UNITED LEADS SENIOR WOMEN

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32461, 23 November 1970, Page 12

UNITED LEADS SENIOR WOMEN

After finishing only equal fifth last season, United after two rounds this season is the only side unbeaten in the Christchurch senior women’s tennis competition. On Saturday United beat Elmwood, which had led by one point after the first round, by 4 matches to 2.

In the other matches Shirley beat Edgeware by 4 matches to 2, and Beckenham beat North Linwood by the same score.

The points are:—United 20, Elmwood 13, Edgeware 12, Shirley 12, Beckenham 12, North Linwood 3.

The United-Elmwood clash depended, as it turned out, on the doubles played first, because the singles were shared and Elmwood was still conquered although it won both the top singles. In the top doubles, Misses R. Legge and S Field (Elmwood) did not combine as well as their opponents, Miss J. Bishop and Mrs C. Armitage. Miss Bishop served well and Mrs Armitage [ ilaced some delicate angled voleys at net. Although Miss Legge beat Miss Bishop, fi—2, 6—2, and Miss Field beat Miss E. Ogilvie. 6—l, 6—o, United won the third and fourth singles and the day. It was pleasing to see Miss Bishop on the courts again. She did not play in the first round and she does not get nearly as much play as many of the others, but the shots that once gave her a top national junior ranking and a fifth national senior, ranking were still in evidence. Her lack of play has been a great loss to Canterbury and New Zealand tennis. • • On Saturday she met Miss Legge, who was showing the lessons she has learned and the techniques she has gained from her overseas tour. Miss Bishop has a strong first service which gave her a sound start when it went in, but Miss Legge was standing up to the second and attacking from it and Miss Bishop could ill afford to leave heavily bandaged arm because of the injury which kept her out of the national championships last season. Miss Field allowed Miss Ogilvie only one game. Miss Ogilvie did not seem to concentrate well enough and she /ound even her best shots being cut off by spun volleys. Mrs Armitage was given a stern test by Miss A. Lawrence

before she won, 4—6, 6—4. 6—2. Miss Lawrence fought very hard but her defence eventually wilted under Mrs Armitage’s hard driving. The Canterbury champion, Miss G. Hampton, top for Shirley, had to work exceedingly hard to win her first set from the young Miss G. Iredale (Edgeware), B—B, but she moved quickly through the second, 6—o, as Miss Iredale's opposition collapsed. Edgeware was badly weakened through the loss of its top woman, Miss R. Dillon, who has gone to spend the university vacation in the North Island, and the absence of its second woman. Miss J Habgood.

Elmwood v. United Singles.—Miss R. Legge beat Miss J. Bishop, 6—2, 6—2; Miss S. Field beat Miss E. Ogilvie, 6 —l, 6 —o; Miss A. Lawrence lost to Mrs C. Armitage, 6—4, 4—6. 2—6; Miss E. Dunne lost to Mrs C. Winterbourne. 5—7, I—6. Doubles.—Misses Legge and Field lost to Miss Bishop and Mrs Armitage, 3—6, 4—6; Misses Lawrence and Dunne lost to Miss Ogilvie and Mrs Winterbourne. 2—6, 4—6. United won by 4 matches to 2.

Shirley v. Edgeware Singles.—Miss G. Hampton beat Miss G. Iredale, B—6, 6—o; Miss P Bamford beat Miss A. McSueen, 13—11, 6—3; Mrs B. Meicol lost to Miss J. Miles, 7—9, 6 —4, 3 —6; Mrs N. Power beat Mrs D. Smith, 6—4, 9—7. Doubles.—Misses Hampton and Bamford lost to Misses Iredale and Miles, 2—6, 6—B; Mesdames McNicol and Power beat Miss McQueen and Mrs Smith. 6—4, 3—6, 6 —2.

Shirley won by 4 matches to 2. Beckenham v. North Linwood Singles.—Miss S. Moore lost to Mrs M. Coombe, I—6, o—6; Miss A. Meates beat Miss C. Ralfe, 6—2, 6—3; Miss H. Chapman beat MrS D. Macdonald, 7—5, 6—l; Miss P. James lost to Miss J. Phillips, 7—5. 3—6, 5—7. Doubles —Misses Moore and Meates beat Mrs Coombe and Miss Ralfe, 6—3, 9—7; Mrs Chapman and Miss James beat slrs Macdonald and Miss Phillips, 4—6, 6—2, 6—4.

Beckenham won by 4 matches to 2.