BADMINTON.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 208, 3 September 1938, Page 10

BADMINTON.

N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIPS.

Semi-Finals Decided—Auckland Retains Wisden Cup. 1 (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) HAMILTON, this day. Badminton of an exceptionally high standard was seen at Bledisloc Hall last evening, when the New Zealand chaujpionshflis were carried to a further stage, the semi-finals being reached. In the A grade, with H. H. Fow (Ham* ilton; leading at a critical stage in the men's singles, R. Lewis (Auckland champion ) staged a wonderful recovery to win in the third game, after being down 11— 14. The speed of I'. Hawksworth (titleholder) gave him a decided advantage over Anderson, who was never in the picture in the second semi-final. Miss M. Edmondson (Hamilton), in the semi-finals of the women's event, was far from her best, and Miss M. Kerr (titleholder) played steadily to secure victory. Miss N. Fleming (Wellington) fully deserved her win over Miss J. E. Ramsay (Auckland), as she has been one of the most consistent performers at the tournament. The young Auckland player, G. A. Whale, performed excellently in the doubles, in which he and Anderson went down to Hawksworth and Pearce. In the other men'.> semi-final the Auckland champions (Ellett and Hullj had a close call against the Lewis brothers, who appeared to have a good chance of securing the match. After winning the second game, however, the Auckland pair showed renewed vigour. Ihe women's doubles saw last year's winners, Mrs. P. Hawksworth and" Mi» M. Kerr, defeat the Auckland champions, Misses Ramsay and Wade, in straight games. There was not a great deal between the semi-finalists in the match in which Mrs. \\ ren and Miss Edmondson beat Misses Fleming and Fernie, but the winners were more decisive. Mrs. Wren proved a capible tactician, and this led the Wellington pair into pitfalls. The match between Pearc'e and Miss Kerr and Payton and Miss B. Payton in the mixed doubles was the most exciting encounter of the evening, with P;»ytou producing brilliant form throughout! Later results: — A Grade Men's Singles.—Semi-finals: P. Hawksworth (Wairarapa) beat P. Anderson (Auckland I. 15—2. 15 —3; R. Lewis (Te Aroha) beat H. H. Fow (Hamilton), 15 —J, B—ls, 17—14. Women's Singles.—Semi-finals: Miss M. Kerr beat Miss M. Edmondson (Hamilton), 11—5, 11—1: Miss N. Fleming (Wellington) beat Miss J. Ramsav (Auckland), s—ll, 12—10. 11—2. Men's Doubles.— Semi-finals: P. Hawksworth (Wairarapa) and (i. A. Pearce (Wellington! beat B. A. Whale and P. Anderson (Auckland). 15 —10, 17—14; L Ellett and R. Hull (Auckland) beat R. Lewis (Te Aroha) and J. Lewis (Auckland), 15—12. 6—15, 15—10. Women's Doubles.—Semi-finals: Mrs. P. Hawksworth (Wairarapa) and Miss M. Kerr (Otago) beat Misses J. Ramsay and M. Wade 18—13, 15—1; Mrs. f. F. Wren (Auckland) and Miss M. Edmondson (Hamilton) beat Misses X. Fleming and F. Fernie (Wellington)! 15—9, 15—11. Mixed Doubles.—Semi-finals: P. Hawksworth and Mistress Hawksworth beat A. Dempster and Miss J. ("lough, 15—8. 15 1; G. A. Pearce and Miss M. Kerr beat R. Lewis and Miss M. Edmondson, 15—i. 12—15. 15—6. A challenge for the Wisden Cup, emblem of badminton supremacy in New Zealand, was successfully staved off by the holders, Auckland, in a match with Western Districts (Wanganuil. Auckland established a lead of nine rubbers to four, and defaulted the remaining games in order to save its players for the Dominion championships at night.