Ties rare in senior tennis

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31865, 18 December 1968, Page 17

Ties rare in senior tennis

rpiES in inter-club tennis

are a rare occurrence and the tie between Woolston and Beckenham in the fifth round of the senior men’s championship at Wilding Park on Saturday recalls the two previous ties in the senior men’s and women’s grades in the last 10 years. Each of these three tics has been of major importance to the competitions but, unlike last Saturday’s, the other two came at the very end of the season. In the senior men’s competition in 1961; the fourth round early in February was not. completed because of rain. When it came to the end of the competition late in March, B. J. Aldridge (WooJston) and A. D. L. Hunter (United), the top men for their teams had to complete one set from the earlier round. In the team result Woolston led by 3 matches to 2,

8 sets to 7, and 85 games to 82. Aldridge and Hunter were at 8-6, 5-7. To get a point for the United team. Hunter had to win, 6-2, or better and that would have made United and North Linwood equal at five points at the beginning of the last round. Hunter made a valiant attempt, but could win only, 6-3, and that made the score 91 games all, put United half a point behind North Linwood for the last round later the same day. Both won so North Linwood won the competition for the third season in succession. When Avonside and Elmwood tied in the senior women’s grade in April 1966 on the last day it was also after upsets because of rain and brought a dramatic finish to one of the dullest competitions in recent years. This match had been postponed twice before and the end of the season was so

late that it had to be played on the hard courts. When it "Began. Avonside led by 92 points to 87 and the competition had to be won by five points. The whole contest was one of interest and incident. First there was a misunderstanding over starting time: the Avonside team arrived to begin at 1 p.m.. Elmwood to start at 1.30 p.m. and Avonside claimed, the four singles by default. This was to have been; ironed out later, but in the event it did not matter. Then it seemed that Avonside had won by a set but it was found that a doubles score had been written on the sheet the wrong way. The correction made the score three matches each, seven sets each, and 61 games each, and this gave Avonside eight points for 100 and Elmwood also eight for 95 which was the required five-point margin.

Both these ties were, therefore, crucial in the results of their respective competitions. Whether that of last Saturday is as important will not be realised until later. However, it is clear enough that, as in 1961, it is in North Linwood’s favour because it further reduced the strength of the challenge it was facing from Beckenham. And. as in 1961. Aldridge was one of the players involved.