Mark Lewis shines in junior tennis

Press, 18 October 1976, Page 6

Mark Lewis shines in junior tennis

Mark Lewis might soon be challenging his elder brother, Chris, for a place of eminence in the tennis world, judging by his displays in the Puma national junior invitation tournament at Wilding Park during the week-end.

The tall, tanned Lewis was in a class of his own as he breezed through the under--16 section to win both titles available to him. In the singles final he easily beat his doubles partner, James Dunphy (Hutt Valley), leaving him stranded with sharply angled volleys and smashes.

Sally Chapman (Canterbury) and Karen Rahui (Auckland) won the girls’ singles title in the under 19 and under 16 grades, and their victories caused little surprise.

But there were several upsets in the under 19 boys’ singles before Glen Ryder (Auckland) emerged from the ruck to beat Mark Elley (Wellington) in a three-set final. The two New Zealand junior representatives, Michael Mooney and Stephen Harley (both of Canterbury) lost both their lives in successive matches, Brett Hibbert (Canterbury) beating both of them.

Elley reached the grand final the hard way, downing Joe Harvey, Dave Mustard (both Auckland), Mooney and Hibbert in repecharge matches. Ryder, compact of build and strong on stroke, quickly gained the ascendancy over the relaxed Elley in the grand final, but muffed a splendid chance to win in straight sets when he dropped his service to love when leading, 5-3. Elley fought hard to win the set after a keenly contested tie-breaker, but Ryder, picking the angles splendidly, raced away with the honours in the third set. Miss Chapman had difficulty in dealing with the slower paced game of Gay Robinson (Otago) in a singles semi-final, but she was ready for her rival when they met again in the grand final, Miss Chapman dropping only one game in a match which produced long rallies but little excitement.

The most prolonged final was between Miss Rahui and Arlene Rolleston (Bay of Plenty) in the under 16 girls’ singles final. The deciding third set went to 18 games before Miss Rahui prevailed. The standard of play in the senior boys’ section was reasonably good, and New Zealand should be well represented in the* Linton Cup competition this season. But little depth was evident in the girls’ section, although the two Robinsons. Gay and Nickie, who are not related, made significant advances. Abbreviations used in the

results were:—A, Auckland; W. Wellington; C Canterbury; O, Otago; Wk, Waikato; HB, Hawke's Bay; BOP, Bay of Plenty; M. Marlborough; T, Taranaki; NS, North Shore; HV Hutt Valley; SC, South Canterbury; N, Nelson; WC, West Coast. Results were:— BOYS UNDER If Singles First life.—Semi-finals: B Hibbert (C) beat M. Mooney (C>. 6-3. 4-6, 6-1; G. Ryder (A) beat S. Harley (C), 6-4. 7-5. Final: Ryder beat Hibbert, 7-6. 6-7. 6-2 Second life.—Semi-finals: M. EHey (W> beat Mooney, 6-3, 6-3; Hibbert beat Harley, 7-6. 6-2 Final: Elley beat Hibbert. 6-2. 7-5. Grand final. —Ryder beat Elley, 6-2 6-7, 6-1. Doubles Semi-finals: G. Liddell iSC) and W. Gray (HB) beat S. Guy (W> and D. Chapman (C), 4-6, 6-3. 7-5: Elley and D. Mustard (A> beat Ryder and J. Harvey < Al. 6-3. 6- Final: Elley and Mustard beat Liddell and Gray, 7-6, 6-8. Consolation singles Final: Liddell beat D. Patterson (W). 4-5 w/o. GIRLS UNDER If Singles First life. —Semi-finals: S. Chapman (C) beat G. Robinson (O>, 6-4, 7- N. Robinson (C) beat L. Harris (Wk), 6-3. 7-5. Final: Miss

Chapman beat Mlsa Robinson. 6-1 6-2.

Second life.—Semi-finals: G. Robinson beat A. Smith (NS), 7-5. 6-3; A. Bidwell iNSi beat N. Robinson, 3-6, 6-1. 64). Final: Miss Robinson beat Miss Bidwell 3-6, 7-6. 8-6 Grand final: Miss Chapman beat Miss G. Robinson. 6-1. 6-0 Doubles Semi-finals: Misses Chapman and J. Verdelien (C) beat Misses Harris and G. Robinson. 6-2, 6-1; Misses Bidwell and Smith beat Misses N. Robinson and C. Oakley (Cl. 6-0, 6-2. Final: Misses Chapman and Verdelien beat Misses Bidwell and Smith. 6-3, 3-6, 6-4. Consolation singles Final: N. Robinson beat C. Oakley. 6-4. 6-2. BOYS UNDER 16 Singles First life.—Semi-finals: M. Lewis IA) beat R. Mason (C), 6-1. 6-7. 6-3; C. Luxton (Wk) beat J. Dunphy (HVi. 6-4, 6-2 Final: Lewis beat Luxton, 6-2. 6-3. Second life.—Semi-finals: Mason beat A. Bramwell (Wl. 6-2. 6-2; Dunphy beat Luxton, 7-5. 3-6. 6-4. Final: Dunphy beat Mason. 7-6, 66 Grand final: Lewis beat Dunphy Doubles Semi-finis: Lewis and Dunphy beat Mason and C. Morris (Mi, 7- 6-2; D. Mahy (BOP) and Luxton beat B. Hayman (SO and Bramwell. 6-2, 7-5 Final: Lewis and Dunphy beat Mahy and Luxton. 6-2. 6-2. Consolation singles Final: Luxton beat S. Chambers (WC), 7-5. 6-3. GIRLS UNDER It Singles First life.—Final: K. Rahul <A) beat B Corson (A), 0-6 6-3. 6-4. Second life.—Semi-final: A. Rolleston (BOP: beat L. Cowie fC), 6-3. 6-3. Final: Miss Rolleston beat Miss Corson 6-2. 1-6 7-5 Grand final: Miss Rahui beat Miss Rolleston, 7-5, 6-7, 10-8. Double* Semi-finals: Misses Roileston and Corson beat Misses Cowie and S. Odey (Cl. 6-2 3-6 6-4: W. Hitchcock (T) and K. Waddell iHV) beat Misses Rahui and K. Ross (N>. 7-5. 6-4. Final: Misses Rolleston and Corson beat Misses Hitchcock and Waddell. 6-0, 6-0. Consolation singles Final: Miss Cowie beat Mis* Ross, 1-5 w/o.