SQUASH TITLES D. R. Preston Goes Down Fighting

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30540, 8 September 1964, Page 17

SQUASH TITLES D. R. Preston Goes Down Fighting

"The Press’’ Special Service

HENDERSON, September 7.

In his first match in the North Island, D. R. Preston, of Christchurch, attracted considerable attention by his splendid but unavailing attempt to beat the New Zealand representative, P. Dibley, when the national squash rackets championships continued today.

Preston’s performance—he lost in four games after establishing an early lead in each—highlighted the firstround matches in the A grade event. Dibley was the only seeded player to lose a game, the title-holder, C. R. Waugh, G. L. Bird, T. C. Johnston, W. Deacon, J. S. Walker, I. Easton and K. R. Green, all winning quite comfortably. Good Opposition Waugh, who had the benefit of better than usual firstround opposition, Auckland’s M. McKenzie, was hitting firmly and managed to sustain a number of long rallies against the champion. Waugh is now attempting to follow the Australian example in striving as often as possible to find the nick. Timaru’s New Zealand nominee, J. N. Isaacs, disappointed against J. Stevens (Auckland), who has a win over Dibley to his credit this season. Isaacs played inconsistently, scoring well at times with angles and boasts, but his drops were loose and he made many errors. Preston’s fine display set the seal on his advancement this season, and he proved that he is now not far from top New Zealand standards. Today he kept playing his drop shots. These were essential against a renowned runner who at least matched him in fitness. Dibley reached a number by the barest margin to keep the ball in play, although they were only just above the tin, and he was extremely hard to wrong-foot. Preston led 5-1 in the second game, and 5-0 in the fourth, after winning the third most impressively. He lost both after severe and intense struggles without taking another point, and Dibley, when these games were slipping away, reached almost everything, and played tighter squash than Preston. The crisis came wjien Dibley struggled to five-all in the fourth game, and each had six serves before Dibley, with a perfect length shot, achieved the vital break. Preston was hand-in again three times before the end. On the first match point he smashed into the very bottom of the tin—it seemed almost a gesture of desperation and despair. Results:—

Men's Singles

era) beat J. Isaacs (Timaru), 9-4, 7-9, 2-9, 9-1, 9-6; K. Green (Wellington) beat O. Bod (Hawke’s Bay), 9-2, 9-2, 9-5. V. Hargreaves (Henderson) beat H. Gee (Navy), by default; J. Walker (Hamilton) beat B. McKay (Henderson), 9-0, 9-4, 9-3; B. Tietjens (Remuera) beat B. Woolf (North Shore), 7-9, 9-8, 9-0, 5-9, 9-5; N. Coe (Timaru) beat G. Tietjens (Remuera), 9-6, 9-4, 9-5; G. Bird (Timaru). beat I. McCorkindale (Remuera), 9-5, 9-5, 9-3; I. Easton (Hamilton) beat W. Green (Timaru), 9-4, 9-1, 9-5. Women's Singles First Round. —D. Deacon (Henderson) beat P. Mills (Hamilton), 9-1, 9-1, 9-2; A. Tietjens (Remuera) beat S. Currin (Henderson), 9-1, 9-2, 9-1; P. Kidd (Cambridge) beat S. Babich (Henderson), 9-3, 9-3, 9,-4; M. Meldrum (Palmerston North) beat M. Wade (Henderson), 9-5, 9-2, 6-9, 9-4; B. Tietjens (Remuera) beat D. Burmeister (Palmerston North), 9-5, 9-0, 9-10, 9-5; V. Fladgate (Hamilton) beat M. Bourchier (Henderson), 9-3, 9-0, 9-2; M. Waugh (Palmerston North) beat A. Rogers (Henderson), 9-2, 9-0, 9-0. Preston Chosen "The Press” Special Service HENDERSON, Sept. 7. D. R. Preston of Christchurch, has gained South Island selection for the first time in the squash rackets team to play Australia at Christchurch on Wednesday, September 16. After his splendid attempt to beat the national representative, P. Dibley, at Henderson today Preston has been named by Mr W. A. Green in No. 3 playing position. G. L. Bird and J. N. Isaacs (Timaru) will play in the first and fourth positions and G. A. Davidson (Christchurch) is selected at No. 2.

First Round.—C. Waugh (Palmerston North) beat M. McKenzie (Remuera), 9-2, 9-4, 9-3; N. Cashmore (Remuera) beat A. Ward (Henderson), 9-6, 5-9, 9-4, 4-9, 9-4; B. Rippin (Timaru) beat B. Lugton (Hamilton), 9-3, 9-1, 9.-6; P. Dibley (Remuera) beat D. Preston (Christchurch), 9-5, 9-6, 3-9, 9-5; J. Taylor (Henderson) beat J. Bonham (Y.M.C.A.), 9-5, 9-1, 9-2; N. Devcich (Henderson) beat J. Moodabe (Remuera), by default; T. Johnston (Palmerston North) beat P. Hinton (Havelock North), 9-1, 9-2, 9-5; W. Deacon (Henderson) beat B. Lever (Henderson), 9-4, 9-4, 9-5; J. Stevens (Remu-