By Neville Idour
New Zealand has certainly made its impact on world squash in the past two seasons.
It is at present the head-quarters for the World Squash Rackets Federation, with the executive based in Auckland, and on the playing side, New Zealand now has two of the world’s top amateurs in Bruce Brownlee, reigning British Open Amateur Champion, and Murray Lilley, beaten in a semi final of the same event by that player.
Brownlee and Lilley are now back in New Zealand and the Christchurch Club is hoping to bring both starts to the city for one of its tournaments this year.
The South Island tournament scene this season continues to be dominated by Canterbury’s younger brigade.
Twenty-year-old Christchurch Club player Rod Hayes has now won four tournaments, his latest success being the Nelson Open where he beat the N.Z. Colts Under 23 Champion, Brian Barnett in a topsy turvy match 9-0, 0-9, 0-9, 9-4, 9-6.
After racing through the first game, Hayes faced a demoralising situation having conceded 19 points in succession. Then he fought back in the last 2 games with many long tight rallies, his edge in decisive strokes giving him the win.
SurpriseHayes No 2 seed in the New Zealand Under-23 championships won by Barnett, was surprisingly beaten by Steven Clearly in the semi-finals.
Prior to this Hayes had won the first three tournaments in Christchurch this season.
His most important success had been his win in the Edmonds Tang Invitation Open where he beat the No 6 and No 8 ranked New Zealand players, Tony Naughton (Wellington) and Laurie Green (Hamilton). Barrie Matthews, another Christchurch Colt and Canterbury representative last year scored a fine win in the recent Timaru Celtic Open.
He had to work hard to win his semi-final in five sets against the top Southern Districts Colt Rex McDonald.
In the final he faces the southern Districts No 1 Barry Gardiner. Matthews had one match ball at 9-8 in the fourth set, losing this set, then having another seven match balls in the fifth set before clinching the title.
The next tournament scheduled is a major one, the “Star” Canterbury Open in which all of Canterbury’s top players will feature along with invited entrants.
The Nelson Open was something of a benefit with Craig Hibbert winning the “B” grade, the stalwart Peter Steinmentz the “C” grade, and in the Ladies Open, a promising Linwood player, Lorraine Sutherland, beat Wellington’s Jenny Oakley in a cliffhanger, 10-9 in the fifth set.
New this season is the entry of the Canterbury women’s squad in the Men’s division 3 inter club competition.
Mixed: This was introduced in an effort to give the women tougher and more regular practice.
After 4 rounds the team has had mixed success winning and losing two rubbers. All results have been 3 matches to 1.
Canterbury No. 1 Rosalyn Stanton has won two games and lost one. Kathy Graham has won one and lost three and Merle Holland won three and lost one. Three others have played irregularly.
It is good to see the Canterbury association this season taking positive steps to improve the standard of refereeing. All inter-club players have attended compulsory seminars if they wish to play this season. A Canterbury Referees Association has been formed and it is intended to encourage players to learn the rules and become qualified referees.
After only three rounds of Inter-club play, the expected anomalies have revealed themselves in the Men’s “A” Grade.
Three teams, Christchurch 1, Burnside 1, and HSOB 1, dominate the grade while the other 5 teams feature in Two of these teams will be relegated to “B” grade after the first round is completed.
With all the top players in Canterbury concentrated in three teams, the number of tough matches they will have is limited.
In contrast, the women’s “A” Grade is proving successful with three women in each team as opposed to four in the past. HSOB No. 1 team is at present leading the eight-team grade.
