Christchurch A Leads Squash

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32367, 5 August 1970, Page 14

Christchurch A Leads Squash

Christchurch A, winner of the initial competition for the Blank Trophy, went into the lead, ahead of Christchurch B, in the Championship Shield round of the A grade squash rackets competition last night. It was most convincing in defeating High School Old Boys B. 4-0 for 10 points. Old Boys A joined Christchurch B on 42 points, and these two teams will meet in the next round.

Other points are: Christchurch C 31, Old Boys B 29, University A 26, Old Collegians 22, Christ’s College 20, University B 19. Although it was expected to be the feature match of the night, the standard of play in the meeting of D. R. Preston and J. W. Mitchell was extremely disappointing. Neither could strike a length and on innumerable occasions they failed to hit low enough when winning opportunities were presented.

Mitchell settled down to some extent in the second game, which he won, but Preston was largely content to rely on keeping the ball in play, hoping for Mitchell to make mistakes.

J. Moseley surprisingly recovered from two games to one down against J. Tolchard. Playihg with greater variety than usual, he overwhelmed Tolchard in the final game, which he won 9-1. Tolchard had little luck with hi* drop shot*—they

were either too high or too low. Although J. S. Crosbie, promoted to top for Christchurch C played above himself he was still no match for the Old Boys A captain. V. Hargreaves. At times, when Hargreaves eased up Crosbie scored with neat drop shots, but in the main Hargreaves's accuracy and control was too great. A surprise winner for Old Boys was R. McCutcheon, who, with a stream of good-length drives and volleys, accounted for the well-performed A. E. Dunlop in three games. As Dunlop played himself into the game McCutcheon used a great variety of shots and won many points on well-executed drops. T. L. Williams (Old Collegians), omitted from the Canterbury side which played New Zealand Universities at the week-end, showed in no uncertain manner that he deserved selection, with a decisive win over N. Rush after a fast moving game in which Williams thrived on the speed provided by Rush. After winning the first game, 9-6, J. Martin was out-generalled in the next three by M. R. Blank, who allowed his much, younger opponent only six more points, boasting and angling shots to which Martin had no reply. Results: Christchurch A 10, High

School Old Boys B 0: D. R. Preston beat J. W. Mitchell. 9-4 7-9, 9-3, 9-0; P. C. Angland beat G. Jenkinson, 9-2, 6-9, 9-7, 9-2; J. Moseley beat J. Tolchard. 9- 8-10, 3-9, 9-2, 94; N. W. McGillivray beat D. Dearsley 9-2, 10- 5-9, 9-0.

High School Old Boys A 10, Christchurch C 0: V. Hargreaves beat J. S. Crosbie, 9-4, 9-7, 9-3; R. McCutcheon beat A. E. Dunlop, 9-4. 9-5, 9-7; S. Dixon beat D. Hearn 9-0, 9-0, 9-1; C. P. Murray beat P. Steinmetz. 9-3, 9-5, 9-0.

Christ’s College 6, University 4: J. H. N. Pine beat A. Naughton, 9-4, 9-5, 9-2; J. Taylor lost to P. Gallagher, 9-6, 3-9 9-10, 6-9; J. E. Mcßride beat L. Plever, 9-1. 9-2, 9-6; S. W. Cowles lost to J. Borren. . 6-9. 0-9, 2-9.

Old Collegians 8, University B 2: T. L. Williams beat N. Rush 9-7, 9-7, 9-6: C. C. Kissling beat B. Johns, 5-9, 9-4, 9-2, 10-9; M. R. Blank beat J. Martin. 5 9, 9-2, 9-2 9-2; L. G. Holder defaulted to G. Whyte.

Cricket Coach.—The Wellington Cricket Association will apply to have the national cricket coach, M. J. Horton, play for Wellington in this season’s Plunfcet Shield senes. He has played for Northern Districts for the last three seasons.