LAWN TENNIS Top Man Beaten In First Round

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30279, 4 November 1963, Page 15

LAWN TENNIS Top Man Beaten In First Round

Senior women tennis players began their 1963-64 competition at Wilding Park on Saturday morning with nothing unusual, but when the men took the courts in the afternoon there was plenty of evidence that last season’s form and position count for little.

In the women's grade. Fendalton beat Shirley by 4 matches to 2 and Cashmere beat United by a similar margin. This is what might have been expected because Cashmere won last season and Fendalton was runner-up. The teams have changed little. The main features of the men’s competition were that the new team. Beckenham, won its first match by beating North Linwood, 4-2, and that Canterbury’s top player, G. A. Davidson, who won all his singles last season, was defeated. Beckenham's win was noteworthy because Barrington, the team it replaced by winning an elimination match could not win all last season.

Davidson has changed this season from University to United and it was expected he would make the latter a very strong team. However, Davidson lost his singles to B. J. Aldridge (Woolston) and the Woolston side, unlucky not to finish higher last season, won the contest by 4 matches to 2. In the other fixtures, University beat Cashmere by 4 matches to 2 in spite of worries about its strength and having to default a doubles, and Edgeware, last season’s runner-up, beat Elmwood by 4 matches to 2. Aldridge’s Win

Aldridge beat Davidson, 6-1, 2-6, 6-4, when he produced similar fine form and fitness to that he showed in the Labour week-end tournament. It must be taken into account that Davidson has not played tennis for a long time —he is essentially a squash player for a big part of the year—but Aldridge’s performance was still an able and a gallant one. There is not much joy in facing Davidson's cannonball services, but Aldridge returned them reasonably well if somewhat short at times and the rest of his game was sounder than that of his opponent Davidson too often lost the advantage of his express deliveries by volleying or smashing into the net, a failing to which he is prone by the very flatness of his shots. Aldridge was determined and accurate for most of the game.

In the second singles, M. Agar (Woolston), who lost only one of his nine singles last season, began with a loss this season. With Davidson in the team, the junior. R. McCutcheon, who led United last season, is now second, and a strong man in that position. He still had to struggle to his utmost to beat the experienced and cleverly tactical Agar, 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, in a long match. G. Ford, Woolston's acquisition from the defeated Barrington side —he was top last season—won the third singles from W. G. Lewthwalte, 6-3. 7-5.

It was pleasing to see Beckenham begin with some success and this was due to its young players. Leading the side, A Brooks beat B. H. Crawford, 6-3. 6-3. and 15-y ear-old J. Mitchell his Chrlstcnurch Boys' High School mate, beat R. Bruce. 6-2, 6-2. Together they won the doubles. Mitchell is thought to the the youngest player ever to compete In the senior men’s competition. The two older members of the team G. Freear and M. Neill also won their doubles.

University was worried about the non-availability of several of its members and the loss of Davidson but It won quite comfortably led by P S. Alexander, second last season. He won his singles with the top Cashmere man. B. J. Snirlaw. and R. J. Goodall and D. A. Heatherbell also won their singles. For Edgeware, B Baxter, who won the Canterbury men's hardcourt singles at Labour week-end, was again in fine form. covering the court briskly and driving well to beat L. W. Watkins. 6-4. 4-6. 10-8 in a close contest. Looks Stronger

Cashmere still looks by far the strongest team In the women's competition. Led by the former national champion. Miss J. Davidson, it won throe of its singles and doubles with United. Miss Davidson had too much power of service and volley for Miss Rich who did not play as well as she did in her doubles. In the second singles. Miss K Williams was steadier than her hard-hitting opponent, Miss C. Andrew. to win. 6-3. 8-6. United’s only singles win was gained by the slightly-built Miss L. Watson, whose build belles her power. She won. 6-3. 6-3. over the stocky Miss P. McLean. Miss Watson was very fit. In the top singles of the other contest. Miss D. Smith, who has

shifted from Avxmetde to Shirley. beat Miss J. McKain i Feudal torn. 6-3. 6-0 Mice McKain played some fine shots but she was not as accurate as her opponent and loot pointe by Just mtasing the lines Mr» P. Boatwood (Pendelton) was much too fit for Mrs R. Koppel. Results:— SENIOR MEN United v. Woolston Singles.—G. A. Davidaon lost to B J. All ridge. 1-6. 6-2. 4-0. R McCutcheon beat M Agar. 7-5. 2-6. 6-4; W G. Lewthware loot to G. Ford. 3-6. 5-7; R van Yeoelateyn lost to V Price. 3-6, 3-6. Doubles—Davidson and McCutcheon beat Aktricge > d Ford, 6-8, 6-4. 6-4; Lewthwalte and van Yesse.stein lost to Agar and Price, 0-6. 1-6. Woolston woo by 4 matches to 2.

Beckenham V. North Linwood Singles.—A. Brooks beat B R. Crawford. 6-3. 6-3: G. Freear lost to J. Martin. 1-6. 4-6; J. Mitchell beat R. Bruce. 6-2. 6-2; M. Neill loot to B. Partridge. 3- 0-6. Doubles —Brooks and Mitchell beat Martin and Bruce. 6-3. 7-5: Freear and Neill beat Crawford and Partldge. 4-6, 6-0. 6-4. Beckenham won by 4 matches to 2 University v. Cashmere Singles —P. S. Alexander best B. J. Shlrlaw. 6-3. 6-4; R J. Goodall beat R M. Mlnaon. 6-4. 6-1; R G Hastie lost to I D Armstrong. 4-«, 2-6. D A. Heatherbell beat S. W. Bullen. 6-2. 6-4. Doublee. Alexander and Hastie lost to Shirlaw and Minion, by default; Goodall and Heatherbell beat Armstrong and Bullen, 6-3. 6-3. University won by 4 matches to 2 Edgeware v. Elmwood Singles.—E. L. Marfin loot to W. Thom. 2-6. 3-6; B. Baxter beat L. W. Watkins. 6-4. 4-6. 10-8; B Crofts beat C. A PolUtt. 6-2. 6-2; P. Boatwood beat R. G. H Christie. 6-2. 6-4 Doubles—Martin and Boatwood lost to Thom and Watkins, 2-6. 2-6: Baxter and Crofts beat Pollltt and Christie. 6-2. 6-4. Edgeware won by 4 matches to 2. SENIOR WOMEN Fendalton v. Shirley Singles—MM J. McKain lost to Mias D Smith. 3-6. 0-6; Mrs P Bost wood beat Mrs R Keppel, 6-3, 6-0; Mrs L Buxton beat Miss J. Hatch. 6-1. 6-0; Miss M. A McNish beat Mrs P. Sunders. 1-6. 6-2. 11-9 Doubles.—Misses McKain and McNish lost to Miss Smith and Mrs Keppel. 3-6. 2-6: Mesdames Boat wood and Buxton beat Mrs Sanders and Miss Hatch. 6-2. 6-2. Fendalton won by 4 matches to 2 Cashmere V. United Singles—Miss J. Dsvidson beat Miss S Rich, 6-3 6-2; Miss K. Williams beat Mias C. Andrew, 6-3. 8-6; Mrs E Campbell beat MM D Hopping. 6-2. 6-1; Miss P. McLean lost to Miss L. Watson, 3-6. 3-«. Doubles.—Misses Dsvidson and Williams beat Mines Rich end Andrew, 8-6. 6-3; Mrs Campbell and Miss McLean lost to Misses Hopping and Wataon. 4- 4-6. Cashmere won by 4 matches to 2.