Edgeware Wins Section Two Of Men’s Senior Tennis

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30681, 22 February 1965, Page 9

Edgeware Wins Section Two Of Men’s Senior Tennis

Before Saturday’s matches in the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association’s senior men’s competition, Woolston had such a substantia] lead it could not be beaten although it still had two fixtures to play. Now the competition is in a situation where, with one round to play, Edgeware cannot be beaten for Section IL The round to play is the one postponed because of rain from February 13.

| On Saturday morning, at i United, the top teams met the second teams in each section. Woolston beat North Linwood, by four matches to two, in section one, but Edgeware was strongly tested to win section 11, by seven sets to six after each had won three matches. The only change in competion positions came in section I where Beckenham beat Elmwod, by four matches to two, to move from fourth to third. The points are:—Section I: Woolston 74 North Linwood 35, Beckenham 31, Elmwood 20. Section II: Edgeware 68, Cashmere 37, United 34, University 21. Decide Second Place The most, or perhaps the only interesting feature left for the round still to be played is the clash between North Linwood and Beckenham which must decided second place. A solid, well-knit side, Woolston has won the competition for the second year in succession, partly because of its team spirit and this has always been reflected in the doubles play, the team usually entering the singles with two matches up. Last season Woolston won 17 of its 20 doubles matches, it lost one on the first day this season and surprisingly it lost another on Saturday when M. Agar and V. Price were beaten, 0-6, 8-6, 4-6, by P. Angland and R. Payne, of North Linwood. This was no real set-back because Woolston won three of the four siingles, Payne beating Price for other. Aldridge’s Best Form At top for Woolston, B. Aldridge was right back to his best after his loss to J. Mitchell in the previous round. On Saturday he gave the young J. Martin only one game in each set. Martin was not playing nearly as well as he was before Christmas and he just could not get past the determined Aldridge. The other singles were all closer but Agar was too steady for Angland and, after a long first set, R. Neumann (Woolston) was too powerful for B. Crawford. Another of Canterbury’s young players, J. Mitchell (Beckenham) was far below his best when he took a drubbing from an immaculate W. Thom, 1-6, 0-6. Thom went about the match with great purpose, he hit hard and he placed well to score one of his best wins this season. However, Beckenham won both doubles. After dropping the first set, 4-6, A. Brooks produced some of his most delightful strokes and played them with more accuracy to beat J. [W. Duggan, 6-3, 6-1. Set a Problem Cashmere set Edgeware a problem in the main match of section two and there was only

one set in it. That put Edgeware in an unbeatable position. Each won a doubles in straight sets and Edgeware won two singles and lost one in straight sets. The deciding set came from the singles between E. Ogier (Edgeware) and S. Bullen. After losing the first set, 4-6, Bullen dropped only one game in each of the other two when he was greatly superior but it was that first set which counted eventually. With R. McCutcheon back in the side, United is much stronger and it was not unduly troubled by University. When they met in the first round. University won, 5-1: on Saturday United won. 4-2. SECTION I Woolston v. North Linwood Singles.—B. Aldridge beat J. Martin, 6-1, 6-1; M. Agar beat P. Angland, 6-3, 6-2: V. Price lost to R. Payne, 4-6, 6-3, 2-6; R. Neumann beat B. Crawford, 8-6, 6-2. Doubles.—Aldridge and Neumann beat Martin and Crawford, 3-6, 6-1, 6-3: Agar and Price lost to Angland and Payne, 0-6, 8-6, 4-6. Woolston won by 4 matches to 2. Beckenham v. Elmwood Singles.—J. Mitchell lost to

W. Thom, 1-6. 0-6: A. Brooks beat J. Duggan, 4-6, 6-3. 6-1; R. Blunt beat L. Legge, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3; G. Freear lost to G. Rodley, 3-6, 6-3. 2-6. Doubles.—Mitchell and Brooks beat Thom and Duggan, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4: Freear and Blunt beat Legge and Rodley, 6-4, 6-1. Beckenham won by 4 matches to 2. SECTION II Edgeware v. Cashmere Singles.—B. Crofts beat I. D. Armstrong, 6-3, 6-3; A. Gowans lost to J. Dickie, 6-8, 6-8; E. Ogier lost to S. Bullen, 6-4, 1-6, 1-6: G. Davey beat L. Le Compte, 7-5, 6-3. Doubles.—Croft and Ogier lost to Armstrong and Dickie, 3-6. 5-7; Gowans and Davey beat Bullen and Le Compte, 7-5, 6-1. Edgeware won by 7 sets to 6. University v. United Singles.—D. Preston lost to G. Davidson. 3-6, 4-6; J. Taylor lost to R. McCutcheon, 2-6, 3-6; D. Marshall lost to W. Lewthwaite, 1-6, 0-6; B. Judge beat J. Griffiths, 6-0, 6-1. Doubles.-—Marshall and Judge lost to Davidson and Lewthwaite, 3-6, 1-6; Preston and Taylor beat McCutcheon and Griffiths, 6-3, 6-2. United won by 4 matches to