BADMINTON TEST

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 6, 7 July 1938, Page 5

BADMINTON TEST

IMPROVEMENT SHOWN

VISITORS WIN WHYTE TROPHY

Scarcely recognisable as the players who' had the previous night lost so easily, New Zealand's representatives spiritedly fought every, rubber with the Australians when the badminton Test, the first between the two countries, was concluded at the Town Hall last night. Australia won the match j by 16 rubbers to 4, taking first possession of the trophy given for competition between the two countries "by Mr.! and Mrs. D. O. Whyte, Wellington, but j the visitors were given a much, harder j task last night and the standard of play was an immense improvement. The Minister of Internal Affairs (the Hon. W. E. Parry) presented the trophy to the Australians and congratulated the visitors on their splendid record, on and off the court. He declared badminton to be a clean,' invigorating, and exciting sport, ideally suited for developing the physical standards of its players, and valuable therefore in the scheme of national recreation. Mr. H. R. Brady, manager of the Australians, declared that the team had enjoyed every moment of the tour, and he hoped that the return visit of a New Zealand team to , Australia I next year would be as successful in I every way. A different spirit was shown by the New Zealanders from the start of the matches yesterday. In the afternoon three singles matches were played, jnd I in the first Mrs. C. F. Wren gave New Zealand its first rubber by defeating Miss Beryl Cuthbertson. In.the-other two, between Misses I. Hewitt and M. Edmondson and R. Harper and J. Spedding, Australia won; but it was j not without difficulty and .without a good deal of exciting play coming from the Dominion players. Last night, the fine standards shown in the afternoon were developed .when New Zealand won three singles matches, all of them exciting games and all notable for good badminton. R. W. Lewis defeated B. G. Tonkin in a magnificent three-set match which was in dbubt until Tonkin smashed an inch out after extra points in the third set. E. A. Roussell was playing with the delicate touch of his best games and he won from T. Thompson in a grand struggle. Miss Nancy Fleming added lustre to her record by preserving an unbeaten singles record against the "Australians, defeating this time Miss E. Robert. In the doubles, Australia still had the edge in combination, and this factor was responsible for its success in the five matches of the evening. But the path to victory was not easy. P. Hawksworth and Roussell combined splendidly to force C. Craske and Thompson every inch of the way, and only touches of erratic play spoilt their chances of victory. Roussell was the mark of the Australian attack, and he came through in great style, returning smashes with a most confident and accurate control of direction. EXCITING PLAY. j Setting was required in both sets of ! a women's double between Misses M. Horsburgh and B^ Cuthbertson and Miss Edmondson and Mrs. Wren, and as service changed hands several times at 17-all in the second set the crowd was worked to a pitch of. exr citement. Excitement also dominated the other women's double between Misses Robert and Hewitt and Misses Fleming and Mavis Kerr. The New Zealanders were in capital form, swinging the play from side to side and just lacking judgment on shots falling out to score points. Misses Robert and .Hewitt are Australian champions, but the New Zealanders had a fine chance of winning, and with a third set they probably would have. Other matches during the night were all worth watching, and at times the standard of play was excellent. The Australians were, entertaining and clever all the time, and the New Zealanders matched them in entertainment and very nearly in cleverness. Results last, night proved the capabilities of the New Zealand game and established beyond question the possibilities of the best players in the country. It is more than likely that future contests between the two countries will be far from one-sided and that the Australian domination in New Zealand this season will be replaced by New Zealand success shortly. At any rate, the very fine performances of the Australians this season have given New Zealand valuable help. Results (Australian names first) :— Singles.—B. G. Tonkin lost to R. W. Lewis, 15-8, 11-15, 17-18; T. Thompson lost to E. A. Roussell, 5-15, 15-11, 10-15; R. Harper beat J. Spedding, 15-8, 17-14; Miss B. Cuthbertson lost to Mrs. C. F. Wren, 7-11, 5-11; Miss I. Hewitt beat Miss M. Edmondson, 2-11, 11-4, 11-3; Miss E. Robert lost to Miss N. Fleming, 11-5, 1-11, 7-11. Doubles. —C. Craske and T. Thompson beat P. Hawksworth and E. A. Roussell, 10-15, 15-12, 15-6; R. Harper and Tonkin beat Spedding and Lewis, 17-14, 15-8; Misses M. Horsburgh and Cuthbertswn beat Miss Edmondson and Mrs. Wren, 18-14, 17-16; Misses Robert and Hewitt beat Misses M. Kerr and Fleming, 18-17, 18-13; Craske and Miss Cuthbertson beat Hawksworth and Miss Kerr, 21-8.