Sportsman’s Notebook Strong Opposition For Squash Team

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30156, 13 June 1963, Page 9

Sportsman’s Notebook Strong Opposition For Squash Team

The 12 players on the provincial ranking list will represent Canterbury against South Canterbury in the squash rackets match to be played at the Chester street courts next Sunday They are: G. A. Davidson, M. J. Simons, D J Tnggs, P. L. Mackenzie, R. G Pattinson, L G. Milne, N. W. McGillivray, .P. M Hill, J. H. N. Pine, M R Blank, M. D. Grant and B. J Shirlaw. Some of the finest squash of the season is likely in this encounter, with a number of highly-rated players competing The Canterbury team includes two former New Zealand junior champions. Davidson—at present ranked 12 in New’ Zealand—and Mackenzie, a former national finalist 'nd New Zealand representative. Milne, and a South Island player, Simons. ■ The top half of the South Canterbury team is certain to prove extremely strong, and Canterbury will need to win most of the lower order games to succeed South Canterbury will have three current New Zealand ranked players at the top of its playing order—K. R. Green and G L. Bird, ranked third and fourth, and F. N Coe. who is No. 7. There will be much interest also in the play of J. N. Isaacs, who is the National B grade title-holder. Isaacs is reported to be improving rapidly this season and he has been nominated for tihe New Zealand team for Australia in August. * * ¥ Country Badminton Last week four of Canterbury’s top men badminton players took part in exhibition matches at the new'lyformed Methven club. Afterwards the players demonstrated some of the finer points Of the game for the large crowd that attended. There is much enthusiasm foi the game in the Methven area. including that of juniors, but little badminton is being played in the country districts, probably

because of the lack of facilities.

Seeing players of the calibre of P. Boatwood, B. Wylie, E. Ogier and B. Crofts in action it has given those at Methven an idea of the standard which can be attained, and something to aim at. If similar exhibitions could be arranged in other coun‘-y areas, it would encourage and promote the sport in these districts. * * * More Practice

If Canterbury club and provincial men's indoor bssketball teams hope to improve their standard they will have to consider following the example of overseas teams and resort to more practice. The managercoach of the Melbourne Y.M.C.A. club side (Mr M. Anderson) said while in Christchurch that the team practised for more than 10 hours each week. The average weekly practice time of a Canterbury club’s A grade team would very rarely exceed two hours and the provincial side could not boast a much greater practice period. An indication of the value of long practice hours was given by the touring Melbourne YM.C.A. team which was unbeaten in its recent tour of the country. ¥ ¥ ¥ Wallaby Referee An experienced referee, Mr E Hofmeyr. will have charge of the AustraliaEastern Transvaal Rugby union game which opens the Wallabies’ 24-match South African tour at Springs on Saturday. Local opinion in Transvaal is that the Wallabies will be well pleased with Mr Hafmeyr in control. He bad charge of two tests between the Springboks and the 1949 All Blacks. In New Zealand he will be remembered as the man who awarded five penalties against the All Blacks in the first test in Cape Town.—(PA.)