New Zealand Badminton Team's Performance In Australia

Southland Times, Issue 23897, 16 August 1939, Page 11

New Zealand Badminton Team's Performance In Australia

By

SMASH

The New Zealand badminton team which is touring Australia suffered a very severe setback when, on the eve of the Test match, its captain and leading player, P. Hawksworth, developed unexpectedly a physical disability which left him incapable of playing any more on the tour. Just what Hawksworth’s defection meant to the team may be judged when it is remembered that he is the present singles champion of New Zealand and also holds the men’s doubles title with G. A. Pearce, and the mixed doubles title, with Mrs Hawksworth. The injury to the captain meant the end of the team’s chances of winning the Test match and regaining the Whyte Trophy, but it put up a very good showing indeed, and did exceptionally well to go down to Australia by only two matches. This result makes it appear that the team would have been successful had Hawksworth been able to play. The women were the strength of the team, for they won all their singles and one of the two women’s doubles. J. Spedding was the only man to win his singles. A definite weakness was brought to light in the mixed doubles, where New Zealand lost all three matches in straight sets. Australia won seven rubbers, sixteen sets and 317 points to New Zealand’s five rubbers, twelve sets and 303 points. A gallery of 900 spectators saw the Test. MEN’S SINGLES The top men’s singles between McCabe, the Australian champion, and E. A. Roussell was the highlight of the whole Test There was not a great deal between the two men in the first set, which went to McCabe at 15-12, but in the second Roussell was unable to match the unfailing accuracy of the Australian, who took the set 15-3. •J. Spedding was the only man to win a singles for New Zealand. He defeated Tonkin in straight sets, 15-12, 15-7. Spedding plays a very solid game and he is always fit. G. A. Pearce very nearly collected another win for New Zealand. He won the first set from Harper 15-11, lost the second 5-15 and after a long struggle, went down 14-18 in the third. WOMEN’S SINGLES The women’s singles was the most successful section for the New Zealanders. They won all three rubbers and are to be congratulated on their very fine effort. Miss Mavis Kerr, of Otago, beat Mrs Wray in a three-set match. Miss Kerr dropped the first set 8-11, but thereafter her general good play and forceful smashing gave her opponent no chance and she took the next two sets 11-1, 11-7, for the match. Mrs Hawksworth is generally conceded to be at her best in doubles play, but against Miss Hewitt she produced good badminton to win comfortably in straight sets. Miss Nancy Fleming, of Wellington, is the present women’s singles title holder, and her match with Miss Roberts was a good one. Miss Fleming, who was slow to settle down, lost the first set and the second set score was set at 9-alI. However, she managed to secure the set 12-9 and thereafter, was not seriously troubled to take the final set, 11-3. MEN’S DOUBLES Only one men’s doubles was played in the Test, and was won by the Australians. Roussell and Spedding (New Zealand) played solidly, showed good combination and plenty of determination. After losing the first set to Harper and Tonkin, the New Zealand pair won a very hard fought second set at 18-16, but could not sustain the pressure in the third set. Mrs Hawksworth and Miss Kerr played outstanding badminton to beat Mrs Wray and Miss Cuthbertson with the loss of only six points—ls-4, 15-2. The New Zealand pair combined well

and Mrs Hawksworth’s clever all-roiind play and Miss Kerr’s severe smashing were altogether too much for the. Australians. Mrs P. Wren and Miss N. Fleming went down in straight sets to Misses Hewitt and Roberts, 12-15, 11-15, but as the score indicates, the match was a well contested one. MIXED DOUBLES At this stage New Zealand led by one rubber and looked to have a good chance, but by winning, all three mixed doubles, the Australians turned thendeficit of one point into a two-up advantage. Just why New Zealand showed such weakness in mixed doubles play is hard to understand. The team did not win a set and was, in fact, well beaten in this section. Roussell and Miss Fleming lost to McCabe and Miss Roberts, 8-15, 10-15. Pearce and Miss Kerr, usually a very good and reliable pair, were beaten by Harper and Miss Hewitt, 6-15, 10-15, and Spedding and Mrs Wren went down to Tonkin and Miss Cuthbertson, 11-15, 4-15. LOCAL A GRADE MATCHES The Invercargill No. I team was exceptionally severe on its No. 2 side when the two teams met last week. The seniors won all 12 matches and did not allow the junior side even one set. This is a meritorious and unusual performance. The Invercargill No. 2 team, is a promising side and fought back very well, but could not make any headway against their seniors. R. Sleeman and F. Maxted had a close call from W. Hamilton and W. Sleeman in the men’s doubles; but the senior women were much too good for their opponents and won With ease. The best game in the mixed doubles was the top match. Thompson and Miss Cutt had to go all out to stave off a spirited challenge by C. Barrett and Miss Henry. By beating All Saints I by eight matches to four, Britannia I retained its lead in the senior competition. As usual, the Britannia women won all their games, actually in straight sets. Mrs Salisbury and Miss F. Stead-allow-ed Misses G. Basstian and P. Whyte only six points in two sets, but. in the other games the All Saints pairs did better and made their opponents play hard all the time. S. Glennie and P. Coumane had a close game with J. Hannay and N. Mitchell. The first set, after a close struggle, went to Britannia, but the second was to All Saints all the way. The last set saw the Britannia pair handling a double left-handed opposition more confidently and, aided by errors by Mitchell, they ran out 15-9. B. Challis and J. Clarkson lost a long three-set struggle to J. Braithwaite and F. Dillon. There was not much between the pairs, but Braithwaite and Dillon were somewhat superior in retrieving and more severe in smashing. R. Gimblett and R. Pollok had no combination and did not seriously trouble J. Wren and R. Buchanan. The surprise of the evening was the near defeat of Glennie and Mrs Salisbury by Braithwaite and Mrs Braithwaite. The All Saints pair were only a point short of victory in a thoroughly enjoyable match, which produced much good badminton. The Britannia pair played their usual solid game and Braithwaite retrieved exceptionally well, while Mrs Braithwaite was sound at the net. The score was 15-14,14-15, 18-17. Challis and Miss Stead lost, rather surprisingly, to Mitchell and Miss Basstian, in three sets. The All Saints pair were not so good in stroke production, but played very determinedly and thoroughly deserved their win. Three of the other four mixed doubles went to Britannia, all in three sets —too close to be comfortable for the championship leaders. The fourth game Dillon and Mrs Dillon won for All Saints from Clarkson and Miss Fraser.