Badminton WAIRARAPA MATCH

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 158, 22 July 1937, Page 13

Badminton WAIRARAPA MATCH

'Drop-Shot.")

v c Home Side Too Good for H.B. B Team NEW REGULATIONS

(By '

Tbe Hawke's Bay B team trbich visited Masterton on July 10 was hoepitably received and later soundly defeated. The Wairarapa players were too good, and if the same teams had met in Hawke's Bay the result would- have been the same. Contrary to general expectationB, the Masterton Town Hall did not prove as suitable for badminton as either of the two drill halls in this district. In Masterton there were only two courts, the lighting was not brilliant, and the rafters frequently dnterfored with high shots. The large number of "lets" caused by tbe shuttle toucbing a rafter meant that the completion of individual inatches required "much time, and. thus the fittest players gained even more ; than their usual advantage. The first men's single, in one set of which the score was 15—0, lasted for one hour and twenty minutes, and tho Hawke's Bay man, W, Eead, was troubled with cr amp for the rest of the evening. Our representatives must have realised the importanco to the badminton player of physical fitneSs. Most of the Wairarapa team had received valuable coaching from Pttt Hawkesworth, who has done mueh for Wairarapa badminton feince his arrival from Dunedin, Both Hawkesworth and George Pearce, the present doubles champions of New Zealand, learned the game dn Otago. As players from several of the weaker Hawke's Bay clubs were included in tbe team which played in Masterton, their experience gained in match play against sound opposition should be handed on to many otbers in local clubs, Metmbership of Clubs. At a recent federation meetiug a long ddscussion culminated in a remit to tbe effect that players who jom two or more clubs must, in inter-club matehes, represent the club to which they first belonged. If not entirely unnecee&ary, this rule is at any rate ahead of its time. It is obviously unlikely tbat a player who joins a second club, for tbe sake of an extra evening 's badminton, will forsake his original club when matehes are played. If local badminton competitions ever reach the stage at which Eugby football stands to-day, such rules may be necessary. Until then, players should be free to play where and when they like. While the fiercely competitive spirit in New Zealand Eugby helps to madntain that game at its present high standard, it is to be hope.d that the same spirit will not encroach on either badminton or tennis courts, The majority of Eugby players Tegret the fact that their competition ladder means so much to the general public. As badminton at present does not depend on public support, any competition inaugurated by the federation should not require too many restrictiOna. Inter-Club Competition. At the last xneeting it was also decided that an attempt be made to or~ gani.se a badmdnton competition, among the Napier-Haatings clubs. Tho matter is complicated by the fact that one club is at present much stronger than the others, but as long as no undue importance is att&ched to results, a competition - would provide welcome match-practice.