North Beach retains badminton title

Press, 14 August 1978, Page 22

North Beach retains badminton title

| Badminton

North Beach nun the Canterbury A grade badminton championship for the second succes live 2 ear—and the filth time m six years—when its No. 1 team held its lead through the last round on Saturday. Ho«e\er. success did nut come easily North Beach met itf < osest rival. Railway, in the lasi

round and it was nut until the latter stages of what was a marathon contest that it was assuied of victory, five matches to three. » As in their previous clash this season, and in past seasons, there was very little between the tuo teams and Railway could be excused tor thinking that it never =eems to have luck on its side when it plafys North Beach. But North Beach was a worthy winnei, nonetheless, and its indis iduai superiority is reflected tn the fact that it repealed its first round effort of winning three of the four singles. Railway fought back by winning the first of the mixed doubles and It came within one point of taking the second. But the North Beach brother-and sister pair of David and Alison Ross won in the last gasp of a long and exciting game and this put North Beach ahead. 4-2, with two matches, the men's and women's doubles, to play. These were shared one each, but the urgency had gone out of the struggle and Miss Ross and her partner. Sandra Chapman, were in almost relaxed mood as they advanced confidentiv to a straight-games win. North Beach went into the tie I three points ahead of Railway, but with six bonus points being credited to the w inner the ! advantage hardly mattered. Railway got away to an en ' co u raging start when Geofl Miller took the first game of his ‘'ingles against Peter Whiting, 15-11 But Whiting was unruffled i and b\ keeping the shuttle low he won the next two games convincingly. North Beach went to a 3-0 lead when both its women. Miss Ross and Mrs Chapman, had ; comfortable singles wins. Miss 'Chapman served and cleared particularly well to beat Pat Duckmanton. Lindsay Robinson was all power and purpose in his singles against David Foss and although : Ross played well in the second ; game he could not handle Robinson's artful aggression. The first mixed doubles, between Miller and Glenys Waller and Whiting and Mrs Chapman. produced some fine badminton and a’though the North Beach pair led. 8-5. at the change-over in the third game. Miller and Mrs Waller suddenly. • and quite dramatically, took charge and won it. 15-8. The match of the dav. however. was undoubtedly the second mixed doubles and it j would probably also rank as the 'match of the season. The outcome was all important and all Hnir pl a vers—the two Rosses and Rohhison and Mis Duckmanton —were subjected to gruelling test of both physical and mental

Near the finish the pressures., became exceptional as the | scores in the decided third game I. moved as follows: 7-7. 9-9, 10-10,: 11-11, 12-12 and 14-14. Railway held match point at 14-12 when Robinson, who piaxed outstandingly well all afternoon, was just outside the tracks with a smash. Railway opted for a three-point setting and again the scales were evenly balanced at 1-1. But the Rosses j weathered the tension well to ’ take the next two points, and the match, with clever returns. Railway earned more credit when Miller and Robinson won I the men’s doubles in straight games, but on an adjoining court Miss Ross and Mrs Chap man were too sharp for Messrs Duekmanton and Waller, altbought the latter pair fought hard for a time in the second game. Still there was never much doubt that North Beach would clinch the title with a 5-3 success. In the other games, North Beach 0 had a clean sweep against Canterbury 1 and although Ilagley I also had a i win—s-3 against North Beach II —the second Haglet team could take delight in finishing ahead of the top side. Canterbury 1 heat University. 7- in the fourth tie, but as the | results were incompletely -ecorded neither team is likely • to be officially’ credited with I any points. The final platings were: North Beach ! 204. Railway 193, Knox 140. North Beach II 113. Haglex II 109. Haglev I 102. University 64, Canterbury 1 60. Canterbury II 23. Results:— North Beach I 5, Railway 3 Singles.—P. Whiting beat G. Miller, 11-15, 15-7, 15-7; D. Ross lost to L. Robinson, 9-15. 10-15; Miss A. Ross beat Mrs G. Waller. 11- 11-5* Mrs S. Chapman beat Mrs P. Duekmanton. 11-4. 11-6. Doubles. —Whiting and Ross lost to Miller and Robinson. 12- 9-15; Miss Ross and Mrs Chapman beat Mrs Waller and Mrs Duckmanton, 15-9. 15-9: Whiting and Mrs Chanman lost to Miller and Mrs Waller. 9-15, 15-12. 8- Ross and Miss Ross beat Robinson and Mrs Duekmanton. 16-13. 15-9. 17-15. Canterburv II 0, Haqley II 8 Singles.—D. Le Page lost to K. Campbell. 1-15. 12-15; R. Logan I os’ to P. Watts. 18-15, 11-15. 0-15: Mrs B. Davey lost to Miss R. Kerr. 0-11. 2-11; Mrs S. Phillips lost to Mrs C. Austin. 1-11, 2-11 Doubles.—Le Page and Logan lost to Watts and Campbell. 10-15, 9- Mrs Davev and Mrs Phillips lost to Miss Kerr and Mrs Austin. 0-15. 1-15; Le Page and Mrs Davey lost to Campbell and Miss

Ken, 9-15, 9-15; Logan and Mrs Phillips lost to Watts and Mrs Austin, 11-15, 2-15. North Beach II 3, Hagiey I $ Singles.—G. McWilliams lost to B. Williams, 10-15, 5-15: M. Nolan lost to C. Wasley, 4-15, 9-15; Mrs R. Erskine lost to Miss J. Hood, 11- 9-11, 5-11; Mrs R. Ritchie beat Miss K. Burn, 11-2, 11-5. Doubles.—McWilliams and I Nolan lost to Williams and WasI ley, 10-15, 10-15; Mrs Erskine and , Mrs Ritchie beat Miss Hood and Miss Burn, 15-7, 15-7; Nolan and Mrs Erskine beat Wasley and Miss Burn, 15-5, 15-10; McWilliams and Mrs Ritchie lost to Williams and Miss Hood. 9-15. 12University 1, Canterbury 1 Singles.—C. Chong lost to B. Wilson, 17-18, 15-5, 7-15; G. Girdler lost to P. Burn, 3-15. 12-15: Miss L. Kitchingham beat Mrs A. Smith, 12-11, 12-10; Miss K. Rennie lost to Mrs V. St Mevat. 7-11. 4-11. Doubles.—Chong and Girdler lost to Wilson and Burn; Miss Kitchingham and Miss Rennie lost to Mrs Smith and Mrs St ! Mevat, 6-15, 15-3, 10-15: Chong and Miss Kitchingham lost to Wilson land Mrs Smith; Girdler and Miss (Rennie lost to Burn and Mrs St * Mevat.