LAWN TENNIS WALPOLE WINS SINGLES IN JUNIOR TOURNEY

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28774, 20 December 1958, Page 7

LAWN TENNIS WALPOLE WINS SINGLES IN JUNIOR TOURNEY

L Walpole, of Christchurch Boys’ High School, won the major championship, the under 18 boys' singles, on the third and final day of the Cromb and Merritt junior lawn tennis tournament at Wilding Park yesterday. This championship is Walpole’s best win to date and he beat another Boys’ High School player, D. Scotland, in the final with the Joss of only one game in each set. Seeded first, the slimly-built Walpole, who is also a noted chess player, gave Scotland, who was seeded fourth, little chance. Walpole was by far the steadier. Walpole, perhaps, with the chess influence appeared to be working out his moves well ahead and it was impossible for Scotland to bustle him out of his cool and sometimes deceptively lazy play. Walpole s steadiness won for him, 6-1, 6-1. He varied his length with intelligent judgment of when to play short and when to play deep and when he enticed Scotland into the net on the short ones he passed him down the sidelines. Scotland made more mistakes but he gained some good points with well-judged lobs over his opponent’s head and he made some gallant retrieving shots as he covered the baseline. Walpole is one of the Canterbury nominees for the national B.P. junior tournament which will be played at Wilding Park towards the end of next month. So are both the players who contested the final of the under 18 girls’ singles yesterday. In that match, Miss J. Andrews, of Ashburton, beat Miss J. Hatch, of Christchurch, 6-2, 6-3. The girls’ final was one of competent serving, hard driving and clever placements. Miss Hatch had the stronger game and hit harder than her opponent but she was not as consistent and not as experienced. Miss Andrews was a model of steadiness, returning almost every ball with confidence, whereas Miss Hatch made some simple errors after several good shots which might have earned her points. Quite a number of Miss Hatch’s mistakes were at the net when she held commanding positions. Miss Andrews was top seed and Miss Hatch, second.

The under 15 boys’ singles final was a triumph for J. Cullington, of Cashmere High School. He moved through the first set against I. Stanton, of Redcliffs, without the loss of a game and won the second set, 6-2. A tall player. Cullington had an awkward style but he had a long reach and a top-spun drive which had too much pace for his opponent. Stanton showed plenty of courage in his recoveries and was able to take many of the games to deuce. Miss K. Reece, of Papanui High School, beat Miss D. Corich, of Kaiapoi, 6-3, 6-1, in the under 15 .girls’ singles final. The matifl) was played at the height of the wind and Miss Reece coped? with it better in the second set by cross-court to Miss Coridi’s backhand. Miss Corich put up a hard struggle in the first set but she made more errors in the second.

The final of the under 18 mixed doubles will be played on Monday evening. Trophies were presented at the end of the tournament by the president of the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association and of the New Zealand association (Mr R. N. C. Hill) and Mr A. Pedder, of Cromb and Merritt. Results.— BOYS’ EVENTS Under 18 Singles Final.—L. Walpole beat D. Scotland. 6-1, 6-1.

Under 18 Doubles Final.—L. Walpole and D. Scotland beat V. Price and I. Laby, 6-2, 6-4 Under 15 Singles Eemi-Finals.—J. Cullington beat W.

9 ’ 2: *• Stanton bea ‘ K 6-J U 6-27 C “ IIn ’ EtOn beat stai >t°n

Under 15 Doubles b s£ & at beat Barrell SSFwUmS's-S ,“1™“

A u " der 13 Singles Final.—A. Smith beat D. Thom. 9-2. FlO=> 13 Doubles beat D''c^nt^?, Odco J ck „ and D 111,0111 beat D. Cantrell and R. Rudkin, 9-0

GIRLS’ EVENTS Under is singles 6-2, 1 6-37 J ’ Andrews baa t J- Hatch,

. r Un ?. er 18 Doubles heal v' J■_. Hatc ? and J - Andrews beat Y. Hart and S. Cederman, 6-1,

Under 15 Singles 6-p6-I~ K R eeee beat D. Corich,

Under 18 Doubles h _'! na K K ‘ng and D. Hopping beat L. Ashby and D Corich, 6-5 6-4

, Under 13 Singles ers9-7 D ’ Newton beat B. Saund-

Under 13 Doubles Bran der and S. Mackay beat F. Thomson and D. Newton. 9-6.

Under 18 Mixed Doubles Second Round.—G. Hastie and Miss S;. Cetaman beat A. Thorne and Miss M. Smith. 9-5: McFadden and Ji' ss U Aatlb y beat J. Cullington and Miss E. Scott, 9-3; L. Walpole and ivr- ss M .^ Kain beat J. Bowman and I |? w ,'?er. 9-0; P. Boatwood and Miss Y. Hart beat M. Thom and Miss P. Craythorne 9-6 Quarter-Finals.—Hastie and Miss Cederman beat N. Alexander and Miss J. Andrews, 9-3; D. Scotland and Miss J Hatch beat McFadden and Miss Ashby, 9-5; Walpole and Miss McKain beat Watkins and Miss Conch 9-5; V. Price and Miss K. Keece beat Boatwood and Miss Hart, Semi-Finals.—Hastie and Miss Cederman beat Scotland and Miss Hatch, 6-4, 6-5; Walpole and Miss McKain beat Price and Miss Reece, 6-3, 2-6, 8-6. Final.—(To be played later.)