Blank Trophy Squash

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32321, 12 June 1970, Page 12

Blank Trophy Squash

There was a mixture of good and bad squash rackets, when the second last series of A grade matches was played for the Blank Trophy this week.

Older players handled the cold conditions better than the younger ones, who failed to appreciate the need to vary the length of their shots, and try for “winners” with the slower ball.

With another 10 point win, this time over University B, Christchurch A increased its lead over Christchurch B, which could gain only eight points from its defeat of High School Old Boys A.

Christchurch A is now virtually assured of winning the i Blank Trophy, as next week it would be able to gain maximum points from University A. Points are: Christchurch A 84, Christchurch B 58, High School Old Boys A 43, Old Collegians . 39, Christchurch C 35, High School Old Boys B 28. University ; A 24, University B 18, Christ’s ’ College 13. i N. Rush (University B). who . had not played competitively f or several .weeks, was In good • form to take a game from D. R. Preston (Christchurch A). Pres-

ton coasted through the first game, but could not lift his play in the second to match some fine driving by Rush off both wings. However, Preston won the next two games comfortably. Promoted to second position for the night, E. T. Yeend (Christchurch A) gave a sound all-round display Ln beating B. Johns (University B). On the night, Yeend hit his backhands harder, and with better effect, than any other player. V. Hargreaves (H. 5.0.8. was too solid for B. V. Hamilton (Christchurch B), while N. W. Herd (Christchurch B) used all his experience deservedly to beat C. P. Murray (H. 5.0.8. in five games. A. Naughton (University A) was taken to five games by R. D. Monk (Christchurch C). Monk’s wall shots were superior, and he kept rallies short by judicious use of the drop shot. Strangely, it was not until midway through the second game that Naughton played a drop shot—and even after the success of this with tho slow ball, he still played far too few of theffi. In the final Monk neglected his touch game, failing to go for “winners” when l

the chances were there. Naughton scored well with his crosscourt drives to take the deciding set. Results were:— Christchurch A 10, University B O.—D. R. Preston beat N. Rush, 9-1, 7-9, 9-3, 9-1; E. T. Yeend beat B. Johns, 9-3, 9-1, 4-9, 9-4; J. Moseley beat J. Martin, 9-3, 9-6, 9-4; D. Marshall beat G. Whyte,' 9-5, 9-1, 9-5. Christchurch B 8, High School Old Boys A 2.—8. V. Hamilton lost to V. Hargreaves, 0-9, 0-9, 6-9; L. G. Milne beat R. McCutcheon, 9-1, 9-2, 9-3; S. C. Suckling beat S. Dixon, 7-9, 9-0; 9-7, 9-3; N. W. Herd beat C. P. Murray, 9-5, 9-2, 6-9, 6-9, 9-5. High School Old Boys B 8, Christ’s College 2.—J. W. Mitchell beat P. R. Sawtell, 10-8, 9-6, 9-1; J. Tolchard beat S. W. Cowles, 9-4, 9-3. 9-2; K. Taylor beat A. P. S. Robinson, 9-7, 3-9, 9-5, 6-9, 10-8: D. Dearsley lost to J. E. Mcßride, 0-9, 2-9, 8-10. Christchurch C 8, University A 2.—R. D. Monk lost to A. Naughton, 9-3, 8-10, 3-9, 9-2, 4-9; J. S. Crosbie beat L. Plever, 9-4, 9-6, 5-9, 9-5; A. E. Dunlop beat P. Gallagher, 9-2, 7-9, 9-6; 1-9, 9-8; R. G. Pattinson beat N. Gray, 9-2, 9-3, 7-9, 9-4.