All Black’s Son Is Unseeded Finalist

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30971, 29 January 1966, Page 13

All Black’s Son Is Unseeded Finalist

One unseeded player has reached a singles final at the national under-17 and under-15 championships at Wilding Park; a tall, slim lad from Southland, R. Webster is a twin son of a former All Black full-back, T. R. D. Webster.

The second-seeded R. Wallace, of Auckland. had looked as if he would be a considerable force in the later rounds of the under-15 boys’ singles but Webster beat him by the remarkable score of 6-0, 6-1.

Tomorrow Webster will meet C. H. Greendale, of Auckland, who eliminated another Southlander, the diminutive K. Wilson, who had stolen the imagination earlier in the tournament. Greendale is only the fourth seed for this is the section of the tournament that has gone least according to prediction. In the other singles sections the top seeds will take part tn each final. It has also pleased local supporters that a Canterbun- plaver will take part in each or the under 17 finals. D. A Panin, of Wellington. seeded first will play 1.. Sherwin (Canterbury), needed eighth, for the boys' title and J. Bishop (Canterbury). first and S. Caldwell (Wairarapa). fifth, will contest the girls’ final. As Predicted

M. Pnde. the outstanding! 13 year-old Wellington girl, seeded first, and A. Stevens. I of Auckland, the second seed, are the finalists in the under, 15 girls' section, the one that I has proceeded strictly accord-; inc to selection. On his form yesterday Parun again looks a strong onponent for Sherwin. Ijist w»ek they met in a semi-final of the Canterbury junior championshins when Parun won, 8-6. 3-6. 6-3. but previous losses do not seem to worry Sherwin because yesterday he beat A. Guise, of Auckland, to whom he lost at their last meeting. Actually Sherwin is hardlv a Canterbury plaver now. Alreadv he has shifted with his parents to Auckland but his tournament entries this season have been under his old province. Parun gave the fifth-seeded D. Turner, of North Shore, little chance of taking control in their semi-final and won. 6-3 6-3. He moved to the net with a fierce look in his eye and hit accordingly. The knee bandage he has worn throughout the tournament does not seem to hinder him but he occasionally discards his

floppy hat at a crucial time. ■ | Turner served well, but Parun ■ ; generally stroked too strongly ; , for him. Pudding Bowl Hat Sherwin had another en-1 ’ thralling match. Tall and wiry in a hat which looked i something like a pudding | bowl, he played his usual re- ; pertoire of unorthodox but highly-effective shots. Guise ! was much more of a tennis stylist but he had no answer ,to Sherwin’s flinging at the ; ball for swift cross-court topspun forehands, for a quick . service and for sizzling passes I down the lines. Sherwin won, 164. 7-5.

Miss Bishop beat C. Bray, of Auckland, relatively comfortably, 6-4. 6-2, to avenge her loss to Miss Bray in a Canterbury semi-final. The Canterbury girl played much more steadily and although she faltered briefly when she led 5-2 in the first set, as she had done last week, this, time it was not fatal. The other under 17 girls’ match was a different matter. Miss Caldwell and G. Smith (Auckland) battled away for ages in their first set before Miss Caldwell won, 12-10. At this stage they were mainly exchanging drives, and Miss Smith exchanged them much better in the second set for 6-3. Then Miss Caldwell produced her best effort. In the third set, this stocky girl who is also a member of the New Zealand junior golf team and who thrives on road work plajed some grand tennis. Her

service action was greatly admired and so was her net play as she won. 6-3. Different Styles

Webster and Wallace had a strange contest indeed, strange mainly for the ease with which Webster won-, They are a totally different type of player—Wallace an aggressor, Webster consistent. Webster ensured early that the match would be played entirely the way he wanted it. He kept it at the pace to suit him and, with faultless lobbing he drove Wallace back time and again at the same time driving him to distraction. Webster's placement was | accurate his returning tena'eious and the more Wallace I tried to hit him off the court the more he made mistakes. The other Southlander. Wil- ■ son, was not so successful. He ;inet his match again in the ; Aucklander. Greendale, who : beat him in three sets in the 'second round of the Canterbury tournament. Greendale is a delightful stroker with a strong volley and he had

more experience. He also has the advantage of having beaten Webster in the Canterbury championships before he had to withdraw with a strained tendon in a foot. He has completely recovered now. Both under 15 girls’ finalists won their semi-finals in straight sets. Miss Pryde was driving to the comers to make M. Donaldson (Northland) reach when she beat her, 6-4. 6-1. In spite of a tendency to drop her racket head badly, Miss Stevens concentrated well and showed good anticipation for her, 6-3. 6-2 win over C. Ritchie (Waikato).

Won Three Titles Miss Stevens is the only player who can win three titles. She finished yesterday by winning the under 15 mixed doubles with Greendale and, with Miss Pryde. she will contest the girls’ doubles final against Misses Donaldson and RitchieThe under 17 mixed title went to J. G. Simpson, of North Shore and Miss J. Chatfield. of Auckland. They beat A. W. Lochore (Wairarapa) and Miss C. Bray (Auckland). 6-1. 6-4 in the final. Lochore and Miss Bray. Who had played well earlier, made many errors and Simpson and Miss Chatfield were a strong force at the net.