COMBINED TEAM HAS MAXIMUM POINTS

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33084, 27 November 1972, Page 14

COMBINED TEAM HAS MAXIMUM POINTS

The composite team, Linwood Avenue-Woolston, now has a handy lead in the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association’s senior men’s competition. It has yet to lose a match.

Linwood Avenue won the competition last season for the first time but lost two of its main players. Its move in combining with Woolston, which finished in a lowly position and also lost a player, has made a strong side.

Linwood Avenue-Woolston had a match with United to complete. During the week the Linwood top man, A. James, beat R. Webster (United), 6-2, 6-2, and that gave the combined team a clean sweep for the first fixture of the competition. On Saturday, Linwood Avenue-Woolston beat Edgeware by 6 matches to 0 and James was quite the star of the day. Until Saturday, S. Menzies, the top Edgeware man, had been establishing himself as the province’s top player because he had had two victories over W. Edgecumbe who might have been considered top until then. Now the young James, who is in grand form—he was also a finalist but lost to Edgecumbe in the Show week-end tournament —has gone to the fore. His 6-4, 6-0 win over Menzies was a surprise but he allowed the Edgeware man no latitude. This helped Linwood AvenueWoolston to beat Edgeware without the loss of a match. In the other fixtures, United beat Shirley by 4 matches to 2, and Elmwood beat North Linwood by 4 matches to 2.

The points are: Linwood Avenue-Woolston 36, Elmwood 31, United 20, North Linwood 13, Edgeware 5, Shirley 3.

James was supremely confident against Menzies and he cut his errors to a minimum. As Menzies saw the match slipping away

he became disconcerted and James took full advantage of this by remaining cool. His backhand served him particularly well and his volleying was crisp as he moved to the net at every opportunity. The rest of James’s team were in good form. The second man, B. Aldridge, met the stylish T. Mooney, and although Mooney produced some of his usual brilliance, Aldridge was too solid for him and won. 4-6, 6-2, 6-2. There was another surprise in the top singles when P. Hampton, the junior who is top man for the new Shirley side, beat the tall R, Webster, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2. Hampton plugged away and allowed Webster to make the errors. He kept his eye on the ball admirably and his concentration is a lesson for many an older player. Shirley could well have had another win because the second man, R. Adams, who has a strong first service and is generally good overhead, had a lead over N. Pattinson (United) but let it slip. Pattinson fought back well. In the women’s matches on Saturday. Avonside beat United, 4-2, and Beckenham beat Shirley by 67 games to 61 in a close encounter. The points are:—Avonside 20, United 11, Beckenham 9, Shirley 5, Edgeware 3. Edgeware had the bye on Saturday. Although the top woman for Beckenham, Miss A. Meates, lost 6-1, 4-6, 4-6, to Miss J. Phillips (Shirley) the second' Beckenham woman. Miss S. Moore, had a meritorious success over Miss C. Newton, 6-0, 6-7, 6-2. Miss Moore was steady and she hit the ball firmly. In the top match of the other fixture. Mrs C. Armitage (United) beat Mrs K. Graham (Avonside), 6-2, 6-4, with strong service and volley. SENIOR MEN Linwood Avenue-Woolston v. Edgeware Singles.—A. James beat S. Menzies, 6-4, 6-0; B. Aldridge beat T. Mooney, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3; N. Blackburn beat B. Prattley, 7-6, 6-3; C. Hunt beat P. Gilmore, 6-1 6-2. ___

Doubles.—Hunt and Aldridge beat Menzies and Mooney, 6-1, 6- James and Blackbum beat Prattley and Gilmore, 6-3, 6-3. Linwood Avenue-Woolston won by 6 matches to 0. United v. Shirley Singles.—R. Webster lost to R. Hampton, 6-3. 2-6, 2-6; N. Pattinson beat R. Adams, 2-6, 7- 7-6; J. Taylor lost to D. Haworth, 2-6, 1-6; O. Preston beat J. Hampton, 6-0, 7-5. Doubles.—Taylor and Webster beat P. Hampton and Adams, 6- 6-4; Pattinson and Preston beat Haworth and J. Hampton, 7- 6-2. United won by 4 matches to 2. Elmwood v. North Linwood Singles.—W. Edgecumbe beat S. Burns, 6-1, 6-1; H. Loveridge lost to R. Bruce, 5-7. 3-6; W. Thom beat T. Ralfe. 6-2, 6-1; L. Elliott lost to C. Bradlng, 1-6, 7-6, 2-6. Doubles. — Edgecumbe and Loveridge beat Bums and Brading, 7-6, 6-2; Thom and Elliott beat Ralfe and Bruce, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3. Elmwood won by 4 matches to 2. SENIOR WOMEN Beckenham v. Shirley Singles.—Miss A. Meates lost to Miss J. Phillips, 6-1, 4-6, 4-6; Miss S. Moore beat Miss C. Newton, 6-0. 6-7, 6-2; Miss P. James lost to Miss P. Bamford, 2-6, 3-6; Miss S. Chapman beat Miss J. Dalzell. 7-6 6-3. Doubles.—Misses Chapman and Meates beat Misses Bamford and Newton, 7-5, 6-1; Misses Moore and James lost to Misses Dalzell and Phillips. 2-6, 2-6. Beckenham won by 67 games to 61. Avonslde v. United Singles.—Mrs K. Graham lost to Mrs C. A. Armitage, 2-6, 4-6; Mrs D. McKinnel beat Miss J. Bishop, 6-3, 6-2; Mrs M. Murray beat Miss R. Smith, 0-6, 6-3, 7-5; Miss A. Howman lost to Mrs C. Winterbourn, 2-6, 5-7. Doubles.—Mesdames Graham and McKinnel beat Mrs Armitage and Miss Bishop, 6-2, 6-3; Mrs Murray and Miss Howman beat Miss Smith and Mrs Winterbourn, 6-3, 7-5. Avonslde won by 4 matches to 2.