Crucial Ties In Men’s Tennis

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31599, 9 February 1968, Page 15

Crucial Ties In Men’s Tennis

A crucial round in the senior men’s competition, which will decide the sections for future play, is one of the main attractions of a busy week-end’s tennis in Christchurch.

The other highlights are the beginning of a new round of the senior women’s contest, matches on both Saturday and Sunday for the Nunneley Casket, and practice matches for the representative squad. In the men’s competition, Edgeware, North Linwood and Linwood Avenue are assured of places in the top four no matter what happens in'tomorrow’s matches—postponed last Saturday because of rain. The Interest will lie in which other team qualifies and also in the meeting between the two leading sides, Edgeware and North Linwood. The matches at Wilding Park in the morning are: Edgeware (65 points) v. North Linwood (60), Linwood Avenue (58) v. -Beckenham (24). Woolston (23) v. Elmwood (21). United, which has

the bye, has completed the round with 37 points.

This puts United in a strong position to win the fourth place. To head United, Beckenham would have to beat Linwood Avenue, and Woolston would have to defeat Elmwood, 5-1, while Elmwood would require a 6-0 win over Woolston to equal United.

The meeting between Edgeware, holder of the championship, and North Linwood, winner of the lower section last season, should be fascinating, and the result could depend on the order of the teams.

Edgeware’s tactics must be regarded with considerable respect because the side has not won one of its five contests this season outrightall have been on sets or games—and the players who have taken part most are not high in the singles records. The teams (not necessarily in order) are expected to be: —Edgeware: P. V. Boatwood, B. Crofts, L. Watkins and L. Martin; North Linwood: J. Martin, P. Angland, R. Payne and R. Bruce. Payne has won five of five singles, Martin three of three and Watkins two of two. The first round of the sec-

tlon play will be at Wilding Park on Sunday, February 25. The women will play at Wilding Park tomorrow morning as follows:—Edgeware (49) v. Avonside (46); United (58) v. Shirley (19); and St Albans (30) v. Elmwood (33). In the first round, Avonside beat Edgeware, 59-54, United beat Shirley, 5-1, and Elmwood beat St Albans, 4-2.

There will be a Nunneley Casket match at Wilding Park tomorrow as well but the Canterbury women are not affected. Nelson and Southland are the other teams entered in the South Island zone besides Canterbury and Marlborough and it was decided they should play in Christchurch so that the winner could play Canterbury, which has already defeated Marlborough, the next day.

For tomorrow’s match the teams are:—Nelson: Mrs J. Hanna, Mrs B. Buckton, Mrs K. Conway and Mrs A. Stratford; Southland: Miss S. Collins, Mrs L. Miller, Mrs D. Cooper, and Miss J. Paterson. Three of the players are former Canterbury represen. tatives. Mrs Hanna was formerly Miss Cusdin, of Banks Peninsula, and Mrs Conway was Miss Brander. Mrs Cooper was Miss D. Smith, of North- Canterbury, who wag once the province’s top woman.

The Canterbury team for Sunday was named earlier this week as Misses R. Legge, J. Bishop, C. Andrew and R. Dillon. The winner of the zone will qualify to challenge Northland for the trophy, probably some time in March.