DAVIDSON WINS SQUASH FINAL

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31144, 22 August 1966, Page 14

DAVIDSON WINS SQUASH FINAL

G. A. Davidson’s greater speed and variety of shot overcame R. M. Garrett’s tenacity and court coverage in the final of the Mid-Canterbury squash rackets championships yesterday.

Davidson, a former New Zealand representative, beat the current Christchurch champion in three games on the Ashburton club’s new courts, to become the first Mid-Can-terbury title-holder. Garrett held two game points in the first game and three in the third, and had he won either of these games his superior physical resources might well have proved a telling asset. Davidson for most of the match was somewhat below his best and had some difficulty in killing the ball, but his powerful drives and occasionally fine touch kept Garret frequently at full strength. Garrett, with far less time than usual, found difficulty matching the ball and his racket centre, and his drives, recoveries, and particularly his angles and drops were seldom placed to advantage. He did most of the running and made many great recoveries, but was loath to take the ball in the air when Davidson was out of position. Garretts determination enabled him to recover in the first game and from 4-8 down in the last, but he could not carry on, and some of his worst squash came on the most crucial points- . . Davidson early in the third game played for the first time

three superb drives in which the fast ball hardly seemed to bounce, but easily his best shot was his drop to the forehand corner. Hit softly and extremely low, it nearly always dropped into or near the neck, and he scored enough winners in the forehand corner to stay tn front. Mrs R Woodhead (Christchurch) once again beat her club-mate, Mrs P. Leopold, quite comfortably in the final of the women’s championship. Results: A GRADE A. Davidson (Ashburton) beat D. J. Marshall (Christchurch), 9-4, 9-6, 9-6: W. A. Green (Timaru) beat S. Suckling (Christchurch). 10-8. 7-9, 10-8. 8-10, 9-6: R. M. Garrett (Christchurch) beat B. R. Gardiner (Timaru), 9-5, 9-3, 9-3: B. J. Rippin (Timaru) beat E. R. Morris (Christchurch), 9-3, 9-3, 10-8. Semi-finals.—Davidson beat Green. 9-0, 9-3, 9-1: Garrett beat Rippin, 9-1, 9-4. 9-2. Final.—Davidson beat Garrett. 10-8, 9-5, 10-9. B GRADE Semi-finals.—K. Marquet (Ashburton) beat D A. Hearn (Christchurch), 2-9. 7-9, 10-8. 9-3, 9-0: P, Andrews (Ashburton) beat B Kennedv (Christchurch). 9-0, 9-5. 9-7. Final.—Andrews beat Marquet. 9-2. 49. 9-4, 9-3. C GRADE Semi-finals.—M. Schroder (Wellington) beat N. Wicham (Christchurch). 9-1, 9-4, 9-7: T. R. Wilson (Christchurch) beat B. Newson (Christchurch). 7 9, 10-8. 9-7. 7-9. 9-1. Final.—Schroder beat Wilson. 1-9, 9-3. 9-10. 9-7. 9-4. WOMEN Semi-finals —Mrs R. Woodhead (Christchurch) beat Miss B. Boybyes (Christchurch), 9-6. 9-2, 9-0; Mrs P. Leopold (Christchurch) beat MiSs J. Webb (Christchurch), 9-4, 9-4, 9-5. Final —Mrs Woodhead beat Mrs Leopold, 9-5, 9-0, 9-6. PLATE EVENTS A Grade.—S. Suckling beat E. R. Morris. 9-6, 9-3, 6-9. 9-6. B Grade.—K McDonald (Christchurch) beat P. A. Murray (Christchurch), 9-5, 6-9. 4-9. 9-3. 9C Grade—B. Welch (Timaru) beat G. Broker (Ashburton), 9-3, 10- 9-3 Women.—Mrs F. Small! <Timaru) beat Miss D. Chatterton (Ashburton), 8-9, 9-4, 9-5, 7-9, 9-6.