Wigram-Lincoln starts well

Press, 24 April 1980, Page 13

Wigram-Lincoln starts well

Wigram-Lincoln, the new team in the men’s division one squash, made a successful beginning with a 6-4 win over Suburbs in the opening round of the Blank Trophy competition on Tuesday evening. Tlie team scraped home on a games countback (7-6), after the matches were tied 2-2, thanks mainly to the deeds of the top half—Nell Rush and Grant Utterldge—who both won in straight games. Rush; though, had to come from 4-8 down in the second game of his' match to beat Les Plever, while Utteridge had two close calls in his upset victory over George Balani. However, Wigram’s performance was surpassed by three other teams—High School Old Boys I (the early competition favourite), Christchurch I. and Burnside—all of whom recorded clean sweeps.

Bumside's easy win was hardly surprising in view of the absence of Christchurch H’s top two players, Bryan Simpson and Graham Foulds. All the matches were completed in the minimum of three games — with Neville Idour the closest to going to four—and the whole encounter lasted barely two hours. The win of the very strong Christchurch I side was predictable. with none of the three top players dropping a game. Wayne Seebeck, making his division one debut, had some difficulties against the High School Old Boys n player, Chris Glasson, at No. 4, but then won the fourth without his opponent’s getting a serve. The win of the top Old Boys team was notable for the defeat of the University No. 1, Barrie Matthews, by Lawrence Skurr for the second time this season. Skurr gave Matthews a troublesome time with his backhand lobs to his opponent’s forehand. Of the other University players, it was the No. 2 Hamish Dowell, who put up the most resistance before going down to John Oakley in four games.

MEN Wigram-Lincoln 6, Suburbs 4 N. D. Rush beat L. Plever, 9-3, 10-8. 9-0; G. Utteridge beat G. Balani, 9-6, 10-8. 10-9; D. Post lost to M. Carson, 3-9, 3-9, 9-10; J. Hodgson lost to P. Lublow, 3-9, 0-9, 9-4, 1-9. Christchurch I 10, H. 5.0.8. II 0 R. W. Hayes beat M. Thomson, 9-2, 9-0, 9-5; D. R. Preston beat G. Tait, 10-8, 9-3, 9-4; B. B. Trangmar beat A. Lowe, 9-0. 9-1, 9-6; W. Seebeck beat C. Glasson, 9-2, 6-9, 10-9, 9-0. H. 5.0.8. I 10, University 0 L. P. Skurr beat B. D. Matthews, 9-1, 3-9, 9-3, 9-6; J. Oakley beat H. Dowell, 9-10, 9-5, 9-7, 9-6; W. J. Tolchard beat P. Davenport, 9-7, 2-9. 9-0, 9-3; M. Clements beat M. Forster, 9-4. 9-2, 9-3.

Burnside 10, Christchurch II 0 C. J. Wasley beat L. Wilson, 9-2. 9-2, 9-1; J. Bushell beat T. L. WiUiams, 9-6, 9-2, 9-2; R. elements beat N. A. Idour, 10-8, 9-0, 9-3; M. Crosbie beat M. Barnes, 9-0, 9-4, 9-3. Linwood 6, Sumner 4 I C. Hibbert beat R. I. Marshall, 9-3. 9-2, 9-3; G. Monk lost to J., H. Christensen, 9-4, 3-9, 7-9, 9-1, 7-9; R. Burnett lost to R. M. McCutcheon, 9-7, 6-9, 4-9, 9-5, ' 8-10; G. Egan beat J. A. MacDougall, 9-3, 9-7, 4-9. 5-9, 94. WOMEN H. 5.0.8. 8, University 1 B. King lost to J. James, 10-8, 5-9, 9-4, 6-9, 9-4; V. Dunstan beat D. Goosman, 9-2, 9-2, 10-8; L. Cowan beat J. HaviU, 9-2, 9-2, 9-3; J. Gemill beat A. Thomas, 9-3, 9-2, 8-5. Burnside 10, Linwood 0 S. O’Brien beat J. Terrell. 9-7, 5-9, 9-1, 9-7; L. Stringer beat K. Pepper, 9-1, 9-4, 4-9, 9-7; K. Aplin beat A. Wilding, 9-3, 9-0, 9-7; M. Hunt beat L. Mils, 9-0, 9-2, 10-8. Christchurch I 8, Suburbs 2 L. Symes beat C. Winterbourn, 9-6, 9-5, 9-5; E. Hensley beat V. Gunn, 10-9, 9-2. 3-9, 5-9, 9-7; G. Sinclair lost to A. McKenna, 9-2, 9-1, 2-9, 5-9, 5-9; J. Douglas ,beat K. Johnston, 9-6, 3-9, 7-9, 9-7, 9-3.