United starts on winning note

Press, 31 October 1983, Page 38

United starts on winning note

A marathon encore performance by Neil Pattinson helped United begin its defence of the B.N.Z. Shield on a successful note in the men’s senior tennis competition at Wilding Park on Saturday.

Lured back from semi-re-tirement to help his old club in its hour of need, Pattinson was on court almost all afternoon, eventually winning a tense, protracted singles match to clinch United’s victory over Edgeware.

A familiar figure with his black beard and white linen cap, Pattinson renewed an association of 20 years standing with Ralph Webster in the day’s longest doubles match. It lasted two hours, and the United men lost, 6-4, in the third set.

But Pattinson’s singles took even longer, and he finally tottered from the court at sundown, after winning a third set tie-breaker against the youthful John Robinson. “That’s a good note to bow out on,” he said, with genuine relief. “I feel like I’ve run a marathon.”

United will need plenty of that spirit this summer, for there are several strong rivals covetously eyeing the shield. Shirley, which already has the companion award, the B.N.Z. Trophy, in its possession, cleared a forbidding first hurdle by downing Woolston, and Elmwood gave Te Kura a rough introduction to senior tennis by winning its contest with the loss of only one set. Perhaps the most formidable challenger for United might be S.I.M.U. Fendalton, which boasts a battery of five players who have all had experience as numbers one in mter-club tennis. On Saturday Fendalton did not drop a set in disposing of Bishopdale. Points after the first round

Elmwood and Fendalton 9, United 8, Shirley 7, Woolston 2, Edgeware 1, Bishopdale and Te Kura 0.

Pattinson’s return to United’s ranks was caused by the unavailability of Gary Lawson, who won all but one of his singles last season. But the veteran showed that he had not lost his silky touch, and his experience shone through in the final stages of his singles when he won the tie-breaker, 7-2. Hugh Robinson was given a solid work-out by Edgeware’s Simon Jamieson, but Webster won more easily against Geoff Smith, probably because his rival was unnerved at the sight of Webster’s flamboyant American tracksuit.

It was a beautifully fine day for the start of the tennis season, and Noel Dillon

responded to conditions he encountered on his Australian sojourn to romp away to a first set success against Ashley Wearne.

But Dillon's return to Edgeware’s line-up after a year’s absence was not blessed with success, even though his barrackers included Barry Knight, another Edgeware man who has also returned from Australia.

Wearne was in good touch, and won the last two sets comfortably. But Dillon had the satisfaction of striking a good understanding with John Robinson to bring off a win in the doubles.

Shirley’s strength at the top, provided by the Canterbury representatives, Brett Hibbert and Peter Hampton, will be too much for most teams to handle this season. Woolston discovered that on Saturday as it battled gamely but unsuccessfully. It made some headway in the singles, but Bruce Clark and Garry Wilson tipped the balance Shirley’s way in the second doubles.

Hibbert and Hampton’s leisurely start cost them the first set of the top doubles against Colin Hunt and Barry Taylor, but they tightened their play to win the next two sets.

Hampton then accounted for Hunt in the singles, despite some startling contributions from the net by the bearded Woolston man, and Hibbert sprinted clear of Taylor in both sets after early indications of a close tussle.

Since last summer Taylor has acquired a moustache and some uncharacteristic habits, such as double faulting, overhitting, and racket chucking. He is too good a player to let minor irritations upset him. On a court which looked as if it had come under close scrutiny by a few boll weevils, Hibbert was able to slide to his heart’s content. But he also played some good tennis, despite a tendency to wander off line with his toss-up. The quickest result of the afternoon was obtained by Fendalton against Bishopdale. The doubles were completed in almost indecent haste, and Fendalton then went about an extensive and successful mopping up of the singles. Pockets of resistance were provided by Vernon Aubrey, who was partially effective in his bid to put Phillip Seeman off balance, and by Bruce Williams, who played with plenty of spirit but only fleeting success against Alan Adair. Faced with the loss of Steven Baird through injury, Bishopdale recalled a leading junior of several years ago, Neil Blackburn, but he was unable to stem the tide. Marty

Searle and Alistair Chapman completed Fendalton’s success, and with Deane McKinnel lurking in the background the side gives the impression that it will take some stopping. .

The difficulties of a rise in grade were keenly felt by Te Kura in its match against Elmwood. Brett Skjellerup, who has had experience of senior tennis for North Linwood, provided some earnest competition for Rhett Mason in the top singles, leading 4-2 at one stage in the second set, before succumbing. Skjellerup and Graeme Main offered stout opposition in the doubles, and Shane Adair toiled dutifully to take one set from David Mitchell in the singles. But Mike Purcell, who must have found it ironic to be on opposite sides of the net to his former North Linwood colleague, Skjellerup, proved to be a worth while gain for Elmwood. Yet another lefthander, David Lawn, gave added substance to the side at No 3. Results were:— United 5, Edgeware 1 R. Webster beat G. Smith, 63, 6-2; H. Robinson beat S. Jamieson 6-3, 6-4; A. Wearne beat N. Dillon, 1-6, 6-2, 6-1; N. Pattinson beat J. Robinson, 6-4, 2-6; 7-6. Webster and Pattinson lost to J. Robinson and Dillon, 7-6, 4-6, 4-6; Wearne and H. Robinson beat Smith and Jamieson, 6-7, 6-2, 6-2. Fendalton 6, Bishopdale 0 P. Seeman beat V. Aubrey, 6-3, 6-3; A. Adair beat 6. Williams, 6-2, 6-4; A. Chapman beat N. Blackburn, 6-4, 6-3; M. Searle beat P. Beumelburg, 64, 6-1. Seeman and Adair beat Williams and Aubrey, 6-2, 6-1; Searle and Chapman beat Blackburn and Beumelburg, 62, 6-2. Shirley 4, Woolston 2 B. Hibbert beat B. Taylor, 62, 6-2; P. Hampton beat C. Hunt, 6-3, 6-2; B. Clark lost to J. Adair, 6-7, 6-7; G. Wilson lost to S. McNabb, 3-6, 4-6. Hibbert and Hampton beat Hunt and Taylor, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3; Clark and Wilson beat Adair and McNabb, 6-3, 6-4. Elmwood 6, Te Kura 0 R. Mason beat B. Skjellerup, 6-3, 6-4; D. Mitchell beat S. Adair, 6-1, 5-7, 6-1; D. Lawix beat G. Main, 6-4, 6-4; M. Purcell beat I. Watson, 6-3, 6-0. Mason and Purcell beat Skjellerup and Main, 7-6, 6-4; Mitchell and Lawn beat Watson and Adair, 6-4, 6-2. DIVISION I MIXED

Fendalton 14, Avonhead 2; Elmwood I 15, North Beach 1; Barrington 14, Avonside 2; United 11, Elmwood II 5.