Badminton Canterbury Beats Otago In First-Division Match

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28347, 5 August 1957, Page 5

Badminton Canterbury Beats Otago In First-Division Match

Canterbury’s first division badminton representatives entered the final of the South Island competition by beating Otago by 20 sets to 18 on Saturday. The match was interesting to the end, with the final result depending on the last set of the last game played. In this game, A. G. Duckmanton and Miss G. R. Ilopkinson won to give Canterbury the victory. The New Zealand champion, A. L. Scott, was forced to concede a set to R. K. Macefield. Macefield was smashing well in the first set, but later in the match Scott’s good-length clearing shots had his opponent in trouble. Scott was more confident in the third set, and gave Macefield no chance. As expected, Miss Hopkinson was too good for her opponent, MrsND. Hay. Although Mrs Hay is ranked fifth in New Zealand, Miss Hopkinson was in control throughout, apart from a lapse at the end of the second set. The Canterbury girl smashed very well, and her return of Mrs ’Hay’s service was excellent.

D. B. Reid hurried through the first set of his game with R. Reid, of Otago, in fine style. The Otago man was not given a chance to settle down. However, in the second and third sets he played better, and his very powerful smashing won him many points. In the second women’s singles, Miss A. Snow was kept on the run by her Otago opponent, Mrs N. Rennie. Mrs Rennie was in control for most of the game. Misses B. Webster and C. Swift won their singles games fairly comfortably. Playing third for Canterbury, A. Ghani was too tricky for A. Law, though Ghani almost lost the game through over-confidence. Leading 10-2 in the first set, Ghani became careless, and lost the initiative. Duckmanton showed very good form in his game, to defeat C. Garry. He forced Garry out of position continually in the second set.

Scott and R. Reid, who were finalists in the men’s doubles at the New Zealand championships last year, were too good for Macefield and Ghani. The Canterbury pair lacked combination. D. Reid and Duckmanton, a new combination, played well to beat Law and Garry. They were extremely fast, and covered the court well.

Otago won the top women’s doubles comfortably, as the Canterbury pair tired very badly at the end, after leading in both the second and third sets. Misses

Hopkinson and Swift, an experienced combination, were untroubled to win their game. The strong Otago men dominated the two top mixed doubles, as had been expected. Otago also won the fourth pairs’ match. However, Duckmanton and Miss Hopkinson played well to win their game, under great pressure. Duckmanton showed great speed at the rear of the court, and Miss Hopkinson won many points at the net. Results were:—

Men’s Singles.—R. K. Macefield lost to A. L. Scott, 15-13, 9-15, 4-15; D. B. Reid lost to R. Reid, u. 5-4, 10-15, 9-15; A. Ghani oeat A. Law, 15-17, 18-13, 15-12; A. G. Duckmanton beat C. Garry, 18-15, 15-0. Women’s Singles.—Miss G. R. Hopkinson beat Mrs D. Hay, 11-3, 12-10; Miss A. Snow lost to Mrs M. Rennie, 8-11, 4-11; Miss B. Webster beat Miss D. Kerse, 11-6, 11-3; Miss C. G. Swift beat Mrs S. Mcßae, 11-2, 11-3. Men’s Doubles.—Macefield and Ghani lost to Scott and Reid, 6-15, 7-15; Reid and Duckmanton beat Law and Garry, 15-12, 17-16.

Women’s Doubles.—Misses Snow’ and Webster lost to Mesdames Hay and Mcßae, 15-10, 12-15, 15-18; Misses Ilopkinson and Swift beat Mrs Rennie and Miss Kerse, 18-13, 15-4.

Mixed Doubles.—Macefield and Miss Snow lost to Scott and Mrs Hay, 10-15, 7-15; Reid and Miss Webster lost to Reid and Mrs Rennie, 16-18, 8-15; Duckmanton and Miss Hopkinson beat Law and Miss Kerse, 15-9, 10-15,' 15-9; Ghani and Miss Swift lost to Garry and Mrs Mcßae, 15-11, 6-15, 11-15.