Fourth squash title

Press, 14 September 1989, Page 44

Fourth squash title

By

TIM DUNBAR

The squash version of the velvet glove approach worked wonders for Stephen Cunningham in winning his fourth straight national title at the Christchurch club yesterday. Cunningham’s 9-0, 10-8, 9-6 win over Scott Harrison in a 50-minute final took him within one of the record title haul of five set by Charlie Waugh, of the Palmerston North club, in the early 19605.

Susan Devoy, on the other hand, won her seventh consecutive national women’s championship to break clear of the record she shared with Anne Stephens (nee McKenzie). She beat Joanne . Williams, her opponent in the final once again, 9-1, 9-7, 9-0 in only 24 minutes.

For Cunningham, the tactic of taking the pace right off the ball worked perfectly and he took the first 12 points before any reply was offered. His length was immaculate through almost the entire match and Harrison had few opportunities to dominate rallies.

There are not many balls which Harrison cannot pick up but on a number of occasions Cunningham’s little forehand, drops at the front of the court were just too tight. In the second game Harrison fought back tenaciously to lead, 6-3,

only to trail, 6-8, but then levelled at 8-8 with a boast out of the bdck left corner which hit the nick and rolled along the floor. Unfortunately for the Ponsonby club man, Cunningham hit a winner off a loose serve and then took the next two points for the game, Harrison miscueing a boast in the last rally. The third game brought problems for Cunningham both with the referee, Nichol Taylor, and his opponent. He was 15 seconds late back after the break and was penalised with a loss of service by Mr Taylor; a couple of calls later in the game unluckily went against him and Harrison was in front at both 4-0 and 6-5. As well Cunningham was hit by the ball, bringing his second such bruise within 24 hours. There was a little humour at 4-4 when the players called for a towel to wipe the floor, both also appreciating an excuse for a breather. Harrison initially used the towel to wipe himself down before handing it on to an official who had to get down on his hands and knees to do the mopping-up job. But Cunningham regained the serve at 6-6 and then quickly took the next three points for the match.

Talking about his successful ploy for the match

Cunningham said that Harrison was better than him up front. “If I play to his strengths he beats me every time.” Harrison has had a marvellous season, Devoy was surprised for a different reason after her final, having expected Williams to put up far more resistance. “She just didn’t get into it today.” The first game was all over in six minutes and a frustrated Williams stayed on court practising her shots during the break. Devoy had taken the first eight points in one handin, her length shots being right on target.

Williams went much better in the second game, starting to move her opponent around and even picking up a couple of the deadly Devoy backhand dropshots and flicking them crosscourt for winners. But in the third game, which lasted only min, Williams’ shots got looser and Devoy was devastating, hitting some superb winners with drops and drop volleys and cracking one irretrievable drive hugging the forehand wall.

“I just think I was hitting the ball early and well today,” Devoy said afterwards. “It’s nice to play well.” A lot of her points came when Williams thought she was going to play a drop and instead it would be a crosscourt. Devoy was a

long way from settling for seven titles (with Williams, incidentally, figuring in five of those finals). “I think ten’s a nice number,” she said with a grin. Results.— Men’s open Championship final: 1Stephen Cunningham (Geyser City) beat 2- Scott Harrison (Ponsonby) 9-0, 10-8, 9-6. Play-off for third and fourth: Glen Wilson (Royal Oak) beat Danny McQueen (Geyser City) 9-7, 9-4, 10-8. Classic plate final: Mike McSherry (Kaikohe) beat Mike Penman (Lancaster Park) 10-9, 4-9, 29, 9-1, 9-5. Special plate final: Rod Hayes (Christchurch) beat Barrie Matthews (Palmerston North) 9-0, 4-9, 9-6, 9-7. Plate final: John Bruce (Island Bay) beat Daniel Sharplin (Hinds) 1-9, 9-10, 9-4, 9-1, 9-2. Consolation plate finals: Richard Hay (Otago) beat Murray Sutherland (Hawke's Bay L.T.C.) 7-9, 109, 7-9, 10-8, 9-7. Women’s open Championship final: 1Susan Devoy (Hamilton) beat. 2- Joanne Williams (Taihape) 9-1, 9-7, 9-0. Play-off for third and fourth: Donna Newton (Remuera) beat Marie Pearson (Manurewa) 9-6, 7-9, 9-2, 9- Classic plate final: Kay Collins (Cambridge) beat Jenny Bell (Lugton Park) 9-4, 10- 8-10, 9-7. Special plate final: Carolyn Oakley (Mt Pleasant) beat Jo Smith (Waipu) 9-2, 8-10, 10-8, 9-6. Plate final: Susan Coppersmith (Khandallah) beat Karen Walton (Nelson) 9-5, 91, 9-5. Consolation plate final: Tania Jacobs (Taupo) beat Gaye Munnerley (Christchurch) 9-6, 9-5, 9-3.