Avonside's First Win In Women's Tennis

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28553, 5 April 1958, Page 5

Avonside's First Win In Women's Tennis

AS expected, the Avonside " senior women’s lawn tennis team won its play-off against Cashmere to take the inter-club title for the 1957-58 season. It was we’l-deserved success for a club which has had a strong team entered for the last three seasens and has been close to the top each time. Most notable feature of the win is the end, temporarily at least, of United’s strong hold on the title. Only two clubs had won the competition since the war—North Linwood (four times) and United (eight times). Hard Work Avonside has worked hard for this win since it came into the competition in the 1955-56 season. In that season a team comprising mainly Misses P. Allen, S. Field, D. Norrie, and Mrs P. Bcatwood finished equal in points with United, but was beaten in the play-off. Last season Misses Allen, Field, Norrie, and Mrs J. McKay, formerly Miss J. Buchan, began well again, but the team was eliminated in the knock-out round by United. This season two younger members of the club. Misses L. Mardon and C. Smith, were brought in in place at Miss Field, who returned to Otago, and Miss Allen, who was overseas for much of the season, and the elusive title has been gained. ’ The team suffered an early loss to Elmwood this season when that side had as its leading player Miss B. Nelson, but after that it won most of its matches comfortably. The most consistent member of the team throughout the three seasons has been Miss Norrie. In 1955-56. her first

senior year, she won eight of her nine singles matches, last season she won the four she played, and this season she won seven of eight. Her record this season was marred only last Saturday in the play-off when she lost to Miss K. Williams, of Cashmere, a player she had previously beaten, 6-0. 6-0.

Mrs McKay was a competent leader of the side and she won five of her eight singles against strong opposition. She was playing better at the end of the reason and finished with three wins. The two younger members. Misses Smith and Mardon, first and second respectively in the Canterbury Howe Shield junior

girls’ team made a very strong tail, Miss Smith winning six singles out of six, and Miss Mardon five out of six. With Miss Allen playing in two matches in the second half of the season after she had returned from overseas, Avonside was even further strengthened.

Records Teams’ records over the seven rounds of the competition (excluding the play-off) were:— Avonside, won 6, lost 1; Cashmere. 6,1; United, 5,2; Elmwood. 3,4; University, 3,4; Shirley, 2, 5; St. Albans, 2,5; Opawa 1, 6. United and Elmwood were unlucky in the heavy losses they suffered after the New Year. Min J. Davidson, who had been playing top for United, went to "Dunedin, and Miss Nelson returned to Wellington. University might have been one of the strongest sides if it had had all the season the Souter twins from South .Canterbury, who joined at the end. Misses G. Hopkinson and J. Lambert, the top members of the side, did not lose a singles, and the Souters would have made a big difference at third and fourth. Cashmere’s contribution to the women’s competition in the last two seasons has been a fine one because it has been runner-up both times, beaten in the last match. Singles records of leading players in ■ the seven rounds (excluding the play-off) Were —

1 P. W. L. Miss D. Norrie (Avon) 7 0 Miss C.5 Smith (Avon) 6 • 0 Mrs H. Loveridge (Cash.) 7 1 Miss G. Hopkinson (Univ.) 5 9 0 Miss J. Lambert (Univ.) 9 9 0 Miss L. Luxton (Univ.) 6 9 1 Miss B. Mollison (St. A.) • 5 1