BADMINTON TOURNEY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 September 1938, Page 7

BADMINTON TOURNEY

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIPS. HAWKSWORTH RETAINS ALL THREE TITLES. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) HAMILTON, September 4. Continuing the splendid form he had shown throughout the week, P. Hawksworth (Masterton), holder of the New Zealand badminton men’s singles, doubles, and mixed doubles titles, retained all three trophies when the championship tournament concluded in the Bledisloe Hall last night. The women's singles title-holder, Miss M. Kerr (Dunedin), was beaten by Miss N. Fleming (Wellington). The holder did not retain the excellent form of the week, though Miss Fleming played very fine badminton. In the men’s singles the other finalists, R. Lewis, Auckland and Waikato champion, was never in the lead and Hawksworth smashed his way to victory. In the second set Lewis was in better form, but was no match for the champion when the pressure was on. The women’s singles saw Miss Kerr struggling hard all the time against the great control of Miss Fleming, and the standard of play was brilliant at times. In the men’s doubles, Hawksworth and G. Pearce (Wellington), the holders, beat R. Hull and I. Ellett in straight sets, having the lead throughout. Then - combination was perfect. This aspect of Hawksworth’s and Mrs Hawksworth’s game carried them through in the final of the mixed doubles, though this was a very exciting three-set match, with G. Pearce and Miss Kerr as their opponents. In the women’s doubles Mrs Hawksworth and Miss Kerr, the holders, beat Mrs Wren (Auckland), Miss Edmondson (Waikato), in straight sets in a match in which there was some bright play. Hard-fought semi-finals between Misses J. Ramsay (Auckland), and N. Fleming, and between H. H. Fow and R. Lewis (both Waikato), in the women’s and men’s singles respectively, were a feature of Friday night’s play. Miss Ramsay had four match points on Miss Fleming in the second set, but eventually the Wellington player settled the game, won the set, and went on to win the last set with the loss of two points only. In the other semifinal Miss Edmondson did not repeat her earlier form, and Miss Kerr, playing steadily and impertubably, won surprisingly easily. Lewis took the first set against Fow, who was champion in 1934, but lapsed, and Fow meritoriously won the second set. Fow had a lead of 14—11 in the final set, but Lewis, hitting courageously, eventualy won well. In the other semi-final, P. Hawksworth was in brilliant form to eliminate easily P. Anderson (Auckland). The following are the results: — MEN’S SINGLES. Final: P. Hawksworth (Masterton), beat R. Lewis, (Waikato), 15 —10, 15 — 10. WOMEN’S SINGLES. Final: Miss Fleming (Wellington), beat Miss Kerr. (Otago), 11—6, 11 —7. MEN’S DOUBLES. Final: P. Hawksworth and G. A. Pearce (Wellington) beat I. Ellett and R. Hull (Auckland), 15—7, 15—7. WOMEN’S DOUBLES. Final: Mrs P. Hawksworth and Miss Kerr beat Mrs Wren and Miss Edmondson, 15 —6, 15—5. MIXED DOUBLES. Final: P. Hawksworth and Mrs Hawskworth beat G. A. Pearce and Miss Kerr, 12—15, 15—10, 15—9.