Cunningham, Devoy clinch national titles

Press, 11 September 1986, Page 42

Cunningham, Devoy clinch national titles

By

TIM DUNBAR

Expectations of a cracking men’s final were sadly disappointed when Paul Viggers (Sumner) and Stephen Cunningham (Geyser City) met in the Railfreight New Zealand squash championships at Timaru yesterday. While Cunningham was the top seed and slight favourite numerous pundits believed that the shotmaking ability of Viggers would give him the edge. Instead the consistency of the young Bay of Plenty man took him to an easy 9-0, 9-3, 9-5 victory in only 37 minutes, giving the Timaru

Squash Rackets Club bar unexpectedly heavy early custom. The women’s title went for the fourth time in a row to Susan Devoy (Henderson) who lifted her game when she had to in a 9-5, 5-9, 9-4, 9-1 scoreline against Joanne Williams (Eden-Epsom). In the men’s final Cunningham, aged 21, put pressure on the much more experienced Viggers, aged 26, from the start with his tight length and good court coverage. After the preliminary exchanges Cunningham' won 12 straight points before a seemingly nervous Viggers got another

serve. The first game was over in just smin, and it was 15min before Viggers won his first point Nine times in succession Viggers found the tin with overheads, drops or boasts, some of them attempts to end a rally quickly with a winner. “Either they all go up or they go down,” said Viggers afterwards. In some instances, though, it was “down” by a long way. Viggers knew that against the much fitter Cunningham he had to attack. “There was no point thumping it up and down the wall waiting for him to make an error,” he said.

He paid tribute to Cunningham for his game plan: “To stick a shot player in the back corner is a sensible way to go about it.” It was a fine performance by Cunningham who is frequently applauded for his dedicated approach. He was delighted to make the national championship honours board and win the Riddiford Gold Cup. “The rewards and success make all the sacrifices worth while,” he said. As world champion, people expected Devoy to win the women’s final as of right, but there were periods when Williams

threatened to dominate the 43min match. “It is difficult when so much is riding on it,” said Devoy. “All the pressure is mine.” While happy with her win Devoy felt, that she was too slow round the court and did not play very positively. “I was not as bouncy as I usually am.” Since the British Open in late April Devoy has been short of match play and with all her commitments to sponsors and promoters has found it hard to fit in training. Williams, the only serious rival to Devoy in New Zealand, played some beautiful squash. She had the ability to

take the pace off the ball and played some nice drop shots and one real leather boast. She deservedly won the second game, forcing Devoy into error on the forehand as she had to stretch for the ball in the front corner. When Williams went on to lead 4-2 in the third game her confidence must have risen, but ?he was able to win only one more point in the match — of 17 scored. Viggers might have failed to fire in his final, but the two other members of the Canterbury inter-districts teams in action yesterday both met with success. Julie Quinn won the women’s

championship consolation plate and Elliott Jones the men’s championship special plate after a iong five-set battle with Otago’s Mark Gribben. Results: Men Final: S. Cunningham (Geyser City) beat P. Viggers (Sumner), 9-0, 9-3, 95. Play-off for third and fourth: A. McMurtrie (Hamilton) beat R. Watt (Hamilton), 8-10, 9-3, 10-8, 91. Classic plate: S. Harrison (Ponsonby) beat R. Espie (Tauranga), 5-9, 9-5, 9-2, 9-5. Special plate: E. Jones (Christchurch) beat M. Gribben (Otago), 9-6, 6-9, 9-3, 4-9, 9-4. Plate: K. Kennedy

(Timaru Celtic) beat G. Norman (Eden-Epsom), 9-4, 9-2, 6-9, 9-7. Consolation plate: J. B. Oakley (Henderson) beat P. Wright (Kaikorai), 9-2, 9-7, 9-7. ■ Women Final: S. Devoy (Henderson) beat J. Williams (EdenEpsom), 9-5, 5-9, 9-4, 9-1. Third and fourth play-off: D. Gurran (Remuera) beat C. Te Kani (Geyser City), 4-9, 6-9, 9-5, 9-4, 9-4. Classic plate: S. Taylor (Panmure) beat J. Peed (Taihape), 9-5, 9-7, 1-9, 10-9. Special plate: D. Ellis (Invercargill) beat J. Norton (Otago), 9-5, 9-1, 7-5 default. Plate: L. Hati (Galatea) beat S. Smith (Mt Maunganul), 9-3, 9-3, 9-3. Consolation plate: J. Quinn (Linwood) beat C. Horton (Tokoroa), 9-4, 9-2, 9-6.