BETTER TACTICAL APPROACH NEEDED IN LOCAL SQUASH

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31083, 11 June 1966, Page 15

BETTER TACTICAL APPROACH NEEDED IN LOCAL SQUASH

WITHOUT the presence of ’’ the Hamilton lefthander J. S. Walker, a fourth victory in the Canterbury open squash rackets championships would have proved little more than good practice for Timaru’s brilliant stroke-maker, G. L. Bird. The performances of leading local players against Bird, Walker and his Hamilton club-mate L. M. Greene, and others from Wellington and Timaru, provide much food for thought. Walker’s presence saved the tournament, and he looked a better player than when he returned with the New Zealand team of 1963 to Christchurch for the national tournament. A fine mover, he stroked the ball firmly and displayed fine touch and improved control. His drop volley, particularly on the backhand, which always finished in or very the nick, won much admiration in the early rounds. Walker displayed a fine allcourt game, but Bird in the final amply demonstrated the full effect of the intense and constant pressure he can apply. Greene has some way to go, but he too appealed as having the right idea: constructive squash based on length and control rather in the manner of K. R. Green. Greene has to develop pace and a true kill, and like Walker he found against Bird that he was never allowed the use of his main assests.

Mr W. A. Green of Timaru, now a national selector, has watched Bird’s progress since he showed unusual ability at a very early age, and he has shared with others the hopes and

frustrations that have marked Bird's career. Mr Green considers that Bird’s form over two sets last week with the professional M. Dardir was the finest of his career. Bird himself agreed that he had never played better. Perhaps he will soon take the national title which has seemed within his grasp for some years. He has his chance in July on his home courts, particularly as C. R. Waugh is reported to be suffering from a leg injury and playing comparatively little. It is certainly to be hoped that reports of the possible unavailability of both Bird and Waugh for Australia this year prove unfounded. There is little doubt that there is still no New Zealander—save possibly G. A. Davidson at his best —who can approach Bird’s stokeplay and Bird now seems to be thinking more about his game. His superb wrist-work at times left Walker hopelessly deceived; few having just reached a good low drop shot near to the wall can put it away for a winner so finally and completely. But the new and unusual feature of his play was his variations of pace and shot; he showed that he now has them all. It was in many ways unfortunate that Walker, so often at top speed and full stretch that he seldom enjoyed front court position, was unable to test Bird’s present fitness by developing any really long and exhausting rallies. Unfortunately for squash in the South Island there are now few who can test Bird, with the departure in recent years of M. J. Simons, F. N. Coe, K. R. Green, J. N.

Isaacs and D. R. Preston. Davidson in Ashburton has little competition. No likely new champion is in sight, certainly not in Christchurch.

Eight leading Christchurch players took places in the top grade. J. G. Foulds held three match points against >W. A. Green and performed well in a match with K. R. Green, who eventually beat L. G. Milne in the plate final. J. H. N. Pine very nearly lead B. J. Rippin, a New Zealand nominee from Timaru, by two games to love in an admirable quarter-final, but Bird allowed R. M. Garrett only two points. Walker beat J. Henderson by the same margin. S. Suckling went down in three games to Greene.

Pine is a better player than he looks and his strong wrist keeps him in the game. But great determination and good temperament are not enough. The development of winning shots in front court would transform his entire game. In many ways Pine and Foulds summarise a major faul‘ of many. They do not think enough, their play is too much hit-and-retrieve, with little attempt to make the other do the running, and they do not appreciate and use all their assets.

Foulds in 1963 was using good touch when in front. He spent a season in Auckland and now seems in danger of becoming mainly a firm stroke-maker and a runner. He nearly beat W. A. Green, yet played only three orthodox drops in the match. They came at the start of the fifth game and were all vdnners, but he

never played another. Certainly Waugh’s domination has been based on fitness and retrieving, but since 1964 when he twice beat the Australian O. T. Parmenter, even Waugh has clearly appreciated the great need for winning shots.