Close matches in club squash competition

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33577, 4 July 1974, Page 16

Close matches in club squash competition

Many excellent matches featured the latest round of the men’s and women's A grade squash rackets competitions played at Queen Elizabeth H

Although two of the men’s teams won by 100. in each case there were many close individual matches which could have gone either way.

Two contests were won on games after matcher were level at two-all. High School Old Boys I beat Christchurch H by nine games to eight and, in the women’s grade, Christchurch I beat Christchurch II by nine games to six. Points for the men in the Wilson Shield are: Burnside-Christ's College 18, Christchurch n 12, High School Old Boys H 12, Christchurch I 10, High School Old Boys I 5, Sumner 2. and Uni-versity-Christchureh 0. Most interest centred on the meeting Of the third end fourth ranked Canterbury men, M. Bflwon in five games but not without a long struggle, after ft appeared that he was going to win comfortably in four.

The first game went to McNeil, whose strong driving and €tror*| free ntay mounted the score steadilv in his favour, in spite of Billington’s having a game point at 9-8. Then Billington took almost complete control, driving immaculately to a length, boasting to bring McNeil to the front of the court, and finishing off rallies with low. needv drives. Leading by two games to one Bflltartmt appeared to be sate, but McNeil summonded reserves of strength and determination to scramble home 10-9 in the fourth game. He continued a good run In the final game to 4-0. only to “run out of steam and allow

Billington again to control thq nlay. L. C. Sparks (Burnside-Christ’s College) reversed an earlier result by overhauling M. D. Grant (Universlty-Christchureh) from two games down. Grant Played some fine attacking squash ana deserved his lead, but he was Anally wom down by the sheer consistency with which Sparks returned the ball. MM Burnsliio-ChrlsFs College 10, Universlty-Christchureh 0 - L. C. Sparks beat M. D. Grant, 4-9, 34, 9-0, 9-5, 9-5; J. G. Foulda beat L. Plover. 10-8, 9-4, 4-6, 9-5; R. Blank beat B. B. Trangmat, 8- 9-7, 9-1; J. Moseley beat L. Wilson, 9-4, 94. 9-7. High School Old Boys I S, ‘ Christchurch II 4 I. B. McNeil loot to M. Billington, 10-8, 0-9, 24. 9-10, 44: G L. Bird beat N. Idour, 9-2, 9-5, 9-1; J. Redpath lost to P. Salt, 9-1, 3-9, i-10, 14: C. Collins beat B. Matthews, 54, 2-9, 9-4, 9-5, 104. Christchurch I 10, Sumner 9. D. R. Preston boat L. Skusr, 14. 9-3, 104, 9-3; B. V. Hamilton beat L. G. Milne, 9-3, 44. 94. 9- R. Haves beat C. Van Udon, 9-7. 54, 34, 9-2. 9-7; R. D. Monk beat J. MacDougall, 54, 94, 94, a.j WOMBN Burnside 9, Sumner 2 K. Graham boat M. Holland, 94, 9-1. 94; M. Davenport lost to F. Rodgers, 14, 9-1, 84. 9-7, , 54: L. Chamberlain beat M. , Quince. 9-2, 74. 8-10, 9-5; J. Bqrbidge beat 8. Lane, 9-3, 9-5, 44. , 9-2.

P. Lush beat R. Woodhead, 94, 9-0. 9-5; R. Davies beat A. Bettie. 104. 94. 9-7; D. Goosman loti to P. Monk, 8-10, 44. 9-2, 3-fj B. Bowbyes lost to B. De waif 9-4, 9-7, 14. 0-8, 39.