United Takes One-Point Lead In Men’s Tennis

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31519, 6 November 1967, Page 20

United Takes One-Point Lead In Men’s Tennis

By taking the first contest which has been won by matches and not sets or games in the senior men’s tennis competition, United gained a lead of one point at Wilding Park on Saturday. On the first day a fortnight ago all three contests were won on sets and games and on Saturday two of the three were won similarly.

This shows what a close competition it is likely to be this season.

The points are: United 27, his own rallying type of plav Linwood Avenue 26. Elmwood he . °P en u e Ws--15, Edgeware 13, Woolston 6, wood Avenue* second I 'man, Vhe Beckenham 6, North Linwood steady I. Stanton, had a meri3. torious win over G. Ford after a close struggle, 8-6, 7-5. ...The .province’s top man, J. Mitchell (Beckenham), was taken to three sets by the stylish P. V. Boatwood (Edge ware). After losing the firsi set, 4-6, Boatwood played well in the second for 6-2, but he was outclassed in the third by a Mitchell who was showing some of his best form with quick cross-court backhands The meeting between Mitchell and Leech is being looked for ward to with considerable in merest. It may eventuate in next week-end’s show tourna

United beat Elmwood by 4 matches to 2, Linwood Avenue beat Woolston by 7 sets to 6, and Edgeware, last season's winner, beat Beckenham by 8 sets to 7. United and Linwood Avenue are unbeaten after two matches, and so is Edgeware.

After some long, three-set doubles, among the most notable of the singles results was the defeat of the top Woolston man, B. Aldridge, by the Australian, B. Leech, now living in Christchurch, and heading Linwood Avenue without the loss of a game

However, Edgeware was drawn against Cashmere on the first day and won by default. Cashmere has since withdrawn from the competition so that draw becomes Edgeware's bye. North Linwood had the bye on Saturday.

Aldridge has been one of the province’s leading players for several years, and it is an in dication of Leech s ability that he could win so decisively.

He did not hit hard, but he placed immaculately, and his anticipation is something to be wondered at because he does not seem to be moving quickly. When he gets a player of Aldridge’s aggressive style down to

A. Brooks, who has returned to competitive tennis this sea son after a season off, won his second club match by beat ing B. W. Crofts, 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 Crofts may have still been re covering from an arm injury, but t was a creditable win for Brooks because Crofts has al ways been one of the most difficult club players to beat. The young L. Legge (Elm wood) had some good patches against R. McCutcheon (United) but he still made too many of the crucial mistakes. Both hit hard and attractively, but McCutcheon was more consistent. Usually heading the Elmwood side. W Thom, Canterbury’s second man last season, plaved «n second place for the club after returning from a holiday He was tn fine form, especially with service, when he beat W J. Lewthwaite (United), 6-1, 6-4. Results were: Linwood Avenue v. Woolston Singles—B. Leech beat B Aldridge, 6-0, 6-0: I. Stanton beat G. Ford. 8-6, 7-5; S. Molnar lost to R. Neumann. 1-6. 3-6. B Ward lost to I. Behrnes. 4-6. 7-9. Doubles.—Leech and Ward lost to Aldridge and Ford. 3-6. «-4. 6-8: Stanton and Molnar beat Neumann and Behrnes, 6-3

Linwood Avenue won by 7 sets to 6 Edgeware v. Beckenham Singles.—p. V. Boatwood lost to J Mitchell, 4-6, 6-2, 1-6- B W. Crofts lost to A. Brooks. 6-4. 2-6, 4-6; L. W. Watkins beat P. McGoldrick, 6-2, 6-1; L. Elliott beat R. Rodgfcs, 6-1, 6-2. Doubles —Boatwood and Watkins lost to Mitchell and Brooks, 5- 4-6: Crofts and Elliott beat McGoldrick and Rodgers, 1-6, 6- 6-4. Edgeware won by 8 sets to

United v. Elmwood Singles.— R. McCutcheon beat L. Legge. 6-3, 7-5: W. J. Lewthwaite lost to W. Thom. 1 6. 4-6; W. Smith beat G. Rodley. 7-9, 9-7, 9-7: R. van Ysselsteyn beat R. Treeby. 6-8. 6-4. 6-3 Doubles. McCutcheon and Lewthwaite lost to Legge and Thom. 4-6, 6-4. 0-6: Smith and Van Ysselsteyn beat Rodley and Treeby. 3-6, 7-5, 6-2. United won by 4 matches to 2.