Elmwood faces test

Press, 28 October 1977, Page 24

Elmwood faces test

By

KEVIN TUTTY

After five years at the top of Canterbury club tennis, Elmwood will find a sixth consecutive men’s championship win a tough proposition this season. The inter-club season starts at Wilding Park tomorrow afternoon and El-

mwood will be represented again by the “Golden Oldies” — Warren Edgecumb, Bill Thom, Gary Harris and Lew Elliot. They had an average age of 34 when they won the championship last year. Last year, the runner-up, Shirley, was without its two top players, Peter Hampton and Brett Hibbert, for much of the season. They had commitments to many junior tournaments. This year Hampton has graduated from those ranks. To a large degree Elmwood’s success last year was due to the experience and excellent temperament of its team, and these factors will play just as important a part in any success this season. Hampton is likely to be the top No. I player among the eight teams and Hibbert will be just as strong at No. 2. If the two men consistently win their singles, Shirley will be. in a good position, especially with the capable Ron Adams at No. 3.

United was third last year and has retained much the same team. The tall, powerful Ralph Webster remains at No. 1 and the others in

playing order are Lindsay

Walton, a junior, Hugh Robinson, and John Taylor, There is a chance another junior, 16-year-old Rett Mason, will be in the team. He has transferred from the strong Elmwood club and might take Taylor’s place. Avonside has two very

capable players at the head of its team —■ Alan Croad and David Shapcott. Both have a never-say-die attitude that makes them exciting to watch. The team has been strengthened this year by the inclusion of Martin Searle, a highly-ranked Otago player last season. Edgeware will again be led by Michael Mooney. He is the equal of most of the No. I‘s in the competition and will have good support from Terry Mooney and Michael O’Flaherty. North Linwood is a team likely to improve on its last season’s sixth placing. Stephen Harley, its top player, was ranked No. 2 in Canterbury at the end of last season. Jim Martin is as sound a No. 2 as can be found among the club teams, and the three players vying for the final two places — Barry Finch, Mike Purcell and Mike Sibley — are very even in ability. It was not until after Christmas that Sumner gained its first win last year. But from that point it played very well. If it can strike form earlier this season it should improve on its seventh placing. Grantly Judge and Ryan McCutcheon both have the

prowess to extend their singles opponents and there is a new player, Geoff Hayes, in the No. 4 position. Woolston has had no major changes from last season, although there is a possibility it will include one or two young players in its team. Stephen Chambers and David Lawn are two candidates.

There will be two interesting games in the first round of the men’s competition tomorrow. Elmwood will have a hard match against Avonside and the North Lin-wood-United clash is sure to be very even. The women’s competition does not start until November 19 and last year’s champion, Avonside, could struggle to retain its supremacy. Diane McKinnell, Adele Grant, Jane Wilson and Jean Macdonald have _ a large amount of experience and are not easily ruffled. They will encounter some very good younger teams this season however.

Robyn Hunt, Carolyn Oakley, Ann McMaster and Nicki Robinson form the very strong Elmwood team that was runner-up last season. This year it must stand a good chance of taking the championship. United has the same team, with Shirley Haig again at the helm. Sally Chapman, just back from several months playing in Britain and Europe, will head a strong Beckenham team. Julie Verdellen, Ann Davidson, and Sharon Oakley complete the team, and Lyn Cowie will be a capable reserve.

Edgeware has lost Alison Dahl from last year’s team, but its top player, Judy Langford, is playing again and she will be supported by Frances Ormandy, Leslie Brown and Jan Mackie.