BADMINTON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22904, 11 June 1936, Page 4

BADMINTON

By Shuttle,

DUNEDIN TWENTY CLUB On Saturday evening last the Dunedin Twenty Club held a most successful Yankee tournament, but, as was only to be expected, there was a surplus of women players present. This difficulty was overcome, however, by some of the strongest women players acting as substitutes for the men. Approximately 40 members participated. in some most enjoyable games, and, even after the tournament-winners had been announced, the courts remained in use until a late hour. Owing to the intervention of ' the Winter Show, the Twenty Club will be without the use of its courts for about another three weeks, and. judging by the keenness displayed on Saturday night, players grasped this as an opportunity to indulge in some hard practice. The respective section winners were as follows;—Swan and Miss Fraser. Tanslcy and Miss Robertson, Green and Miss Aitken, and Misses Johnston and Angell. Frapwell and Miss Palmer were combining well, and had registered two good wins, but in their third game against Tansley and Miss Robertson they unexpectedly faded, and were well beaten 11—2. In the finals, Swan and Miss Fraser finished strongly by defeating Green and Miss Aitken 15—8. It is to be hoped that similar tournaments will bo more frequently held, for, apart from the practice that members obtain, it is a splendid way of mixing up the players. Some dissatisfaction has recently been apparent among the newer members, who, because of their inexperience, find themselves unable to be paired with stronger members of the club. To improve your standard of play it is only natural that you should play with (or against) stronger opponents than those whose play is only equal to that of your own. Mixing with stronger players is a (,-nre way for beginners to gain confidence, in addition to making them realise that something more than mediocre play is now required of them. A striking example of this was revealed in the tournament on Saturday night, when Miss Fraser, a first-year player, who partnered Swan throughout the play, gave a creditable performance. Certainly Swan had the heavy end of the stick, but will) hie knowledge and experience of the game this was no great handicap for him. On the other hand, Miss Fraser, realising what was required of her, played one of her best games to date, and so assisted her partner in winning.

DUNEDIN CLUB The Dunedin Club also held a most enjoyable Yankee tournament on Saturday night last, when a large number of entrants participated in the _ play. The winners of the, various sections were: Wright, and Miss Campbell, Dr Portoous and Mrs Thompson, Hurt and Miss Brewer. Misses Kerr and MacDonald. Hart and Mrs Longbottom, Laidlaw and Mrs Clapporton. In the semi-finals, after setting at 13 all. Wright and Miss Campbell went down to Burt and Miss Brewer s—o. Laidlaw and Mrs Clapporton defeated Hart and Mrs Longbottom To —11: and in the finals this same pair bad little difficulty in winning from Burt and Miss Brewer 15—4.

A GRADE MATCHES DUNEDIN TWENTY v. CAMAC. Badminton, like most, other sports, is a game in which the successes of the players fluctuate as often and frequently as prices on the Stock Exchange. The match on Monday night between Dunedin Twenty and Camac proved no exception. Though winning only live games of the 12 played, Camac showed itself to be a greatly improved team and played some really good badminton. In the Men s Doubles the two clubs broke even, Swan and Abbott winning both their sets 13 —7, 15—9, against Dillon and Lemin, and 12—15, 15—10, 15—0 against Connor and Henderson. Tansley and Shand went down to Connor and Henderson in two straight sets 11 —15, 12 —15, yet it took three sets to decide the issue against Dillon and Lemin, who won 15 —3, 6—15. Swan and Abbott both played " ell, but tbc former was not so consistent with his smashes as hitherto. Abbott, on the other hand, varied his play nicely and won aces with effective drop-shots, lausley and Shand, the other Twenty pair, although playing attractive badminton, were beaten by a better combination. Connor and Henderson both put up a good showing, the former particularly, as he varied his play nicely and realise! the advantage gained by good positional play. Connor, unlike some players, does not rely solely on one particular stroke, and though he uses the smash effectively, he is not given to over-doing it. Dillon and Lemin also revealed some good strokes. Dillon countered innumerable smashes and covered the court well. His partner, who puts power behind his shots, can be most deceptive on occasions, and a stroke that looks like being a gentle pat invariably turns out to be a vigorous Bm fn the Women’s Doubles Camac managed to take only one game, Mrs Clarke and Miss Samson going down to Misses Eiridgo and Werner 21—19. Misses Bolwell and Angell, partnered together for tlie first time, combined well to win both their games, and Miss Bolwell, always at home on the back line, smashed effectively. Misses Erridge and Werner were too steady for the Twenty pair, who also were together for the first time. Miss Erridge has a good variety of strokes, is very active, and plays coolly, while her partner, Miss Werner moves quickly about the court and generally clears well. The Mixed Doubles, which, incidentally, produced the surprise of the evenings were halved, each club winning two games. By defeating Swan and Miso Bolwell, tbc Camac pair, Dillon and Miss Rigby, rightly earned the warm congratulations of the spectators. This is the first occasion in interclub competitions that the combination of the Twentypair has been so unexpectedly jolted. No excuse can be offered, however, for on the evening’s play the Camac couple was definitely superior to its opponents and won comfortably by 21 —17. Mi«? Bolwell, at the net, was repeatedly beaten by well-placed shots from Dillon, while Swan was somewhat inaccurate with his smashing. Perhaps had the Twenty pair played the side-by-side formation its game may have improved, but even so, the Camac players were on top and did the majority- of the attacking. Miss Kigby gave Dillon splendid support, and she was particularly active about the court, especially in getting to drop-shots. Abbot and Mrs Clark combined well to defeat Lemin and Miss Werner 21—15 and Shand and Miss Samson took their game easily from Henderson and Miss Erridge by 21 —11. Connor ami Miss Einslie met no serious opposition from Tansley and Mia? Angell, whom they defeated 21 —6. DUNEDIN A v. UNITED A.

On Tuesday night last Dunedin A met United, and, after some enjoyable games, won the match by 8 games to 4. In the Men's Doubles Edgar and Kerr went down to both Swallow and Turton and Craik and Walker. Tho other Dunedin pair won botli its games, thus equalising matters.

United took only one game in the Women's Doubles, Miss Brown and Mrs Turton defeating Miss Hay and Mrs Edgar. In the Mixed Doubles Dunedin again showed its superiority by winning throe games out of four, the United pair managing to defeat Edgar and Miss Haj'.

MAORI HILL CLUB On Saturday night last the Maori Hill Club entertained players from the Balmaeewon Club in a friendly match, and, after some most enjoyable games, the score board read 9 games to 7 in favour of Maori Hill. At the conclusion of this friendly match the players of both clubs interchanged with partners, some interesting games resulting.

B GRADE MATCH DUNEDIN' B v. UNIVERSITY. Playing their first game since returning from vacation, the students lost to Dunedin B last week by eight points to four. The first two men and two women of the University team won their games, but, apart from these, Dunedin B was not severely tested. Though the University team is a newcomer to the club competitions, it possesses some promising players.

EXHIBITION GAMES In connection with the forthcoming visit of J. F. Devlin, who will make his first public appearance in Dunedin on Thursday night next at the Y.M.C.A., the following local players have been in-

vitpd to participate in exhibition games: Messrs J. Swan, G. Dickinson; J. Laidlaw, R. Craik, and Misses M. Bolwell, M. Kerr, L. Brown, and Mrs Clarke. Kerr. L. Brown, nad Mrs Clarke.