Men’s tennis leader has close match

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32776, 29 November 1971, Page 12

Men’s tennis leader has close match

The leader of the Christchurch senior men’s tennis competition, United, had a close call in the fourth round on Saturday when it met the second team. Edgeware.

Each won thr e e i matches, each won seven sets and the result depended on games which United won, 73-68.

Unfortunately for Edgeware, its fine effort actually meant that it dropped a place, from second to third, and North Linwood, which had a comfortable victory over the: bottom team. Woolston, went • up from fourth to second. United might be thankful that it won both doubles because it has not had a good [record in doubles play this season. After the doubles, Edgeware won three of the 'four singles, the former Davis Cup player, R. N. Hawkes, [being the only winner for I United. Because of rain overnight there was no play at Wilding Park in the morning and the senior women’s fourth round will be played on a later Sunday. The men’s results were:— United beat Edgeware, 73 games to 68. Linwood Avenue beat Elmwood, 6 matches to 0. North Linwood beat Woolston, 5 matches to 1. i The points are:— United 38. North Linwood 28, Edgeware 26, Elmwood 25. Linwood Avenue 21, Woolston 6. The top man for Edgeware. S. Menzies, a member of the Canterbury Wilding Shield side, has been playing well this season but he was unable to match Hawkes for consistency and placement. Hawkes plays tennis, like a chess player, every move thought out ahead and leading to another. Menzies did well to i obtain two games in the first set and three in the second.

The second Edgeware man. N. Dillon, had one of his best wins When he beat R. Webster. 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. The tall Webster sometimes looks one of the province’s most promising young players but he does not always use his height and reach to the best advantage. Just when Webster looked as if he had things under control, Dillon recovered well to take the third set.

T. Mooney, named this weekend as the third man in the Canterbury Slazenger Shield boys’ team, had a fascinating tussle with J. Taylor, the United fourth. These two must be the strongest fourths In the competition and. although Taylor is

| one of the most stylish of players, he is erratic and Mooney 1 was sound enough to take ad- >■ vantage of this. In the first set, t for instance, Mooney caught up I a deficiency of 1-5 to win it 7-5. J. Martin, the top North Linwood man. has still not captured

J. Martin, the top North Linwood man. has still not captured the form that has made him one of the province’s best in some, seasons, and he could obtain only three games from the fit and steady, B. J. Aldridge, of Woolston. Second for North Linwood. R. Bruce, found the wind to his liking when he made his serves move very sharply across the court and his opponent’s body. He beat D. Howarth, 6-4. 6-1. C. G .Judge (Linwood Avenue)! and W. Edgecumbe (Elmwood)/ two more members of the Wilding Shield side, had a tense: match which Judge won. 2-6. 6-2. 6-4 bv dint of his stronger’ ground strokes and decisive vol- : leying. Edgecumbe. as usual/ went for everv shot and re-! trieved brilliantly. Results:— Elmwood v. Linwood Avenue Singles.—W. . Edgecumbe lost , to C. G. Judge, 6-2. 2-6. 4-6; L. (Legge lost to I. D. Stanton. 4-6, '6-4, 6-7; G. Rodley lost to A. [James, 1-6. 2-6: L. Elliott lost to IN. Blackburn, 6-4. 0-6, 6-7. Doubles. Edgecumbe and 1 Legge lost to Judge and Stan(ton. 6-3, 4-6, 3-6; Rodley and Elliott lost to James and Blackburn, 0-6, 7-5, 4-6. Linwood Avenue won by 6 matches to 0. North Linwood v. Woolston Singles.—J. Martin lost to B. Aldridge, 2-6, 0-6; R. Bruce beat : D. Howarth, 6-4, 6-1; T. Ralfe beat D. Blackwell, 6-4, 6-1; K. Baker beat T. Thomas, 6-2, 6-1. Doubles.—Martin and Bruce beat Aldridge and Thomas, 2-6, 6- 6-2; Ralfe and Baker beat Howarth and Blackwell, 6-3. 6-4. North Linwood won by 5 matches to 1. i Edgeware v. United 1 Singles.—S. Menzies lost to R. IN. Hawkes, 2-6, 3-6; N. Dillon beat R. Webster. 6-4, 3-6. 6-3; B. iPratley beat N. Pattinson, 7-5, 16-2; T. Mooney beat J. Taylor. 7- 7-5. J

Doubles.—Menzies and Dillon lost to Hawkes and Webster. 4-6, 5-7; Pratley and Mooney lost to Pattinson and Taylor. 4-6, 7-G, 1-6. _United won by 73 games to 6H.