Top Wellington Junior To Miss Tennis Titles

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30312, 12 December 1963, Page 26

Top Wellington Junior To Miss Tennis Titles

J. B. Souter and R. N. Hawkes, the two Wellington players who have been seeded first and second for the men’s singles in the Canterbury lawn tennis championships, which will begin at Wilding Park tomorrow, both have byes in the first round.

However, they will have interesting matches in the second round when Souter will meet the leading Canterbury junior, A. Brooks, and Hawkes will play L. W. Watkins, who was leading junior two seasons ago.

Unfortunately, the leading Wellington junior, N. McAffer, who was entered, will not be able to play because of an injury he suffered in Australia.

A leading Canterbury player, B. L. Baxter, has also had to withdraw because of an injury he suffered in a club match two weeks ago. This may prevent him playing for some time. In the men’s doubles, McAffer was to have partnered the Elmwood player, J. W. Duggan, and they had been seeded fourth. Now Duggan will be partnered by M. C. Healey, whose doubles partner, W, J. Smith, has also withdrawn. According to the draw one of the most interesting

matches of the men’s first round may be that between the experienced Edgeware club player, B. Crofts, and the 15-year-old J. Mitchell, who is beginning to fashion a good record in senior tennis. 40 In Singles Twenty-four players are now in the men’s singles and 16 in the women’s singles. The top seeded woman, Miss J. Davidson, will play Mrs L. Buxton in the first round and Miss E. Terry, of Waikato, the second seed, will meet a junior, Miss P. Gleeson.

The hardest struggle of the round seems likely to be between the Avonside clubmates. Mrs P. Leopold and

Mrs D. McKinnel. Mrs Leopold is seeded third. Further entries have been obtained for the B grade sections of the tournament and more are still expected before they begin on Saturday. The draw for the first round of the men’s championship stogies is: P. Boatwood v. P. Alexander; R. Bruce v. R. McCutcheon; B. Crofts v. J. Mitchell; R. S. Loder v. R. G. Clarke; E. L. Martin v. J. Brebner; M. C. Healey v. R. Rodgers; J. Duggan v. G. Ford; W. Thom v. J, Martin. J. B. Souter, A. Brooks, B. J. Aldridge, D. Thom, G. A. Davidson, D. Hawkes, L. W. Watkins and R. N. Hawke have byes. The women’s singles first round is:—Miss J. Davidson v. Mrs L. Buxton; Miss S. Rich v. Miss L. Watson; Miss C. Andrew v. Miss J. Hatch; Mrs D. McKinnel v. Mrs P. Leopold; Miss D, Smith v. Miss B. Fineran; Miss P. McLean v. Miss K. Williams; Miss S. Field V. Mrs P. Boatwood; Miss P. Kleeson v. Miss E. Terry. The men’s singles will begin at 10 am. to be followed by the women’s singles. At 1 p.m. the second round of men’s stogies will begin, to be followed by men’s doubles and mixed doubles. However, the following players will not be required until 3 p.m.: R. Bruce, R. McCutcheon, W. Thom, J. Martin, Miss J. Davidson, Mrs L. Buxton, Miss S. Rich, Miss L. Watson, Miss C. Andrew, Miss J. Hatch. Mrs D. McKinnel. Mrs P. Leopold.