FINE SQUASH PLAYED BY AUSTRALIANS

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28700, 25 September 1958, Page 15

FINE SQUASH PLAYED BY AUSTRALIANS

T*he need for greater physical fitness and a wider range of shots were the main lessons taught New Zealand squash rackets players by the Australian team in their short tour of the Dominion, which ended last week. The four-man Australian team won all its matches in New Zealand, without losing a game. It must be realised that squash in New Zealand is still very much of a game played for recreation only. As an aid to “keeping in trim” it has no equal, but the shortage of courts in all centres has held back the development of the game in this country. The squash boom in Australia began several years ago, and there are now more than 300 courts in use in Sydney alone, with many more under construction. This compares with three in Christchurch. Plans to build two more were frustrated by lack of finance and general interest. Fitness The four members of the Australian team, in their match in Christchurch last week, all showed that they were very fit. This was at the end of a closelypacked tour, with many matches t in the short space of a few weeks, combined with the national championships in the middle. The visitors could have been excused for appearing jaded at this stage, but they were undeniably much fitter than their opponents of the combined team, two members of which had represented New Zealand in the international match.

The captain of the visiting team, J. Cheadle, impressed as the most complete player among the visitors. He had the previous week won the New Zealand title, and was at the top of his form when playing in Christchurch. He impressed particularly with his fine return of service, which repeatedly caught his opponent, K. Green of Timaru, flat-footed. Green serves well, but Cheadle’s control was so good that he was able to return the ball on to the front wall just an inch above the tin, so that it died well out of Green’s reach. Energetic In an exhibition match with his team-mate B. Stuart, Cheadle dealt with Stuart’s serve in much the same fashion as he had with Green’s. Stuart, who played M. L. Rooney (Christchurch) was the fittest of the Australians, and he showed unbounded energy in finishing his match looking as fresh as when he had started. Rooney, on the other hand, was completely exhausted. The Timaru player F. N. Coe did best of the combined team in taking B. Boys to five sets. Coe is well-known in Christchurch, having won the Canterbury title for the last three seasons. Boys had one superlative shot to a ball landing in the front of the court. Here he hit the ball on to a side wall so that it passed across the front wan making contact on the way, and died in the opposite front corner.