Norman and Devoy keep squash titles

Press, 14 October 1985, Page 48

Norman and Devoy keep squash titles

PA Auckland The home players, Ross Norman and Susan Devoy, retained their New Zealand open squash titles at Hendersosn with masterly performances in the final rounds yesterday. Norman overcame his great New Zealand rival, Stuart Davenport, in an hour — in which there was a brief outburst by two antiapartheid demonstrators. Devoy, although dropping a game, defeated England’s Lucy Soutter, aged 18, in their 54-minute contest in the Honda City-sponsored tournament. In the semi-finals on Saturday, Devoy was taken to five games by her teammate, Robyn Blackwood. Soutter vanquished a fellow Englishwoman, Lisa Opie the second seed, in straight games. In their play-off for third on Saturday, Opie defeated Blackwood in five games. Davenport lamented that he had not played positvely but, even if the tall Wellingtonian had been at his finest, he would have been well tested to defeat Norman. The beginning had all the touches of a men’s final — long rallies and persistent appeals for lets. After 15 minutes of this 35-minute game, the score was only 2all.

Norman went to 8-4. After the two protesters had been removed, he took the game on his second game ball point. DaVenport led, 2-0, in the second game but Norman began to exert the pressure, with well masked shots which had his opponent groping in despair. The game took only 15 minutes. The pace slowed at the beginning of the third game, but made no difference to Norman, who went to 5-0 as Davenport’s rhythm became even more disturbed and his error rate rose.

The two men now head for the United States Open in San Francisco, and the Canadian Open in Toronoto before they meet in Egypt to represent New Zealand in the world’s team events next month.

Devoy was in a typically ruthless mood as she polished off Soutter in the first game in only 9 minutes. But, at 2-all in the second, there was a sudden change. No-one can relax against this 50kg Englishwoman, as Devoy discovered. The latter hit a few shots into the tin and Soutter moved closer to a game success with a superb crosscourt forehand. Devoy hit the tin again and the match was level. Soutter continued to retrieve splendidly, but Devoy was in command in the third and fourth games. Devoy, recent winner of the world championship, now looks for some rest from competition before she leaves for Britain in search of her third successive British Open. Results:— Men’s semi-finals — R. Norman (New Zealand) beat M. Bodimeade (England), 9-0, 9-3, 9-7; S. Davenport (NZ) beat R. Thorne (Australia), 108, 9-5, 10-8. Final — Norman beat Davenport, 9-4, 9-2, 9-4. Playoff for third: Bodimeade beat Thorne, 9-3, 9-6, 9-5. Women’s championship semi-finals: S. Devoy (NZ) beat R. Blackwood (NZ) 2-9, 9-4, 2-9, 9-4, 9-3; L. Soutter (England) beat L. Opie (England) 9-3, 9-4, 9-7. Final: Devoy beat Soutter, 91 5-9 9-3 9-4. Play-off for third: Opie beat Blackwood, 8-10, 6-9, 9-2, 9-7, 9s