Elmwood bounces back

Press, 2 December 1985, Page 3

Elmwood bounces back

Blackwell Elmwood spectacularly reversed an earlier result when it drubbed Cashere, 6-0, in the B.N.Z. women’s senior tennis competition at Wilding Park yesterday. Only a few weeks ago Cashmere had downed Elmwood, 5-1, but the latter’s big improvement carried it to third place in the second round competition. After capturing both doubles, Elmwood’s confidence rose rapidly with Andrea Barlow making short work of Karen Mellish and Amanda Trail overpowering

Mary-Jane Burke after a tight second set. The bottom two singles were both three-setters, with Gillian Lavender fighting diligently to beat the consistent Karen Young and Ann Culhane struggling to overcome Cashmere’s replacement, Jenny Oakley. Amuri Mazda United race through Commodore Airport Hotel Fendalton without the loss of a match, confirming its lead in this section of the competition. The indestructible Shirley Haig again proved herself too strong for her younger opponent,

Rachel Wilson. Wilson used every shot in the book in the first set, but to no avail. At times the court resembled an ice-skat-ing rink, with both players frequently skidding and sliding for wide balls. In spite of this, nothing seemed to ruffle Haig who gave a polished performance sending many sparkling winners past Wilson’s reach.

United’s number two, Judy Phillips, sped through Fendalton’s Diana Lonie with relative ease, playing superbly off the backhand side and serving with venom.

Sportswest Barrington staved off strong resistance from Shirley, who had Barrington worried in the early stages of the day. Julianne Taylor and Leigh Johnson played with admirable determination to beat Barrington’s experienced partnership of Robyn Hunt and Delia O’Malley. The match was exciting, with all four players trading rapid volleys at the net.

In the top singles, Hunt proved herself too strong yet again for Julianne Taylor. Hunt did well to beat Taylor in two sets, considering Taylor’s good form over the last few weeks, particularly in the Canterbury closed championships, in which she was runner-up to

Shirley Haig. Shirley’s Denise Hampton had Vicki Ratana stretched on many occasions, and succumbed only after a long three-setter, while Delia O’Malley had to use every ounce of energy to oust Leigh Johnson in another tough match. Results: United 6, Fendalton 0 Doubles: S. Haig and J. Phillips beat R. Wilson and J. Picjering, 6-1, 6-4; J. Reid and P. Leutnwaite beat D. Lonie and H. Barlow, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. Singles: Haig beat Wilson, 6- 6-3; Leuthwaite beat Pickering, 6-3, 6-1; Phillips beat Lonie, 6-0, 6-3; Reid beat Barlow, 7-5, 6-4. Barrington 5, Shirley 1 Doubles: R. Hunt and D. O’Malley lost to J. Taylor and L. Johnson, 6-2, 2-6, 3-6; L. and V. Ratana beat J. Lake and D. Hampton, 6-2, 6-1. Singles: Hunt beat Taylor, 7- 6-3; L. Ratana beat Lake, 7-5, 6-3; O’Malley beat Johnson, 3-6, 6-2, 6-2; V. Ratana beat Hampton 3-6, 6-2, 6-2. Elmwood 6, Cashmere 0 Doubles: A. Trail and A. Culhine beat K. Mellish and

M. Ji Burke, 6-4, 1-6, 6-4; A. Barlow and J. Lavender beat K. Young and J. Oakley, 6-2, 6-4. :

Singles: Barlow beat Mellish, 6- 6-2; Trail beat Burke, 6-1, 7- Lavender beat Young, 0-6, 6-1, 7-6; Culhane beat Oakley, 6-1, 5-7, 6-1. Points: United 27, Barrington 23, Elmwood 16, Shirley 10, Fendalton 3, Cashmere 2.