Canterbury loses tennis title

Press, 2 March 1981, Page 6

Canterbury loses tennis title

PA Wellington Canterbury's ’ seven-year strangle-hold on New Zealand women’s-pi'.ovincial tennis came to a shattering end at Lower Hutt on Saturday. Auckland took all four singles from Canterbury to win the Nunneley Casket for the ; flrst time since 1973, and in the process the emerging junior, Linda Stewart, scored her third win in four meetings this summer over the national, women’s champion, Christine Newton. - ,• - Only Auckland’s decision to default the two doubles, because it was having to drive home, prevented it from attempting a clean sweep. The men’s Wilding Shield competition was collected by Auckland, as expected, after it downed last year’s champion, Wellington, 4-2, the losses coming when both doubles were defaulted. Auckland was given a great start against Canterbury when the veteran, Beverley Vercoe, and . the junior, Simone Boyer, scored upset wins, and Janine Perkinson and Stewart, who had to contend with a good deal of bad temper from Newton, completed the job in stunning fashion. Results:— Fourth round.—Men: Canterbury 4, Wellington 2 (Canterbury names first): Hibbert lost to Patterson 5-7, 3-6; H. Robinson beat Callender 6-3, 6-1; R. Webster lost-to Carter 4-6, 6-2, 7-5; R. Mason beat Gray 6-1, 6-4; Hibbert and Webster beat Pattersbn and Gray 6-3, 6-4; Robinson and Mason beat Callender and Carter 6-4, 64). Northern 4, Central 2; Auckland 6, Southern 0. Fifth round.—Men: Auckland 4, Wellington 2; Canterbury 6, Central 0: (Canterbury nannes first). Hibbert beat Thomas 7-6, 6-2; Robinson beat Rogan 6-3, '7-5; Mason beat Murray 6-3, 7-5; A. Chapman beat Spooner 6-4, 6-3;

Hibbert asd Ch apm an be*t Thoma* and Murray S-4, 44; Mason, and Boblrmn. beat and Spooner 6-2, 6-4. Southern. S, Northern I. -k-."'. » Fourth round.—Women: Auek. land S, Wellington 1; Southern S, Central 1; Canterbury 6,-North-ern 0: (Canterbury names first). C. Newton beat Litt S-4, 6-3; S, Chapman beat Smith M, CO; R. Hunt beat Tebbutt 4-6, 6-1, 64); J. Phillips beat beat ? WlUlama 6-2, 6-2; Newton and Chapman, beat ; Litt and Tebbutt 6-0. 6-3; Hunt and Phillips beat Smith and WilHams 6-0, 6-4. « Fifth round.—Women: Auckland 4, Canterbury 2; (Auckland names first): Stewart beat Newton 1-6, 6-4, 6-3: Perldnson beat Chapman 7-6. 6-4: Vercoe beat; Hunt 64, 6J; Boyer beat P.. Lewthwaite 6-2, 7-5; Stewart and : Parkinson lost to Newton, and ; Chapman by default; Vereoe and Boyer, lost to Hunt and Lewthwaite by default. Southern 5, Northern 1; Wellington 6. Central 0. ' I? -\« k - Over-all points: , <• Men: Auckland 25. Canterbury . 32, Wellington 23, Southern Bls. tricts 17, Northern. Districts 10, , Central District* ;3. Women: Auckland 34, Canterbury 33. Wei. < llngton. 22, Southernl4, Northern ■ 0, Central 4.