SQUASH RACKETS SHIRLAW ONLY UNBEATEN PLAYER

Press, Volume C, Issue 29599, 23 August 1961, Page 17

SQUASH RACKETS SHIRLAW ONLY UNBEATEN PLAYER

With one round stall to be played in the Christchurch squash rackets A grade in-er-club competition, B. J. Jhirlaw is the only competitor to have played all seven rounds without loss. J. H. N. Pine and D. D. M. Stewart have both played six of the seven rounds also without defeat. They are all members of the University A teem which is already assured of winning the cham-

fpionehip. Championship pointe are:— University A, 7; Christchurch A and Christchurch D, sf; •Officers’ Club. 5: University •B, 4; Christchurch B. 2|: Christchurch C, 1; Lincoln College, 1; Wigram, }. University B has the bye in the final round. G. D. Moss and K, J. Brown, who both won in straight sets, ensured a win for Christchurch A againat Christchurch C, although both teams won two games. J. W. Dreaver lost in five sets to G. H. Gould, and H. 6. Gair. playing his first inter-dub match this season was beaten with surprising ease by N. W. McGillivray. Gair, who qualified to defend hist Christchurch club championship title with a brilliant win ' over D. R. Preston, was right out of touch, while •McGillivray played very sound, constructive squash. •Gait took the second set; •but in the last two there was only one player in the game, and Gair will have to show marked improvement when he meets R. G. Pattinson in the dub cham- ■ pionship final. Hard First Set

Pattdnson, at No. 1 for Christchurch B, had a very hard first set with M. R. ■Blank, but he was in good touch and took control in the second and third Christchurch B went down by three matches to one against Officers’ Club, for which A. R. Mao Gibbon made a successful first appearance in A grade this season, but G. C. P. Beadel was taken to five sets by A. L. Blackwell.

At No. 2 the very experienced J. F. Cotter had to fight hard to beat E. R. Morris in a match with featured sagacity and court-craft rather than speed of shot and rapid court coverage Morris made good use of the drop shot to take the first set from behind and estab-

lish a lead in both the next two. but Cotter, a tenacious pMyer, was too consistent, and won in four sets. The youthful University B team, which has performed with- considerable credit this season, tried hard to upset University A, and although the championship winner took all four games only P. M. Hill wes able to win in straight sets. L. J. Walpole made Preston produce his best form, and Shirlaw and Stewart were both taken the full distance. At Wigram the home team was again beaten, Christchurch D winning the first three games and losing the last. AU four matches lasted only three sets, but J. S. Boys gave one of hts best displays of the season in the top match against M. O. Holdsworth.

Results were s Officers* Club v. Christchurch B M. R Blank lost to R. G. Pattinson. 8-8. 3-9. 1-9. J. F. Cotter beat E. R. Morris. 7-8. 8-8, »-». 9-4. d. C P Beadel beat A. L. Blackwell. 9-4. 9-7. 6-9. 4-9. 8-5. A. R. Mac Gibbon beat T. A. Howe. 9-2. 10-8. 10-9. Officers’ Club won by three matches to one Christchurch A V. Christchurch C H, S. Galr lost to N. W. McGillivray. 2*9, 9-5. 0-9, 1-9. G. D. iioss beat S. K Henderson. 9-4, 9-0, 9-8. K. J. Brown beat G. W. Graham, 9-2, 9-1, 9-0. J. W. breever lost to G. H Gould. 9-5. 3-9. 8-0, 8-9, 3-9 Christchurch A won by nine sets to six. University A v. University B D. R. Preston best L 1. Walpole. 7-9. 9-6. 9-5. 9-4. P. M. HUI beat R. A. Latham. 9-1. 9-1, 9-7. B. J. Shirlaw beat P. R. Burdon, 8-10, 10-8, 9-8, 4-9. 9-1. D. D. M. Stewart best C. C. Kmling, 9-5, 6-9, 9-1, 8-10, t-5 University A won by four matches to nil. Christchurch D v. Wlgram M. O. Holdsworth beat J. S. Boys, 9-4, 10-8, 10-8. W. Thom beat G. C. Hubbard, 9-4, 10-8, 9-8. C. A. MacDonald best G. Raos, 9-8, 8-2, 9-6. P. Laing lost to T. Ellen. 2-9, 4-9, 6-9. Christchurch D won by three matches to one.