BADMINTON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 August 1939, Page 8

BADMINTON

COLTS’ REPRESENTATIVE GAME

MATCH AGAINST WELLINGTON. COMMENT ON THE PLAY. The Wairarapa Badminton Association is justly proud of being the first association affiliated to the New Zealand Badminton Federation to institute a colts' representative match for players not reaching “A” grade representative standard. In the match against Wellington on Saturday night, the standard of play was very, high, and the result was a fair indication of the merits of the respective teams. The draw recorded was particularly pleasing to the officials in charge of the teams. Next year it is hoped that a return match will be played, with the honours again even. The most outstanding game of the match was the No. 1 men’s singles, between G. W. McCullough and A. Blake (Wellington). Blake has not lost a match this season, and his feat of defeating a polished player like McCullough was no mean one. McCullough played superbly but was inclined to overdo his net work. The match lasted close on an hour and produced sparkling play. A Red Star member, G. B. Peterson, played magnificently, to win all his matches. Peterson possesses a variety of strokes and plays a very heady game. His exhibition in the singles match was splendid, winning out 18/4, 15/1. By his display at Wellington, Peterson is a certainty for the B representative match at Hastings on September 2. F. D. G. Walker, who impressed the spectators with his many and varied strokes, played great badminton throughout the match. He was unfortunate in that he was not given a chance in his combined doubles match for after winning his singles in brilliant style he was starved of the shuttle in his later games. H. Dixon played well, and in his singles match was unlucky not to clinch the game after a hard three-set match.

B. M. Hurley, who seemed to lose touch in his singles, played far better badminton to win his other two matches. His display all round occasioned considerable interest.

' C. Newland, who went down in his singles, vindicated himself in the doubles, playing excellently. The most outstanding of the women’s games, was the No. 2 singles between Miss N. Richards (Wairarapa) and Miss J. Nicholls (Wellington). Miss Richards played high class badminton to win her match comfortably. Possessing a powerful smash, and a good clearing shot, with correct tuition Miss Richards should develop into a prominent player. Miss M. Bell played well to win her singles, and showed up well.

Miss E. Madsen, who won two of her games, impressed with her shots, and showed considerable promise. Miss N. Dixon, although losing her matches, played well and in the combined doubles went splendidly. Miss G. McCormick showed wonderful promise and it is expected that she will be one of the leading players in the future.

.Miss N. Yates also played well, but could not clear sufficiently, and left herself open to being smashed at. The capable management of the match by the Wellington recorder set an example to be followed by other associations. i Entry forms for the New Zealand and Hawke’s Bay championship and handicap meetings may be obtained from the secretary, C. J. Carle, c/o “Times-Age.”