LAWN TENNIS Crookenden To Play Against Wellington

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29765, 7 March 1962, Page 5

LAWN TENNIS Crookenden To Play Against Wellington

All four members of this year's Davis Cup team, plus the national champion, L. A. Gerrard, who was not available for the team, have been selected to take part in the annual Canterbury-Welling-ton representative lawn tennis match at Wilding Park on Saturday. Of the Davis Cup players, R. G. Clarke, J. B. Souter and R. N. Hawkes will be playing for Wellington, and I. S. Crookenden, runner-up to Gerrard for the national title, has been selected in the Canterbury team. For a time it was thought Crookenden would arrive to live in Christchurch in the middle of this week but he is now due to arrive on Saturday morning. ■

Formerly of Hamilton, having left secondary school at the end of last year, Crookenden has taken a position with Ivan Seay, Proprietary, Ltd., of Christchurch. New Zealand agents for Spalding. He is at present in Wellington and training with other members of the Davis Cup team. It is understood that Crookenden has said he would be available for Canterbury for this match and his inclusion brings together more of New Zealand's leading players in a representative match at Wilding Park than for many years. The Canterbury team, announced by the convener of the selection panel <Mr M. C. Healey) yesterday, is as follows.

Men: L. A. Gerrard. I. S Crookenden, G. D, Moss, G A. Davidson. Reserve: L. J. Walpole. C. G. Judge, who has returned to the University of Otago, was not available.

Women: Miss J. Davidson. Mrs P. Leopold, Miss K. Williams, and Mrs E. Campbell. Reserve: Miss S. Rich. Besides Clarke, Souter and Hawkes in the Wellington team is F. Scarlett, and the women are Miss M Johnston. Mrs E. Wentzel. Miss J. Warwick and Miss A. Walker. Crookenden will train in Christchurch for the rest of the month before returning to his home in Hamilton for a few days before the Davis Cup team leaves for overseas on April 1. This Sunday Gerrard and Crookenden will travel to Timaru to conduct coaching sessions in the morning and play exhibition singles in the afternoon sponsored by their firm. Two other Canterbury players may accompany them and doubles matches may be played with leading South Canterburyplayers also included.

The next week-end Gerrard and Crookenden will play in Wellington, Crookenden for the Davis Cup team in its match against the

Rest, of which Gerrard is a member, and on March 24 and 25 they will have a similar programme of coaching and exhibition matches in Invercargill to those in Timaru.