Badminton Match Against Otago

Press, Volume C, Issue 29536, 10 June 1961, Page 5

Badminton Match Against Otago

CANTERBURY’S badminton representatives will face a stern test when they meet Otago this evening in the first of this season’s Division I inter - provincial matches. These fixtures are much earlier than usual this year, as the New Zealand team will be leaving for Australia next month for a tour. Last season, in the match played in Dunedin. Canterbury lost to Otago for the first time in several years. The margin was 16 matches to nil, which would be considered a very convincing defeat. Extenuating circumstances. however, were the complexity of the markings on the floor of the hall, and the unusual heat which affected the flight of the shuttles. However, that was an overwhelming Otago victory. As far as the temperature in the playing hall is concerned, Canterbury will have all the advantage this year. If the Otago hall is a little hotter than is usual, Canterbury’s hall is definitely on the cool side. The Canterbury team will be: D B. Reid. D. A. Henderson, D. Forbes. J. McShane. Mrs S. Dean. Miss R. White. Miss K. Williams, and Mrs C. Lindsay. This team is more notable for the players who are not included. Among those who are not available are R. K. Macefield. R. G. Pattinson, A G Duckmanton. Mrs G. Middleberg. Miss C. Swift and Mrs R. Mitchell. These could well be the top six

players in the province Canterbury's players will this season have had to make their own preparations as far as physical fitness is concerned. and this evening’s matches will tell whether or not they have been conscientious in that respect. With inter-club matches being of one set only, local players will be facing three-set matches this evening as comparative strangers to them. It is understood that the provincial trials held a fortnight ago were also run on games of one set only. This is very difficult to believe. If this is the case, and if selections were made on the results of those trials <as they probably were), Canterbury may this evening be fielding the best team of one-set players in the Dominion. They could at the same time be the worst team of threeset players. For the sake of badminton in Canterbury, it is to be hoped that the local team will achieve something this evening. One or two have good records. Reid two seasons ago toppled the former national title-holder A. L. Scott, and Henderson is without doubt a promising player. Mesdames Dean and Lindsay have held national doubles titles. Otago will probably be fielding a strong team, although it will be without the services of last year’s top woman player, Miss A. Mackenzie, Lee Tuck Chew, G. Hinton, C. Garry, and D. Holden, if they all travel, will be far too good for the Canterbury men. Mrs D. Hay and Mrs M. Rennie may lead the women’s team, and they have shown that they can hold their own in South Island company.