TENNIS Quick Progress In S.L Tourney

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30106, 15 April 1963, Page 12

TENNIS Quick Progress In S.L Tourney

Because of small fields in most sections, the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association’s annual Easter tournament which this season is also the South Island championship meeting, was well ahead when play finished on Saturday.

Play yesterday was optional and because of Saturday’s progress it was decided none was needed. The tournament was scheduled to finish on Tuesday but it may be possible to complete all finals today.

Only about .50 players, including visitors from Nelson. Marlborough. West Coast, South Canterbury and Otago, are taking part in open, un-der-19 and under-17 sections. Quite the best supported of these is the men’s singles with 18 entries.

None of the four seeded men was eliminated on Saturday and in today's semifinals W. Thom, seeded first, will play M. Agar, seeded third, and B. J. Aldridge, seeded second, will meet the winner of a quarter-final between Canterbury’s two leading juniors. R. McCutcheon, seeded fourth, and G. Ford. Thom, ranked third in Canterbury, was in fine form when he lost only one game in his two singles. First, he beat D. G. Lawson, an Australian from the Rangeville club in the Toowwmba association, 6-0, 6-0. and then A. W. Jamieson, of Greymouth. 6-0. 6-1. Jamieson had earlier eliminated the experienced Marlborough player. D. L. France, and J. Mirfin, of South Canterbury. Against Jamieson, usually a competent returner of the ball, Thom was relentless and hit everything hard. He was quick to take advantage of some of Jamieson’s weaker serves and he forced into the net throughout, driving Jamieson back behind the baseline. Interesting Game The most interesting encounter of the men’s singles was between Ford and D. Heatherbell. a former Nelson player now at Canterbury University. After a long and tense struggle the red-headed Ford won, 9-7. 8-10. 7-5. Ford had earlier beaten a former Christchurch player now living in Westport, J. Cadenhead, 8-6. 6-2, he had lost none of his stamina for his next match. His spun deliveries served him well and his volleying was very quick although he occasionally lapsed in concentration. Heatherbell has been in fine form in the Christchurch senior reserve competition recently and it was thought he might have got further on in this tournament. He lobbed well, played some grand passing shots, and he had his chance when he broke Ford’s service to lead 5-4 in the final set. However. Ford broke back again immediately and went on to win the next two games when Heatherbell made a number of costly errors. Brother Defeated To get to the semi-finals Agar beat C. Hunt, of Nelson, run-ner-up in the Canterbury under--17 championship in Januarv and a Canterbury junior. J. M'artin. McCutcheon lost only two games when he beat his United teammate. W. G. Lewthw’aite and Aldridge beat D. F. Thom, a younger brother cl the top seed. 6-1, 6-1.

The women’s stogies had an appalling field of only five. In the final Canterbury’s thirdranked player. Miss S. Rich, will meet last year’s Easter singles winner. Miss S. Field, of Otago. Miss Field was untroubled to beat Miss R. Smith, of Kaikoura, 6-2. 6-0, but Miss Rich was not up to her best form when she lost three games to each set to Miss N. Adams, of Methven. Miss Rich took a quick lead eariy but allowed her opponent to recover when she made a series of mistakes. Her shots were still too powerful eventually. The only upset to the seedings to any section was to the open mixed doubles when the second-seeded pair, Heatherbell and Miss C. Davies, lost to J Mosely and Miss E. Stovold. Miss Stovold drove stronglv and Moseley brilliantly cut off returns with volleys at the net.

Men’s Singles First Round.—A. W. Jamieson beat D. L. France, 7-5, 6-2; G. Ford beat J. Cadenhead. 8-6. 6-2.

Second Round.—W. Thom beat D. G. Lawson. 6-0. 6-0; Jamieson beat J. Mirfin, 6-2, 1-6 6-0’ M. Agar beat C. Hunt. 6-4. 6-2-J. Martin beat C. A. Pollitt, 6-3, 6- R. McCutcheon beat W. G Lewthwaite, 6-1, 6-1; Ford beat D. A. Hcatherbell. 9-7, 8-10, 7- D. F. Thom beat R. F. Mahan. 6-2. 6-4; B. Aldridge beat H. Dow 6-1. 6-3. Quarter-finals.—W. Thom beat Jamieson. 6-0. 6-1; Agar beat Martin, 7-5, 6-0; Aldridge beat D. F. Thom. 6-1, 8-1.

Women’s Singles First Round.—Miss R. Smith beat Mrs L. Rixon. 6-1, 6-2.

Semi-finals.—Miss S. Rich beat Miss N. Adams, 6-3, 6-3; Miss S. Field beat Miss Smith, 6-2, 6-0.

Men's Doubles First Round.—D. L. France and C. A. Pollitt beat J. Cadenhead and A. W. Jamieson, 6-4, 6-3; B. Aldridge and J. Moseley beat C. Hunt and H. Gould, 6-1, 6-1. Mixed Doubles First Round.—D. France and Miss R. Smith beat A. W. Jamieson and Miss N. Adams. 5-7. 6-2, 6-4. Second Round.—B. Aldridge; and Miss S. Field beat J Mirfin and Mrs L. Rixon, 6-4, 6-3; J. Moseley and Miss E. Stovold beat D. Heatherbell and Miss C. Davies, 6-4, 7-5. UNDER 13 Boys* Singles First Round.—R. McCutcheon beat R. F. Mahan, 6-2, 6-0; W. Edgecumbe beat P. Tolley, 6-1. 3-6. 6-3; I. Stanton beat J. Moseley, 6-2, 6-5; G. Ford beat R. Jenkins. 6-2, 6-0. Semi-final.—McCutcheon beat Edgecumbe, 6-4, 6-4. Girls* Singles First Round.—C. Andrew beat G. Phillips, 6-0, 6-2; M. Sewell beat C. Davies, 6-0, 6-0; E. Stovold beat P. Gleeson, 6-5. 6-1. Semi-final—Andrew bec»t Sewell 1- 6-2. 6-2; D. Hopping beat Stovold, 6-3. 6-1. Boys’ Doubles First Round. —G. Ford and W. 1 Edgecumbe beat R. F. Mahan and M. Dow, 6-0. 6-1; T. Gowans and R. Rodgers beat D. F. Thom and J. Martin, 6-4. 6-4; C. Hunt and H. Gover beat B. Keeley and P. McGarry, 6-2, 1-6, 6-4. Girls' Doubles First Round—M. Sewell and J. Bell beat C. Addis and J. Coombes. 4-6, 6-5. 6-4; H. Ballantyne and S. Pollitt beat G. Thompson and P. Gleeson. 0-6, 6-3. 6-3. Second Round. —D. Hopping and C. Andrew beat G. Phillips and L. Gibson 6-0, 6-0; Ballantyne and Pollitt beat D. Harkness and E. Felton, 6-1. 6-3: R- Walls and F. Thomson beat B. Sugden and J. Uprichard, 6-3, 6-0. UNDER 17 Boys’ Singles First Round.—A. Cronin beat G. Wheal. 0-6, 6-0. 6-2; B. Keeley beat R. Rodgers, 6-2, 6-1; T. Gow’ans beat P. McGarry, 6-2, 6-2; J. Mitchell beat D. F. Thom. 6-1, 6-3; P. MeGoldrich beat L. Wheal. 6-1, 6-0; J. Martin beat M. Dow, 6-1. 6-1. Second Round.—C. Hunt beat Cronin, 6-2, 6-3; Gowans beat Keeley, 6-4. 3-6. 6-0; Mitchell beat H. Gover. 6-2, 6-1: Martin beat McGoldrick, 6-4. 6-2. Girls’ Singles First Round.—G. Palliser beat E. Felton, 6-1, 3-6. 6-1. Second Round.—M. Sewell beat D. Harkness, 6-0, 6-0; R. Walls beat Palliser, 6-4, 6-1; J. Coombs beat L. Gibson, 6-1, 5-6. 6-2; C. Addis beat B. Sugden. 6-0. 6-0; J. Rountree beat H. Ballantyne, 6-0, 6-4; F. Thomson beat G. Thompson, 6-2, 6-2; P. Gleeson beat J. Uprichard, 6-4, 2- 6-5; J. Bell beat L. Renaut. 6-3. 6-1. . .. . Quarter-finals. Addis beat Coombs. 6-3. 6-3; Thomson beat Rountree, 6-4, 6-1.

Comeback By Gonzales (IV .ZJ’.A -Reuter —Copyright) NEW YORK, April 14. The former world professional tennis champion, Pancho Gonzales. will return to top-class tennis to a professional tournament at Forest Hills. New York, to June the New York “Journal American” reported. The tournament, from June 27-30, would also have Australians Lew Hoad, the current world champion Ken Rosewell, and former Wimbledon champion. Rod Laver, in the field of eight the report said. U.A.R. Gains 2-0 Davis Cup Lead (N 2 J* Ji.-Reuter —Copyright) BEIRUT, April 14. The United Arab Republic took a 2-0 lead over Lebanon yesterday to their preliminary round tie in the European zone of the Davis Cup. Winner of the tie will meet Chile in the first round proper.