BADMINTON TOURNEY

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 207, 30 May 1938, Page 11

BADMINTON TOURNEY

Interprovincial Matches At

Palmerston North

SEVERAL SURPRISES

Dominion Special Service.

Palmerston North, May 29.

The interprovincial badminton tournament conducted by the Manawatu association, which was a trial of strength, stamina and temperament, began yesterday morning at Palmerston North, and finished this afternoon. Eight teams, each of four meu and four women, participated, representing Wellington, Hawke’s Bay, Wairarapa, Wanganui, Taranaki, Auckland and Manawatu provinces.

Results were: — A section: Auckland, 37 wins; Wellington A, 31; Wairarapa. 19; Taranaki,

B section. Manawatu, 35; Wellington B, 27 ; Wanganui, 25; Hawke’s Bay, 9. Play was watched by Dr. G. W. Gower, North Island selector, who is to choose the North Island team to meet the Australian side which will tour the Dominion toward the end of next month. Dr. Gowy said that generally speaking play was of a high standard, in some cases particularly so. The matches, though well organised, were not, however, played under championship conditions, the hall being not quite big enough and having- too many overhead obstructions. The great number of entries necessitated a reduction of the length of games, and this had the effect of npt giving players time to make a recovery. Commenting on complaints that the brand of shuttle used was too last, he said this was due to atmospheric conditions. So far as women players were concerned there seemed to be a dearth of promising younger players. ~One of the outstanding features of the two-day tournament was the unexpected defeat of the New Zealand champion, P. Hawksvj’orth (Wairarapa), by JSpedding (Taranaki) and E. A. Roussell (Wellington). Hawkswortb was not showing his true form by a long. way. The fast that many high lobs hit the rafters overhead was inclined to put him off. He wcti one of three singles, defeating Wilson (Auckland), after a close twoset struggle. Brilliant Woman Player.

The most brilliant effort of any player in the tourney was that of Miss Thelma Greaves (Wfjnganui). . She was top woman of her team, which played in the B section, and won every match she played, completely outclassing her singles opponents in particular. With Miss Babbage and A. Holroyd she won all the women’s doubles and mixed doubles. Her record, is one which it is understood is unequalled in the Dominion, for in the past four years she has not lost a tournament or club game. The only time she has tasted defeat was several years ago, when playing against Miss N. Fleming (Wellington), but in the request test match to-day against the same player she won'•most impressively, 15-9. Miss Greaves was definitely superior to any other B grade player, and it was unfortunate that she could not get opportunity at the tournament to play against more players of her own class. In another test match E. J. Ridyard, top player in the Wellington B team, who was also out of his class, met Anderson, third man for Auckland, and beat him unquestionably 21-8. Ou his play Ridyard was well worth his place in the A team, headed by E. A. Roussell. The latter was beaten by Wilson (Auckland) 11-2, 5-11, 9-11, but recorded wins against Hawkswortb (Wairarapa) 7-11, 11-2, 11-7, and’against J. Spedding (Taranaki) 1-11, 11-4, 11-8. G. A. Pearce, second Wellington man, was not as impressive as usual, but secured two wins, going down to R. Therkleson (Taranaki) 7-11, 9-12. Anderson (Auckland) found Reid (Wellington) his hardest opponent in the singles, but disposed of him in two sets, 11-10, 11-7. He beat Lulham (Wairarapa) 12-11, 11-7, and D. Therkleson (Taranaki) 11-7, 12-10. Mrs. Hawksworth Beaten. It was not expected that Mrs. P. Hawksworth (Wairarapa) would suffer three defeats in singles matches, being the holder of both the Wellington and North ■lsland titles. She was not at all up to standard, and lost to Miss N. Fleming (Wellington) 4-9, 7-10, Miss Ramsay (Auckland) 6-9, 5-9, and Miss D. McCarthy (Taranaki) 9-3,‘4-9, 8-10. She found most difficulty in smashing effectively. and was not as accurate as usual in her placements. Hawksworth and Mrs. Hawksworth had more success in the mixed doubles, beating Spedding and Miss McCarthy (Taranaki) 11-6, 11-7; Hull and Mrs. Wren (Auckland) 12-11, 11-5, and losing to Roussell and Miss Fleming (Wellington) 10-12, 11-6, 7-11, \ In doubles players Reid-Tlnd Miss C. Phillips (Wellington) secured two wins most impressively and showed on the whole more combination than the other pairs.

One of the best all-round performances was that: of Mrs. Wren (Auckland), an ex-New Zealand title-holder. Miss Flcm-

ing (Wellington) also impressed, but her team-mate, Miss Fernie, top-ranker in Wellington’s women’s tennis, was rather off her game. She played much better in the doubles, however, than in the singles, the results of which were somewhat disappointing. Miss Ramsay (Auckland) and Miss McCarthy (Taranaki) played most consistently and displayed a wide variety of useful strokes. Abbreviated results are as follows: — Section A. Auckland beat. 'Wellington A, 11 matches to 5 ; Wellington A beat Wairarapa, 12-4; Wellington A beat Taranaki, 14-2; Auckland beat Wairarapa, 12-4; Auckland beat Taranaki, 14-2; Wairarapa beat Taranaki, 11-5. Section B. , Manawatu beat "Wellington B, 11-5; Manawatu beat Hawke’s Bay, 15-1; Manawatu beat Wanganui, 9-7; Wanganui beat Hawke’s Bay, 13-3: Wellington B beat Hawke’s Bay, 11-5; Wellington B beat Wanganui, 11-5.

TWENTY-NINE TITLES

Mr. And Mrs. Hawksworth’s Record Dominion Special Service. Palmerston North, May 29. Between them Mr. and Mrs. P. Hawksworth, Wairarapa, hold 29 official badminton titles, which is a performance unequalled in the history of the game in the Dominion. They were eagerly watched at the interprovincial tournament which concluded at Palmerston North to-day by a crowd of spectators. It is understood they will be defending all their titles. Hawksworth holds 17: New Zealand, Otago, Hawke’s Bay, North Island and Wairarapa men’s singles, doubles and combined doubles, and Wellington singles and men’s doubles. Mrs. Hawksworth holds the New Zealand and Otago women’s doubles and combined doubles, North Island, Wellington, Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa women's singles, Wellington women’s doubles and Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa combined doubles.

TEST MATCHES AGAINST AUSTRALIANS

Dominion Special Service. Palmerston North, May 29., It was announced at Palmerston North to-day that the Governor-General, Lord Galway, will be present at the Test match to be played at Wellington on June 5 between New Zealand and the visiting Australian badminton players. The official North and South Island teams to meet the Australians will be announced at Wellington on June 13. After the North and South Island tests, the New Zealand team will be selected. The North Island selector is Dr. G. \V. Gower. Hamilton, and for the South Island Mr. G. R. Dickenson, Dunedin. These two, together with Mr. C. J.. E. Smith, New Plymouth, nre the New Zealand selectors.