Chch retains squash lead

Press, 31 May 1980, Page 12

Chch retains squash lead

Christchurch I has retained its six-point lead in the Wilson Shield men’s division one squash competition, even though its No. 1, Rod Hayes, suffered a. shock loss in the latest round.' Hayes was beaten in five games (after a string of five 3-0 successes in previous, matches) by Christchurch H’s Bryan Simpson who had only scraped up eight points against the same opponent in the Nelson tournament final two days earlier. It was an interesting match, marked by Simpson’s fine retrieves of near-nlcks and the number of drop-shots (half a dozen in one . rally half-way through the final game), though this ploy was all but discarded, •naturally enough, in the closing stages.

Hayes, who made rather too many errors (several unforced), dropped the fourth game as he seemed to lose his usually fierce concentration. He rallied to lead, 5-2, in the 17min fifth, only to drop six points in a row. Simpson had his first match ball when he hit a nick to go to 8-5. However, there were a great number of shots before he finally won the contest with a very tight forehand .drive. at 8-7, on his fourth match' ball. On an earlier match ball he had put a shot just above the red line and let out an anguished cry of "No” as he disputed the call.

That was to be the competition leader’s only loss, the other three players winning comfortably. Don Preston and Wayne Seebeck maintained -their unbeaten records with 3-0 scorelines. Still, it is sure to be a close match next Tuesday night when Christchurch I meets the secondplaced side. High School Old Boys, which also elicited eight points in the latest round. Old Boys overcame their No. 2 club side in quick time thanks to the initial use of two courts. There were no real surprises here though John Tolchard was pushed very hard by Geoff Tait and Matthew Clements had quite a battle with Alan Lowe.

In other matches, Sumner laid further claims to being among the top six for the new competition when it recorded a clean sweep over Suburbs, while University got home in a tight encounter with Linwood, still missing Craig Herbert. The main victory of' note was that of Ryan McCutcheon who turned back, the challenge of the previously unbeaten Murray Carson. ;

Burnside also easily maintained its position in the top six with an 8-2 win over WigramLincoln, which is yet to hit full stride. Chris Wasley gave Lyn Sparks (back on the court after his cartilage operation) his second taste of defeat in a week and Stuart Hargreaves played well to beat David Post in five games. High School Old Boys doubled their lead in the women’s competition with a clean sweep over Linwood. Lorraine Sutherland, the No. I, was too strong for another capable player, Joan Terrell. ’ . •

The other contests all required games countbacks and, in Suburbs ease, a countback on points was required before that team squeaked home by a slender 98-96 margin. Two of the rubbers in the clash between Burnside and Sumnex- went the full distance and the results went different ways. Points:—

Men.—Christchurch I 50, High School Old Boys I 44, Linwood and Burnside 36. Sumner 34, University 30. High School Old Boys II 24. Wigram-Lincoln 20, Suburbs 16, Christchurch II 10. Women.—High School Old Boys 48. Sumner and Burnside 36.

Christchurch I 30,. Linwood and Suburbs 24, Christchurch II 22, University 20. , Results:— Christchurch I 8, Christchurch 11 2 R. W. Hayes lost to B. J. Simpson, 9-3, 3-9, 9-7, 5-9. 7-9; D. R. Preston beat L. Wilson, 9-1, 10-9, 9-3; W, Seebeck beat N. A. Idour, 9-2, 9-3, 10-8; R. D, Monk beat J. P. Martin, 9-6, 9-2, High School Old Boys I 8, High School Olds Boys II 2 . L. P. Skurr beat M. Stossel. 9-2, 9-6, 9-7; W. J. Tolchard beat G. Tait, 9-7, 6-9, 10-9, 9-6; M. Clement beat A. Lowe, 9-4. 3-9, 3-9, 9-0 9-5; J. Knight lost to C. Glasson, 9-6, 6-9. 8-10, 4-9. Sumner 10, Suburbs 0 R. Marshall beat G. Balani. 9-6, 9- 9-6; J. H. Christensen beat L. Plever, 7-9, 9-4, 9-2, 9-5; R. M. , McCutcheon beat M. Carson. 3-9. '■ 10- 9-4, 9-6; J. A, MacDougall beat P. Lublow, 9-1, 2-9, 9-5. 9-0. University 4, Linwood 4 B. D. Matthews beat H. Marshall, 9-0. 9-2, 9-2; H. Dowell beat G. Monk, 9-7, 9-4, 9-6; P. Carpinter lost: to R. Burnett. : 9-7, 6-9. 7-9, 1-9; P. Topschij lost : to G Egan. 1-9, 0-9, 8-10. Burnside 8, Wigram-Lincoln 2 C. J. Waslev beat L. C. Sparks, !

9- 10-9, 9-3; R. Clemente lost to N. D, Rush, 9-0, 5-9, 8-10, 6-9; M. Crosble beat G. Utterldge, 9-1, 10- 6-9. 9-7; V. S. W, Hargreaves beat D. Post, 9-2, 9-7, 3-9. 3-9. 9-2. WOMEN Christchurch II 4, Christchurch I 6 A. Huriwai lost to L. Symes. 9-3, 2-9, 4-9, 3-9; W. Dann beat E. Hensley, 9-1, 6-9, S-6. 5-9, 9-2; J. Calvert beat J. Douglas, 3-9, 9-6, 9-6, 9-3; R. O’Sullivan lost to G. Maaka. 3-9, 1-9, 4-9. University 4,- Suburbs 6 J. James beat C, Winterbourn, 9-1, 8-10. 10-9, 9-0; D. Goosmarx lost to K- Gilray, 5-9, 6-9, 7-9; J. Havill lost to.-K. V. Gunn, 2-9, 9-7, 3-9, 1-9: A. Thomas beat A. McKenna. 9-3, 9-5. 10-9. High Schoo! Old Boys 10, Linwood 0 L. Sutherland beat J. Terrell, 9- 9-5, 9-2; V. Dunstan beat K. Pepper, 9-4, 9-7, 9-1: B. King beat L. Ellis, 9-3, 9-1, 9-2; J, Gemmill beat E. Wilding, 9-3, 9-2, 2-9. 9-7. Burnside 4, Sumner 4 S. O’Brien lost to K. Carpinter, 1- 1-9, 9-10: L. Stringer beat S. Lane. 8-10. 10-9. 9-7, 9-5; A. Hooper beat P. Schafer, 9-1, 9-1, 10- M. Hunt lost to S. Davies, 2- 10-9, 9-3, 2-9, 5-9.