CLEVER BADMINTON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 June 1938, Page 8

CLEVER BADMINTON

VISITING’ AUSTRALIANS IN ACTION WAIRARAPA TEAM BEATEN LAST NIGHT. HAWKSWORTH WINS SINGLES. The Australian badminton team officially opened its New Zealand tour in Masterton last night when it defeated the Wairarapa representatives in the Regent Theatre by 7 rubbers. 14 sets and 219 points to 1 rubber, 4 sets and 136 points. Practically all the games were keenly contested and they provided the large crowd with exhibitions of badminton of a high standard. Wairarapa’s only success was achieved by P. Hawksworth, the New Zealand champion, who defeated C. Craske, the Australian champion, in straight sets. It was one of the finest singles matches ever seen in New Zealand, both players exploiting a wide variety of cleverly executed shots. Hawksworth found touch almost immediately and he definitely had the edge on Craske throughout the first set, which he won 15/10. The fast-moving, quick-eyed Australian, however, picked holes in Hawksworth’s game in the second set and quickly raced into a 9/2 lead. Craske looked set to make it one all when Hawksworth staged a splendid recovery to equalise at 14/14 and. playing brilliantly, eventually took the set 17/16. The Australian impressed as a fine type of player, but he was troubled badly by Hawksworth’s reverse dropshot, which, combined with his superior courtcraft, carried him to success. J. Payton, whose play was a feature of the matches, went under to T. Thompson 8/15, 12/15, after a splendidly contested match. Thompson is a neat, tricky. player who is likely to upset almost any player in New Zealand when on his game. Craske and Thompson had too much skill and combination for Hawksworth and Payton in the doubles and after dropping the first set, took the next two fairly easily. Hawksworth faded out rather badly, only occasionally coming to light with winners. Payton, however, rose nobly to the occasion and played as fine a fighting game as could be seen anywhere. The Australians revealed a complete mutual understanding in play, with Thompson dominating the combination. The Australian ladies, Misses M. Horsbrugh and B. Cuthbertson, created a fine impression and on their form will fully extend any New Zealand ladies with the exception of Miss Mavis Kerr (Dunedin); Miss Horsburgh accounted for Mrs Hawksworth 11/7, 11/6 and Miss Cuthbertson defeated Miss Payton 11/2, 11/4. The Wairarapa pair, however, had the visitors full out in the doubles and only went under after three close sets. The Australians’ ability in the doubles was again demonstrated in the combined matches. Craske and Miss Horsburgh had a surprisingly easy win over the Dominion title-holders, Hawksworth and Mrs Hawksworth. Hawksworth was again off-colour and his play was miles below that revealed in his singles. Thompson and Miss Cuthbertson defeated Payton and Miss Payton after two interesting sets, a feature of which was the form of Pay ton,' who staged some remarkable recoveries.