Quality Squash Likely In Bird-Davidson Match

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30496, 18 July 1964, Page 11

Quality Squash Likely In Bird-Davidson Match

T AST season In the South Island final of the Cousins Shield competition —symbol of inter-club supremacy in New Zealand squash rackets—the Christchurch club for the first time offered something approaching a serious challenge. Timaru won 4-1, and went on to win the trophy for the second successive year. But with G. L. Bird losing to M. J. Simons in three games, and K. R. Green just prevailing over G. A. Davidson in five, it

might well have lost both the top matches. At the Chester street courts this morning and evening, teams from Oamaru and Invercargill are also engaged, but another southern final between Timaru and Christchurch is virtually certain. With Green now in Wellington, and Davidson in outstanding form at present, Christchurch could win, if its lower order players rise to the occasion.

Regardless of the outcome, tonight’s match is likely to provide some of the best squash of the season, and the first—and possibly only—appearance of Bird in Christchurch this season will be a major attraction. Bird’s selection for his third Australian tour

was announced this week, and if the dates for the Canterbury open championships are adhered to, he will be away and unable to defend his title.

If Davidson can withstand the intense pressure of a match with both he and Bird at their best, this top position encounter could well prove memorable, for they have the finest shots in the New Zealand game. It is possible that only lack of condition prevented Davidson from beating Bird recently in the South Island final; had he done so he might also have regained national selection.

It is hoped that P. L. Mackenzie will be able to reproduce the form which caused an upset, when he beat J. S. Walker last season, in the national championships. Mackenzie is expected to play J. N. Isaacs, a New Zealand nominee, and another match of considerable interest will be between D. R. Preston and the popular left-hander, F. N. Coe.