FOURTH ROUND BADMINTON GAMES

Southland Times, Issue 23538, 18 June 1938, Page 15

FOURTH ROUND BADMINTON GAMES

By

OBSERVER

The fourth round of the A grade competition was played this week Invercargill defeating Britannia No. 2. St. John’s beat Invercargill No. 2 by eight games to four. Britannia beat All Saints by 10 games to two. It frequently happens in badminton that two teams that are very evenly matched may meet, and one defeat the other by 12-0, 11-1 or by a similar convincing score. This was the case in the Britannia No. 1-All Saints match. The teams were well matched. Six of the games went the full three sets, and two were set at 14-all in the third. There were some excellent games in this match. Glennie and Norris found Braithwaite and Mitchell slightly below form and won convincingly at 15-10, 15-9. Boyd nad Skelt played a very good game to defeat Gimblett and Pollock after setting the last set. There were several fast and interesting rallies ini this game, both pairs being up to form. Boyd was smashing well, and the All Saints pair covered the court with

more certainty than their opponents. Strang and Challis, who appear to be suffering a decline, defeated Wren and Smith in two good sets. The Britannia women were too strong for their opponents and did not drop a game in taking all three sets from AU Saints. Mrs Salisbury and Miss Ronald had a convincing win over Misses Provan and Whyte, Mrs Salisbury smashing strongly and accurately from back-court. Mrs Mitchell and Mrs Skelt could not get started in the second set against Misses Woods and Deegan, who are playing excellent badminton at present, and Misses Fairbairn and Stead defeated Misses Melvin and Reid 15-2,15-4. The team which wishes to defeat Britannia No. 1 will have a strong trio of women’s doubles to contend with, and no small part in the success of the club is attributable to their sound play. The mixed doubles produced some good games. Glennie and Mrs Salisbury finished the better in their game with Braithwaite and Mrs Provan to win at 15-9, 15-13. The game between Strang and Miss Woods and Mitchell and Mrs Mitchell went to three sets before the Britannia pair went to the front to take the game at 15-9. Challis and Miss Fairbairn had to work hard to take the third set from Boyd and Mrs Skelt the game being set at 14-14. Mrs Skelt played a very fine game at the net.

Wren and Miss Reid scored for All Saints by defeating Pollock and Miss Deegan 15-13, 15-13 in a good game. Wren was smashing strongly and was well supported by his partner at the net.

The Invercargill I-Britannia Hearne resulted in a comfortable win for Invercargill I by 11 games to 1. Despite the strength of the opposition the Britannia II team gave good opposition in most of the games and as the majority of the players have not long begun match play they should profit by these games with stronger

The match between-'the two unbeaten teams Britannia I and Invercargill I, is set down for the next round and should be a well-fought game. St. John’s was defeated on Wednesday night in a challenge match for the Van Staveren Cup, which has gone to Invercargill as the result of their win by four games to two. Play was handicapped to a great extent by the condition of the floor, which was suffering from an overdose of ball-room powder and was consequently extremely slippery. Under these conditions the matches were games of taptics, and fast play precluded. Britannia’s challenge will now be played against Invercargill, whose team for the St. John’s game was McCallum, Dunne, Maxted in the men and Misses McCallum, Cutt and Tansley. The Britannia team has not yet been selected, but there is plenty of good material available.

The South Island team to play the Australian team has been announced: Swan and Abbott, of Dunedin are a strong pair who should give a good account of themselves, both in singles and in doubles. The individual record of Miss Kerr, of Dunedin and Mrs Salisbury, of Invercargill, are sufficiently reassuring for singles play, and from their games together last week it would appear likely that they will be an effective doubles combination

Badminton is going strongly in the country districts, and reports from the secretary of the Central District show that the Wallacetown team is at present leading in the competition for the Emerson Cup, with Thornbury in second place. A good entry from country districts can be expected for the Southland championships later in the season.

Britannia is sending a mixed team to Gore tonight to play against the Gore Club which has a large and keen list of members.