LAWN TENNIS GAMES UNFINISHED IN SENIOR MEN’S FIXTURES

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28489, 20 January 1958, Page 10

LAWN TENNIS GAMES UNFINISHED IN SENIOR MEN’S FIXTURES

Rain stopped matches in the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association’s senior men’s competition at Wilding Park on Saturday shortly after 4 p.m. with only two of the four fixtures decided. United beat Cashmere by 4 matches to 0 after winning all the singles, but not completing the doubles, and Elmwood beat Avonside by 8 sets to 2 f

In the Elmwood-Avonside contest, Elmwood won three of the four singles and had won one set in a doubles match. If Avonside had won both the doubles it would have been equal, 3 matches all, but it would still have lost on sets.

The other two contests were not far enough ahead for a decision to be made. University leads North Linwood by two matches to one, but is behind in the other singles, and Opawa and South Brighton are equal at two matches all. With the storm threatening for about an hour before it arrived players hurried to get matches as far through as possible, but the two in the senior and many in the second grade will have to be completed later. . A crucial match in the senior men’s competition was the meeting between North Linwood and University, with University unbeaten and North Linwood only one point behind. United, also one point behind before Saturday, is now equal with University with four points. University-North Linwood Playing top for University m the absence of C. G. Judge, W. Dickson was beaten by W. Pritchard (North Linwood), who has not lost a match 1 so far in the competition, 6-3, 7-5. Pritchard’s sound, all-court game gave him a superiority although he was hard pressed by Dickson in the second set. J. Beatty had no trouble to take the first set, 6-0, from B. Shirlaw (University), but he lost the next two, 2-6, 1-6. Shirlaw attacked the net with more success as the match went on and he gained points with some fine volleys. In spite of a swift service, the left-hander, T. Harneiss (North Linwood), was beaten, 4-6, 0-6, by the steady B. Crofts, who seldom lapses in concentration. A great deal in this unfinished contest might depend on the fourth singles between B. Penfold (University) and E. Cormack. When he took the first set, 6-2, Penfold looked as if he would win comfortably, but Cormack recovered to take the second, 9-7, and he now leads, 4-2, in the third. Cashmere v. United Singles.—R. M. Minson lost to S. Watson, 2-6, 2-6; B. Hood lost to R. G. Pattinson, 4-6, 3-6; L. Le Compte lost to W. G. Lewthwaite. 2-6, 2-6; J. Betteridge lost to T. W. Walls, 3-6, 4-6 Doubles. —Minson and Hood v. Watson and Pattinson, 3-6 (unfinished); Betteridge and Le Compte v. Lewthwaite and Walls, 6-4 (unfinished). United won by 4 matches to «0 (2 unfinished).

North Linwood v. University Singles.---W. Pritchard beat W. Dickson, 6-3, 7-5; J. Beatty lost to B. Shirlaw, 6-0, 2-6, 1-6; T. Harneiss lost to B. Crofts, 4-6 0-6; E. Cormack v. B. Penfold 2-6, 9-7, 4-2. University leads by 2 matches to 1 (1 unfinished, doubles not begun). Elmwood v. Avonside Singles.—A. L. Blackwell beat J. Reader, 7-5, 6-3; D. Marshall beat R. Heke, 8-6, 6-4; D. Jamieson lost to E. Packer, 7-5, 4-6, 2-6; R. Christie beat A. Leopold, 6-4, 9-7. Doubles.—Blackwell and Christie v. Reader and Packer, 6-2 (unfinished). Elmwood won by 3 matches to 1, 8 sets to 2 (1 unfinished, 1 not begun). Opawa v. South Brighton Singles.—S. Clarke beat G. Shaw, 6t4, 6-1; M. I. C. Norden lost to W. Thom. 0-6, 7-9; J. Tregear lost to V. Jones, 1-6, 6-2, 1-6; D. Reid beat R. Atkinson, 6-1. 6-4. Scores equal 2 matches all.

SENIOR RESERVE Cashmere beat St. Albans by 72 games to 64; Woolston beat Elmwood by 4 matches to 1; Avonside ll'beat

North Linjvood by 4 matches to 1; Linwood Avenue beat Avonside I by 6 matches to 1; Beckenham beat Opawa by 6 matches to 0; United beat University by default. SECOND GRADE , Section I St. James’ leads Waimairi by 7 matches to 2 (7 not played); North Linwood beat Shirley by 9 matches to 1; Heathcote Valley beat Barrington by 9 matches to 2 (5 not played); Woolston leads Riccarton Domain by 7 matches to 3 (6 not played); Elm-, wood leads Avonside by 7 matches to 3 (5 not pldyea). Section II Wigram leads st. Albans by 4 matches to 2 (10 not played); Edgeware leads Opawa by 7 matches to 2 (7 not played); Cashmere beat Elmwood II by default; St. Martins Valley leads North Linwood by 7 matches to 1 (8 not played); St. Mary’s leads South Christchurch by 4 matches to 3 (9 not played).