Tough fight for fourth seed

Press, 31 December 1980, Page 24

Tough fight for fourth seed

By

JOHN BROOKS

Top seeded players ; claimed most semi-tinai I positions in the T.A.A. national age-group tennis championships at Wilding Park yesterday. But one of the favoured few. Julie Richardson (Auckland), had some anxious moments in keeping her title chances alive. Spirited competition from Belinda Cordwell (Wellington) in the under-17 singles, had the accomplished Miss Richardson at full stretch, and the cut and thrust continued through three absorbing sets before the Auckland girl prevailed. Miss Cordwell did not lose the first set by much, and she had her young rival scrambling in the second with her purposeful attacking. She yielded only one game in levelling the sets score. In the crucial third set, however. Miss Richardson varied her pace shrewdly, and her fitness and the admirable timing of her shots! gave her the decision. Although still entitled toj defend her national under-15! singles title, Julie Richard-1 son is mixing it with the big! girls in this tournament and! has justified her fourth seed-! ing. Today she will play the!

second seed Lyn Meachen (Hutt Valley), in the semifinals: ’.he others still with a chance are Simone Boyer (Auckland) and Elizabeth iDaly (Southland). Canterbury’s hopes crumbled yesterday as Wendy Bryan. Julieanne Taylor and [Jane Howe all fell by the wayside in the under-17 'quarter-finals. Miss Taylor. (Seeded third, was edged out [by the steady Miss Daly in [two close sets. 1 The under-17 boys’ singles I became a purely northern [contest with Roy Dutton and : David Lewis (Auckland) and [John Grubi and Guy Callen- ! der (Wellington) advancing Ito the semi-finals with clearcut wins. Calender eliminated last season’s under-15 champion. Alan Adair (Canterbury), and his match this morning against Lewis promises to be a highlight of the tournament. Dutton, who has dealt severely with all his opponents so far. looks likely to play the winner of the CallenderLewis contest in the final tomorrow. And the DuttonLewis partnership appears destined to reach the doubles final. probablv against Callender and Chris van der Linden. Results: Page 3.