Talented young squash prospects

Press, 24 April 1979, Page 44

Talented young squash prospects

Burnside Il’s talented voung team — all five members are aged under 21 — is easily the most interesting entry in the men’s division one club squash competition which begins this evening. Chris Wasley, No. 8 on the Canterbury ranking list last season, will probably play in the top spot and he will be supported by Stuart Hargreaves and the three juniors, Jamie Bushell, Mark Crosbie and Robin Clements.

Clements was the 1978 Canterbury under-19 champion while Bushell (aged 16) and Crosbie (aged 15) have already shown in tournaments'this season their considerable development since last year.

This group of youngsters is matched in the first round tonight with the strong High School Old Boys I team which is headed by Lindsay Walton (runner-up in the recent Sumner open) and the former Canterbury ranked player, ‘John Tolchard, with Trgvor George and Lindsay

Lang making up the side.

Eleven teams — two more than last year — have entered the top division and the best of the others appear to be High School Old Boys II (certainly stronger on paper than the No. 1 team) and Burnside I.

High School Old Boys II looks powerful at Nos 1 and 2 with Lawrence Skurr and Viv Hargreaves, but after the first two rounds the latter will be absent for six weeks doing relief banking work in Invercargill and Geraldine.

The team is hopeful that by the time Hargreaves (a national selector) leaves, John French will be back from overseas. John Oakley and Malcolm Thompson, a newcomer from Ashburton complete the team. Neil Rush, ranked fifth in Canterbury, heads Bumside No. I’s line-up and the consistent Graham Foulds looks a probable No. 2. The other players — Geoff Tait (who went well in the Sumner

open), Harry Shepherd and Stuart Stephenson — are all very capable. Christchurch, runner-up to Old Boys in the Wilson Shield competition last season, may not be quite such a threat as usual because the strength has been divided between the club’s two teams. Rod Hayes, the new national under-23 champion, has been placed in the No. 2 team as he will be away for a month on teaching section. This team also comprises George Balani (the man with the deceiving drop shots), Lloyd Williams. Neville Idour and Jim Martin. Christchurch I is fortunate to again have the former national representative Dem Preston (back from Greymouth), and his support will come from Bruce Trangmar, Laurie Wilson, Mark Woodhead, Roger Monk and Craig Matthews. Last season University returned to the top level after a five-year break and this

time it has expanded to two teams, both with fine players at the helm. University I has the speedy Canterbury No. 2, Paul McFadzien, and the No. 2 team has Barrie Matthews, as well as the head of the Canterbury University physical education department, Paul Carpinter. Linwood has lost Mike Grant to Auckland but is certain to produce some good results with players like the improving Craig Hibbert, Gary Monk and Howard Marshall Suburbs, with Les Plever and Murray Carson in the top two places, has the same five as last year and Sumner will again rely on “Rangy Ron” Marshall, Ryan McCutcheon and the stubborn John MacDougall. This year’s system of matches is to have two weeks using all five courts at the Christchurch club and then one at various venues. Tonight’s draw is: Bumside I v High School Old Boys 11, Christchurch II y Suburbs.

Sumner v University I, Bumside II v H. 5.0.8. I, Christchurch I v University 11, Linwood the bye. Christchurch has one less team — three instead of four — in the women’s competition, but the over-all total of nine teams is still an increase as there were entries from both University and Suburbs, the latter including two players who have represented Canterbury in women’s cricket, Ann McKenna and Kay Gilray. As at the start of last season no one team looks an obvious winner, Old Boys, for instance, splitting their strength between two sides with Bette King playing for the No. 1 line-up and Vai Dunstan for the other. All the Christchurch teams are fielding reasonable combinations. The Canterbury No. 3, Philippa Idour, heads the No. 1 team and Loma Symes and Agnes Huriwai fill top positions in the others. Bumside will be hoping

, that Lyn Chamberlain can , maintain the form that gave her the Christchurch preseason open title last month ; with good results too from f Saskia O’Brien, while Sum- ■ net’s chances largely revolve I around the fortunes of the ! top Canterbury player, Merle ) Holland. r University’s performances ■ will be watched quite closely > in the opening rounds. It has i been boosted by the acquisii tion of the young Wellington player, Jenny Oakley, and • Rosemary Davies and Kate i Carpinter are also useful ex- , ponents. Kate Aplin and • Danae Go Osman make up ; the team. The women are operating I on a two-tier system and all four matches each week will ibe held at one particular > court complex. Each playing ■ team is made up of three , players, one less than the ! men.

Altogether, 210 teams — an increase of 36 — will contest the 13 men’s divisions and five women’s.