Linwood Team Wins Tennis Elimination

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30884, 18 October 1965, Page 17

Linwood Team Wins Tennis Elimination

[By Our Tennis Reporter.] The senior men’s tennis season began in Christchurch yesterday with just a tinge of acrimony. At the end of a cold afternoon, a new young team had won a place in the grade for the first time and a team which has played senior for as long as most can remember had been relegated. .When the competitions committee met last Wednesday it decided that Linwood Avenue, a new entry, should play its elimination match with United at Wilding Park on Saturday afternoon.

Herein lay the first bone of contention. United was not bottom of the competition last season, University was, but the committee evidently felt that on paper the new teams for the season made United look inferior. United felt there was an injustice and that the relegation match should be played by the bottom team. Then, because W. G. Lewthwaite, of United, also a Banks Peninsula player, already had a commitment at the Okute club’s opening on Saturday, United asked that the contest be changed to yesterday. This was done and the venue became the grass courts at United.

But yesterday afternoon, at 3.30 p.m., W. Smith, of

United, had to attend the christening of his Child. He played his doubles and wanted to leave his singles until after - the ceremony, but had to abide by a ruling of the competitions committee chairman (Mr A. D. Atkinson) that he go straight on for his singles on the ground that otherwise the match might be too late. He lost a set, was in the middle of a second, but had to leave.

Smith returned to the courts hoping to finish later but, in the meantime, Linwood Avenue had legitimately claimed the match. Linwood Avenue maintained it had been prepared to play either day and also that the United players had delayed the start yesterday afternoon. Could Not Be Beaten

Each won a doubles, Smith’s claimed default gave Linwood Avenue a 2-1 lead, and then S.

Molnar beat Lewthwaite, 7-5, 6-3. At the same time L. Vallance had won a set from R. Van Yesselsteyn so the new entry could not be beaten.

Although I. Stanton (Linwood Avenue) lost the top singles to J. Griffiths, Vallance went on to win and the score was 4-2. So Linwood Avenue was successful at its second attempt. Last year it challenged Cashmere but was beaten by 5 matches to 1. It is notable that in that meeting Stanton was the only one to win a singles; yesterday he was the only one to lose. He met his match in an improving junior, J. Griffiths, who possibly owes a great deal to the considerable coaching he has had from the Australian professional, L. Atkins. Stanton, although no stylist, is difficult enough to beat at any time because of a strong service, a great deal of determination and the ability to return the ball. However, Griffiths, who had the better ground shots, played intelligently, was untroubled by his opponent’s spin and took advantage of Stanton’s penchant for giving the ball too much air.

Attractive Strokes Molnar, of whom Canterbury tennis has seen far too little, did excellently to beat the experienced Lewthwaite. He lias most attractive strokes and a remarkably quick anticipation at the net, which was also of great use when he and Stanton beat Lewthwaite and Van Yesselsteyn in their doubles. Vallance and Van Yesselsteyn had one of tennis’s enthralling, fluctuating matches which went on and on with the result always uncertain. On top early, Vallance later slipped behind the older player, who recovered with courage and solidity, actually to hold a match point in the third set. Vallance was more prone to error but he was also the quicker mover and eventually he struggled home on his fourth match point. There was barely enough of the Smith-L. Sherwin match to see how it would go and Smith was obviously ill at ease and clock-watching. However, Sherwin gave the impression he will be far from out of place In senior competition with his colleagues. With another young player, B. Keeley, they have stuck together for four years and their persistence has now paid off. They even practised at the United courts together on Saturday afternoon to get used to the grass, which was in grand order in spite of the early rain. Linwood Avenue v. United Singles.—l. Stanton lost to J. Griffiths, 2-6, 4-6; S. Molnar beat W. G. Lewthwaite, 7-5, 6-3; L. Vallance beat R. Van Yeselsteyn, 7-5, 3-6. 7-5; L. Sherwin beat W. Smith, 6-3, by default. Doubles.—Stanton and Molnar beat Lewthwaite and Van Ysselsteyn, 6-3, 7-5; Vallance and Sherwin lost tn Griffiths and Smith. 3-6, 3-6. Linwood Avenue won by 4 matches to 2.