BADMINTON

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 719, 19 July 1929, Page 15

BADMINTON

INTER-CLU3 FIXTURE C. ELLETT DEFEATS T. KELLY The most interesting and surprising j feature of an inter-club Badminton match played between Auckland and Northern (Mangere) last evening was the defeat of T. Kelly, New Zealand singles champion, by C. Ellett (Northern). The result of the meeting was a draw in matches, but in sets won Northern had a slight advantage. Auckland was without the services of J. Southon, and as a result some doubling was necessary. The corresponding match between B teams at St. Mary’s Hall was not gone on with, friendly games being played instead. Details of the matches at Mangere follow. Northern players being mentioned first: — Men’s Singles—C. Ellett beat T. Kelly, 9—15, 15—4, 15—S. Women’s Singles—Miss D. Ellett beat Miss P. Miller. 11 —2, 9—ll, 11—1. Men’s Doubles—C. Ellett and I. Ellett lost to Kelly and McLean, B—ls, 10—15; Kissling and Paul lost to Rishworth and McLean, 10—15, 15 —11, 7 15. Women’s Doubles—Miss Ellett and Miss B. Solomon beat Mrs. Langguth and Miss P. Miller, 15 —6, 15 —10; Miss M. Waters and Miss M. Solomon beat the Misses Dodds, 15—11, IS—l7. Mixed Doubles—C. Ellett and Miss Ellett beat Kelly and Miss Dodds, 8 — 15, 15—10, 15 —11; Paul and Miss Ellett lost to McLean and Mrs. Langguth, 4—15, 10 —15; Kissling and Miss B. Solomon lost to Rishworth and Miss Miller, 11—15, 15 —9, 7 —15; I. Ellett and Miss M. Waters lost to McLean and Miss K. Dodds, 15 —IS, 15— 8, 7—15. NOTES ON THE PLAY Kelly failed to strike form in his match against Ellett. He was serving short and not exploiting the back of the court with his usual skill. Nevertheless, Kllctt’s win showed his mastery over the singles game. Kelly was quite unable to put anything out of his reach, and his smashing was of greater severity than Kelly’s. Ellett scored many points by playing steadily to Kelly’s back-hand corner, from which Kelly was unable to retaliate. * Miss Miller did well to take a set from so strong a player as Miss D. Ellett, who was playing consistently well, killing grandly from the net, and exposing only one real weakness, a service liable to be rushed by an active player. The matches brought out the best in the Auckland women, and the improvement was noticeable nowhere more than in the case of the Misses Dodds, though in their double together they would probably have achieved better results with a side-by-side formation. The final match of the evening, the. combined event, in which Ellett and Miss Ellett beat Kelly and Miss Dodds, was a rare struggle, in which guile matched guile. Kelly achieved some wonderful pick-ups, and at times returned Ellett’s devastating overhead for winners. Miss Dodds played well, but Miss Ellett’s convincing superiority at the net decided the issue. NOTES OF THE WEEK By “SHUTTLE” Auckland Club is having great attendances these days, and the standard is steadily improving. The men are particularly" strong, and any one pair can give any other a great run in doubles. A series of practice handicap singles has been inaugurated. The main feature so far is that Southon has beaten Kelly. Kelly, however, has a habit of turning on his best at championship times. His match temperament is good. G. Martin lias been nursing a strained wrist, and his overhead has hence lacked its usual sting. At Mangere the Northern Club is suffering a severe loss in the impending departure of J. Kissling, who has I not only played a prominent part in ! the organisation of the club, but who also has been one of its most profi- . cient players. In his new sphere of activities at Palmerston North he may have the opportunity to establish a club. Northern members are sorting themselves out for the championships, K. LT. Wilson will partner C. F. Jones. These two have problems to solve, as one is left-handed, and watertight combination is therefore difficult to achieve. In the mixed doubles Wilson is to play with Miss K. Waters. G. Ellett will play with Miss B. Solomon, and in the women’s doubles Miss D. Ellett and Miss Solomon should be a formidable pair. Besides Wilson, Northern has another left-hander in W. J. Paul, who is to act as secretary for the coming New Zealand tournament. Paul’s strength on the court lies in his remarkable facility for getting everything back. He lacks Wilson’s severe smash.