BADMINTON NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 22915, 13 June 1936, Page 20

BADMINTON NOTES

THIS WEEK’S GAMES

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The B grade badminton matches for Wednesday are: Invercargill I v. All Saints; St. John’s v. Britannia; Invercargill II v. Invercargill 111. To-night badminton enthusiasts and the general public will see in action the world’s champion badminton player, J. Devlin. His play will be well worth watching and instructive to all'players. Devlin is taking coaching classes and giving lectures and badminton players are urged to attend these. Reports from northern cities state that the spectators were amazed at the ease and grace with which Devlin plays. Last Monday night the Invercargill Club used its No. 1 court for ladder matches. Misses Oughton and Sawyers challenged Misses Croad and Smith and were beaten in straight sets after a very patchy game. Gray and Smith defeated Springford and Peters after a very even three-set game. The third set was very closely contested, Gray and Smith winning at 15-14 after being down 10-14. A singles challenge was played during the evening between L. Gray and J. Padget. Padget won the first set 11-9, but Gray captured the next two after a very close game. Last Wednesday night the first round of the A grade competition was completed. Britannia, which defeated St. John’s by a comfortable margin of games, has proved itself the strongest team in the first round. Although defeated by nine rubbers to three, the All Saints team showed improved form and played well against Invercargill. Padget and Gray (Invercargill) defeated Boyd and Skelt (All Saints) after a three-set game. Boyd and Skelt won the first set, but Padget and Gray won the next two. Boyd and Skelt played well and were right on their game in the first set, but by playing hardex- Padget and Gray took the game, winning at 21-12 in the third set. A Keen Match. Thompson and Lemin (Invercargill) had a long game against Braithwaite and Mitchell and ran out winners after a very close finish. Thompson and Lemin combined well and were forceful overhead. Wren and Smith (All Saints) played a good game and defeated Dunne and Anderson. Wren and Smith covered the court well and brought off many fine shots. Dunne and Anderson were playing together fox' the first time and did not combine well. Mrs Croad and Miss V. Henry (Invercargill), were fully extended in the first set by Mrs Skelt and Miss Dobbie and won 15-14. In the next set Mrs Skelt and Miss Dobbie made mistakes and were well beaten. Mrs Croad played well from the back court, bringing off some clever drop-shots. Miss Henry was very sound in hexoverhead play. Misses Tansley and Falconer (Invercargill) defeated Misses Provan and White in straight sets. Miss Tansley played a good all-round game, while her partner was responsible for some clever net work. Misses R. Henry and McCallum (Invercargill) made no race of it and accounted for Mrs Melvin and Miss Hunter in straight sets. In the mixed doubles, Wren and Mrs Skelt (All Saints), defeated a strong pair in Padget and Miss Falconer. Wren was very severe overhead and was ably backed up by Mrs Skelt, who played well at the net. Gray and Miss McCallum defeated Boyd and Miss Hunter in straight sets, Miss McCallum playing well at the net. Lemin and Mrs Croad (Invercargill) played well and won from Braithwaite and Mrs Melvin. Lemin played a forceful game and won some hard fought rallys with a well placed smash. Dunne and Miss V. Henry (Invercargill) were hard pressed to defeat Skelt and Miss Provan. This was an interesting game.and went to three sets. Smith and Miss Dobbie (All Saints) were, narrowly defeated by Anderson and Miss R. Henry (Invercargill), who won 15-14 in the third set after a very even game. St. John’s Defeated. It was thought that St. John’s would fully extend Britannia, but it was well beaten in games. This was the important match of the evening and a number of good games were witnessed. In the top men’s doubles Glennie and Jones (St. John’s) were defeated by Strang and Challis (Britannia) after a keenly fought game. Glennie and Jones found touch first and wen the set, 21-11. At this stage of the game Challis was making many errors. In the next two sets Strang and Challis improved and made a great dash and won the game after a very hard struggle. Strang played drop-shots with confidence, while Challis smashed powerfully. Hobbs and Gill (All Saints) had an even game with Mayhew and Shand, the St. John’s pair winning 21-16 in the third set. Oughton and Norris (Britannia) combined well and defeated Cowie and Seivwright in straight sets. Mrs Salisbury and Mrs Clarke (Britannia) were superior in every department of play and easily defeated Misses Sutton and Glennie. Misses Woods and Deegan (Britannia) made a flying start and cap'tured the first set from Misses McNatty and Turner with the loss of only three points. The second set was very even and was won by Misses Woods and Deegan only after a hard struggle. The best game of the evening was between Strang and Miss Woods

(Britannia) and Glennie and Miss Sutton (St. John’s. The Britannia pair won the first set by good placements. Glennie and Miss Sutton evened the score by deep lobs to the backhand. The third set was a very hard struggle. Both pairs played well and long rallys were fought. Strang and Miss Woods won aftex - a good exhibition of backline and net play. Challis and Mrs Salisbury (Britannia) defeated Hobbs and Miss Glennie in straight sets. Challis and Mrs Salisbury are very severe overhead and most of their points were won by hard hitting. Jones and Miss Turnex - (St. John’s) played a good game and defeated Oughton and Miss Deegan. Jones played a strong game, his smashing being well executed. Shand and Miss Basstian (Britannia) had an interesting game against Sievwright and Miss McNatty. The first set went to the St. John’s pair, but Shand and Miss Basstian played harder and captured the game by two sets to one.