Hibbert key to Shirley win

Press, 22 January 1988, Page 16

Hibbert key to Shirley win

Shirley’s chance to win the second round of the B.N.Z. senior men’s tennis competition might hinge on the whim of its star player, Brett Hibbert. Unless Shirley can repeat its first round win it will be forced to play in a grand final against the eventual winners of the second round to establish the over-all winner of the senior competition. Hibbert, playing at No. 1, lost only one match during the first round when he was forced to default to Vernon Aubrey of Avonhead in order to reach a wedding.

Hibbert has taken a holiday in Geneva for two months and the Shirley line-up is further stricken after losing John Robinson, its No. 3 player who has acccepted an employ-

ment offer in an export and importing company in Wellington. Peter Hampton, the side’s resident No. 2 will now take the helm as the top player and Mathew Granger will still slot in further down the order. Julian Faulls, will join Shirley’s ranks, and as a talented junior he should bolster its flagging spirits. Hibbert had indicated to Hampton that he would be back for the grand final if Shirley does not win the second round. “I had a yarn to him before he went and he said he would be back for the final. I can’t.see us winning the second round. So he will make an effort for that. He also wanted to be back for the interdistricts and Puff’s (Ali-

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stair Chapman) wedding. He should also have to enrol for University,” said Hampton. Speculation about Hibbert’s return started with

DIANNA LESLIE

a rumour of the possibility of a firm job offer for him overseas. “We will be struggling to win the next round. That does not concern us

because we are in the grand final anyway. The crunch will be if he gets back for the final. We would be a tough side with him in the team,” said Hampton. Shirley had a stroke of good fortune to carry away the spoils of victory from the first round after Edgeware faltered in the wake of Stephen Harley's wedding. Harley, its top player, was sorely missed and Michael Mooney, its second player, had to default in order to reach the official function. Shirley has considered flying John Robinson from Wellington for some matches and he will be playing on January 30. Alternatively it will fill the team with members from its division two

men’s team which features players who have played senior tennis including Mark Wilson, Steven Burns and Bruce Clarke. “We will have to vary the players because if they play too many games for us they won’t be able to go back to the division two competition.” But Hampton, the team captain, is approaching the second round of competition philosophically. “We will take each match as it comes. It will just depend on availability,” he said. Shirley meets Cashmere tomorrow. Cashmere finished second from the bottom on the points table in the first round and Shirley should have enough depth in its ranks to withstand its challenge.