Purser brothers beaten in badminton final

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32710, 13 September 1971, Page 5

Purser brothers beaten in badminton final

The impression of invincibility given by R. H. and B. R. Purser in badminton, competitions during the last year or two was dispelled when W. B. Johns (Auckland) and M. H. Stossel (Wellington) beat the Taranaki brothers for the men’s doubles title on the final day of the New Zealand championships in the V. R. Skellerup Hall on Saturday.

The top-seeded Purser brothers were seeking their third successive victory in the event, but the keen edge was taken from their game by the persistent aggression of Johns and Stossel, who won in straight games. In all the other senior finals, however, the favourites came out on top. R. H. Purser won the men’s singles crown for the fifth successive year, and combined with Miss G. Tompkins (Wellington) to take the mixed doubles title. Mrs A. Branfield (Auckland) won the women’s singles championship and, with her sister, Miss R. Glenie, retained the doubles title. In several cases, the national finals produced a reversal-of the results of the North Island championships, played in Auckland two weeks previously. On that occasion, Miss Glenie beat Mrs Branfield in the women’s singles; B t R. Purser and Miss Glenie beat R. M. Purser and Miss Tompkins in the mixed doubles; and the Purser brothers downed Stossel and Johns in the men’s doubles.

In the Rothmans-supported national event on Saturday, however. Johns and Stossel placed their faith in the smash, and although the Pursers retrieved brilliantly at times, they were unable to wrest the initiative from their hard-hitting rivals.

The lanky Johns hit some superb winners from the back of the court, while Stossel, a stockier man, produced some startling angled drops and smashes from close to the net.

The upset victory was all the more meritorious for the fact that Stossel and Johns have not been regular doubles partners. Although they won the national junior title in 1963, they did not combine again until they played for New Zealand two years ago. R. H. Purser had one of his hardest games in . a national singles final when he met the burly Australian, R. Livingston. Purser dropped the first game in the face of Livingston’s crisp smashes and drop shots, but by increasing his concentration and cutting his errors to a minimum, the champion eventually wore down his vigorous opponent.

In the last two games, it was not so much a matter Of Purser winning the points but of Livingston losing them. The Australian lost ground by hitting many shuttles out or into the net.

The north-westerly conditions outside the hall were not relished by the finalists. The atmosphere was uncomfortably warm, and the shuttles flew fast. To add to these hazards, there was almost unbearable tension gripping the men’s singles finalists as the third game moved into setting. The service changed 10 times during this nerve-wracking period, and Livingston’s deepthroated yells and Purser’s expressions of self-criticism betrayed their innermost feelings. But Purser, looking as if he had just emerged from a Turkish bath, concentrated on keeping the shuttle in play and Livingston’s exuberance was eventually his undoing. The mixed doubles final was an absorbing match of changing fortunes. In the first game, Brian Purser and Miss Glenie made twice as many errors as Richard Purser and Miss Tompkins—but they also hit twice as many winners, and tills was instrumental in giving them an early lead.

But in the second game, Miss Glenie’s play plummeted, and she hit out or found the net far too often for the comfort of her partner. Encouraged by an easy win in this game, R. H. Purser and Miss Tompkins went ahead confidently to take the title. Purser was the dominating figure in the final game, scoring well with cross-court drops and smashes, but Miss Tompkins played her part by cutting off some fullblooded shots at the net.

B. R. Purser and Miss Glenie : hit 40 winners to their rivals’ 30 in the match, but, significantly, made 57 errors to the winning ■ pair’s 28. This was R. H. Purser’s eighth victory in the mixed doubles, but his first with Miss Tompinks as his partner. Purser has now won 19 senior national titles; J. E. Robson, of Auckland, won 21 in his long career and Mrs Robson won 19. There was a struggle of great intensity in the first game of the women’s singles final. Miss i Glenie, hitting cleanly on both the backhand and forehand, looked set to repeat her North Island victory when she led, 6-2, i but Mrs Branfield wore her down in setting. . The second; game was an anti-climax. Mrs Branfield struck her best form and forced her sister into error to win with the loss of only one point. ) Then the two combined to re- , tain their doubles title, but not before Mrs P. Stevens (North- ' land) had made her mark on the match by covering the court nimbly 4 and hitting several -angled winners from the front of. the service box. Mrs Branfield and Miss Glenie showed- the value of a combination of a left-hander and a righti hander when they recovered , from the dismal position of being down, 3-9, in the second 1 game to win 15-10. < The junior events were notable for upsets in both the boys’ and! girls’ doubles. The South! Island pair of P. Whiting (Can-

terbury) and S. Wilson (Otago). produced a stream of blistering' smashes to beat the fancied i Aucklanders, C. Bullen and G.; Elsmore, while Misses S. Gloyn! (Manawatu) and B. Coetzer (Hutt Valley) played a much more precise game, with fewer errors, in downing Misses L. Ward (Auckland) and S. McLeod (Taranaki). Auckland won the Rothmans Trophy, for being the most succesful team, and the Vallance Trophy, for the best umpire, was awarded to Mr J. Lambert (Auckland). Results of the finals were:— Men’s singles.—R. H. Purser (Taranaki) beat R. Livingston' (Australia), 12-15. 15-7, 18-14. Women’s singles. Mrs A. Branfield (Auckland) beat Missi

R. Glenie (Auckland), 13-11, 11-1. Men’s doubles.—W. B. Johns (Auckland) and M. H. Stossel (Wellington) beat R. H. and B. R. Purser (Taranaki), 15-11, 15-11. Women’s doubles. Mrs A. Branfield and Miss R. Glenie (Auckland) beat Mrs P. Stevens (Northland) and Miss F. E. Walters (Auckland),* 17-14, 15-10. Mixbd doubles.—R. H. Purser (Taranaki) and Miss G. Tompkins (Wellington) beat B. R. Purser (Taranaki) and Miss R. Glenie ; (Auckland), 13-15, 15-3, 15-12. Boys’ singles.—C. Bullen (Auckland) beat P. Skelt (Southland), 15-5, 15-12. Girls’ singles.—Miss M. Skeen (Auckland) beat Miss L. Ward (Auckland), 11-9, 12-9. Boys’ doubles. P. Whiting and S. Wilson

. (Otago) beat _C. Bullen and G. s Elsmore (Auckland), 15-4, 15-9. 1 Girls’ doubles.—Misses B. Coetzer (Hutt Valley) and S. Gloyn (Manawatu) beat Misses L. Ward i. (Auckland) and S. McLeod (Tarae naki). 15-7, 15-12. s Junior mixed doubles.—C. Bui I- len (Auckland) and Miss A. Wilson (Oroua) beat E. Gloyn and r Miss S. Gloyn’ (Manawatu), 15-12 s 15-6. r Boys’ plate.—A. Seerup (Hutl e Valley) beat J. Gilmour (Hutt f Valley). 17-15, 15-2. Girls’ plate.—Miss W. Walkei G (West Coast) beat Miss J. Eder (Nelson), 12-10, 11-5. n Veteran women’s doubles.— d Mesdames B. Skeen and V. Gov (Auckland) beat Mesdames M g Miller and A. Ryan (Canterbury) n 15-8. 15-2.