BADMINTON MATCH

Taranaki Daily News, 3 June 1935, Page 5

BADMINTON MATCH

WAIKATO VISITS TARANAKI. NEW ZEALAND’S CHAMPION MAN. Taranaki’s first inter-provincial badminton match will be played against Waikato at New Plymouth to-day. The visitors who arrived on Saturday night are a very strong side and the contest will provide the opportunity of measuring the standard of play in the two districts. There will be A and B teams, each of six men and six women. The Waikato team was taken by the Taranaki association to Mount Egmont yesterday afternoon and aS this was the first visit for the majority of the team. Mr. H. H. Fow, captain, of the Waikato team, thanked the association and remarked that He was no stranger to Taranaki, as he formerly lived at Eltham. Mr. C. J. E. Smith assured the visitors of the desire of the Taranaki association to do everything possible for the comfort and pleasure of the visiting players. The Waikato team comprises 23, nine representing the Hamilton club, four the West End club (Hamilton), six Te Aroha and four Morrinsville. The majority of these clubs have been playing for six years, the game now being firmly established throughout the • Waikato. The visitors are all seasoned players, which was much, in evidence when , the Waikato team were seen at practice yesterday, their courtcraft and polished style being impressive. Interest in the match centres chiefly in the first appearance in Taranaki of Mr. Harry Fow, without doubt the leading player in the Dominion. At the New Zealand- championships at Wanganui in September, he contested three finals and won two, the men’s singles and doubles. Fow is noted for his brilliant recoveries and for his agility in covering the court. Time and time again he makes impos-sible-looking recoveries and no opponent who sends a shuttle to an exposed position of the court, however swiftly, can be sure of it being a winner. In the final round at Wanganui against J. Ellett, Auckland, the previous champion, Fow demonstrated this continually and this is still the strongest feature of his game. A. Dempster playing second is one of Hamilton’s foremost men, strong overhead. H. W. Bryant is a Waikato doubles champion and has participated in tournament play for the last six years. Dr. Gower, who played in the Taranaki tournament last year, is an impressive player, noted for his effective backhand drop-shot. I. Johnson is top man in the Te Aroha club. W. Crawford, in last position in the A team, represents Waikato for the first time and is a promising young player ( and with his Te Aroha clubmate makes a formidable doubles combination. Miss Edmondson playing first in the women’s A team is holder of the New Zealand B grade singles. She is a stylish player adept in drop shots. Mrs. Fow has played for four years, being a strong all-round player. Miss Pilling, Te Aroha s top player, has played in numerous tournaments. Miss Dempster is a strong doubles player and Miss Heathcote, Te Aroha, is noted for her sound net play. Miss Ryan, Morrinsville, has been very successful in inter-club singles matches. The B team is also a strong combination but the Taranaki team should be more evenly matched in this grade. The tournament will be held throughout to-day and exhibition matches will be staged by the visiting players at night. The hours of play are advertised*