UNIVERSITY LIKELY WINNER OF MIXED GRADE

Press, Volume C, Issue 29437, 13 February 1961, Page 9

UNIVERSITY LIKELY WINNER OF MIXED GRADE

Although the Canterbury’ Lawn Tennis Association has a difficult problem because of the lost days in its senior club competitions this season, Saturday brought consolation when it left the senior mixed grade competition virtually decided.

University and Cashmere I lead the competition with four points each but whereas University has not had a loss, Cashmere I has been beaten by University. The competitions committee will discuss whether it will play more rounds in this competition or whether it will use the time to attempt to finish the senior men’s and senior women’s competitions which are not nearly as far ahead. There was a little luck in the way Saturday’s matches worked out. As three members of the University team were also taking part in the representative match with Hutt Valley, the match between University and North Linwood-Avonside was begun some time before the other contests in the morning. When the representative match was scheduled to begin, at 11 a.m., University had won a men’s singles, a women’s singles and a mixed doubles. Miss S. Mackay was about to begin her singles with Miss L. Mardon when she had to change to the representative match. However, D. Preston (University) who was not involved in the representative fixture, won his singles with R. Watson and that gave University the necessary four matches.

In the other contests, Cashmere I beat Cashmere II by five matches to one, and Opawa-Avonside beat Elm-wood-Shirley by 79 games to 60. United had the bye. The points are:—University 4,

Cashmere I 4, Opawa-Avonside 2, North Linwood-Avonside 2, United 1, Cashmere II 0, Elm-wood-Shirley 0. The top University player, L. Walpole, was given a hard struggle before he went to the representative match. He beat B. R. Crawford. 4-6, 6-4, 7-5, but he had to fight hard for every point. Crawford used his strong forehand to advantage and he varied length and direction intelligently. In spite of the hinderance of a rather laboured service, Walpole showed that his game was a balanced one in other departments and also that he was extremely fit. He won some good points at the net. Mrs G. Middelberg, the top University woman, was also given a hard three-set singles before the representative match. She beat Mrs D. McKinnel, of Avonside, 6-1, 5-6, 6-3. Mrs Middelberg played some brilliant shots down the sidelines out of reach, sometimes on return of service but she had to press consistently throughout a rally to win points from the determined Mrs McKinnel at other times.

North Linwood I and St. Albans lead in the first section of the senior reserve grade with six points each and South Brighton and North Linwood II lead the second section with five points each. Elmwood has won the second section of the first grade after winning all its seven matches. Fendalton has won the second grade section I and New Brighton has won section II of that grade. They will play off later. Results:— SENIOR MIXED North Linwood-Avonside v. University

Men’s singles:—B. R. Crawford lost to L. Walpole, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5: R. Watson lost to D. Preston, 1-6. 3-6.

Women’s singles:—Mrs D. McKinnel lost to Mrs G. Middelberg. 1-6, 6-5, 6-3. Mixed doubles:—Watson and Miss Mardon lost to Preston and Miss Mackay, 2-6, 6-5, 3-6. University won by 4 matches to 0.

Cashmere I v. Cashmere II Men’s singles:—l. D. Armstrong beat S. Bullen, 6-4, 6-2: M. C.

Healey beat R. Cooper. 6-0, 6-1. Women’s singles:—Mrs H. Lovegrove lost to Miss K. Williams, 4- 4-6; Mrs B. Watmuff beat Miss J. Mollison, 6-1, 6-0. Mixed doubles: —Armstrong and Mrs Watmuff beat Cooper and Miss Mollison, 6-4, 6-2; Healey and Mrs Lovegrove beat Bullen and Miss Williams, 6-5, 6-3. Cashmere I won by 5 matches to 1. Opawa-Avonside v. Elmwood-Shirley Men’s singles:—R. Blunt beat J. Duggan, 5-6. 6-1, 6-2; S. Clarke beat A. R. Wallace, 4-6, 6-4. 6-2. Women's singles:—Mrs M. Hanlon beat Miss J. Cusdin, 6-1, 5- 6-1; Miss M. Watson lost to Mrs P. Sanders, 6-5, 2-6, 3-6. Mixed doubles:—Blunt and Mrs Hanlon beat Duggan and Miss J. Cusdin, 6-0, 6-2; Clarke and Miss Watson lost to Wallace and Mrs Sanders. 3-6, 3-6. Opawa-Avonside won by 79 games to 60. SENIOR RESERVE Section I Fendalton beat Opawa I by 4 matches to 2; Avonside beat University by 4 matches to 1; St. Albans beat Beckenham by 6 matches to 0; Cashmere I beat Edgeware by 4 matches to 2; North Linwood I beat Elmwood by 6 matches to 0. Section II North Linwood II beat Opawa II by 7 sets to 6; Woolston beat Edgeware II by default; Shirley beat Aranui by 5 matches to 1; South Brighton beat Cashmere II by 4 matches to 2. FIRST GRADE Section II Spreydon beat St. Albans by 9 matches to 7: University beat Waimairi by 14 matches to 2; Cathedral beat Shirley by 9 matches to 7: Elmwood beat Avonside by 10 matches to 6. SECOND GRADE Section I Fendalton beat Public Hospital by 12 matches to 4; St. James beat Linwood by 11 matches to 5; Elmwood beat North Linwood by 13 matches to 3. Section II

Shirley beat Spreydon by 10 matches to 6; Cashmere beat Avonside by 9 matches to 7; New Brighton beat Fendalton by 9 matches to 7.