BADMINTON

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 228, 23 June 1936, Page 2

BADMINTON

Play in Inter-club

Matches

DEVLIN AT WINTER SHOW BUILDING

(Bx

Shuttle.)

Reference was made in last week’s notes to Miw. A. D. Latham playing second in her club team when, in fact, the standard of her play was clearly such that she ought undoubtedly to have been number one. It has since been explained that the positions in her club’s team are determined by a challenge ladder and that prior to the matches reviewed she was number two on it. In the matches last Wednesday she played number one, having deposed the previous number one player. The whole position raises an interesting point. That Mrs. Latham is the best woman player at present competing in the Wellington inter-club matches is clear from results. Almost from the first she has shown form which has been beyond others to cope with. Starting at number four position in her team she has been so long reaching number one that it would appear that no real energy is displayed iji the club by players to defend their positions when a challenge has been issued. This is a common failing with all ladders. , ,

Thus, it is possible for a team placing of one club to be unfair to another club team. In this case, the ease with which Mrs. Latham has succeeded in defeating her opponents from other teams gives force to the argument. In effect her opponents, placed number three or two, have been opposed by a player who ought really to have been playing number one. The remedy is plain. Where a club committee sees a player in its team is showing definitely better standard than a player or players above, then the committee ought to arrange a special match to see that the team placing is in order of merit. Should there be an# unwillingness on the part of the higher player or players to play such.a special match the committee ought to accept the responsibility and amtmd the positions accordingly. '

Reid in Form. J. M. Allison was no match for D. Reid, who played one of his best games tliis seasoji. Reid was hitting the shuttle more crisply than hitherto, smashing straight and placing very accurately. Allison was quite unable to get going against him. R. Sneddon plays a versatile game in which placement is relied bn more than heavy smashing. He had R. A. Whyte doing most of the running. E. Roussell, whom Devlin considers one of the best players in the Dominion, was too good for L. K. Wilson, lhere are times when Roussell has unaccouutable lapses, but when he decides to play all out there is scarcely anybody in M ellington able to defeat him. He is particularly deadly in his smashing. C. W. Batten beat C. Evans-Scott in a game in which the latter was not giving an impressive display. Batten on the* other hand played a sound all-round game

Improving Form. J. Vaughan, because of the severity of his smashing and his ability to vary his strokes, was never in danger from J. Charters despite the latter's fine fight in the second set. Charters still give': evidence of improvement in his game. The game between N. Hull-Brown and C. Gould was one of long and interesting rallies with both players placing accurately to all parts of the court, and both .making fine recoveries. There was plenty of smashing but not of a very devastating nature. It was a game more of tactics than strength, and there was little between the players. One of the best displays among the men was given by D. Coofhbe, who shows that he is rapidly climbing to be amo-j the leading lights. He took tjje first set off the energetic and much improved V. Dixon, no mean achievement. All that Coombe requires to consolidate his game is greater experience of match play. F. Manoy and Du Chateau had a very long game, free of purple patches, in which both players displayed about equal ability. Most of their mistakes were the result of slowness in starting alter drop shots.

The Women. . , , Mrs. A.' D. Latham continued her match-winning way, beating Mrs. Turnbull, who is one of the most aetermined and hard-fighting players in Wellington, fairly decisively. Airs. Latham moved quickly about the court, placed to all parts of it, varied her gurie excellently, and never allowed Mrs. Turnlull to g°t properly set to play her shots. Latham was particularly effective with the lob after she had drawn Mrs. Turnbull in close. Miss C. Phillips was too good for Aliss Hale, while Miss Gray was altogether too steady for Miss S. Todd. Miss Gray doe s not play a spectacular game, but she gets the shuttle back to a position that requires careful handling by the opponent, and she keeps a good court position. Aliss McGoun played very pluckily against Mass N. Morgan, but she was unable to accustom herself to the puzzling way in which Miss Alorgan varied her game, particularly in her droi> shots and her angled placements. Aliss McGoun was for the* most part on the defensive. While Aliss Leach is (o be congratulated on her win over Miss Ryan, it must, be said in justice that Aliss Ryan was not up to her best form. Aliss Leach, however, is a player who is improving with every game. She trees her heigh' and reach to advantage and is so fast about the court that very few shuttles escape her, even though she may make a mistake with the return. Miss Kitson plays a sound game in which defence, more than attack, is dominant. It was this defence that enabled her to beat Airs. Hull-Brown. Ali.ss Charters has not yet succeeded in eliminating a certain slowness in start ing off after the shuttle. Her lateness in arriving at it makes it impre-sible for her to make a decisive shot, even when she hits at it confidently, which is not, often. Thus she was not a very difficult opponent for Mis« J. Denby, who played with ease and judgment. Miss E. Driller showed a tremendous improvement on her previous games, showing that she has conquered a great deal of her nervousness. When she remembers to be aggressive she does very well. Attack is her best defence.

Exhibition by Devlin. To-morrow night the people of Wellington, and badminton players especially, will have an opportunity of seeing Devlin, the world-famous exponent, in ac tion again at the Winter Show building A comprehensive programme has been drawn up, and most of Wellington’s crack players will be seen in exhibition mutches against each other, and in competition with Devlin. The matches should be well worth seeing.