Tables turned properly in tennis

Press, 28 November 1977, Page 21

Tables turned properly in tennis

Reputations counted for U tUe J? , tlie , fourth round of the Bank of New Zealand senior men s tennis competition on Satuixiai. Elmwood and North Linwood. the competition leaders from the previous week were both beaten ' re

ELmwood, the championship f°r the last five seasons, let- 2-4 to Edgeware, and North Linwood lost to Avonside by a similar margin

In the case of Elmwood it had another poor start, it lost bota doubles, and was unable to pull back the deficit in the singles against a determined younger, and fitter, opposition. For Avonside it was a case of a talented team finally realising

JU potential. It had lost its first three rounds—all by narrow margins—but on Saturday it capitalbed on two doubles w’ins by -axing the bottom two singles, in other matches Shirley scored a clean sweep against Sumner, fr-O. and now joins Edge ware at toe head of the competition with 4b points. These two are only tour points ahead of the deposed leaders, Elmwood and North Linwood.

United had to fight hard for its win against Woolston. After the doubles it was trailing 0-2,. but won all four singles—only after two went to the maximum three sets, however. The match of the day was not In the women’s competition. It was a 150 minute marathon on the centre court between the experienced Robyn Hunt and the youthful Sally Chapman. The latter won in three sets. It was a superb match, but only because of the players fitness. Both were almost at a standstill after the strength sapping marathan on the oven-like centre court at Wilding Park. Both players were ultra cautious. and this led to long rallies played from the baselines, with each waiting for an error. It was a rare sight to see either player at the net.

Mrs Hunt won the first set, 7-5. but Miss Chapman kept herself in the game by returning most of Mrs Hunt’s strong first services.

Miss Chapman’s most effective w’eapon was a delicate stop shot with which she won many points, including the last two in a tiebreaker, off Mrs Hunt’s serve.

The Elmwood men were at a disadvantage after losing the doubles. The Mooney brothers, Michael and Terry, beat the experienced Bill Thom and Warren Edgecumbe in a long, tough three-setter, and Noel Dillon and Michael O’Flaherty beat Garry Harris and Rhett Mason in two sets. When O’Flaherty beat Mason in the bottom singles, Elmwood’s fortunes slumped further. It was Mason’s first loss in four inter-club matches this season. Harris restored a little hope when he romped to a 6-2. 6-0 win against Dillon.

Edgecumbe and Terry Mooney had a long three-setter, with both players keeping largely to the baselines. Edgecumbe dropped the first set. but with control and concentration fought back to take the second set in a tie-breaker. His persistent returning forced Mooney to play for winners, some of which he got. but a larger number hit the net or drifted out. When Thom and Michael Mooney took the court for the final singles the result was almost beyond doubt. Thom had to win in two sets for Elmwood to take the match—a tall order, even for the experienced Thom, against the aggressive young Mooney.

Mooney clinched the match by beating Thom 6-2 in the first set, and, continuing with some superb passing shots, won the second set 6-3. Avonside got a splendid start against North Linwood, taking both doubles. Alan Croad and David Shapcott had the vital win.

beating Jim Martin and Stephen Haney in a tnird set tie-breaker. Had this gone to North Linwood, it would have won 7-6 on sets. Martin Searle ana ~-,ry Knight both won their singles in straight sets, to give Avonside its first victory of the season. It was immaterial that Shapcott and Croad lost their singles —Croad to an aggressive Hariev who swept through the first set 6-2.

Woolston had a grand chance of its first win of the season, winning both doubles against United. But Ralph Webster and Hugh Robinson quickly levelled the scores with singles wins for United. The bottom two singles both went to three sets, but unfortunately for Woolston it last hope, Gary Wilson, failed to maintain the freedom of shots that gave him the first set easily 6-2 against Stewart Chalmers, and he lost the next two.

Shirley dropped only one set against Sumner in a most impressive display. In the top singles Peter Hampton maintained his unbeaten record, showing little regard for the experience of Grantly Judge. He rushed through the first set 6-0, volleying magnificently. In spite of Mrs Hunt’s loss to Miss Chapman, Elmwood won against Beckenham 4-2, and has a clear lead after two rounds of the women’s competition. Avonside, which took maximum points from the first round, had the bye on Saturday. United did not drop a set against the hapless Edgeware, which has now lost two rounds,

The men’s points table is:— Edgeware and Shirley 36, Elmwood and North Linwood 32, United 23. Avonside 16, Sumner 11, Woolston 6. Women’s points table:— Elmwood 21, United 13, Avonside 12, Beckenham 2, Edgeware 0. MEN Edgeware 4, Elmwood 2. M. Mooney beat W. Thom, 6-2, 6-3; T. Mooney lost to W. Edgecumbe, 4-6, 7-6, 6-4; N. Dillon lost to G. Harris, 6-2, 6-0; M. O’Flaherty beat R. Mason, 6-1, 6-3. M. and T. Mooney beat Edgecumbe and Thom, 6-4. 4-6, (T 3 Dillon and O’Flaherty beat Harris and Mason, 6-4, 6-4. Avonside 4, North Linwood 2. A. Croad lost to S. Harley, 2-6, 5- D. Shapcott lost to J. Martin, 4-6, 2-6; M. Searle beat B. Finch. 6-3, 6-4; B. Knight beat M. Purcell, 7-6, 6-3. Croad and Shapcott beat Harley and Martin, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6; Searle and Knight beat Finch and Purcell, 6-3. 6-4. United 4, Woolston 2. R. Webster beat D. Hunt, 6-3, 6- H. Robinson beat C. Hunt. 6-3, 6-0; L. Walton best D. Chapman, 6-3, 6-7, 6-2; S. Chalmers beat G. Wilson, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2. Webster and Robinson lost to D. Hunt and Chapman, 6-2, 4-6, 2-6; Walton and Chalmers lost to C. Hunt and Wilson, 6-7, 6-2. 4-6.

Shirley 6, Sumner 0. P. Hampton beat G. Judge, 6-0, 8-4; B. Hibbertt beat R. McCutcheon, 6-4, 6-4; R. Adams beat D. Blackwell, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6; D.

Haworth beat B. Galt, 6-0, 6-1. Hampton and Hibbertt beat Judge and McCutcheon, 6-1, 6-3; Adams and Haworth beat Blackwell and Galt, 6-4. 6-4. WOMEN United 6. Edgeware 0. S. Keddell beat F. Ormandy, 6-1, 6-1; L. Lewthwaite beat L. Brown, 64), 6-4; P. Lewthwaite beat J. Duggan. 6-0, 6-2; R. Aitken beat S. O’Flaherty, 7-6. 6-4. Keddell and Aitken beat Ormandy and Duggan, 6-4, 6-2; P. and L. Lewthwaite beat Brown and O’Flaherty, 6-2, 6-2. Elmwood 4, Beckenham 2. R. Hunt lost to S. Chapman, 5- 6-4, 6-7; C. Oakley beat J. Verdellen, 4-6. 6-4, 7-6; N. Robinson lost to A. Davidson, 6-2, 3-6, 3-6; A. McMaster beat L. Cowie, 6- 6-1. Hunt and Oakley beat Chapman and Verdellen. 7-6. 6-4: Robinson and McMaster beat Davidson and Cowie. 6-3, 6-4. Senior Reserve Grade St Ninians 4, Fendalton 2; Elmwood I 4, Linwood Avenue 2; Bishopdale 4, Woolston 2; Edgeware 5. Elmwood II 1; North Linwood 5, United 1. First Mixed B Grade Elmwood 98 games, South Brighton 95; Halswell 14, Shirley 2; New Brighton 15. Edgeware 1; South Brighton I 11, Bishopdale 5; St Paul’s 14, Barrington 2; Elmwood 9, Spreydon 7. Second Women's Grade Beckenham 5, North Beach 1: Shirley 6, Elmwood 0; Fendalton 6, Cashmere 0; Burwood 6, Avonside 0; Edgeware 5, Bishopdale 1.