Many Fine Matches In Squash Tournament

Press, Volume C, Issue 29554, 1 July 1961, Page 5

Many Fine Matches In Squash Tournament

TT was unfortunate that inA juries and illness affected tills year’s Christchurch squash rackets championships, but the tournament was again an outstanding success, and is now a firmlyestablished annual event. It was obvious when the season began that the several youngsters who became prominent last year would offer a serious challenge to the established performers, and P. M. Hill and D. R. Preston, the best of this group, were expected to play very well in the championships. Hill’s season has been marred by a series of misfortunes, and he could not play, but he and Preston have now been joined by L. J. Walpole, G. D. Moss. W. Thom, R. A. Mathewson, and G. D. Grant, a very good young player from Timaru.

Preston and Walpole met in a semi-final. Preston forced R. G. Pattinson to produce his best in the final, and G. D. Moss had little trouble winning the B grade. Walpole, who only entered the A grade draw when Hill had to default, improved remarkably during the South Canterbury championships held in Timaru the proceeding week-end. He played some brilliant squash against Preston, surprising many who ! did not travel to Timaru.

Although a year away, the championships of 1962 al-

already bristle With interesting possibilities. . Pattinson just prevailed this year, but even this splendid athlete cannot be expected to resist the challenge of youth indefinitely. If Preston, Hill, Walpole, Mathewson, Grant, and Moss are all available, it w’ill be a considerable

achievement to reach the semi-finals, particularly as it is expected that G. D- Davidson, a former New Zealand junior champion and New Zealand representative, will be in Christchurch. If Pattinson can retain his title it will be another remarkable triumph, but it is certain that he, M. L. Rooney. H. S. Gair. M. R. Blank, L. G. Holder, and M. O. Holdsworth will not go down lightly. Rooney had to default after one round this year because of a back injury, and his expected clash with Preston in the semifinals did not eventuate. But Preston played so well against Holder and Pattinson that he might have been equal to beating Rooney, even if the latter had been at his best.

Preston is a particularly fine young sportsman, with first class court demeanour, concentration, and physical condition, and his final with Pattinson was a splendid match in every way. It was significant that the finalists seldom obstructed each other

and found it quite unnecessary to ask for more than a few “lets.” Sportsmanship of the highest order is demanded in any squash match and both provided an object lesson in this regard. Preston this year had to bow to experience and sagacity, but the accompanying table, which records the result of every rally, clearly shows how narrow ‘was the margin between victory and defeet and, set by set, how Pattinson with his fine control of the touch game, gradually came from behind. Preston in the match scored 24 winning drives to 16, but Pattinson scored heavily with 16 volleys and drop shots to three, notwithstanding only one winning drop shot in the first set. In the last two sets Pattinson's deep lobs were beautifully placed, and he also scored a total of four winning service returns to none. Preston’s ability to reach the ball and keep it in play with a minimum of errors, is indicated by his total of 14 to 21, yet the over-all totals of all winning shots—Pattinson 48 to 38— shows how he made much of the play. In the entire match Pattinson scored 31 points to 29; his credit balance after errors have been deducted from winners is 27. compared with Preston’s 24. Tlie final could not have been very much closer.

1 2 Sets 3 4 Match totals Winning drives Pattinson .. 2 5 7 2 1« Preston • • *) 9 5 5 24 Winning volleys and Pattinson 1 6 6 3 16 drop shots Preston 3 3 Winning boasts and Pattinson 1 1 2 nick shots Preston .. 1 3 1 — 5 Winning lob replacePattinson 4 5 9 ments Preston .. — — I 2 3 Winning serves .. Pattinson __ 1 1 Preston . .. 3 — — — 3 Service return winPattinson 1 1 4 ners Preston — — All errors, including Pattinson .. 5 8 6 o 21 service faults . - Preston .. 2 7 3 3 14