South Defeated 3-0 At Squash

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30542, 10 September 1964, Page 19

South Defeated 3-0 At Squash

(From Our Own Reporter)

AUCKLAND, September 9.

The second meeting within four days of New Zealand’s top ranked squash rackets players, C. R. Waugh and G. L. Bird, produced the outstanding match in the inter-island fixture today.

Waugh lost two games in beating Bird, of Timaru, 9-5,9-5,6-9, 7-9, 9-6. D. R. Preston, of Christchurch, again took a game from a national representative, fully extending T. F. Johnston before losing, 9-7, 6-9, 4-9, 7-9. W. Deacon beat J. N. Isaacs, 9-6, 9-6, 9-3, to give North a 3-0 victory. If Waugh and Bird reach the championship final again this year, it is clear that a magnificent match could be seen. Casual And Relaxed Throughout today’s encounter, there was reason to doubt the seriousness of

Bird’s intent, for he rightly doubted the value of extending himself to the limit against Waugh several days before it really mattered. His approach was seemingly casual and relaxed but perhaps he played the better in consequence. Probably, he has never hit the ball better His drives were often magnificent, and had he not tried for foolish shots quite frequently, he probably would have won. Waugh retrieved amazingly during many exciting rallies, concentrated fiercely except perhaps for a period early in the third game, and was stretched to the limit Yet he made only 19 errors in the five games lasting 53 minutes. Bird made 36 errors but hit 50 winners, 10 more than his opponent. Retrieving Rate Preston played superbly in winning the first game from Johnston. He scored five winners with drop shots and his length was often perfect. Johnston made only two mistakes yet lost this game, and was more than equalled in stroke-making in the second also. But Preston could not match Johnston’s pacey drives, and often found himself in the retrieving role. The third game was a remarkable affair. After 10 minutes the score was 3-2 before Johnston’s drives began to dominate, and several service outs at the most critical stages were bad mistakes by Preston. But he extended Johnson to the limit, scoring only seven less points and hitting only four less winners. Results of other matches were:—

Men’s A Grade Plate.—Third round: A. Ward (Henderson) beat N. Cashmore (Remuera), 7-9. 9-3, .10-8, 9-2; D. Preston (Christchurch) beat N. Coe (Timaru), by deafult; J. Stevens (Remuera) beat J. Bonham (North Shore), 9-2, 9-2, 9-1; B. Rippen (Timaru) beat J. Tletjens (Remuera), 9-3, 9-4, 10-9. Men’s B Grade.—Quarterfinals: K. Mackwell (Hamilton) beat E. Morris (Christchurch), 9-5, 9-4, 9-7; P. O’Connor (Henderson) beat G. Lynch (Palmerston North), 9-10, 9-5, 9-2, 9-0: D. Cotter (Rotorua) beat E. Kinny (Timaru), 9-7, 9-1, 9-2; N. Rykers (Henderson) beat D. Underwood (Henderson), 9-7, 3-9, 19-8, 9-3. Women's A Grade Plate.— First round; Miss P. Mills (Hamilton) beat Miss S. Currin (Henderson), 9-0, 9-2, 9-1; Mrs M. Wade (Henderson) beat Miss S. Brabich (Henderson), by default; Miss D. Burmeister (Palmerston North) beat Mrs J. Lever (Henderson), 10-8, 10-9, 1-9, 9-7; Mrs A. Rogers (Henderson) beat Mrs M. Bourchier (Henderson), 9-2, 7-9, 9-3, 9-2.