Upset tennis defeat for Webster

Press, 20 March 1978, Page 17

Upset tennis defeat for Webster

The shock defeat of the redoubtable Ralph Webster by Woolston’s Colin Hunt at Wilding Park on Saturday cost the tall United player a share in the Bank of New Zealand’s grand-prix prize for men’s tennis. Instead, the contest was won by Warren Edgecumbe (Elmwood), who gained maximum points in the final round of the competition with singles and doubles victories.

Edgecumbe gained 58 points, Webster 57, Stephen Harley (North Linwood) 56, and Alan Croad (Avonside) 52. The women’s grand prix was won by Jane Wilson (Avonside), with 38 points, from Robyn Hunt (Elmwoof) with 37, and Shirley Haig and Phillippa Lewthwaite (both United) with 34.

Hunt, who is also chairman of the Canterbury association’s management committee, achieved perhaps his most notable win in the senior competition by beating Webster, who has had an excellent season.

Elmwood, which had already made sure of winning the title for the sixth successive year, ended its season with a flourish by downing the third-placed team, Edgeware. In spite of the defeat of Webster, United was too good for Woolston and held second place. North Linwood beat the team above it on the points ladder, Avonside, showing particular strength in the doubles, and Shirley cruised to its expected win against Summer. But the veterans, Grantley Judge and Ryan McCutcheon, combined skilfully to beat Shirley's junior Davis Cup players, Peter Hampton and Brett Hibbert.

In the resumed round of the women’s competition,

Avonside beat the leading side, Elmwood, and United succeeded against Beckenham, in spite of losing three of the four singles. Robyn Hunt (Elmwood) raced away from Christine Newton in the second set of the top singles against United, while nn the other tie, Sally Chapman (Beckenham) boosted her hopes for a successful overseas tour by overcoming a determined Shirley Haig. The promising Carolyn Oakley gave one of her best displays by beating the experienced Avonside player, Diane McKinnel, in straight sets. Miss Oakley was particularly effective in the second set.

Final competition points in the men’s competition were: Elmwood 124, United 106, Edgeware 96, Shirley 94, Avonside 79, North Linwood 76, Woolston 64, Sumner 33.

SENIOR MEN United 4, Woolston 2 R. D. Webster lost to C. A. Hunt. 6-3, 2-6, 4-6; H. E. Robinson beat G. Wilson, 6-3, 3-6, 6-0; L. Walton beat D. Chapman, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4; S. Chalmers lost to D Lawn, 1-6. 7-6, 1-6. Robinson and Walton beat Hunt and Wilson, 6-3, 6-0; Webster and Chalmers beat Chapman and Lawn, 6-2. 6-2. North Linwood 4, Avonside 2 S. Harley beat M. Searle, 6-2. 4-6, 6-1; J. P. Martin lost to A. Croad. 2-6, 2-6; B. Finch lost to B. T. Knight, 4-6, 6-1, 1-6; M. Purcell beat D. McKay, 6-2, 6-2. Harley and Martin beat Searle and Croad, 6-2, 6-4; Finch and Purcell beat Knight and McKay. 0-6. 7-6. 6-3. Elmwood 4, Edgeware 2

W. Thom lost to M. Mooney. 1-6, 3-6; W. Edgecumbe beat T. J. Mooney 6-4, 6-4; G. P. Harris beat N. Dillon, 6-3, 6-4; R. Mason beat M. O’Flaherty, 6-4, 6-1, Thom and Harris lost to T. and M. Mooney, 2-6, 3-6; Edgecumbe and Mason beat Dillon and O’Flaherty. 6-3. 6-1. Shirley 5, Sumner 1

P. D. Hampton beat C. G. Judge. 6-2. 5-7, 6-1; B. Hibbert beat R. McCutcheon. 6-2, 6-4; R.

Adams beat G. Hayes, 6-1. 6-2: B. Clark won by default. Hampton and Hibbert lost to Judge and McCutcheon, 6-1, 6-7, 4-6; Adams and Clark won by default SENIOR WOMEN Avonside 4, Elmwood 2 C. J. Newton lost to R. R. Hunt. 5-7. 1-6; D. McKinnel lost to C. Oakley, 4-6, 1-6; J. Macdonald beat N. Robinson, 6-1, 6-3; J. E. Wilson beat A. McMaster. 6-2, 6-3. Newton and McKinnel beat Hunt and Oakley, 6-3, 7-5; Macdonald and Wilson beat McMaster and Robinson, 7-6, 6-3. United 72 games, Beckenham 64 S. E. Haig lost to S. E. Chapman, 4-6, 6-7; S. Keddell lost to A. Davidson, 4-6, 3-6; L. Lewthwaite lost to L. Cowie, 7-5, 2-6, 4-6; P. Lewthwaite beat P. Grace. 6-1, 6-1. Haig and Keddell beat Chapman and Cowie, 6-2, 6-7, 6-4; L. and P. Lewthwaite beat Grace and Davidson. 6-3, 6-4. SENIOR RESERVE Bishopdale 4, United 2; St Ninians 8 sets, Woolston 7; Elmwood II 6, Fendalton 0; Edgeware 4, Linwood Avenue 2. WOMEN'S SECOND GRADE Beckenham 8 sets. Fendalton 7; Wycola Park 5, St Martins I; North Beach 4, Bishopdale 2; Burwood 5, Edgeware 1; Shirley 5. Avonside 1; Cashmere 53 games, Elmwood 36. FIRST MIXED A GRADE Fendalton 12, Shirley 4; North Linwood 9, Sumner 7; Elmwood 10, United 6; Avonside 11, Cash mere 5. FIRST MIXED B GRADE New Brighton 11, St Pauls 5; Sprevdon 12, Shirley 4; Halswell 11, Edgeware 5; Barrington 10. Elmwood 6.