Men's Tennis May Be In For Lean Season

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29916, 1 September 1962, Page 9

Men's Tennis May Be In For Lean Season

AFTER the riches of last season, men’s tennis in Canterbury would appear to be in for another lean time this season. The quick change in circumstances which brought the province to its strongest since World War II has just as quickly changed again. The latest blow to any hopes that Canterbury could retain some of its newly-founded prominence is that I. S. Crookenden, who recently returned from his tour as top player in the New Zealand Davis Cup team, is not expected to return to Christchurch. So, of the men's team— L. A. Gerrard,'Crookenden, G. D. Moss and G. A. Davidson which played Wellington on March 10. a team which could not have been dreamed of a few seasons ago, only Davidson is left, and, being employed by ah oil company, he must always be likely to transfer. Gerrard arrived in Christchurch in February, 1961. played for Canterbury against Australia with C. G. Judge and against Wellington with Judge, Moss and W. Thom, before going overseas. After his return in October he won the Wellington. Canterbury and New Zealand titles as a Canterbury player. He headed the Canterbury Wilding Shield team with

Moss. Judge and Davidson and was far and away the Dominion's best player for the season. He returned to Auckland in June. Crookenden, runner-up for the New Zealand title and winner of the doubles and mixed doubles, employed by the same sports firm as Gerrard, arrived in Christchurch on March 10 and played against Wellington that day, the only time he has been able to be called a Canterbury player. He left to go overseas at the end of March. It was at one time thought he would return to Christchurch after the tour, but now he is expected to remain in the North Island. Moss, a genuine homegrown product, a leading junior and an outstanding senior who won six open tournaments in succession in 1960-61 season and the beginning of 1961-62, left to teach at One Tree Hill, Auckland, school in March. He caused sensational upsets at the 1961 and 1962 national chamionships and is now ranked tenth New Zealander. Judge will now again be the top Canterbury player. After a trip overseas in 1960 Judge reached the semi-finals of the singles, the final of the doubles and won the mixed doubles at the 1961 national championships to get a sixth

ranking. His form dropped away last season and he went off the ranking list. A dental student at the University of Otago. Judge will return to Christchurch at the end of November and remain a month before he goes on the tournament circuit. After that he will probably go to Australia in January with the New Zealand Universities’ team. Judge has indicated that in his month in Christchurch he wants to work hard at his tennis to get back to form after little practice. If Canterbury has slipped compared with Auckland and Wellington, it should not suffer by comparison with its regular minor opponents like Otago, South Canterbury, Hutt Valley and West Coast. Two players contributing to this may be P. Alexander and M. J. Simons. Alexander, one of the most promising of Canterbury juniors about 1958 when he won a senior tournament and represented Canterbury, has been a country player for the last few seasons and has not taken part in the main tournaments. Simons is a former Wellington and Otago representative who is a house surgeon at the Christchurch Hospital. He did not play while he was here last season, but is expected to turnout next season.