Badminton KNOX BEATS UNIVERSITY IN A GRADE FINAL

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29004, 18 September 1959, Page 6

Badminton KNOX BEATS UNIVERSITY IN A GRADE FINAL

For the second year in succession, Knox A has won the Canterbury Badminton Association’s A grade competition. When the competition proper ended two weeks ago, Knox. University and Christchurch were equal with five wins and one loss each, and a series of play-offs was arranged. Knox subsequently beat both Christchurch and University to win the competition. • Knox beat Christchurch in the first match of the play-off, and in the second match University beat Christchurch by a very narrow margin. This left Knox and University to meet in the final this week, and Knox won by 5 matches to 3. Their win in the final was a tribute to the experience and skill of the Knox players, especially in the doubles matches. For the most part it was a match between youth and experience, with the better doubles play of the older Knox players prevailing in the end. Although Knox won the competition. the play-offs were a personal triumph for the University player, D. A. Henderson. By beating the province’s top players, R. K. Macefield and R. G. Pattinson, both convincingly, Henderson showed that he has made great progress this season. Macefield and Pattinson have been the province’s top pair for many seasons.

At the beginning of the season Henderson’s game was mainly one of energetic clearing and smashing, and his earlier opponents were worn out by the consistency of the University player. In his latest matches Henderson has brought more subtety into his game, and his wins against Macefield and Pattinson were well-de-served. Both these players had beaten Henderson earlier in the season.

Henderson bustled Macefield at the start of their match to go to a 6-1 lead, but the Christchurch player tightened up his game to lead 11-7. Although Henderson, with excellent drop shots, went to a 13-11 lead, he did not win the set until after Macefield had had one set point at 14-13. Henderson won the second set with more ease, mixing his game well, and running Macefield around the court.

The result of the match between Henderson and Pattinson was never in doubt. Henderson won several long rallies at the start of the match, and it was not long before he gained complete cotrol. Again he varied his game skilfully, and gave the Knox player no chance to take the initiative. Pattinson was forced into more errors than is usual. University’s Miss G. Hopkinson was handicapped in the final by a cartilege injury, and she was in considerable pain in all her matches. This should not be allowed to detract from Knox's victory. Knox’s one loss in the competition proper was due to the absence of Pattinson through injury, and if Knox had not lost that match no play-off would have been necessary. • , • Miss S. Miller won three matches for Knox in the final. She won the only singles match

for Knox with a good win over Miss C. Swift. A. Roberts played particularly well in his mixed doubles match, when he and Miss Miller beat Henderson and Miss Swift. C. W. Pritchard beat Roberts in the other singles match, although the Knox player recovered well in the second set. Results were:— Knox v. Christchurch Singles.—R. G. Pattinson lost to R. K. Macefield. 4-15. 11-15; A. Roberts lost to D. B. Reid. 10-15. 3-15: Miss B. Webster beat Mrs A. Ryan. 11-0, 8-11. 11-3; Miss S. Miller beat Miss E. Reaston. 8-11, 11- 11-6. Doubles. —Pattinson and Roberts lost to Macefield and Reid, 12-15, 12- Miss Webster and Miss Miller beat Mrs Ryan and Miss Reaston. 15-7. 18-16: Pattinson and Miss Webster beat Macefield and Mrs Ryan. 15-10. 15-10: Roberts and Miss Miller beat Reid and Miss Reaston. 5-15. 15-10. 15-4. Knox won by 5 matches to 3. University v. Christchurch Singles.—D. A. Henderson beat R. K. Macefield. 15-14. 15-7: C. W. Pritchard lost to D. B. Reid, 6-15. 9- Miss G. Hopkinson beat Mrs A. Ryan. 11-8. 11-2: Miss C. Swift beat Miss E. Reaston, 11-1, 11-0. Doubles.—Henderson and Pritchard lost to Macefield and Reid, 16-18. 8-15: Miss Hopkinson and Miss Swift beat Mrs Ryan and Miss Reaston. 14-17, 15-12. 15-7; Henderson and Miss Hopkinson lost to Macefield and Mrs Ryan, 15-12. 8-15. 10- Pritchard and Miss Swift lost to Reid and Miss Reaston. 15-17. 13- _ ... University won by 218 points to 205. Knox v. University Singles.—R. G. Pattinson lost to D. A. Henderson. 3-15, 6-15; A. Roberts lost to C. W. Pritchard. 2-15. 15-17; Miss B. Webster lost to Miss G. Honkinson. 12-10. 6-11. 8-11: Miss S. Miller beat Miss C. Swift. 11- 11-9. „ . Doubles.—Pattinson and Roberts beat Henderson and Pritchard. 15-9. 15-12; Miss Webster and Miss Miller beat Miss Honkinson and Miss Swift. 12-15. 15-11. 15-2; Pattinson and Miss Webster beat Pritchard »nd Miss Hopkinson, 15-10. la-3: Roberts and Miss Miller beat Henderson and Miss Swift, 15-3. 12- 15-10. x 4 _ Knox won by 5 matches to 3.