S.I. Teams Outplayed In Squash Rackets Titles

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31116, 20 July 1966, Page 14

S.I. Teams Outplayed In Squash Rackets Titles

"The Press'" Special Service TIMARU. Not unexpectedly, both Shield and the Mitchell Cup, symbols of club supremacy in New Zealand squash rackets, Were won by the North Island when the national finals were played at Timaru last evening.

Only the leading South Islander, G. L. Bird, won for Timaru, beating P. Dibley, seeded one below him for the national titles, when Remuera defeated Timaru, 4-1, for the Cousins Shield.

The Christchurch women tried hard against Henderson in the Mitchell Cup but lacked sufficient experience to trouble a team of allround strength. Timaru, which has lost K. R. Green, J. N. Isaacs and F. N. Coe to the North Island, could not match the lower order strength of the Remuera team, which fielded two New Zealand representatives, Dibley and J. Stevens, the present South Island champion, M. McKenzie, and the national junior champion, B. Tietjens. However, B. J. Rippin, for Timaru, might well have taken either of the first two games against Stevens who strove for length and accurate lobs, rather than using his very good drop shots.

W. A. Green chased McKenzie's pacey drives with considerable determination and was rewarded with the third game. But most of the interest centred in the top match in which Bird avenged his defeat in the invitation tournament at Auckland last week-end. Dibley overcame a strong field to win this tournament, beating D. Burmeister—top seed for the nationals—in three games, Bird and C. R. Waugh, both in five. He was below his best against Bird last evening and is sure to Improve during the week, but Bird at times played quite brilliantly and his form could only be regarded as encouraging. He started by crashing drive, drive, volley and smash into the dead nick and won the first game, 9-1, in three minutes.

The second game was of rather mixed quality, with much loose squash. But after eight minutes Bird was two games ahead, and had already hit 17 winners to his opponent’s three, while making only one error.

[ Dibley had a fine run in the third, but the fourth game was nearly a repeat of the first. Bird hit 10 winners, made only three errors, and after only five more minutes had gained a convincing victory. Results:—

Cousins shield (R»muer» names first).—P. Dibley lost to G. L. Bird, 1-9. 3-9. 9-5. 2-9: J. Stevens beat B. J. Rippin, iO S. 108, 9-4: M. McKemle beat W Green. 93, 9-1, 49. 9-5; A Wright beat D Lyons. 9-9, 91. 9-1; B. Tietjens . beat R. G Havnes. 9-1, 9-4, 9-9. Mitchell Cup (Henderson names first). —Mrs S. Currin beat Miss B. Bowbyes, 7-9. 9 6. 9-3. 9-4; Mrs J. Lever beat Miss C. Swift, 3-9. 9-6. 9-2, 95; Mrs M. Bouchier beat Miss C. And rew, 9-5, 9-4, 9-5: Mrs M. Wade beat Mrs P. Leopold. 3-9. 9-4, 9-3, 9-3; Mrs J. Legg beat Mrs R. Woodhead, 9-0. 9-0. 9-4.