Rural racket wielders shine

Press, 25 February 1986, Page 23

Rural racket wielders shine

Country tennis teams gave Town sides plenty of hurry-up in the annual series of matches at Wilding Park. Inspired by Peter Newton’s 9-7 defeat of Greg Young, Mid-Canterbury went on 'to score an impressive victory over Town by 16 rubbers to eight. Mid-Canterbury was dominant in each section.

Ellesmere came close to winning its fixture after an impressive start, in which its men won five of the six singles. Marty Beaumont and Peter Terrace gained narrow decisions, and Graham Main showed good form. But Town’s women, headed by Rachel Wilson, Julie Reid and Jillian Lavender, were too strong for the Ellesmere players and equalised the

scores. Matches were eventually tied at 12 rubbers each, but Town sneaked in by 190 games to 172 on a count-back. Although Brett Hibbert heat Hugh Robinson, 9-6, in the top men’s singles and Shirley Haig was in purposeful mood, Town was given strong opposition by North Canterbury, prevailing by 13

matches to 11. In other fixtures in the series, Town breathed more easily. It beat Banks Pensinsular, 19-5, Hurunui by a similar score, and Malvern, 15-9. Country was dominant in «>r matches. Ellesmere Town, 11-5, Mid-Canter-bury won, 9-7, and North Canterbury prevailed 10-6. Town’s only win was against Hurunui, by 12-4.