COAST BADMINTON

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20027, 28 August 1939, Page 12

COAST BADMINTON

CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES MISS BIG NELL’S SINGLES THOMPSON AND PURE (Herald Correspondent.) A fair number Of spectators attended the Gaiety Theatre, Tokomaru Bay, to witness the final matches of the East Coast combined badminton clubs’ championships. Owing to the fact that one or two of the competitors were in almost every match, it was found impossible to complete the tournament. The finals of the men’s singles, .the combined championship doubles and the combined handicap doubles will be played in Waipiro Bay to-morrow. Som e of the badminton seen was of a very high standard, but a few of the matches that were expected to be fast games produced mediocre play. Onsl6w Thompson, Waipiro Bay’s star player, was well to the fore, and was a finalist in all the events in which he competed. Last year he won the singles title by defeating K. Oates, Tokomaru Bay, 11 —3, 13 — 10, in the final. In this year’s final he is to meet F. Smyth, Te Puia.

Last year’s other finalist, Oates, went down to Smyth in a slow game* after he had defeated A. Knights in a brilliant display. This game went to advantage, and was one of the fastest of the evening, both players making very few mistakes. In all the Finals Another player much to the fore this year is Fred Smyth, Te Puia, who has a good chance of defeating Thompson, or at least, making a good game of it. Smyth figures in all the finals, and is expected to win at least one of them. Among the ladies, Miss Bignell was outstanding and she was a finalist in every event for which she entered. Mrs. Knox was Tokomaru Bay's star player, and had to play five games almost without a break; she was a finalist in tv/o events. Last year, partnering Mrs. Moat, she was a finalist in the ladies’ doubles, losing to the Waipiro pair, Misses B. Colebrook and M. Thompson. . In the semi-final of the men's doubles, last year’s winners, Lyle Smythe and Oates, Tokomaru Bay, put up a poor showing against the Te Puia pair, Knights and Smyth. Neither pair played well, but the Te Puia pair had an easy victory, 21— 14. Men’s Doubles Final The final of the men's doubles saw some much better badminton, when Knights and Smyth met Thompson and Te Rure, Waipiro’s top pair. The match was three sets of 15, and th e first went to Te Puia, 15—8. In the second, Waipiro led at the start, but at 4-all the going was even. After several long rallies, Waipiro drew ahead to 11 —4, before the Te Puia pair got going. Knights and Smyth took the next three points, but lost the service, and Thompson and Te Rure reached 13. Te Puia put in some good work, caught up to 11 —13, but were unable to keep the pace, and lost the set 11 — 15. The final set started evenly, reaching 4-all before Waipiro gradually drew ahead at 7—4. With the score 5 —9 against them, Knights and Smyth picked up two points, and looked like drawing level. Th e Waipiro pair were on top of their form, however, and reached 13 before Te Puia scored again. Te Puia picked up a further three points 'in a row to reach 10 —13, but lost the service, and Thompson and Te Rure won the set and title 15—11. Ladies Singles and Doubles Several games were played at Te Puia last week, arid in the ladies’ singles Miss N. Bignell reached the final by defeating two of her club mates. On Thursday, the other finalist, Mrs. Knox, Tokomaru Bay, had an easy win over Mrs. Winter, Te Puia, 15 —1. In the final, three sets of 11, Miss Bignell kept Mrs. Knox on the run and won the match, 11—5, 11—G,

Mrs. Knox and Miss Bignell also met in the final of the ladies’ doubles. In this, Mrs. Knox was partnered by Mrs. Squire and Miss Bignell by Miss Colbert. Many of the rallies were fast and long, but the Tokomaru pair were unable to make the grade, and Te Puia won the match, 15—7, 15—5. In the combined championship doubles, in a second round game, Lyle Smythe and Mrs. Squire met Tibbie and Miss Nelson, and came out the winners, 21—14. In a semi-final of this event Lyle Smythe and Mrs. Squire went down to Thompson and Miss Kunoke, Waipiro Bay, who had an easy victory, 21—6. The other semi-final went to Smyth and Miss Bignell, who defeated Hutton and Mrs. Hutton 21—8. This leaves Smyth and Miss Bignell to meet Thompson and Miss Konulce. Last year Thompson, partnering Miss Pardoe, won this event by defeating Knights and Miss Colbert.

In the handicap combined doubles, Smyth and Miss Bignell defeated G. Knox and Mrs. Knox in a second round match. In a semi-final, the winners of this game met Lyle Smythe and Mrs. Squire, and had little difficulty in taking the match, 21—8. Smyth andTMiss Bignell thus qualified to meet Thompson and Mrs. Hutton in the final. Results of the games played were as follows: Men’s Singles Third Round.—K. Oates, Tokomaru Bay, d. A. Knights, Te Puia, 24—21. Semi-final. —F. Smyth, Te Puia, d. Oates, 21—12. Men’s Doubles Semi-final. —Knights and Smyth, Te Puia, d. Lyle Smythe and Oates, Tokomaru Bay, 21 —-14. Final.—Thompson and Te Rtire, Waipiro Bay, d. Knights and Smyth, 8- —15, 15—7, 15—11. Ladies’ Singles Semi-final. —Mrs. G. Knox. Tokomaru Bay, d. Mrs. Winter, Te Puia, 15—1. ~ . Final. —Miss N. Bignell, Te 1 uia, d. Mrs. Knox, 11 —5, 11 —6. Ladies’ Doubles Semi-final. —Mrs. Knox and Mrs. C. Squire, Tokomaru Bay, d. Misses H. *Fox and J. Konuke, Waipiro Bay, 21—

Final. —Misses Colbert and Bignell, Te Puia, d. Mrs. Knox and Mrs. Squire, 16 —7, 15—5. Combined Championship Doubles Second Round.—Lyle Smythe and Mrs. Squire, Tokomaru Bay, d. Tibbie and Miss Nelson, Te Puia, 21—14. Semi-final.—Thompson and Miss Konuke d. Lyle Smythe and Mrs, Squirt, 21—G. Combined Handicap Doubles Second Round. —Smyth and Miss Bignell, Te Puia, scr, d. Knox and Mrs. Knox, Tokomaru Bay, r. 5,21 — 18. Semi-final—Smyth and Miss Bignell d. Lyle Smythe and Mrs. Squire, Tokomaru Bay, r. 3, 21—8.