Seasiders poised in badminton

Press, 22 May 1978, Page 20

Seasiders poised in badminton

The stage is set for an exciting end to the first full round in the A grade badminton competition when the two leading teams, Railway and North Beach Beach 1, meet next Saturday.

1 Railway will go into the tie with a lead of eight points, a deficit North Beach will wipe out lif it can earn the six bonus points for a win. Oddly enough, both teams were struggling a little on Saturday; Railway’s 6-2 win over North Beach II was its worst result of the season, and but for a revival in the last match, the men’s doubles, the score could easily have been 5-3. Robyn Ritchie, who has not been playing much this season, surprised people when she beat Railway’s Pat Duckmanton in the singles. Mrs Ritchie won a lot of points with her drop shots, capitalising on Mrs Duckmanton’s difficulty in getting the shuttle up. Railway’s second loss was in the mixed doubles, Lindsay Robinson and Glenys Waller going down in straight games to the much-improved combination of Mike Nolan and Robyn Erskine. Nolan and Mrs Erskine attacked from the outset and never allowed their rivals an opportunity to shift from the defensive.

Nolan played particularly well, as he did in patches again later when in partnership with Glen. McWilliams they took Geoff Miller and Robinson to three games in their doubles. The North Beach II pair had a great chance when they led 10-6 in the third game, but Miller took Railway to the brink of victory when he won eight successive points. North Beach I was weakened by the absence of Alison Ross, and found itself in such difficulty going into the mixed doubles that it changed its combinations to ensure the one victory it needed to take the tic on matches.

And it would have been in even deeper trouble had not David Ross beaten Ross Campbell in setting in the third game i of the second men’s singles. However, the best game was the men’s doubles between Paul Boatwood and Campbell, and Peter Whiting and Ross. Boatwood and Campbell narrowly took the first game, and then lifted their play to win the second quite decisively. Knox had its best result for weeks, beating University, 7-1. Lynda Kitchingham gave University its sole win in the second women’s singles. This match was notable for the fact that not one match lasted longer than two games. There was a photo-finish to the fourth match between Hagley 1 and Canterbury I. One of its men had to leave early. Hagley defaulted the men’s doubles: its women members. Karen Burn and Jennie Hood ; were under the impression that they needed only to win their doubles in straight I 2ames to take the tie on games. But the countback revealed!

that the teams were level on both matches (4-4) and games (10-10). Hagley still survived, however. It held a slight advantage on points. 216 to 207. Miss Burn looked about to have her day made when she held three match points against her older brother, Philip, when they faced each other in mixed doubles. However, it was not to be, and it was Philip and his partner, Noleen Sintes, who scraped to a narrow win. Points.—Railways 93, North Beach 1 85, Knox 72, North Beach II 53, Hagley I 47, Hagley II 41, Canterbury I 24, Canterbury II 18, University 17. Results:— Hagley II 3, North Beach I 5 Singles.—P. Boatwood lost to P. Whiting 2-15, 4-15; R. Campbell lost to D. Ross 15-4, 4-15, 14- Miss R. Kerr lost to Mrs S. Chapman 5-11, 4-11; Mrs C. Austin beat Miss C. Erikson 11-2, 11-2. Doubles.—Boatwood and Campbell beat Whiting and Ross 17-16, 15- Miss Kerr and Mrs Austin lost to Mrs Chapman and Miss Erikson 9-15, 11-15; Campbell and Miss Kerr lost to Whiting and Mrs Chapman 10-15, 0-15; Boatwood and Mrs Austin beat Ross and Miss Erikson 15-7, 15-5. Railway 6, North Beach II 2 Singles.—G. Miller beat M. Nolan 15-7, 15-7; L. Robinson beat G. McWilliams 15-6, 15-7; Mrs G. Waller beat Mrs R. Erskine 11-1, 11- Mrs P. Duckmanton lost Mrs R. Ritchie 11-5, 9-12. 2-11. - Doubles.—Miller and Robinson beat Nolan and McWilliams 16-17. (15-5, 15-12; Mrs Waller and Mas Duckman ton beat Mrs Erskine and Mrs Ritchie 15-8, 15-9; Miller and Mrs Duckmanton beat Me Williams and Mrs Ritchie 15-1, 15-7; Robinson and Mrs Walldr lost to Nolan and Mrs Erskiiw 12- 12-15. Knox 7, University 1 Singles.—W. Edgecumbe beat G. Girdler 15-12, 15-5; E. Kirk land beat E. Oh 15-3, 15-8: Mi* iJ. Miles beat Miss E. Chan 11-1. 111-1: Mrs G. Brookes lost to Miss L. Kitchingham 4-11, 3-11. • Doubles.—Edgecumbe and Kirkland beat Girdler and Oh 13- 15-9; Miss Miles and Mrs Brookes beat Miss Kitchingham and Miss Chan 15-3, 15-9; Edgecumbe and Miss Miles beat Girdler and Miss Kitchingham 15-16, 15-11; Kirkland and Miss Brookes beat Oh and Miss Chan 15-12, 15-2. Hagley I 216 points, Canterbury I 207 Singles.—B. Williams lost to B. Wilson 7-15, 15-3. 9-15; C. Wasley beat P. Burn 14-18, 15-7, 15-7; Miss K. Burn beat Mrs A Smith 11-1, 11-7; Miss J. Hood beat Mrs N. Sintes 10-12, 11-5, 11-6. Doubles.—Williams and Wasley lost to Wilson and Burn, by default; Miss Burn and Miss Hood beat Mrs Smith and Mrs Sintes 15-0. 15-3; Williams and Miss Hood lost to Wilson and Mrs Smith 6-15, 14-15; Wasley and Miss Burn lost to Burn and Mrs Sintes 11-15, 15-10, 14-17.