Badminton Australians Dominate Thomas Cup Series

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29265, 25 July 1960, Page 19

Badminton Australians Dominate Thomas Cup Series

(New Zealand Press Association)

PALMERSTON N. July M. The New Zealand badminton team lost the Thoma* Cup tie to Australia. 8-1, on Saturday night. The Australians generally carried too many guns for New Zealand, taking all the singles matches played on both Friday and Saturday nights, and all but one of the doubles matches. Most of the excitement was in the singles. All the doubles matches had their scores built largely on faults, in which the Australian S. Russell and New Zealand’s G. Hinton were the worst offenders. Russell in his singles match with A. M. Stephens, was clumsy on his feet in the opening stages. and was sending many shots into the net. Stephens was using a hard, elevated forehand drive that often led the Australian astray. But Russell smashed down at every opportunity, and playing closer to the net than Stephens, was able to gain the lead, to take the game 15-9. Stephens made more mistakes in the second game, and Russell used a gentle back-hand to confuse him, then a savage sweeping forehand that scored again and again. He took this game and the match 15-6. The battle between the New Zealand captain, J. E. Robson, and K. C. Turner, was more closely contested. Robson was fast on his feet, but needed all his skill for defence. Turner smashed hard, but was inclined to send shots wild. Robson capitalised on this, and from being down 8-2, cleverly placed his shots to give him the opening game 15-11. But Turner had things easier in the second. Time and again he forced Robson to fault, and took the game 15-12. In the third game. Turner opened out and, in spite of Robson’s early lead, was able to drive him out of position with a series of soft alter-

nating to hard drives. He took the last game 15-10 and the match. Continual high rallies and profuse faults were the features of the match between D. Murray and D. B. Higgins. Both favoured power services. and Murray smashed his way to victory in the first game. 18-13. Higgins replied with the same tactics in the second game, and Murray made fault after fault to lose 6-15. But he came into his own in the third, which he took 15-10. While hardly skilful badminton, the game provided plenty of fireworks, both driving as hard as they could, backhand and forehand. Neither of the doubles matches was particularly exciting, as both sides were concerned more with letting their opponents fault than scoring directly. Russell and I. Hutchinson beat R. Reid and Hinton 15-8, 15-8. Russell fell several times, and Reid made wild swipes into the net. The second between Turner and Murray and Robson and P. D. Skelt, was a little brighter with Robson using all the versatility at his command. Skelt and he combined well and playing close to the net made some excellent scoring shots. Robson suffered a temporary loss of form, making faults that gave the Australians a lead which they did not relinquish. With the defeat of Robson and Skelt went New Zealand’s last hope of a respectable loss. Details:— Singles.—S. Russell beat A. M. Stephens. 15-9. 15-6; K. C. Turner beat J. k. Robeon. 11-15, 15-lt. IS--10; D. Murray beat D. B. Higgins, 18-13, 6-15, 15-10. Doubles.—S. Russell and I. Hutchinson beat R. Reid and G. Hinton, 15-8, 15-8: K. C. Turner and D. Murray beat J. E. Robson and P. D. Skelt. 15-9, 15-11.