Badminton COMPETITIONS BEGIN

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28599, 30 May 1958, Page 13

Badminton COMPETITIONS BEGIN

Knox A Beats Olympic Last year’s runner-up, Knox A, had a very comfortable victory over Olympic when the Canterbury Badminton Association's A grade competition began this week. This season the competition includes seven teams, compared with 10 in 1957. Of last year’s teams. University B, Olympic B, and Ashgrove have not re-entered the competition. The Olympic team was without its top players. W. Pritchard and Miss M. Gamham. With the other members of the team moving into the top positions, and the replacements inexperienced in A grade play, Olympic made no impression upon its opponents, all of whom have played Division I interprovincial badminton. R. G. Pattinson, a stalwart of the Canterbury team for many years, beat J. Beatty in straight sets. Pattinson was not called upon to produce his excellent form shown against the Malayans last week, as his skill in placement gave Beatty no chance. He hit hard, flat serves at Beatty’s head, and found the Olympic player without an answer. Always energetic about the court, Beatty tried hard throughout. A. Roberts used a consistently goodlength serve to keep J. Hefferan on the defensive in the second men's singles. Hefferan’s play from the rear of the court was adequate, but Roberts was not slow to take advantage of his opponent's obvious shortcomings in play at the net. The Olympic player frequently was overambitious in attempting tricky net shots. These lost him many points. Ranked second in the province. Miss B. Webster beat Mrs M. Brown comfortably. Mrs Brown, who last season played for University B, kept with her more experienced opponent until 5-all in the second set, but Miss Webster, varying the depth ol her shots, won easily. A newcomer to Canterbury badminton, the former nationally-ranked Miss S. Miller, was not required to produce her best play against Mrs J. McKay. In doubles, however. Miss Miller showed speed in intercepting and smashing close to the net. She should adequately replace Miss C. Swift in the Canterbury team. Mrs McKay showed distinct promise in her first A grade match, and it was her misfortune to meet such a good player. Scores were:— Knox A v. Olympic Singles.—R. G. Pattinson beat J. Beatty, 15-2, 15-3; A. Roberts beat J. Hefferan, 15-1, 15-2, Miss B. Webter beat Mrs M. Brown, 11-2, 11-5; Miss S. Miller beat Mrs J. McKay, 11-0, 11-2. J Doubles.—Pattinson and Roberts beat Beatty and Hefferan. 15-9, 15-9, Misses Webster and Miller beat Mesdames Brown and McKay, 15-5, 15-1; Pattinson and Miss Webster beat Beatty and Mrs Brown, 15-3, 15-13; Roberts and Miss Miller beat Hefferan and Mrs McKay, 15-1, 15-3. Knox A won by 8 matches to 0. Selwyn v. Railway SiAgles.— J. Read beat D. Haley. 17-16, 15-7; R. Hall beat L. Mangos, 15-6. 15-12; Mrs D. Creasey beat Mrs G. Robinson, 11-4, 11-3; Miss G. Hall lost to Mrs M. Miller. 4-11, 1-11. Doubles.—Read and Hall beat Haley and Mangos, 15-12, 12-15, 18-16; Mrs Creasey and Miss Hall beat Mesdames Robinson and Miller, 15-8, 15-12; Read and Miss Hall beat Haley and Mrs Miller, 15-2, 15-9; Hall and Mrs Creasey beat Mangos and Mrs Robinson, 15-1, 15-2. Selwyn won by 7 matches to 1.