Canterbury top seed

Press, 25 February 1988, Page 44

Canterbury top seed

By DIANNA LESLIE The Canterbury women’s tennis team is the fancied favourite to pass the winning post first in the clash of the interdistricts which begins today at the Dulux Courts at Mitchell Park in Lower Hutt. The team is seeded No. 1 and will be eager to wrench the Nunneley Casket from Auckland’s grasp. Canterbury’s promotion to the leading expectation is somewhat surprising after its fourth placing in the contest last year.

However, its track record is spectacular as it has won the coveted provincial competition 11 times in the last 14 years. Robyn Hunt, Judy Phillips and Phillippa Lewthwaite have the experience to lead an incisive attack. Hunt, in particular, had a stunning start to the season and has not conceded a match in interclub competition this year. She will be playing for

the twelfth time. Her lack of hard match play since Christmas should not impede her performance. Phillips will be in the team for the tenth time and Lewthwaite will feature for the sixth. Amanda Trail, the junior with all the promise in the women’s competition wil be blooded for the first time but is no stranger to the calibre of competitors she will encounter. Jane Howe completes the line-up and although she began the season hesitantly, her performance has steadied and she will make a sound contribution to the team.

Hunt will have the opportunity to watch her son, Alistair, in the men’s side. She also coaches her son who won the national under-16 boys’ singles title this year. It will be his first time in the Canterbury side. The Wilding Shield team is seeded second and will be hoping for a better performance than

its third equal placing with Wellington behind Auckland and Northern Districts respectively last year.

The three Hs of Canterbury tennis will again constitute the guts of the team. Stephen Harley, Brett Hibbert, and Peter Hampton are well accustomed to the annual event. Michael Mooney, another , experienced player, will’also be a solid member of the team, especially as a doubles player.

Andrew Batie, another promising junior, who had his first outing with the side last year, has retained his place in the team and will be a valuable asset.

The managers wil be Diana McKinnel and Sam Clarke, two administrators who are in tune with the players.

The men’s and women’s draw until section playoffs:— Thursday: v. Eastern Districts; v. Waikato. Friday: v. Northern Districts.