United tops table

Press, 1 February 1988, Page 22

United tops table

United leapt to the top of the points table with only one round of matches to be played in the B.N.Z. senior women’s tennis competition played at Wilding Park on Saturday. United now lead by three points ahead of Elmwod’s 28. Elmwood won the first round and need to win the second in order to win the B.N.Z. Trophy. If another team can secure the second round it will force a grand final to be played.

United beat Avonside 5-1 in a straight-forward manner. But Phillipa Lewthwaite of United and Judy Phillips of Avonside, who have both been selected in the Nunnely Casket team to contest the inter-districts had a testing match before Phillips prevailed 7-5, 7-5. Phillips had started the day in lack-lustre fashion making repeated errors in her doubles match and she appeared sluggish and uninterested in her singles match. Lewthwaite, who never looks a gift horse in the mouth, relished her start and rushed away to a 5-2 lead. But that was when Phillips came back into the match. She struck with a vengence, turned the tables and had the dextrous Lewthwaite scurrying for her telling backhand returns. After winning five games in a row

Phillips took the first set and settled in to snatch the second. Lewthwaite continued to chip and place the ball in her usual honest fashion but, although close, she could not head off Phillip’s determined play.

Avonside was without Angela Brading who has had a minor operation.

Elmwood was back on course headed by Amanda Trail who had returned from the Nutri-Metics tournament in the North Island. It whitewashed Fendalton 6-0.

But Trail had a tough match against the ever improving form of Jane Howe. Trail won 6-3, 4-6, 6-2. Trail started positively, breaking Howe’s serve in the third game to make an early break. Howe had trouble with Trail’s powerful game and fell relatively easily in the first set. She struck back in the second but Trail found the skill to clinch the third. Andrea Barlow received the player of the day award when she beat Carolyn Viggers 6-3, 6-2. Viggers,'who has recently returned to play after badly spraining her ankle while, on a training run with some top tri-atheletes, could not get consistency into her game. Barlow, a fighter until the end, hung in there with some tenancious play to win the

match. Shirley had a good 5-1 win over Barrington. Barrington was again without its No. 1 player, Robyn Hunt who was in Hamilton. Hunt has also been unwell. Shirley made a strong start to the clash, winning both doubles matches in spite of being chased close in the second sets. Cazna Ratana made her debut for Barrington this season and made a splendid showing chasing Hayley Barlow to three sets. Barlow eventually won 5-7, 6-1, 7-6 but it was a match of wits from beginning to end. Jill Hibbert of Shirley made a strong return from a deficit of 3-5, 0-40 to clinch her first set 7-6. She went on to win the second set 6-0 and was “impressed” with her performance. Delia O’Malley again proved her worth as a vital team member for the Barrington line-up. She has stepped into Robyn Hunt’s shoes with creditable determination and continued her winning style beating Leigh Johnson 6-4, 7-6. It was a tight match of wits as two worthy players battled for supremacy, but O’Malley’s determined stance paid dividends.

Points: United 31, Elmwood 28, Fendalton 17, Shirley 17, Barrington 12, Avonside 3.