GOOD PLAY IN B GRADE BADMINTON

Southland Times, Issue 24153, 15 June 1940, Page 16

GOOD PLAY IN B GRADE BADMINTON

By

SMASH

B grade matches were played during the week but the only result to hand at the time of writing is that of the Britannia —All Saints encounter. Britannia was the winner by seven rubbers to five. The young All Saints team gave a very good account of itself and is improving with every game. It was rather strange that All Saints should win all the men’s doubles but not a single ladies’ double, so that the result depended on the mixed event. Britannia established an early advantage by winning the top three mixed doubles and when Falconer and Miss B. McKenzie got home at the end of three, sets they were the winners. It‘was rather surprising to see Scott and Thorburn go down in two sets to Skelt and McKay for both are good players with experience. However young Skelt played in his best form and when he does that he plays very good badminton, and was ably supported by Mckay. Barnett and Gordon had a long tussle with McKenzie and Warwick. The game was fairly even, not much between the pairs but Warwick was inclined to be over-keen and dropped several vital points. Robertson and Brash were too steady and clever for Falconer and Anderson. TOO STRONG Misses Moir and McLean could make little headway against Misses R. McKenzie and Fletcher although they fought well in the second set. It must be admitted though, that the Britainnia pair are much better than B grade; in fact they headed the club’s second A grade team last season. Misses Grace and Stevens were up against a good pair in Misses Mowatt and Shand who won without difficulty 15-2, 15-6. Miss Mowatt is another who is too good for B grade and is well worth her place in the A grade side. She plays an attractive and powerful all court game with the added advantage of being a good net player in mixed doubles.

Misses Dempster and Shand made a good game of it against Miss B. McKenzie and Miss McAhon in the first set but the Britannia pair increased the pressure in the second and ran out at 15-5.

Skelt and Miss McLean are a very good mixed doubles pair but they found Thornburn and Miss Fletcher right on form and could not win a set in a bright encounter. , Barnett and Miss Moil - played well but Barnett was inclined to get out of position against Scott and Miss Mowatt. The All Saints pair won the first set easily and were a shade unlucky not to take the second. From there on however it was all Britannia’s The game between McKay and Miss Stevens and Warwick and Miss R. McKenzie was one of fluctuating fortunes. The pairs were evenly matched during the first set which went to Britannia but then All Saints ran away with the second at 15-3 and appeared certain to win but the Britannia pair dug their toes in to such effect that they were able to win the deciding set at 15-5.

Gordon and Miss Grace took the first set from McKenzie and Miss Shand at 15-6 but thereafter the play was very even Britannia taking the second at 17-15 and going down 18-14 in the third. Robertson and Miss Dempster took a set from Falconer and Miss B. McKenzie but were rather lucky to do so. Brash and Miss Stewart gained All Saints second victory in the mixed by defeating Anderson and Miss McAhon in a three set encounter. The players were evenly matched but no one showed very good form and the pairs had little idea of combination. FIXTURES FOR THE WEEK A grade.—All Saints v. Invercargill 11, on Wednesday; Invercargill I v. Britannia, on Thursday. C grade.—All Saints v. Invercargill, on Monday; Winton v. Rimu, at Winton. on Thursday.