LAWN TENNIS University Wins Senior Men’s Club Campionship

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28531, 10 March 1958, Page 14

LAWN TENNIS University Wins Senior Men’s Club Campionship

University has won the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association’s senior men’s inter-club championship for the 1957-58 season. When the two leading teams met at Wilding Park in the last round on Saturday, University, which was leading United by one point, won by 4 matches to 1. At full strength, the University team was a good one, and it won all its seven matches. The first three were won fairly comfortably, but the next three were won very narrowly when the side was without its leading

player, C. G. Judge. Judge was back in the team for the last round and the contest with United was won far more easily than had been expected. The first three singles were won and the fourth lost by University. Then University won the top doubles to r put the reSult beyond doubt. The second doubles was not completed. University last held the title two seasons ago; Opawa won it last season. Surprise Results Results of the other three matches in the last round were surprising, for three teams bear others higher than they on the points table. Opawa beat North Linwood by 64 games to 60 for its first win; Avonside beat Cashmere by 5 matches to 1; and South Brighton beat Elmwood by i matches to 2.

Final points were:—University 7, United 5. North Linwood 4, Elmwood 3, Cashmere 2, South Brighton 2, Avonside 2, Opawa 1. Opawa and Elmwood, and Opawa and South Brighton had uncompleted matches. .The top players, G. Judge (University) and S. Watson (United), showed contrasting styles in a hardfought match, which Judge won, 3-6, 8-6, 6-4. Judge did not begin well against Watson’s steadiness, and the United player, cutting errors to a minimum, took the first set and went to a lead of 5-1 in the second set. It seemed certain that he would win. When Judge staged a fine recovery, caught up to 5-5 and took the set, 8-6, after having two match points against him during the set. He won the third, 6-4.

Judge showed magnificent determination to gain the initiative when he was so far behind. Early he made too many mistakes, especially overhead, a?rd Watson, as usual, returned nearly everything. Very fit and qu|ck about the court, Watson played surely and did not worry about getting a great deal of pace. When Judge recovered, he displayed some fine stroking with powerful drives, and some unplayable volleys to the corners. He made some very stylish shots. Crofts Wins

In the second singles, B. Crofts (University), vastly improved this season—he was runner-up in the Canterbury* championships—beat R. G. Pattinson, *7-5, 6-3. Crofts’ careful shots, determination and unfailing concentrationsgave him the slight advantage over his older opponent. W. Dickson (University) played one of his best matches this season when he beat T. W. Callendar without the loss of a game in double quick time. Callendar entered the United team as a replacement for W G. Lewthwaite and looked out of practice. Dickson played an all-court game with ability, and w’as especially formidable’at the net.

T. W. Walls ' (United), by his shrewd tactical play and consistency, won the only singles for his team. He beat B. Shirlaw. 6-4, 3-6. 6-2. Shirlaw played some attractive strokes, but he did not match Walls in placement. He is still one of the hardest opponents in the competition. Results: — United v. University Singles.—S. Watson lost to G. Judge, 6-3. 6-8, 4-6: R. G. Pattinson lost to B. Crofts. 5-7. 3-6; T. W. Callendar lost to W. Dickson, 0-6, 0-6; T. W. Walls beat B. Shirlaw, 6-4, 3-6. 6-2. Doubles.—Pattinson and Callendar lost to Judge and Dickson, 1-6, 9-11. Watson and Walls v. Crofts .and Shirlaw 6-4, 9-11 (unfinished). • University won by 4 matches to 1. North Linwood v. Opawa Singles.—C. W. Pritchard beat S. Clarke, 6-2. 6-3; M. J. Beatty beat M. I. C. Norden. 6-3. 4-6, 6-4; T Harneiss lost to G. Moss. 2-6, 1-6; R. Watson lost to G. Tregear, 6-4. 5- 2-6. Doubles.—Pritchard and Beatty beat Clarke and Tregear, 6-3, 6-2; Harneiss and Watson lost to Moss and Norden, 3-6, 1-6. Opawa won by 64 games to 60 Avonside v. Cashmere Singles.—G. Burton beat M. Healey, 6- 8-6; J. Reader beat R. Minson, 3- 6-4* 9-7; R. Heke beat B. Hood, 6-2, 6-3; E. Packer lost to L. Le Compte, 4-6, 5-7. Doubles. —Heke and Packer beat Hood and Le Compte, 7-5. 6-1; Burton and Reader beat Healey and Minson, 6-1, 3-6, 6-0. Avonside won by 5 matches to 1. Elmwood v. South Brighton Singles'.—A. L. Blackwell beat G. Shaw, 7-5, 9-7; D. Jamieson lost to W. Thom, 6-3, 4-6, 4-6; L. Walpole beat V. Jones, 1-6, 6-4. 7-5; D. Preston lost to A. D. Atkinson, 6-2, 5-7, 4Doubles.—Blackwell and Walpole lost to Shaw and Thom, 6-4, 3-6, 3-6: Jamieson and Preston lost to Jones and Atkinson, 1-6. 6-4, 4-6. South Brighton won by 4 matches to 2. Senior Reserve Woolston beat University by 6 matches to 0; Avonside beat Linwood Avenue by 6 matches to 0; North Linwood beat Opawa by 6 matches to 0; Beckenham beat United by 4 matches to 2; Cashmere beat Fendalton by 6 matches to 0; St. Albans beat Avonside by 4 matches to 2. SECOND GRADE Section I St. James’ beat Elmwood I by 11 matches to 5; St. Albans beat Opawa by 12 matches to 4; Woolston beat Waimairi by 10 matches to 6; Riccarton Domain beat Avonside by default. Section II St. Mary’s beat Elmwood II by 11 matches to 5; North Linwood beat South Christchurch by 9 matches to 7; North Linwood beat Barrington by 12 matches to 4; St-. Martin’s Valley beat Cashmere by 14 matches to 2; Wigram beat Edgeware by 7 matches to 5. Under 19 Grade Elmwood beat Woolston by 12 matches to 4; Edgeware beat Addington by 10 matches to 6; Opawa beat St. James’ by 104 games to 100; Fendalton beat Shirley by 14 matches to 2.