Hayes wins squash final

Press, 11 April 1977, Page 4

Hayes wins squash final

Rod Hayes (Christchurch) and Lyn Sparks (Burnside) last even - ing followed what has become a long tradition of men's squash finals at the annual Sumner open. Hayes, the top seed, won the tournament, but it took 68min and five games before he achieved his hat-trick of such-, ’cesses for the season. I it was a struggle tor Hayesjhe had to come back from 0-4 [and 2-5 down in the final game' —but if he had continued the I I way he started, the match might , {all have been over in little more (than half an hour. | The 19-year-old raced to a 4-1 led in the first game alter winning four successive rallies, but never seemed to play quite sol positively again in the match, | even though several Sparks' errors allowed Hayes to polish I oil this game in just sJmin Hayes was only two points away from the match wnen he led 7-3 in the fourth game aftei j winning the third. 9-4, but he still played far too loosely and' he was tentative rather than going all out for winners when the ' opportunity presented itself. Sparks won four rallies in a row to level at 7-7. and although ! Hayes attempted to slow pia\ up by lobbing to the corners, his shots were not light enough to' prevent his opponent winning l the game. The fifth game lasted 2!mineasily the longest of the contest: —and was marked bv many fine winners and retrieves, but also silly errors by each player. Neither Hayes nor Sparks had had easy paths to the final, and both had tn come back from 1-2 idown in games before beatingi Barry McNeil (Old Boys) and Paul McFadzien (Christchurch’, jin their semi-final matches. I Hayes and McNeil had three five-set battles last season, and l the match early yesterday after- 1

I noon also went the full distance.. Both players employed cat-and--mouse tactics for much of the! i contest, but Hayes gradvlly gained the ascendancy and after trailing 2-4 in the fourth allowed i McNeil just one more point in, i the match • Sparks took 7(lmin to beat Me-' , Fadzien. who hit several brilliant; winners in the nick, and as early as the third game looked a little I- tired and without the usual’ • amount of time he enjoys to! ••plav his shots. The fifth game took nearlv j2smin to complete and McFad-, .zien was in sight of victory at 7-3 and 9-8 but made far too many errors—l 4 were unforced —although he hit more winners ilthan Sparks. i McFadzien admitted later he j > had been distracted in the last i Igame when Sparks took several, breaks, both when serving and receiving, to blow his nose orj -to get his breath back. On two jor three occasions McFadzien snowed that he had lost his con-; 'centration bv quickly hitting* • into the tin. Kathy Graham (Burnside) started very well against her .top-seeded opponent Ros Stan-, ton. in the women's final, and took the first game with some -firm length drives which Jj induced her opponent to boast down. UnfortunateW Ms Graham seemed a little nervous from then on. and she tended to • overrun the ball and rush her • shots. Consequently Miss Stanton I comfortably won the second and I third games, and although Mrs I Graham won the fourth with a -fine forehand cross-court. after I having a match ball against her. ' and started in fine style in the •fifth, she soon lapsed back into ■the old pattern and lost the I game, 4-9 yt the most clinical

squash of the tournament wa* seen in the men’s B grade fin>.l when Stuart Davenport 'Bumside) showed skill besond his 14 years in demolishing Lyndsex Walton (Old Boysi in just 19mtn. Walton did at least haxe the excuse that he had also been playing In a tennis tournament. Results:— MEN A grade Quarter-finals.—R. W. Hayea (Christchurch) beat L. P Skurr (H. 5.0.8 K 10-9, 9-5. 5-9. 10-9; I. B McNeil H. 5.0.8.) beat D. R. Preston (Greymouthi, 7-9, 7-9, 9 4, 9- 10-8; P. G. McFadzien (Christchurch) beat B D. Matthews (Christchurch). 9-7. 9-8. 9-5; L. C. Sparks (Burnside) beat V. J WJ Hargt eaves (HS.O B.), 9-4, 10-8; 10-Semi-finals.—Haves beat McNeil, 7-9. 9-1. 5-9. 9-4. 9-1; Spark! beat McFadzien. 9-6. 4-9. 4-9. 9 4, 10-9 Final.—Haves beat Spark*. 9-3, 4-9, 9-4, 7-9, 9-6. B grade Final.—S Davenport 'Rumside) beat L. Walton <H S.O B , 9-0. 9-1, 9-5. C grade Final.—S. Doak (Sumner’ beat D Lawrie iSuburbsi. 9-3, 97, 4-9, 8- 10-8. WOMEN A grade Quarter-final* — M Holland (Sumneri beat ( Bowen iTemuka), 9-5. 9-5. 9-6. M. Steele iH.5.0.8.) hea) L Sxmes (Christchurch), 9-1, 7-9. 7 " 9-4, 3-2 Semi-finals. — R Stanton <H.S.O B.» beat Holland. !0-9. 9-3. 9- K F Graham (Burnside) beat Steele-. 9-1. 6-9. 9-5, 9-6 Final.—Stanton beat Graham, 2-9. 9 5, 9-2, 8-10. 9-4. 8 grade Final.—D. O’Gradx 'Burnside) heat P. Schafer (Sumner’. 9-2, 9-3. 9-1.