Tight Finish To Tennis Titles

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31315, 10 March 1967, Page 15

Tight Finish To Tennis Titles

Although the last rounds in both senior men’s and senior women’s tennis grades are set down for tomorrow, the competitions are such that play-offs are strong possibilities in both.

Not for some years have the competitions moved to such interesting climaxes; winners have been doubtful at all stages of the season. In the last round of section play in the men’s championship, United (50 points) will play Edgeware (46); Elmwood (43) will meet Woolston (21).’ On these poiurs, the only one of the four that cannot take the t ; tle is the winner for the las*, th.ee years, Woolston.

The competition rules stip-

ulate that the winner must have a margin of five points from the second team or a play-off is necesary When they met in the first round. Edgeware beat United, by four matches to two and Elmwood defeated Woolston by eight sets to six. Similar results tomorrow would bring Edgeware up to 60 points, Elmwood 56 and United 52, in which case there would have to be a play-off between Edgeware and Elmwood. But similar results are most unlikely because when they met earlier Elmwood was without W. Thom and L. Legge, Woolston without R. Neumann -and I. Behrnes, United without W. Lewthwaite and Edgeware had its regular team. United, with its narrow lead, has a chance to avert a play-off, provided its win is not too narrow and Elm-

wood’s margin over Woolston is not too wide. In the latter case, United and Elmwood would have to play-off. Edgeware could also win under similar circumstances but Elmwood cannot win tomorrow even if it has a clean sweep over Woolston because of the at least 13 points that must be gained by one of the other teams. Its only chance is in a play-off. The matchings for singles if the teams are as they were on last competition day would be:

United v. Edgeware.—R. McCutcheon v. P. Boatwood; J. Griffiths v. B. Crofts; W. Lewthwaite v. E. L. Martin; W. Smith v. L. W. Watkins.

Elmwood v. Woolston.—W. Thom v. B. J. Aldridge; W. Edgecumbe v. R. Neumann; L. Legge v. I. Behrnes; G. Rodley v. A. Thomas.

However, there may be

some astute placing and Edgeware has changed its team order several times.

The lower section has’ already been decided because North Linwood is unbeatable; North Linwood (73) will play Cashmere (22); Beckenham (33) will meet University (32). A play-off in the women's competition is likely between Edgeware and Elmwood which are separated by one point and do not meet tomorrow. Edgeware (81 points) will play Avonside (54); Elmwood (80) will meet United (40). Earlier in the season Edgeware lost to Avonside, 2-4, but had the result changed to a win, 9-6, after it was awarded a match because a player was late, and won, 5-1 in the second round. Elmwood lost to United, 2-4, in the first round and won, 4-2, in the second.