Squash champions

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32958, 3 July 1972, Page 3

Squash champions

In a high-speed final which at times reached a very high standard, D. R. Preston won the South Island squash rackets championship by defeating his club-mate, M. Billington, 9-10, 9-6, 9-4, 9-6.

Mrs K. Graham (Burnside) took the women’s A grade, by beating Mrs M. Holland (Sumner) in three games.

Both women appeared nervous and made an unusual number of elementary errors before settling down to good basic squash with some strong driving interspersed with good touch play. The B grade went to D. Kennedy, of Timaru, whose tactical knowledge of the game was used to the full against M. Keenan (Nelson). Keenan hit hard and low, but Kennedy’s control of length enabled him to run out the winner in four long games. All four seeded players reached the semi-finals of the men’s A grade. Preston played N. D. Rush and avenged his loss to him in inter-club play a week ago.

This match was much different from their earlier one — Preston was much sharper, he volleyed a terrific amount, seldom allowing Rush to get set for his shots. SOUNDER PLAYER Rush showed that he is becoming a much sounder player; after an error or two he always managed to revert to basic squash to keep himself in the game. Billington’s semi-final against A. Naughton (Wellington) was to some extent a needle match because both have been nominated for the national colts team. Naughton made a present of the first game with a succession of errors, but when he settled down there was little between the pair. Both hit hard, with Billington being particularly severe on his backhand. Naughton, in the main, played up to and down the walls, his essays into boasting from the back court proving to be costly. He attempted these boasts at 7-all in both the second and third games, and each time hit the top of the tin, allowing Billington the initiative.

Billington went away to a great start in the final, leading, 5-0, before Preston began to overhaul him. Rallies were long and gruelling—many were approaching the fifty-stroke mark, and when Billington took the game at 10-9 both men were pleased to take their minute’s rest. VOLLEYING

Preston stepped up the pace in the second, volleying everything that came near. Billington played too many angles and short volleys at this stage, allowing Preston to dominate play from the front court. Several of Preston’s drops hung nicely on the wall as he gained points from Billington. With the games level at one-all. the pressure increased, but Preston kept Billington behind him and continued to dictate play. Billington had more success when he allowed the ball to go back in the court, and played accurate drives off the back wall.

His attempts to match Preston’s volleying were successful only occasionally. At 8-4 to Preston, there was a tremendous rally, with Billington making six desperate retrieves, with Preston finally winning that game from a very tired Billington.

Surprisingly, it was Billington who led at the start of the fourth. He went to 4-1 and then came a steady progression of points from Preston. He kept play tight and scored several times with a

neat cross-court drop which wrong-footed Billington. All in all a good final which kept a large gallery interested from start to finish. Men A grade.—Quarter-finals: D. R. Preston beat J. Rosevear, 9-3, 9-0, 9-0; N, D. Rush beat M. D. Grant, 9-6, 9-4, 9-0; M. Billington beat L. Plever, 9-3, 9-4, 9-2; A. Naughton (Wellington) beat R. Bowman (Oamaru), 9-1, 9-3, 9-1. Semi-finals: Preston beat Rush, 9-6, 9-3, 9-6; Billington beat Naughton, 9-3, 9-7, 9-7. Final: Preston beat Billington, 9- 9-6, 9-4, 9-6. B grade.—Quarter-finals: M. Keenan (Nelson) beat P. Burt, 10- 9-4, 9-0; B. Trangmar beat R. Griffiths, 2-9, 10-9, 10-9, 9-3; D. Kennedy (Timaru) beat D. Dearsley, 9-4, 9-5, 0-9, 9-7; J. McDougall beat W. Thorn, 3-9, 9-10, 9-0, 9-6, 9-7. Semi-finals: Keenan beat Trangmar, 6-9, 9-5, 9-3, 9-7; Kennedy beat MacDougall, 0-9, 9-1, 9-1, 9-3. Final: Kennedy beat Keenan, 7-9, 9-6, 9-1, 9-6.

C grade.—Quarter-finals: L. Wilson beat R. Huston, 9-2, 9-4, 9-2; D. Ashton beat J. McGimpsey, 4-9, 9-4, 9-7, 8-10, 9-4; T. Hyder beat G. Hartley, 9-2, 9-2, 9-4; M. Barnes beat P. Little, 9-5, 9-6, 9-2. Semi-finals: Wilson beat Ashton; Barnes beat Hyder, 9-7, 6-9, 9-5, 9-5. Final: Wilson beat Barnes, 9-3, 9-6, 9-3. D grade.—Quarter-finals: R. Hayes beat D. Eathorne, 9-2, 9-6, 9-6; J. Annett (Timaru) beat L. Reese, 5-9, 9-4, 9-7, 9-6; G. Allen beat R. Comfort, 9-2, 9-3, 7-9, 4-9, 9-4; D. Taylor beat M. Winterbourne- 7-9. 9-7, 9-3, 9-2. Semifinals: Hayes beat Annett, 9-2, 9- 9-5; Taylor beat Allen, 10-9, 5-9, 9-1, 9-2. Final: Hayes beat Taylor, 7-9, 9-7, 9-5, 4-9, 9-0. E grade.—Quarter-finals: I. Linnev beat A. Gemmill, 3-9, 10- 9-2, 9-4; J. Sinclair beat C. Smith. 1-9. 9-6, 9-6, 9-2; H. Mills beat C. McKinnon, 9-2, 9-1, 9-4; M. Maguire beat D. Pankhurst, 9-5, 10-8, 9-6. Semi-finals: Llnney beat Sinclair, 9-3, 9-6, 9-2; Mills beat Maguire, 9-5, 10-8, 9-3. Final: Mills beat Linney, 9-2, 9-2, 9-3. Women A grade.—Quarter-finals: Miss J. Willetts (Otago) beat Miss C. Rothwell, 9-4, 9-0, 9-3. Semifinals: Miss K. Graham beat Mrs F. Rodgers, 9-6, 9-4, 9-1; Miss M. Holland beat Miss Willets, 9-4, 9-2, 9-6. Final: Miss Graham beat Miss Holland, 9-6, 10-8, 9-2. B grad".—Quarter-finals: Miss J. Rountne beat Mrs A. Prier, 9-4, 9-6, 5-9, 10-9. Semi-finals: Mrs E. Sangster (Oamaru) beat Miss Rountree, 3-9, 9-4, 8-10, 9-2, 9-6; Miss P. Monk beat Mrs J. Carpinter, 9-5, 9-3, 10-9. Final: Mrs Sangster beat Miss Monk, 9-2, 9-2, 9-3.