disgraced.

?It?s good to see Mel back to where he was,? said director of squash Ross Triffitt.

?Through these club championships he has certainly played himself into national squad contention for our programme next year.?

Although a question mark hangs over the 2005 Rosebowl, due to be played in hurricane-ravaged Cayman, Bermuda are scheduled to take part in the Pan-Am squash championships in Rio de Janeiro in July before hosting the Caribbean Championships in the autumn.

In other categories of the sponsor-less club championships Kyme?s mother Denise was defeated by Liz Martin 9-3, 9-0, 5-9, 9-2 in the Ladies Open while John Stout, father of professional James, won the Men?s veteran trophy with a 9-4, 9-5, 9-7 victory over Andy McComb.

Once again James? younger brother Chris, aged 11, defeated more than his fair share of adults on his way to the semi-finals of the special consolation plate.