Tennis Edgeware gets good run from Te Kura

Press, 23 November 1987, Page 27

Tennis

Edgeware gets good run from Te Kura

Te Kura was tantalisingly close to nudging aside Edgeware and sat firmly on its heels for the entire day in the fifth round of the B.N.Z. senior men’s tennis competition played at Wilding Park on Saturday. Te Kura chased it to an 8-7 set decision after leading earlier in the contest The pressure singles matches came to rest on Hugh Robinson and Andrew Batie’s shoulders but they were unable to pull any tricks from the bag, after the vindication of their doubles win.

Stephen Harley and Michael Mooney, the winners of the doubles title in the Smith’s City Market tennis classic last week-end were beaten by Robinson and Batie, the other finalists 5-7, 6-4, 4-6.

Harley and Mooney were both sporting blue supports — Mooney on the knee and Harley on the elbow — but both players looked untroubled by any injuries.

Robinson and Batle deserved the win playing much more consistent and solid tennis. They had a firm hold in the early stages of the match but Harley and Mooney came back to pose a threat in the second set, and with better form took it well. But Batie and Robinson surged again and with their customary strong understanding of each others play they placed balls well to force the errors from the desperate Harley and Mooney. Robinson later had the

chance to grasp the win for his team when he faced the ever tenacious Mooney but in a tense three-setter he finally succumbed 7-6, 3-6, 5-7. Mooney was in his usual precise and determined mood and coupled with a chatty report of the games’ progress to spectators he hung on to snatch a vital 6-7, 6-3, 7-5 win for his side.

Robinson certainly had his chances but mistakes at crucial points crept into his game to give Mooney the edge and the Nutri-metics men’s player of the day award.

The pressure then slipped on to Batie’s shoulders but Harley was in blistering form and in no mood for dissension accounting for his younger opposition 6-0, 7-5. Harley appeared unbothered by the tennis elbow that has been affecting his play and enjoyed such superb touch that he was often afforded the luxury of walking into net vollies. The first set went all Harley's way as he sent Batie scuttling round the court after deep lobs and powerful ground strokes. Also a master of the drop shot on Saturday he showed no hesitation in using it effectively. Batie pulled himself together in the second set and turned the tables slightly leading 4-3 at one stage. But Harley broke back with purpose to clinch the win. On the centre-court Elmwood and Shirley had a close

tussle but Shirley, the competition leaders, emerged unscathed winning 4-2. In a strong display , of the serve and volley game Brett Hibbert and John Robinson combined for Shirley to beat Richard Dalman and Hamish Faults 6-3, 7-6 in the doubles. Both sides produced exciting tennis and there were some good exchanges of net rallies. In the singles Richard Dalman had no answers for the more consistent and accurate play of Brett Hibbert losing 64, 6-1. Hampton, of Shirley, had a harder task to beat Hamish Faulls and the battle of wits throughout the match gave the game added lustre and kept both players inspired. But the experienced Hampton won 6-3, 7-5. John Robinson of Shirley had a meritorious win over Jon Pierre Andre and although pushed to a tight 7-6, 6-4 score he kept chipping away at Andre’s attempts to punch the hall down the line. Andre did not have as much success with his big first serve which disadvantaged him and delayed his approach to the net

Fendalton levelled its points tally with Avonhead when it beat it decisively 4-2. Fendalton never looked in trouble and worked method!--cally towards its goal. Avonhead was missing Howard Loveridge and John Hockley*-moved into number four in the team.

Phillip Seeman of Avonhead was in commanding form accounting for Vern Au-

brey who is lacking in match play 6-4, 6-4. Aubrey did produce patches of strong tennis but Seeman looked agile on the court and had too many answers for him.

In a marathon, effort Alistair Hunt of Avonhead, beat Alistair Chapman 7-5,4-6, 7-5. Chapman who has had a good season pushed Hunt all the way demanding cliff-hanger finishes to every set Chapman had his chances but they finally went begging as Hunt overpowered him.

United could not manage to get points on the table on Saturday but in its defence it was missing Paul Dench who allegedly thought competition started at 1.30 p.m. Subsequently United was forced to default both the bottom doubles and Dench’s singles. Cashmere won soundly 6-0 and United was never in the hunt

The top singles match produced some good tennis as Geoffrey Brightwell came up against John Honeywell of United. Both players have been short of wins this season but faced each other as worthy competitors. Brightwell had a reasonably easy road to victory winning 6-1, 6-4, but amid his clear superiority there were some strong rallies from both players. Points • after, round five: Shirley 39, Edgeware 36, Elmwood 27, Fendalton 21, Te Kura 21, Avonhead 21, Cashmere 12, United 3.