Elmwood’s tennis fall

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34084, 23 February 1976, Page 17

Elmwood’s tennis fall

“I thought we were unbeatable,” said Gary Harris, in mock serious* ness, after the formidable Elmwood men's and women’s teams both lost for the first time this season in the senior tennis competitions at Wilding Park on Saturday.

The men’s side lost to Shirley — which was without the Canterbury singles champion, Peter Hampton — and the women’s team was beaten by Avonside. The fate of both fixtures was decided on sets.

Despite the unexpected losses, Elmwood retained the lead in both competitions, and the men, who have only one more found t° play, seem certain to keep their title. The Elmwood teams were not the only ones to figure in upsets on Saturday. Woolston moved pft the bottom rung of the men’s ladder by shading Edgeware on games, and the second-placed women’s side, United, without tne services of the triple Canterbury champion, Shirley Haig, lost on games to North Linwood, which is trailing the competition field. The points are:—

Senior men: Elmwood 87. United 71, Shirley 56, Edgeware 40, Wools ton 37, North Linwood 33.

Senior women: Elmwood 67, Avonside 52, United 50, Beckenham 28, Edgeware 26, North Linwood 22.

Two balls hit high in the air •signalled Shirlev’s memorable •victory against Elmwood. On the •No. 2 court, the youthful Brett •Hibbert • Shirley > made a jubilant •Clout after downing the experi•enced Bill Thom. A few seconds •later, on the centre court, Lew •Elliott < Elmwood i made a big hit •born of frustration on losing to •the left-handed John Hampton. • Elmwood needed a set from • both Thom and Elliott to beat •Shirley, but neither player was •able to oblige. Thom fought hard •and played some good passing -shots, but Hibbert was in fine •form and won on his merits. •Thom finished the match on his back under the net after failing •to retrieve a delicate chip from •Hibbert.

. The Hampton-Elliott encounter • provided a tense finish to the •tie. Elliott led, 5-2, in the first set. but Hampton rallied to win nine games in a row, taking the set, 7-5, and bounding clear, 4-0, ’ in the second.

The Elmwood captain, Warren Edgecumbe. then Instructed Elliott to “win a set If it kills | jou.” Elliott dutifully chased, every ball and drew level with! Hampton at six-all, only to lose: the tie-breaker, and the match. Harris won his singles against! the steady David Haworth <Shlrley> in straight sets, but Edgecumbe dropped a set to the hard-hitting Ron Adams (Shirley) before taking control. United held second place com- . fortably by drubbing North Lin- , wood, with Ralph Webster in the . starring role. He beat the national junior representative, . Stephen Harley, In two keenly . contested sets. . United’s only blemish was the . defeat of its well-performed ■ doubles pairing of Hugh Robin- ■ son and Lindsay Walton at the . bands of Harley and Tony Ralfe. - Woolston’s narrow victory against Edgeware was high- • lighted by a compelling perform- - ance from Gary Wilson. He • played attacking tennis to beat - Edgeware’s hardy No. 1, Terry Mooney. Avonside played spiritedly in the singles to beat Elmwood in the women's competition, after dropping both doubles. In the ' feature match, Robyn Hunt lElm- " wood i lacked her usual fitness and was beaten by an aggressive ' Christine Newton. Judith Phillips and Jane Wil aon played competently to steer North Linwood to its second win this season. United missed Mrs

Haig badly, although Cherry I Armitage, making a welcome! return to the senior ranks, won! her singles. Sally Chapman (Beckenham ); beat her co-holder of the national junior doubles. Jenny Sim (Edgeware), but Edgeware took the other three singles to win the match. Results were: SENIOR MEN Shirley 8 sets, Elmwood 7 R. Adams lost to W. Edgecumbe, 6.2, 2-6. 3-6; D Haworth lost to G. Harris, 3-6, 416; B. Hibi bert beat W. Thom. 7-5, 6-4; J. Hampton beat L. Elliot, 7-5. 7-6. Adams and Haworth lost to I Thom and Harris. 6-2, 2-6. 3-6; 1 Hibbert and Hampton beat Edgecumbe and Elliott. 1-6. 7-5. 6-4.

United 5, North Linwood 1 R. Webster beat S. Harley, 7-5, 7-5; J. Taylor beat T. Ralfe. 6-3, 6-2; H Robinson beat S. Bums. 6-2. 6-4; L. Walton beat T. Cliff. 6-3. 6-1.

Walton and Robinson lost to Harley and Ralfe. 1-6. 6.1. 4-6; Webster and Tavlor beat Burns and Cliff, 64, 64.

Woolston 77 games. Edgeware 69 G. Wilson beat T. Mooney, 3-6. 7-5, 64; D. Hunt lost to M. Mooney, 3-6, 6-7; C. Hunt lost to M. O’Flaherty. 5-7. 6-7: B. Aidridge beat C. Woods, 6-2. 7-6. C. Hunt and Aldridge lost to T. and M. Mooney, 5-7, 64. 5-7; Wilson and D. Hunt beat O’Flaherty and Woods. 6-0, 6-1. SENIOR WOMEN

North Linwood 51 games. United 49

J. Phillips beat S. Keddell, 6.2. 6-3; J. Wilson beat L. Lewthwaitt, 6-3. 64; S. Lynn lost to P. Lewthwaite. 2-6, 1-6; P. Haze], dine lost to C. Armitage. 4-6, 2-6. Misses Phillips and Wilson beat Mesdames Keddell and Armitage. 6-0, 6-1; Miss Lynn and Mrs Hazeldine lost to Misses L. and P. Lewthwaite, 2-6, 4-6. Avonside 9 sets, Elmwood 6 C. Newton beat R. Hunt, 6-4.

6-2; D. McKlnnel beat A. McMaster, 6-3, 6-2; A. Grant lost to A. Chambers, 1-6, 64. 2.6; J. MacDonald beat E. Smith, 6-2. 6-0. Miss Newton and Mrs McKinnel lost to Mrs Hun and Miss McMaster, 1-6. 6-1, 4-6; Mesdames Grant and MacDonald lost to Mrs Chambers and Miss Smith, 64, 4-6, 4-6. Edgeware 7 sets. Beckenham 6 J. Sim lost to S. Chapman, 3-6, 3-6; J. Langford beat J. Verdelien, 6-3, 6-1; C. Pearce beat A. Davidson, 6-2. 6-1; L. Brown beat P. Grace, 7-5, 6-1. Miss Sim and Mrs Langford lost to Misses Chapman and Ver. dellen, 3-6, 6-7; Mesdames Pearce and Brown lost to Miss Davidson and Mrs Grace, 5-7, 7-5. 0-6. SENIOR RESERVE North Linwood 6. Beckenham 0; Elmwood 6, Opawa 0; St Ninians 6, Edgeware 0; Shirley 6. Woolston 0; Avonside 5, United 1. FIRST MIXED B GRADE Linwood Aventfe 13 Edgeware 13; United 10, St Paul’s 6; Elmiwood 11. Wycola 5. SECOND GRADE MEN Bishopdale I 7 sets. Linwood i Avenue 6; North Linwood 6. Bishopdale H 0; Elmwood 62 | games, Spreydon 54: United 5, | South Christchurch 1 SECOND GRADE WOMEN ! North Beach 8 sets. Bishopdale 6; Waimairi 5. Avonside 1; I Beckenham 6. Shirley 0. PRESIDENT’S GRADE Shirley I 6, Shirley II 0.

Lucky day.— A man walked Into a betting shop in the Midlands town of Stockport, placed a $ll3 five-horse win accumulator, and walked out with a slip worth $47,962, the Press Association (reported. His five horses paid 16-1, 5-4, 5-2, 114, and 54.