Nunneley Casket Match Tomorrow

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28540, 20 March 1958, Page 13

Nunneley Casket Match Tomorrow

/CANTERBURY’S women representative lawn tennis players will have a most difficult task tomorrow and Saturday to break Auckland’s stranglehold on the Nunneley Casket, the coveted trophy for provincial premiership. But through various circumstances prospects are better than they have been for several years. The magnitude of the project is conveyed by the records. Auckland has held the trophy eight seasons, Wellington seven, Canterbuiy six, and Hutt Valley one. Not since the 1945-46 season has the trophy been in the South Island and Auckland’s wins have been in the last eight successive seasons.

Auckland has already withstood three challenges for the shield this season—from Wellington, Northland and Waikato. The Wellington challenge was played in the middle of December, the Northland one on the week-end of March 8, and the Waikato one last week-end; the difference in the results shows the weakening of the Auckland team in that period. Miss R. Morrison, Miss P. Nettleton, Mrs H. Robson and Miss D. Taylor beat a strong Wellington team by 10 matches to 2; Misses Morrison, Taylor, J. Glenie, and R. Dickson beat Northland by 11 matches to 1; and Misses J. Glenie, B. Bryant, R. Dickson, and L. Adams beat Waikato only by 7 matches to 5, with the result depending on the last match. Auckland Team Reason for the weakening of the Auckland team was the departure of Misses Morrison and Nettleton overseas on private tours, which Canterbury can count as most fortunate. The team to meet Canterbury tomorrow —Mrs J. F. Tinnock, Miss Taylor, Miss Glenie and Miss Bryant—is stronger than that which met Waikato, but weaker than that which met Wellington. Mrs Tinnock, formerly Miss Burke, is also a former New Zealand champion. Another happening which can

be regarded as a stroke of good fortune for Canterbury was the residence in Christchurch of Miss B. Nelson, of Wellington, for about a year up to last Christmas. Although she has now returned to Wellington, Miss Nelson is still eligible to play for Canterbury in this challenge and it gives the province a leader with a high national ranking. Miss Davidson On the other hand Canterbury suffered from the unavailability of Miss J. Davidson because of an appendicitis operation. She was certain to have been included in the side which is now Misses Nelson, L. Luxton, G. Hopkinson and K. Brander. The comparison of these teams gives no cause for real optimism, but it is the first that has warranted the expense of travelling to Auckland for some seasons. On last season’s national rankings, Miss Nelson was fourth in New Zealand, higher than any player available in Auckland at present. Mrs Robson was fifth and Miss Taylor sixth. She played to that position at this season's national titles when she reached the semi-finals to be beaten by Miss Morrison. Her greatest asset is a strong forehand. Miss Luxton, also fourth ranked

in New Zealand several years ago before she went overseas for about a year, gained her best success this season in the South Island championships when she beat Miss Nettleton, 0-6, 6-2, 6-4. She later went down to Miss Taylor, 4-6, 2-6, and was beaten by Miss Glenie in the national titles. Capable of very steady performances, Miss Luxton has been playing better this season than last season and she has beaten Miss Nelson in a ranking match. Doubles Wins Miss Hopkinson was eliminated from the South Island singles by Mrs Robson and from the national titles by Miss Nelson. Her greatest successes this season have been in doubles. She reached the final of the Wellington doubles with Miss D. King and won the mixed doubles with J. A. Barry. Miss K. Brander, a junior who played top for the Elmwood team after the departure of Miss Nelson, has entered the team because of some sound performances in ranking matches recently. In spite of their strength, the Auckland players are vulnerable. As an indication of comparative standards, the New Zealand junior champion, Miss Glenie, was beaten this season by Miss Morrison, 6-0, 6-0, and 6-0, 6-1. Miss Glenie lost one of her singles in the Waikato challenge and Miss Bryant lost both of hers, although they will be playing lower positions this week-end.

The Canterbury team has trained intensively with good coaching since its selection and it should justify the challenge.