Elmwood ‘oldies’ near tennis title

Press, 6 March 1978, Page 18

Elmwood ‘oldies’ near tennis title

Elm wood's “Golden Oldies’’ appear to have the senior men’s tennis championship within their grasp for yet another season. Their remarkable talent for survival was given a stern test at : Wilding Park on Saturday, but; they came through to beat a talented Shirley side on a count- ■' back of games. The win put Elmwood 11 points alear Of United with two rounds still to be played in the BNZ; sponsored competition. United; overcame the solid Avonside quartet, while another we'll performed combination, Edgeware, had its title hopes wrecked when it lost narrowly to Woolston. The defeat of Elmwood seemed a distinct possibility after a Shirley team which Included two members of the junior Davis Cup squad, Peter Hampton and Brett Hibbert, won both doubles matches. But. against all predictions, the oldest of the “oldies,” Bill Thom, beat Hampton In the top singles to revive Elmwood’s chances. Thom has struck a roeky road in the No. 1 position for his team this summer, but on Saturday he dictated the pace of the match and With good ground strokes, an adequate serve and volley, and some wrlsty chips at the net won in three sets.

Hampton threatened to take charge several times, and volleyed his way Out of trouble to go from 2-5 to 4-5 In the final set. But a tenacious Thom fought grimly for the last four points to effect one of the biggest upsets of the season. Lew Elliott, back in his old No. 4 position for only the second time this season, was too steady for Shirley’s Bruce Clarke, and a volatile Garry Harris overcame Ron Adams, although not without some damage to his nervous system. Adams played very well and hit some splendid winners at the end of exciting rallies. But Elmwood players usually find an extra gear when their team is in * perilous position. Warren Edgecumbe showed this, too by extending Hibbert in I a tough three-setter. Hibbert needed to take the match in two' sets to give Shirley a win. butalthough he gave a 100 per cent, effort, his big first serve did not work well. Edgecumbe returned a lot of potential winners, won the second set, and held the advantage for Elmwood by going to a tie-breaker in the third. The closest match of the sea-: son was produced by Alan Croad' (Avohside) and Hugh Robinson; (United). The match went io three sets, each set ended in a tie-breaker, and the last of these i went on and on until Croad hit I out to give Robinson the tie and 1 the match by 11 points to nine. I There were only two service breaks each way in the protracted encounter, and both players were extremely steady under pressure. Meanwhile. Robinson’s team-mates all won their singles well to give United a comfortable win. North Linwood had too many guns for Sumner, but Woolston surprised Edgeware by the strength of its challenge. It won on a count-back of games after Douglas Chapman had finished the last set of the singles with a 5-1 decision against the evergreen Paul Boatwood, who has had one of his best seasons for a long time. Colin Hunt chimed in with an Important win against Terry Mooney, and teamed well with Gary Wilson to beat Noel Dillon and Boatwood in thd doubles. Dillon was always in control in his singles and often had Wilson on the run. Michael Moohey thrived on the hard-hitting opposition of David Hunt, although he was naturally curious about his rival’s breakfast diet after the lanky Hunt had aced him twice with successive serves. Points are:— Elmwood 104, United 93. Edgeware 84, Shirley 74, Avonside 74, [North Linwood 64, Woolston 60, i Sumner 23. Results were:— SENIOR MEN Woolston 75 games, Edgewaro 73 D. Hunt lest to M. Mooney, 6-4, 5-7, 0-6; C. A. Hunt beat T. J. Mooney, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5; G. Wilson lost to N. Dillon, 1-6, 3-6: D. f ’-anman beat P. V Boatwood. 7-5, S-l. u Hunt and Chapman lost to T. and M. Moeaey, 6-1, 3-6, 4-6, C.

Hunt and Wilson beat Dillon and Boatwood, 64, 5-7, 6-1. United 5, Avonside 1 R. D. Webster beat ,M. Searle, ■ 7-5, 6-2; H. Robinson beat A. , Croad, 6-7, 7-6, 7-6; L. Walton i ; beat B. T. Knight, 6-3, 2-6. 64; S. Chalmers beat D. McKay, 6-2, 6-3. Robinson and Walton lost to Croad and Searle, 2-6, 2-6; Webster and Chalmers beat Knight and McKay. 6-2, 5-7, 6-3. North Linwood 5, Sumner 1 I S. Harley beat C. G. Judge, 6-1, 3-6. 7-5; J. P. Martin lost to R. McCutcheon, 4-6, 3-6; B. Finch beat D. Blackwell, A 3, 0-6, A2; M. Purcell beat G. Hayes, A 3, A 4. Harley and Martin beat Judge and McCutcheon, 6-4, 3-6, Al; Finch and Purcell beat Blackwell and Hayes, 7-6, A2. Elmwood 84 games, Shirley 76 W. Thom beat P, D. Hampton, j 6-3, 4-6. 64; W. Edgecumbe lost to B, Hibbert, 4-6, 7-5, 6-7; G. P. . Harris beat R. Adams, Al, 7-6; L.' E. Elliott beat B. Clarke, 5-7. Al, ;A3. ■ i Thom and Harris lost to HamI pton and Hibbert, A 7, 3-6; Edgecumbe and Elliott lost to Adams And Clarke. 5-7, Al, 1-6. SENIOR WOMEN Etrnwged S, Uniteci 1 R. R. Hunt beat S. E. fialg, 7-S,

I 6-3; C. Oakley beat 8. Ktddell, 6- A 4; N. Robinson beat 1.. Lewthwaite, 6-3, 7-6: A. McMas- ' ter lost to p. LewthWalte. 5-7, ' 2-6. j Mm Hunt and Miss Oakley beat 'Mesdames Haig and Keddell, AS, 7- Misses Robinson and JlcMas- , ter beat Misses P. and L. Lewth- . walte, 3-6, 6-0, A 3. Avonside 6, Edgowarc 0 C. J. Newton beat J. M. PhilI lips. A2, 6-2: D. McKinntl beat L. A. Brown, 6-0, AO; A. Grant beat J. Mackie, A 4, 6-1; J. E. Wilson beat D. Peter, A2, A2. Miss Newton and Mra McKlnnel beat Miss Phillips and Mrs . B’-own. Al, 6-1; Mrs Giant and Miss Wilson beat Misses Pete? [ and Mackie, 6-2, A2. SENIOR RESERVE Bishopdale 5. Fendalton 1: S’Mr- , ley I 55 games. Linwood Avonue 52; St Nlnlans 8 seta, Elmwood H 7; Woolston 53 games, North tin--1 wood 49; Elmwood I 8 sets. Edgeware 6. FIRST MIXED B I St Pauls 16, Edgeware *; New Brighton 15, Spreydon 1; Bsrrlngton 12, Shirley 4: HalSweD 127 ; games, Elmwood 121. SECOND MIXED Bishopdate 10, Elmwood 6; South Brighton 9, Barrington 7.