Squash Rackets NEW ZEALAND BEATS AUSTRALIA, 3-1

Press, Volume C, Issue 29627, 25 September 1961, Page 15

Squash Rackets NEW ZEALAND BEATS AUSTRALIA, 3-1

(New Zealand Presi Association)

PALMERSTON NTH., Sept. 24. The New Zealand ,qua,h rackets team beat the touring Australian team by three matches to one in Palmerston North on Saturday evening. C. Waugh won his match with R. Thomas, the Australian captan, 9-6, 9-3. 9-7. I. Easton beat P. Papst, 9-7, 9-5, 9-1; and R. B. Clarke beat L. Anderson after a hard struggle, 9-7, 6-9., 10-8, 9-7, The only Australian win was obtained by R. Pratt, who beat L. J M. O’Neill, 9-7. 9-6, 9-2. O’Neill, representing New Zealand for the first time, appeared to be playing below his usual form. ' Pratt won decisively in the third set, being more accomplished in the basic principles of the game. He used raking, drives to the back of the court, and finished the rallies by using delicate drop shots. The two captain,. Thomas and Waugh, gave the most exciting

display of th* evening, with an extremely fast match, marked by long rallle*. Although Waugh won in three consecutive sets, he had to play hard for every point. Thoma, had Waugh in trouble in th* opening stages of the first set, and forged steadily ahead to a 2-1 lead Waugh had to call on all hi, skill to make up the lost ground, but once he struck th* right form he continued strongly, winning the set, 8-6. Waugh cleverly dropped a lob shot out of Thoma,’, reach to give him the first point In the second set, and continued to add to his »core. Thomas wa, not able to stop Waugh at till* stage, and only managed to slow him up ,lightly. Waugh wa, in front, 7-3, when Thome, stole the service, and gained another point in th* following rally. Waugh picked up again and finished the set, 9-3. Despite a dogged attempt to stop Waugh, Thoma, went down 7-9. As in the other sets, th* rallies were long and fast.