Honeywell’s tennis reward

Press, 29 January 1986, Page 64

Honeywell’s tennis reward

By

KEVIN TUTTY

John Honeywell, who has had several surprise wins in Canterbury tennis this summer, has been rewarded for his consistency with selection in the provincial team for the inter-district championships in March. Honeywell’s inclusion has been at the expense of Michael Mooney. Honeywell beat Mooney in the Canterbury championships, and it seems that success convinced the selectors he was worthy of a place in the Canterbury team. Four of the Canterbury team which won the folding Shield last year for

the first time since 1979, will return to Mitchell Park in Lower Hutt to defend the Shield from February 27 to March 2. They are Peter Hampton, Stephen Harley (subject to availability), Brett Hibbert and Rhett Mason. Alistair Chapman is the sixth member of the squad. Hampton will return to Mitchell Park with mixed feelings. He was the hero of Canterbury’s success last year, but the euphoria of the success took second place to the pain Hampton suffered after playing the stroke that won the Shield. Hampton, playing

doubles with Hibbert, served and rushed to the net on match point. He played a successful volley, but crashed to the court in the same instant with a snapped tendon in an ankle. He was carried from the court and returned to Christchurch in plaster. The Canterbury women, who have won the Nunneley Casket 10 times in the last 12 years are also the defending champions. They will miss the services of Sally Moorfield who has beeen absent from the courts for the majority of this season because of the approach of motherhood.

The squad still retains four of last years’s team, however — Shirley Haig, Robyn Hunt, Judith Phillips and Rachel Wilson. The newcomer to the squad, although, not new to Canterbury honours, is Phillippa Lewthwaite. The teams are.— Men: Alistair Chapman, Peter Hampton, Stephen Harley, Brett Hibbert, John Honeywell and Rhett Mason. The manager will be Mr Sam Clarke. Women: Shirley Haig, Robyn Hunt, Phillippa Lewthwaite, Judith Phillips and Rachel Wilson. The manageress is Mrs Diane MfKinnel.