Top seeds win junior squash

Press, 28 August 1979, Page 32

Top seeds win junior squash

Paul Viggers (Hawke’s Bay) and Karen Lever (Bay of Plenty) confirmed their top seedings when they won the open titles in the New Zealand junior open squash event at Christchurch yesterday. Viggers had already won the national under-19 title this season, and he never looked in danger of losing the open final, beating David Oakley (Wellington), 9-5, 9-4, 9-4 in 40 minutes.

The strong-driving Miss Lever also won her final in straight games, beating her Bay of Plenty team-mate, Susan Devoy, 10-8, 9-3, 9-6 in 30 minutes.

Viggers, who finished off his match with a spectacular slashing cross-court backhand into the nick, showed, a pleasing ability to maintain concentration and string together points. He went from 3-4 down to 8-4 in one hand in the second game, and took four straight points from 3-2 in the third.

Oakley played some nice backhand drops, but was given little chance of repeating his semi-final upset of the second seed, Stuart Davenport (Havelock North). Viggers hit several winners with deceptive drives whip-: ped across court. In the girls’ final the slightly built Miss Devoy played quite well and had her chances with a game ball at 8-7 in the first and a 6-3 lead in the third, but Miss Lever was too strong.

A reluctance to volley sometimes intensified the pressure put on Miss Devoy The winner impressed with tight winning boasts from the back court.

Third places went to two more North Islanders, Davenport and Robin Sperry (Masterton), who had comfortable 3-0 victories over John Mills (Wellington) and Carol Lind (Masterton). Christchurch players did well in the plate events; four boys and two girls figured in the finals. Mark Crosbie, Mark Comer, and Kay Monk all won their matches. Results:

Boys. — Oped: P. Viggers (Hawke’s Bay) beat D, Oakley (Mitchell Park), 9-5, 9-4, 9-4. Plate: A. Taucher (Howard Booth Park) beat D. McQueen (Rotorua), 9-6, 9-5, 6-9, 7-9, 9-7. Special plate: M. Crosbie (Burnside) beat G. Utteridge (Lincoln College), 6-9, 9-4, 9-4, 9-3. Classic plate: C. Maxwell (Royal Oak) beat R. Clements (Burnside), 9-3, 4-9, 10-8, 9-1. Consolation plate: M. Corner (Burnside) beat G. Spicer (Central), 9-0, 9-3, 9-2. Girls.—Open: K. Lever (Mount Maunganul) beat S. Devoy (Geyser City), 10-8, 9-3, 9-6. Plate: K. Monk (Linwood) beat J. Quinn (Burnside), 9-2, 9-5, 10-8. Special plate: N. Powell (Central) beat J. Keen (Hamilton), 9-10, 9-2, 9-2, 9-2. Classic plate: S. Campbell (Kamo) beat T. Cushmans (Timaru), 9-4, 9-4, 9-2. Consolation plate: J. Foulkes (Nightcaps) beat S. Chote (Hastings), 9-4, 9-0, 9-2. Boys’ third and fourth place play-off.—S. Davenport (Havelock North) beat J. Mills (Collegians), 9-3, 9-3, 9-3. Girls’ third and fourth place play-offs.—R. Sperry (Masterton) beat C. Lind (North Shore), 9-1, 9-5. 9-3.