Hayes extended for squash title

Press, 12 June 1978, Page 3

Hayes extended for squash title

Rod Hayes had eight match balls in a marathon 29m in fifth game before beating a determined Aucklander, Lyn Sparks, in the final of the Canterbury squash championships yesterday. Hayes had been expected to dispose of Sparks, seeded second, without too much trouble but the contest lingered on for 74min. Haves looked as though he was out to repeat his quarter-final drubbing of Chris Wasley when he raced to a 6-0 lead in the first game. In the second game Hayes struggled to a 10-9 win after letting Sparks back into the game. Hayes dropped the third and th<- fourth after leading, 4-0, in the latter and his weariness began to show with his use of the lobbing ploy when he would usually have stepped in and I attacked. I There were some long rallies in the fifth game, which progressed reasonably smoothly until Hayes had his first match ball at 8-3. From there the finish was delayed by innumerable let i appeals, frequent changes of hand without a change in the score, and even longer rallies, one of 75 shots ending with a call for a let.

Merle Holland (Sumner) took 40min to get her second successive win over the top-seeded Kathy Graham (Burnside) in a women’s final match which could have gone either way. Mrs Graham is still a little affected by a lower-leg muscle injury and this may have affected her game. She had a good chance of winning when she led, 6-4, in the fifth game but she lost the serve and never regained it. She lost the first game after having a game point at 3-6. Results:— MEN Open.—Quarter-finals: R. W. Hayes (Christchurch) beat C. J. Wasley (Burnside), 9-0, 9-0, 9-0; L. P. Skurr 1H.5.0.8.) beat B. Gardiner (Celtic. Timaru), 9-5, 9-1, 3-9, 7-9, 9-4; P. G. McFadzien (University) beat N. D. Rush (Burnside), 9-6, 9-3, 3-9. 9-tO, 9-3; L. C. Sparks (Auckland) beat D. R. Preston (Greymouth), 5-9, 9-6. 9- 9-6, Semi-finals: Hayes beat Skurr, 9-5, 5-9, 9-6, 9-2; Sparks beat McFadzien, 9-4. 9-4, 7-9, 9-4. Final: Hayes beat Sparks, 9-3, 10- 4-9, 7-9, 9-5. Division B.—Final: J. Bushell (Burnside) beat T. George (H. 5.0.8.1. 10-8, 9-3. 7-9, 10-8. Division C.—Final: M. Keenan (Hokitika) beat R. Williams (Ashburton). 9-7. 9-0. 9-0. Division D— Final: M. Crosbie (Burnside) beat W. Huxford (Linwood i. Division E—Final: B. Knight (Linwood) beat S. Bankier (Linwood). 9-1, 9-2. 0-9. 9-7. Division F.—Final: M. Turner (H. 5.0.8. beat K. O’Brien (Burnside). 9-3. 9-3, 9-2. Division G—Final: J. Knight (St Andrews) beat R. Turner (Linwood). Division H—Final: F. Young (Christchurch) beat B. Fry (Richmond), 6-9, 9-5. 9-1. 6-9, 9-7. WOMEN Open.—Quarter-finals: K. F. Graham (Burnside) beat C. Bowan (Temuka). 10-8, 7-9, 9-5, 9-7; L. Sutherland (H. 5.0.8. beat L. Chamberlain (Burnside), 4-9, 10-9, 9-1, 9-7. Semi-finals: M. Holland (Sumner; beat B King (H. 5.0.8. 9-3. 9-0. 9-5; Graham beat Sutherland, 5-9. 9-4, 9-0. 9-6. Final: Holland beat Graham. 10-8. 4-9. 9-4, 6-9, 9-6. Division B—Final: K. Gilray (Suburbs) beat L. North (Lancaster Park). 10-9. 7-9. 9-3, 9-3

Division C.—Final:' V. Fitzpatrick (Greymouth) beat K. Aplin (Burnside). Division D.—Final: P. Gilliand (Ashburton) beat S. Gibb (Linwood).