TENNIS United Draws Level With Cashmere

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29739, 5 February 1962, Page 21

TENNIS United Draws Level With Cashmere

N\ilh one round of matches still to be played in the Canterbun’ luiwn Tennis .Xssociations senior men’s grade, a plav-off will be probably necessary to determine' the m inner. In Saturday’s match the previously unbeaten Cashmere team Mas beaten bv I nited, and these teams are now equal in firs't place.

Cashmere had little difficulty in maintaining its unbeaten record in the "senior women s grade. Pie team beat University bv six matches to nil. Other women’s teams to ''J n were Fernside-Kaiapoi, Avonside and rendaiton, all convincingly.

United came to the vital match with Cashmere without the services of one of is best players. A. D. L. Hunter, who was Hl. The team’s selectors decided to

call in the veteran, W. G. I<ewthwaite. rather than the t a ding junior, A. R. Brooks Lewthwaite partnered A. L. Blackwell to a doubles vic- • .ry. and did not have to c ■mplete his singles The doubles were played first, and for Cashmere B. J.

S.iirtaw and M. C. Healey

maintained their unbeaten record in the top position. Shirlaw’s steady play and Healey’s agility at the net served them well. The Cashmere players concen-

•rated their returns on D. E. Wright rather than on the rational title holder. L. A. Ger-ard. Wright was uncertain in the first set but .mproved immensely in the second, and United went close to extending this match to' three se.s.

The bottom doubles also ■attired a close second set. ith Cash-mere striving to in in the knowledge that a

ant-back on sets would be possibility. However, ackwell, provincial cham>n only two years ago. and ? experienced Country

: ayer, Lewthwai'te. were too good at the net for R. M. Minscci and S. W. Bullen. Gerrard in the top singles brought out the best in Shirlaw’s play, and this game was by no means as one-sided as

the score of 6-0, 6 2 would suggest. Gerrard was sert ing well, and his ground shots were as usual working smoothly. Shirlaw made some fine recoveries, and was not slow to take the iniitia- • ve at the net at every opportunity. Second Singles Minson faced Blackwell in the second singles match, and did well to extend the United player to three hardfought sets. Minson has had some good victories in tournament play this season, and :n the second set of this match played some fine tenms. Blackwell took the first .-it comfortably, and Minson fought back to lead 5-3 in the second. BJaekweil struggled to 6-ali. but was by that stage too tired to ;> -event Minson from taking the set

Blackwell surprised Minson by coming back for the third set full of fire, and he stormed the net in a manner which had not seemed poss.ble at the end of the second set. Minson's service lost

its sting and. as has happened on previous occasions this season, the older man lasted out the match much better. Blackwell won the third set easily, at 6-1. His volleying was nicely placed, and he took every chance to come to the net. On previous form during

the season. Healey could have been expected to beat Wright comfortably. However, the former Otago representative, perhaps brought into top form by the amount of play he had had in the doubles, gave what was easily his best inter-club display of the season. His ground shots or. both sides were excellent

and. although he slipped a little in the second set. he ended the match in full con-

Bullen and Lewtowaite began their singles in what bid by then become a minor game. Bullen took a slight advantage in the only set which was played. Both players strived to turn the unpleasant conditions to their advantage, but Bullen had the better control on the ground. His was a much improved performance. Close Contest

Elmwood and Edgeware had * o.ose contest with the former team winning on a count-bacK games by 65 to 54. W. Thom

i.iowed improved lorm in tne tuat set of hie game with E. L. -Martin, but Martin came baek into the picture in the second with intelligent placements and volleying. In the second singles r Hameiss had one of his netter days in beating J. W Buggan. a steady player. L. J. Walpole volleyed well to beat B. J Aldridge. 6-3. 6-3. Abridge hit his ground shots " ell, but Walpole was the better r: placements, and his good work at the net won him many points. After winning the first set D R. Preston fell away in

the second and third against M. Agar. D. A. Henderson beat R Neumann 7-5. 7-5, after t ailing 5-2 in the first set and 4-1 in the second.

In the matrh between Opawa and North Linwood. the former team scored its second win of the season. G. D. Moss, who has not played many club matches this season, was in good form to dispose of B. R Crawford for the loss of only four games Moss was very sharp in his volleying. R Blunt lasted out a long game to beat R. Watson but North Lanwood’s lefthander. R. Bruce, was in verygood form to defeat S F. C. C larke. 6-2. 6-1. Women's Games

A feature of the women's play was the meeting of Mrs P Leopold (Avonside I with Miss S Rich i United i. who has done veil in junior competition in the last two weeks Mrs Leopold. returning everything, took the first set comfortably a* 6-2. The United junior came on to her game in the second set. hitting her ground shots to a good length, and making use of her opportunities at the net. After gaining a lead of 5-3. Miss Rieti had to bow before the greater steadiness and better placement of her more experienced opponent. Miss Rich, however, clearly showed her improvement.

Miss J. Hatch (Shiriey) had one of her best wins in senior c'inpetttion when she outlasted Miss J McKain (Fendalton' in a very long singles Miss McKain hit the ball well, but Mss Hatch was also in very good form. Her forehand worked particularly well, and when she was able to come to the net

rarely fell into error. After winning the first set comfortably Miss Hatch was forced to concede the second, but had better control of her shots in the third to take a well-merited victory.

J. Davidson was in complete control against University's top player. Miss J. MolMson, but in the second position Miss L. Tucker (University) gave Mias K. Williams a hard struggle. Miss Tucker, hitting the ball hard forced Miss Williams into errors in the second set. but the Cashmere player just managed to come home in the third at 6-4

Fernside-Kaiapoi was untroubled to beat St. Albans for the loss of only one set. In the top singles Miss K. Reece (St. Albans) was able to hit through the steady Mrs C. Pearce on occasion in the first set, but the 19hl Canterbury titleholder was too steadv in her retrieving in tre second.

Pbints after six rounds are:— Senior men: United 5, Cashmere Woo Is ton 3 Opawa 2. North 5. Elmwood 4. University 3. Linwood 1. Fdgeware 1 Senior women: Cashmere 6. Avon ride 5. 4. Fernside-Kaia-rx>i 3. United 3 University 2 SJ’-rley 1. St. Albans 0. Results were:—

SENIOR MEN Opawa v. North Linwood Singles.—G. D. Moss beat B. R. Crawford, 6-4, 6-0; R. Blu.it beat R. Watson, 4-6. 6-4, 6-4: S. F C. Clarke lost to R Bruce. 2-6, 1-6; P. Boatwcod beat P Lennon. 6-4. 6-4. Doubles.—Moss and Boat wood heat Crawford and Watson. 6-3; 6-2; Blunt and Clarke beat Bruce and Lennon. 6-3, 7-5. Opawa won by five matches to one. University v. Woolston Sing es.—L. J. Walpole beat B J. Aidridge. 6-3, 6-3; D. R Preston lost to M. Agar, 7-5, 2- 1-6: D. A Henderson beat R. Neumann, 7-5. 7-5: M. H Crozier lost to B. Lane. 1-6. 0-6. Doubles.—Walpole and Crozier lost to Aldridge and Neumann, 5-7. 2-6; Preston and Henderson lost to Agar and Lane. 3-6. 1-6. Woolston won by four matches to two. Edgeware v. Elmwood Singles.—E. L. Martin lost tc W. Thom, 1-6. 7-9; T. beat J. W. Duggan. 9-7. 6-3: B W. Crofts beat J. Cullington 5- 6-4; V. M. Colebourne lost to M. J. Urquhart, 0-6, 1-6. Doubles.—Crofs and Hsrniess ’ost to Thom and Duggan, 0-6 3- Martin and Colebourne beat Cullington and Urquhart. 3-7. 6-1. Elmwood won by 65 games to 54 games. United v. Cashmere Singles—L. A Gerrard beat B J. Shirlaw. 6-0. 6-2; A. L. Blackwell beat R. M. Minson. 3-6, 6-8. 6- ; D. E. Wright beat M. C Healey. 7-5. 3-6. 6-4; W. G Lewthwatte v. S W Bullen. 5-7 (unfin isihed).

Doubles —Gerrard and Wright lo< to Shtr’aw and Healey, 2-6. 5- Blackwell and Lewth waite beat Minson and Bullen. 6-3. 8-6 United won by four matches to one. SENIOR WOMEN Cashmere v. University Singles.—Miss J. Davidson beat Miss J Mollison. 6-2, 6-0; Miss K. Williams beat Miss L. Tucker. 6-1. 7-9. 6-4: Mrs E Campbell beat Miss V. Tucker. 6- 6-0: Mrs H Lovegrove beat Miss J. Malin. 6-0. 6-0. Doubles.—Misses Davidson and Williams beat Misses Mollison and L. Tucker. 6-1. 6-0: Mesdames Campbell and Lovegrove beat Misses V. Tucker and Malin, 6-0. 6-0. Cashmere won by six matches to none. Avonside v. United Singles— Mrs P. Leopold beat Miss S. Rich. 6-2. 8-6; Mrs D. McKinnel beat Mrs K. Conway. 6-0, 6-1; Miss L. Pledger beat Miss D. Hopping, 6-3, 6-1: Mrs B. Leopold beat Miss C. Andrew’ by default. Doubles. Mesdames P Leopold and McKinnel beat Miss Rich and Mrs Conway, 6-2, 6-4; Miss Pledger and Mrs B Leopold beat Miss Hopping and Andrew, by default. Avonside won by six matches to nil.

Fernside-Kaiapoi v. St. Albans Singles—Mrs C Pearce beat Miss K Reece 6-4. 6-0; Miss D Smith beat Miss L. King. 6-1. 6-0; Miss D. Corich beat Mrs G. Wilson. 6-1. 6-4: Mrs C. Escott beat Miss N. Brixton, 6-0. 6-0. Doubles.—Mrs Pearce and Miss Smith beat Misses Reece and King. 6-1. 6-4; Miss Corich and Mrs Escott beat Mrs Wilson and Miss Brixton. 6-2. 3-6. 7-5. Femside-Kaiapoi won by six matches to nil. Fendalton v. Shiriey.

Singles—Miss J. McKain lost to Miss J. Hatch, 1-6. 6-4. 6-8: Mrs L. Buxton beat Miss J Cusdtn. 6-1. 6-2: Mrs P. Boatwood beat Mrs P. Sanders. 7-5. 6- Miss M. McNish beat Miss E Reaston. 6-4. 6-1 Doubles. —Misses McKain and beat Misses Hatch and Cusdon. 6-4. 7-5: Mesdames Buxton and Boatwood beat Mrs Sanders and Miss Reaston. 6-2. 7- 6-4. c Fendalton won by five matches to one.