VARIED STANDARD IN JUNIOR TENNIS

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31588, 27 January 1968, Page 11

VARIED STANDARD IN JUNIOR TENNIS

p e GUNNING (Auckland), x ’ who was a semi-finalist in the under-19 boys’ singles at the national championships, was hardly extended to win the Canterbury un-der-17 boys’ singles at the Canterbury junior championships last week. He was markedly superior to any other boy he encoun-

tered and apart from a brief flurry in the final by R. Webster (Canterbury), did not look in danger of defeat. His service, while being a little awkward was effective although he did not have great variation. The rest of his game, especially his work at the net, was much too consistent for his opponents. He was never taken further than 6-2 in any set until the final and won his semi-final against I. Hurst (North Otago) without the loss of a game.

Webster has not shown any real development this season and he does not appear to have the right attitude to develop a great deal further. This applies to some of the other leading Canterbury boys. The entry of three North Island girls. Misses S. Monds (North Shore), A. Hodgson and C. Ritchie (Waikato) added some class to the under-17 girls’ field. Two Southland girls were seeded fourth and fifth in the girls’ singles which meant that the top Canterbury girl under-17, Miss K.

Davey, could only gain the sixth seeded position. This is not very encouraging as there appeared to be a big gap to the next best local girl. Miss G. Iredale.

Mr N. Hoskin, who has been coaching in North Otago for only about two months has 35 players at the tournament. He has generated the same enthusiasm into the players that he did while in Southland but now has the local association behind him, something he did not have in Invercargill.

One of his boys, Hurst, reached the semi-finals of the under-17 boys’ singles and another, P. King, seeded No. 3, reached the quarterfinals before being beaten by Hurst.

R. Wood looked a good prospect in the under-15 events getting to the final Of the boys’ doubles with K. Fahey (Southland). The diminutive K. Gloag (North Otago) also looked a good prospect in the under-13 section.

North Otago did particularly well, especially in the under-15 and under-13

events, largely as a result of the great work done by Mr Hoskin. He had his eight-year-old son playing in the under-15 section.

The tournament organisers Messrs S. F. Clarke, S. Day and R. Davey had almost an impossible job to' keep the tournament running smoothly especially on the first two days when more than 100 matches were played. Later wet weather upset the schedule but with skilful organisation they managed to get almost all events through to the final for the last day.