BADMINTON

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20780, 15 July 1937, Page 10

BADMINTON

(By Smash) The Timaru Club has recently played two matches, one against the newly formed Waimataitai Club and the other against Waimate. The Waimataitai players, although not well up in the finer points, showed keen aptitude for the game and with more experience and a little coaching will present formidable opposition. G. McWhirter, a young player, showed very good promise and ran to an early lead in his game with A. N. Oakey. Experience and steadiness told in the end, however, and after a hard and closely contested game Oakey ran out the winner by a small margin.

A. Gabites, one of Timaru’s first year players, made no mistakes in his match with G. Ward. Earlier in the season the Waimate Club registered a win against Timaru, and for the return game on their home courts, Timaru fielded its strongest team. Timaru avenged its previous defeat in no uncertain manner, giving their opponents only two sets in 26. Waimate were without the services of some of their leading players, who would no doubt have curtailed considerably the runaway victory. Good Badminton was played throughout the match. V. Oakey had nothing to spare in his game and had to work hard all the way to win by a small margin. Heads and Milliken had good wins, while Lewis, through superior overhead work, had a comfortable win against Ball, who did not find touch throughout the game. Miss Shirtcliff, playing first woman for Timaru, found Miss Grylls a very doughty opponents. The Badminton in this game reached a high standard, both girls playing at the top of their form and making few mistakes. The issue was never in doubt in the game between Mrs Lewis and Miss Baikie. Clever placements and severe smashing close in gave Mrs Lewis an easy victory. Mrs Fogg was on form and registered a good win. Miss Hewitt proved to be too fast for her opponent, but she w'ould do much better if she hit witli more judgment and placed her shots better.

The first women’s double was a grand example of what good combination and understanding can achieve. Both Mrs Lewis and Miss Shirtcliff played good individual games, but their combination went unnoticed, while the Waimate pair had complete understanding and thoroughly deserved their win.

Waimate, in a recent game against Oamaru, won most of the events. Chapman, Waimate, was the outstanding player, and he should be seen in action at the New Zealand championships. While the Winter Show was being held in Dunedin the United and Twenty Clubs were closed for one month. The other clubs showed a grand spirit of goodfellowship by giving them friendly games and thus enabling them to keep in form.

It is noticed that the Hill Club in Dunedin plays by time and not by sets. This system has a lot to commend it where the membership is large and the courts are kept busy. The positions on the men’s ladder are constantly changing. V. Oakey regained the premier place from Heads after a hard fought match. Heads successfully withstood a challenge from : illiken. This player has only shown glimpses of the form that won him the club championship last season, and he will have to do more hard practice if he is to be successful in defending his title.

Pateman has progressed a further step and is now in fourth place. He has some excellent shots and is very fit. He v 'll cause some trouble to the top men before the season is out, and must be considered in the championship. Milliken had to call up all his resources to register a win against Pateman and thus retain his place on the ladder. Miss Eaton has had to take second place to Miss Shirtcliff on the women’s ladder. Miss Shirtcliff is now playing really good Badminton. In her match with Miss Eaton the points went evenly to 10, but from then on she played a superior game and ran out winner by a good margin. Mrs Fogg was very unlucky not to get a win in her match with Miss Morgan. She should remember to keep her eye on the shuttle and her game -would improve.