EDGEWARE LUCKY TO BE IN FRONT

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

EDGEWARE LUCKY TO BE IN FRONT

A DESPERATELY lucky team is poised to end the first round of matches as leader of the Christchurch senior men’s lawn tennis competition. Edgeware has won all five of its matches this season, but has not won a single one on a match-for-match basis. It has beaten Elmwood and United by the odd set in 13, Woolston by two sets in 16, Beckenham by the odd set in 15, and Linwood Avenue by 13 games in 119. Saturday after Saturday, Edgeware has seemed about to go down, but has fought back. As the present interclub champion, it is making a strong bid to repeat its success. Only five players have represented the side this season, and none has done outstandingly well. The No. 1,

P. Boatwood, has won two matches in five, including a victory against B. Leech (Linwood Avenue) by default, and B. Crofts at No. 2 has also won two out of five. Lower down, L. Watkins has won both his matches while L. Martin has won all three of his, but L. Elliott has won but two in five.

Today Edgeware will play its nearest rival, North Linwood, and victory in this contest could give either team a flying lead into the second round. North Linwood, with J. Martin, R. Angland, R. Paynter and R.

Bruce, should provide Edgeware with another stern test and this could be another very close contest. A striking feature of the contest this season has been the ability of all the teams to surprise one another, and it is ftiis which must prevent Linwood Avenue, placed third, being too sure of success against Beckenham.

Linwood Avenue’s strength has been in its top two players, B. Leech and I. Stanton, who have only lost one match in five; Leech’s loss being by default. Faced by Beckenham’s two top players, J. Mitchell and A. Brooks, both of whom are unbeaten this season in inter-club tennis, Leech and Stanton must, for once, be regarded as the outsiders. P. McGoldrick and W. Tuck have had little success for Beckenham so far, but B. Ward and L. Vallance are not strong second strings for Linwood Avenue, so the result is by no means clear cut. Lowly Woolston and Elmwood meet in the other match. Woolston with B. Aldridge, R. Neumann, I. Behrnes and M. Agar, to call upon, is a better team and Elmwood is unlucky that W. Thom and G. Rodley, in particular, were in such poor touch last Saturday. The somewhat inconsistent L. Legge is quite capsable of an upset win, while R. Treeby is improving each Saturday. The points are such that with Edgeware, North Linwood and Linwood Avenue so far in front, even if the other teams win they cannot overhaul the leaders. The competition is likely to be decided now on' which of the top teams is beaten, and how often; and Edgeware must be wondering how long its luck can last.