BADMINTON

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23504, 19 May 1938, Page 5

BADMINTON

By Shuttle

CLUB HOURS Balmacewen. —Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Camac.—Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Dunedin.—Mondays, Thursdays,' and Saturdays. Dunedin Twenty.—Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Maori Hill.—Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. United.—Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. University.—Wednesday nights. Oamaru.—Tuesdays and Thursdays. FIXTURES Saturday.—Dunedin Twenty v. Timaru. June 28.—Otago v. Australia, at Oam- . aru. June 30.—South Island v. Australia, at Dunedin. A GRADE MATCHES Thk first round of the Otago Association A Grade competition was played off on Tuesday night, when Dunedin defeated United by 12 games to four, and Dunedin Twenty won from Balmacewen by 10 games to six. For the first matches of the season the standard of play, as was to be expected, was not particularly high, but some close contests were witnessed, and there were two surprise defeats. Of these, the most unexpected was the defeat of G. R. Dickinson by L. Swallow, thr United man taking victory after playing a third set. In the Twenty-Bal-macewen match, Miss Lillas Samson lost to Miss O Erridge. DUNEDIN v. UNITED After a slow start, Swallow settled down and played some forceful badminton against Dickinson, whom he defeated 11—8, 3—ll, 11—8. The United man played some fine cross

court smashes and dropshots to take the first set, but his opponent forced the pace to win the second set. In the third set, however, it was obvious that Dickinson was feeling the strain, for many of his best shots were finding the net. In his first appearance for Dunedin, J.- Shand. the former Twenty Club player,, scored a convincing victory oyer J. Steven. Both men, however, played hard games, and Steven employed a severe smash which kept the Dunedin man on the defensive for a fair period of the encounter. By changing his pace, Shand trapped his opponent into many mistakes and took victory after the second set. Against J. Laidlaw. the Dunedin player, G. Gray, encountered stern opposition and was defeated in two sets. Dunedin secured a further victory in the Men's Singles, when J, Tansley, former Twenty Club player, defeated R. Stark, who, however, put up a fine showing before losing the third set. Tansley forced the pace from the start and had his opponent on the defensive. The United man won several points with beautifully-executed dropshots. but his smashing lacked sting. In the Women's Singles Dunedin won three of the four matches, Miss Kerr defeating Miss L. Brown, Miss J. Hay winning from Miss R. Foster, and Miss P. Stuart securing a five-point win from Miss Archer. Miss M'lntosh, who played No. 4 for United, produced some attractive stroke play ta defeat Miss Burt, The game was noteworthy for some exciting exchanges at the net, and although the United girl held the upper hand. Miss Burt retaliated strongly. Before the season is much further advanced it will not be surprising if Miss Mcintosh is elevated to a higher position in the team. . Dunedin won the Women's Doubles outright, and the Men's Doubles were halved, Gray and Stark causing a surprise by defeating Shand and Tansley. In the Mixed Doubles, Stark and Miss Brown won the only set for United by defeating Tansley and Miss Hay.

DUNEDIN TWENTY v BALMACEWEN In the match between Dunedin Twenty and Balmacewen there were several new players making their first appearance in A Grade competition The two new men in the Twenty side —N. Lawson and J. Smith—showed by their performances that they merited inclusion in the team. The hill team, although beaten by 10 games to six. nevertheless played some good badminton, but it was the women members who were the more consistent. Dunedin Twenty won the Men's Singles, but the Women's Singles were halved, Misses L. and D. Samson losing to Misses, O. Erridge and E. Buchler respectively. These two Balmacewen players also won the Women's Doubles match against Misses L and D Samson. ' The Balmacewen team included C. Elmes, a B Grade playpr last year, and A. Hindle, another newcomer to the A. Grade competition. TWENTY CLUB'S TOURNEY A spirit of enthusiasm prevailed at the Dunedin Twenty Club's courts on Saturday night, when some 50 members took part in a Yankee tourna.ment. The tourney, which was combined with a social evening, was a marked success from every angle, and reflected great credit on the controlling officials—Miss L. H. Fraser. the club's secretary, and Messrs Nigel Oliphant and F. Esquilant. The winners were W. Abbott and Miss E. Wilson, who, in the final, defeated J. Swan and Miss Winton. Most

of the games were keenly contested, and there were some long-fought rallies.

On Saturday next the club will entertain a party of players from Timaru, and members who intend to be present should Witness some hard-fought games between the visitors and the Twenty side.

Members are reminded that, from May 27 until June 20, the courts will not be available for play because of the hall being required for the Winter Show. It is gratifying to report, however, that the period for which the courts'will be closed is not so long as has been the case in former years

CAMAC PLAYING A GRADE Since it was previously announced that the Camac Club would not be placing a team in the A Grade Competition, there has been a fresh burst of activity on the part of members who belong to this popular little club, with the result that the club captain (G. Henderson) announces that he is now able to field a team The weakness of the team lies in its women players, for two of them have only made their acquaintance with the sport this season.. The players themselves, however, are not deterred, and feel confident that they will quickly master the difficulties which beset all beginners, and help the club to maintain its fine reputation. The team had a bye on Tuesday night, but for its first match the women players will probably be Misses Betty Werner, Mila Ballantyne (a B Grade player last year), and two new players in Miss Rema Ball and Miss Grace Lean

The four men to wear the Camac Club's colours need no introduction to local players, for each of them made his presence felt in competition matches last season. After a busy season at cricket, G. Lemin, an aggressive player, will be a difficult man to defeat, while a no less formidable opponent will be S. Gourley, an exponent of the indoor game who has made great strides since he made a start some three years ago. Gourley 's always active about the court, has a quick eye, and is a shrewd positional player. .It will not be surprising if he causes a few upsets in the inter-. club fixtures this year. G. Connor, another member of the team who has a sound knowledge of the sport, will also be hard to beat. Connor has some fine victories to his credit, and has been aptly described as the chess player of badminton. The quartet will be completed with the Inclusion of G. Henderson,-who, although he did not play a great deal last year, has a complete understanding of the .game, and has done a vast amount-of, work in assisting the club to place a team in the field. Camac's entry into the competition will be watched with interest

JOTTINGS H. C. Dillon, one of Otago's foremost players last season* has dropped out of the game this year., Dillon, who is now in Christchurch, was at the top of his form at the Dominion championships last year, and those who saw him go down fighting to P. Hawksworth, the New Zealand champion, will be disappointed to know that he is thinking of retiring from the game. There is little doubt that, had he been in form this year,.he would have had strong claims for inclusion In the South Island team which is to meet the Australians- at Dunedin next month. Dillon made the Camac Club and proved a valuable leader ,to bis side. The Wanganui badminton team, which participated in a representative match against Taranaki players at New Plymouth recently, suffered defeat. Taranaki won 16 games, 35 sets and 648 points to Wanganui's 8 games. 26 sets and 561 points. To assist in the selection of a Wellington badminton team to play the Australian side touring New Zealand p.t the end of June, the Wellington Association has decided to play ranking matches among top grade players of the city on May 18, May 23, June 1, June 3 and June 7. The ranking 'matches will also have an effect on the composition of the side to play in the interprovincial tournament at Palmerston North during the week-end of May 28. Teams from practically every North Island association will compete at the tournament. Mr C. J. E. Smith. New Plymouth, has been appointed a New Zealand badminton selector. The North and South Island teams will each be chosen by one man appointed by the associations in that island, and these two will co-operate with Mr Smith in the selection of the New Zealand team. The North Island selector is Dr G. W. Gower, Hamilton, and the South Island selector is Mr G. R. Dickinson, Dunedin.

Whitcombes for Badminton.*