Injured players fit

Press, 22 January 1979, Page 26

Injured players fit

Two leading girl tennis players who have been out of action through ankle injuries in the last few days are expected to report fit for the opening matches in the Wilson Cup competition at Wilding Park today.

The girls are Arleen Rolleston, the New Zealand under-19 singles champion last summer, and Michelle Berrigan, who will be either No. 1 or No. 2 in a strong New South Wales team.

The Wilson Cup, which is contested annually by Australian state teams and the New Zealand side, has been held by New South Wales for six years.

Although two of the state’s best players departed recently for the United States, New South Wales should still make its presence felt. Even without Miss Berrigan, it had four girls in the quarter-finals of the Qantas national singles last week, and two of these, Sharon Pinchbeck and Debbie Freeman, contested the final.

The New Zealand captain, Mrs Marilyn Lawrence, has had her team hard at work on the back courts at Wilding Park in the last few days, and she is confident that Miss Rolleston’s previously strained right ankle will stand up to the play. Also at stake this week will be the Linton Cup, for boys’ under-19 teams, and the Wayne Reid Cups, for under-16 boys’ and girls’ sides. New Zealand has been trying for 15 years to win the Linton Cup, without success, and its captain, Mr Kevin Woolcott, does not expect any miracles this week.

But in a competition in which almost every Australian state has one particularly strong player, he is hopeful that the home side will win twice.

I The draw for first round imatches today is:— Linton Cup.—Western '.Australia v. Tasmania; (Victoria v. Queensland; New Zealand v. South Australia; I New South Wales a bye.

Wilson Cup. —Victoria v. South Australia; Queensland v. Tasmania; New’ Zealand v. Western Australia; New South Wales a bye.

Reid Cup (boys).— Victoria v. South Australia; Queensland v. Tasmania; Western Australia v. New Zealand; New South Wales a bye. Reid Cup (girls). — New South Sales v. South Australia; Western Australia v. New Zealand: Queensland v. Tasmania; Victoria a bve.