Upset loss for Devoy

Press, 30 September 1986, Page 32

Upset loss for Devoy

TIM DUNBAR

New Zealand has qualified for the final of the Honda-Air New Zealand women’s squash test series in spite of Susan Devoy’s upset five-set loss to Australia’s Liz Irving at the Christchurch club last evening. The New Zealand side, which will meet England at the Khandallah club, Wellington, this evening made the final comfortably enough on a countback of games. Its No. 2, Joanne Williams, had registered a 3-0 victory over Cath Bellemore earlier in the unofficial test match. “I’m just pleased I’ve got a good partner,” an off-colour Devoy told the gallery after the contest

Devoy has been feeling run-down recently and said she was unable to concentrate sufficiently for long rallies. Before the game she had even considered pulling out. She actually led, 7-2, in the fifth game, but was then unable to offer much resistance as Irving won seven points in one hand to go to a 108, 5-9, 5-9, 9-1, 9-7 victory. Even so the quality of the 48min match — sparkling exhibition squash — enthralled the spectators. Irving, aged 21, showed some clever racket skills, was very fast round the court and retrieved well. When Devoy was able to combine hard hitting witfc a lovely touch at the

front of the court she looked set to dominate, but she could not keep this up when it mattered in the last two games. The Devoy-Irving clash was easily the longest contest of the night, though Williams and Bellemore also had an excellent match. While Williams won, 10-9, 9-2, 9-6, in 34min, she faced a gutsy opponent who never gave up the struggle as time and again she had to dig the ball out of the back corner. The England side of Lucy Soutter and Lisa Opie, respectively ranked No. 3 and No. 4 in the . world, had little trouble wrapping up the other semi-final

an International side comprising Alicia McConnell (United States) and Donna Gurran (New Zealand). Like Irving later on, Opie showed considerable flair and was probably only a three-quarter pace in her straight games win. Soutter took only 26min to beat Donna Gurran, covering the court well, and showing some deft touches of deception up front. Results.— New Zealand 1 (5 games), Australia 1 (3 games): S. Devoy lost to L. Irving, 8-10, 9-5, 9-5, 1-9, 7-9. J. Williams beat C. Bellemore, 10-9, 9-2, 9-6. England 2, International team 0: L. Soutter beat D. Gurran, 9-7, 9-1, 9-2. L. Opie beat A. McConnell, 9-7, 9-5, 9-3.