N.Z. juniors gain prized N.S.W. tennis scalp

Press, 25 January 1979, Page 34

N.Z. juniors gain prized N.S.W. tennis scalp

By

JOHN BROOKS

If New Zealand tennis supporters were jubilant at their teen-aged teams’ successes at Wilding Park on Tuesday, they were ecstatic yesterday when three of the sides won again and the fourth lost at the last gasp.

The New Zealand manager, Mr Barry Shute, said that he was not yet walking as tall as Harry Hopman in the good old days of Australia’s Davis Cup domination. But his step was certainly sprightly after the New Zealand Reid Cup (under-16) girls had put down the second-seeded New South Wales side by three thumping straight-sets wins to nothing.

It was the first time any New Zealand junior side had scored a win against New South Wales — and it was accomplished with a flourish by Ruth Seeman and Janine Perkinson. The New Zealand under-19 girls’ combination of Bronwyn Corson and Arleen Rolleston beat the brightly garbed lasses from South Australia to hold first-equal position in the Wilson Cup competition, while the New Zealand under-19 boys’ team won all its matches against Tasmania to record its second win.

The home under-16 boys’ side was on terms with New South Wales after a marathon fighting performance by Tim Tohill but the Australians were clearly superior in the doubles.

Miss Perkinson. a strong and highly promising player from Auckland, was New Zealand’s surprise packet yesterday. She did not play in the national junior championships last wek or the first two rounds of the Reid Cup competition because of a pulled stomach muscle.

But her recovery was dramatic, judging by her spectacular overhead play yesterday. She was brought into the team for the doubles in the morning match against Victoria after New Zealand had lost both singles and helped Ruth Seeman to achieve a clean-cut win.

Against New South Wales, Miss Seeman gained the vic-

tory she had richly deserved by overcoming the diminutive “Dolly” Gully with clean hitting and accurate placements. Then Miss Perkinson took over to sweep Fiona Murdoch off the court in two brief sets. In the second of these the Auckland girl conceded only five points: a sensational performance, almost good enough for the Guinness book Then Miss Seeman and Miss Perkinson took Miss Gully and Lorraine Gallacher apart in the doubles, in which they dropped only two games. The New Zealand coach, Mr Don Brookes, admitted that the playing of Miss Perkinson so soon after her injury had been a gamble. He should buy a Golden Kiwi ticket today. The New Zealand under-19 girls still have some tough play ahead. They will today face another unbeaten side. New South Wales, winner of the Wilson Cup for the last six years. The strong state side has not dropped a match so far. The New Zealand No. 1, Bronwyn Corson, yesterday won her singles against Bronwyn Reid (South Australia) after a struggle, and was well below form in the doubles, which New Zealand lost. Only two excellent serves bv Arleen Rolleston prevented a straight-sets loss by New Zealand. Points:

Linton Cup: Western Australia Victoria, 3; New Zealand. New South Wales, South Australia, 2: Tasmania, Queensland, 0. Wilson Cup: Queensland, New Zealand, New South Wales, 3; Victoria, 2; South Australia, 1: Western Australia. Tasmania. 0.

Reid Cup (boys): Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, 3: Queensland, New Zealand, Tasmania, 1; South Australia, 0.

Reid Cup (girls): Western

Australia, Victoria, 3: New Zealand, South Australia, 2j New South Wales, Queens* land, 1, Tasmania, 0. LINTON CUP Third round continued Western Australia 2. South Australia 1 C. Johnstone and R. Grant beat J. Fitzgerald and B. Dvke. 3-6, 6-3, 7-5. New South Wales 3, Queensland 0 P Serrett and G. Langlands beat T. Park and M. Faneutt, 6-4, 6-7. 6-3 Fourth round Western Australia 3, Queensland 0 C. Johnstone beat M. Faneutt, 6-2, 6-3; R. Grant heat P. Mallett, 5- 6-2 6-1: Johnstone and Grant beat R. Eden and T. Park, 6-1, 6New Zealand 3, Tasmania 0 D Berlin beat C. Booth, 6-0, 6-4; M. Lewis beat D. Parsons, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3; Derlin and C. Harris beat Booth and M. Crawford. 6-2. 6-3 South Australia 2, New South Wales I J. Fitzgerald lost to P. Serrett, 1-6, 6-3. 3-6; B. Dyke beat C. Miller, 5-7, 6-4. 6-0; Fitzgerald and Dyke beat Serrett and G. Langlands. 6-2. 6-1. WILSON CUP Third round continued Queensland 3, South Australia 0 Paul and Petra Kelly beat B. Reid and E. Tucker, 2-6, 7-6, 6-3. Fourth round New South Wales 3, Western Australia 0 S. Pinchbeck beat E. Smith, 6- 6-3; M. Berrigan heat J. Lange. 6-3. 7-5; Pinchbeck and D. Freeman beat Smith and Lange, 7- 6-3. Victoria 3, Tasmania 0 E. Little beat K. Byrne, 6-3, 6-2; H. Luscombe beat C. Byrne, 6-1, 6-2; Luscombe and J. Robinson beat C. Byrne and ,T. Smart, 6-1, 6-0. New Zealand 1, South Australia 1 B. Corson beat B. Reid. 7-6, 6- 6-2; A. Rolleston beat I. Dyke 7- 6-0: Corson and Rolleston lost to Reid and E. Tucker. 3-6. 7-6, 1REID CUP (BOYS) Third round Queensland 2, South Australia 1 J King lost to G. Thomas, 1-6, 6-2, 4-6; J. Frawley beat R. Scutter 6-2. 6-3; A. Davidson and B. Greenwood beat Thomas and P. Carter, 6-0, 6-4. Fourth round New South Wales 2, New Zealand 1 W. Masure beat G, Long, 6-0, 6-2; C. Limberger lost to T. Tohill 6-7, 7-5, 5-7; Masur and H. Hansson beat P. Feeney and R. Dutton, 6-0 6-2, Western Australia 2, South Australia 1 D. Turner beat G. Thomas, 6-2, 6- S. Mason lost to R. Scutter, 0-6, 3-6; Turner and A. Hall beat Scutter and Thomas, 6-2, 7-5. Victoria 3, Tasmania 0 T Withers beat S. Youl, 6-1, 7- W. Hazell beat A. Targett 6-1, 6-2; W, Horskins and P. Beare beat Youl arid D. Drysdale 1-6, 6-4, 6-3. REID CUP (GIRLS) Third round (continued) New South Wales 2, Tasmania 1 A. Guley and F. Murdoch beat M. Booth and K. Dwver 7-6, 6-2. Victoria 2, New Zealand 1 A. Minter beat R. Seeman, 7-6, 6-3; M. Yates beat C. Pickwick, 6-1, 6-2; J. Pinto and Yates lost to Seeman and J. Perkinson, 2-6, 2Western Australia 2, South Australia 1 R. Lamb beat S. Norgren, 6-3, 6-3; D, Marshall lost to A. Pryor, 3- 6-3. 3-6; Lamb and P. Wheat! ley geat Norgren and Pryor, 5-7, 6-1. 6-2. Fourth round Victoria 3, Tasmania 0 A. Minter beat JI. Booth. 6-4, 6-4; M. Yates beat S. Norwood, 6-0, 6-2; Yates and J. Pinto beat Norwood and K. Dwyer, 6-3, 6-1. New Zealand 3, New South Wales 0 R. Seeman beat A. Gulley. 6-3, 6- J. Perkinson beat F. 'Murdoch, 6-2 6-0; Seeman and Perkinson beat Gulley and L. Gallacher. 6-2, 6-0. South Australia 2, Queensland 0 S. Norgren beat D. Brown, 6-4, 7- R. Starr beat E. Burke, 6-3, 15-7, 8-6.