A sweet victory for Elmwood senior men

Press, 22 December 1986, Page 30

A sweet victory for Elmwood senior men

Victory was certainly sweet for the Elmwood senior men’s tennis team yesterday when it reversed a first-round defeat to Fendalton in the first fixture of section play in the B.N.Z. senior inter-club competition at Wilding. Park. Elmwood won, 4-2, but in the early stage of the afternoon both teams were on level pegging, at 1-1, and then 2-2.

In the top singles, Rhett Mason’s effective serving played a key factor in • his victory as did his service returns.

Adair’s adept forehand placement won him numerous points, but Mason countered this somewhat by concentrating on Adair’s backhand and picking up vital points.

Mason’s 6-1, 6-2 win gave him the men’s player of the day award, having lost to Adair in straight sets in round one.

Richard Dalman produced an awesome display just moments later, playing consistently well in all areas of his game to defeat Alistair Chapman 6-3, 6-2. Dalman’s good win, and later, Jean-Pierre Andre’s 62, 6-3 victory over Gary Lawson, sealed the lid on the win for the jubilant Elmwood side.

Meanwhile, the unpredictable Avonhead men beat United by a mere 72 games to 71 after a tense final singles match between the No. 4 players. Jack Prouting and Scott Perkins.

The gutsy Prouting (Avonhead), won the day for his team in a thrilling match where every point was vital. Prouting responded well to the pressure, and leading 7-5, 5- fought off a second-set comeback from Perkins, eventually winning the set, and the fixture for Avonhead, in a tense tiebreaker. Results.— MEN Elmwood 4, Fendalton 2: R. Mason and R. Dalman beat A. Adair and A. Chapman 2-6, 63, 6-2; B. Williams and J. P. Andre lost to G Lawson and M. Searle 6-3, 3-6, 3-6. Singles: Mason beat Adair 6-1, 6- Dalman beat Chapman 63, 6-2; Andre beat Lawson 6-2, 6-3; Williams lost to Searle 63, 3-6, 3-6. Avonhead 3, United 3 (Avonhead 72 games, United 71): V. Aubrey and D. Mitchell lost to J. Honeywell and J. Robinson 2-6, 6-3, 2-6; A. Hunt and J. Prouting beat R. Webster and S. Perkins 63, 6-7, 6-3. Singles: Aubrey beat Honeywell 6-0, 7-6; Mitchell lost to Webster 3-6, 4- Hunt lost to Robinson 5-7, 5- Prouting beat Perkins 75, 7-6.

Edgeware 6, Te Kura 0: S. Harley and T. Mooney beat H. Robinson and E. Van Opzeeland 6-2, 6-3; M. Mooney and G. Smith beat S. Adair and B. Winks 7-6, 6-2. Singles: Harley beat Robinson 6-2, 6-4; M. Mooney beat Van, Opzeeland 6-3, 6-1; T. Mooney beat S. Adair 6-2, 6-2; Smith beat Winks 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.

Shirley 5, Cashmere 1: B. Hibbert and B. Clark beat H. Jamieson and J. Brightwell 75, 7-6; P. Hampton and D. Sandford beat C. Hunt and G. Young 6-4, 6-3. Singles: Hibbert beat Young 6-1, 6-1; Hampton beat Brightwell 6-4, 6-3; Sandford beat Jamieson 6-1, 6-1; Clark lost to Hunt 46, 6-4, 5-7. WOMEN Fendalton 5, Avonside 1: A. Brading and R. Wilson beat J. Phillips and S. Munro 4-6, 6-1, 6-2; M. J. Burke and C. Viggers beat P. Morris and L. Duffy 6-0, 6-1. Singles: Wilson lost to Philips 6-7, 6-7; Brading beat Morris 6-3, 6-3; Viggers beat Munro 6-1, 6-3; Burke beat Duffy 6-3, 6-1. Shirley 3, United 3 (Shirley 7 sets, United 6): S. Moorfield and J. Lake beat P. Lewthwaite and O. O’Dell 6-1, 6-3; J. Hibbert and L. Johnson lost to J. Reid and R. Gardiner 6-4, 4-6, 3-6. Singles: Moorfield beat Reid 6-2, 6-1; Johnson beat Reid 7-5, 6-0; Hibbert lost to Gardiner 1-6, 5-7; Lake lost to O’Dell 6-7, 46.

Barrington 5, Elmwood 1: R. Hunt and L- Ratana beat A. Culhane and K. Mellish 76, 7-5; D. O’Malley and V. Ratana beat A. Barlow and J. Lavender 6-1, 6-2. Singles; Hunt beat Culhane 6-0, 6-0; L. Ratana lost to Barlow 2-6, 3-6; O’Malley beat Mellish 6-2, 63; V. Ratana beat Lavender 64, 6-2. Points.— Women: Barrington 20, Shirley 19, Avonside 11, United 11, Fendalton 11, Elmwood 9.