Wgtn reigns supreme

Press, 19 December 1988, Page 25

Wgtn reigns supreme

Auckland Two attempted to brazen its 22-4 loss to Wellington in the final of the Air New Zealand national interclub tennis league in Wellington yesterday, but it was simply no match for mighty Wellington. Wellington was in command all the way and with a team of name players, ail teams have faded badly against it The team manager, Dermot Whelan, made no apology for his line-up and is already planning next year’s team.

“We are delighted with the win. There will be the biggest party in Wellington tonight,” he said. “We intended to win the league and picked the team accordingly. We will do the exact same thing next year.” Chris Lewis has already confirmed his availability for the league and its popularity should attract more interest. Julie Richardson (Auckland), ranked No. 2 in New Zealand, toppled her arch rival Belinda Cordwell, (No. 1 in New Zealand), 6-3. Her clever style and sharp reactions kept her in control. “Wellington has shown the way. We need more sponsorship to get the better players. Wellington had all the money and concentrated on one team. It was the right thing to do. Auckland was badly organised,” said Richardson afterwards.

Chris Lewis (Wellington), had to work hard to subdue the ambitious play of Brett Steven, ranked No. 5 in New Zealand. Lewis played his characteristic explosive game and managed to curtail Steven’s advantage to win 6-4. Stephen Guy, (No. 3 in New Zealand) squared off against David Mustard and was in blistering form not allowing Mustard to get on the board. The play-off for third and fourth was won by Shirley, 17-9. Shirley led the way and made no mistake. Ruth Seeman continued with her fine form for Shirley beating Miriam Fischer 6-3 with some robust and aggressive Play.

The doubles clashes proved the most thrilling as Fischer combined with Robyn Hunt against Amanda Trail and Seeman. Trail and Seeman have proved a workable combination and have garnered many valuable wins in the league. They were forced to work hard against another worthy combination but Shirley won the encounter 7-4 in the tie-break. Mark Belcher and Brendon Furness (Shirley) had a tough tussle with Michael Mooney and Jeffrey Brightwell winning in the tie break. Alistair Hunt took a satisfy-

ing win from Brett Hibbert, his coach, 6-4. Hunt played well although the rubber was dead.

Peter Hampton, the Shirley team captain, felt this could have contributed to Hibbert’s loss.

Hunt, Trail and Furness headed to Auckland last evening to contest the 18 years national event after what must have been the best warm-up they could have hoped for. Miriam Fischer salvaged Edgeware’s pride in its failed semi-final bid to make the final against Wellington on Saturday. Although the Canterbury supporters vigorously encouraged their players, Edgeware was heading for a 26-0 loss. But in the final women’s match Fischer came to the fore with her unique style which has had so many of her opponents in trouble. She won 6-3, Wellington won 22-4. Mr Whelan confirmed rumours that Cordwell had not been well the week before, but nothing could detract from the superb performance Fischer turned on for the Wellington crowd. “I thought that she was beatable when I saw her play in the doubles,” said Fischer. “She was not that great a player, but because I knew her world ranking I expected something better in her singles.” Fischer raced away to a 5-1 lead before Cordwell knew what was afoot. Cordwell’s world ranking of 57 did not deter Fischer and she kept her head as Cordwell tried to stage a comeback. Chris Lewis squared off against Alistair Hunt in the top men’s singles and the 16-year-old drew praise from the 1983 Wimbledon finalist.

“I’m sure he was nervous when we started,” said Lewis. “But his game picked up when I was up 3-0 and he hits the ball very well. I think he could be quite pleased with the way he played.” Lewis retains the magical lithe style which pushed him to the forefront of New Zealand tennis and he made his point, beating Hunt, 6-1. Shirley, the main chance to make the final, could not get it together in the final stages and fell to Auckland Two, 188 on Saturday. Shirley was in with a chance and led 8-2 in the early stages but surprisingly the doubles, which has often bailed the team out of tight spots was the flaw in its strategy. It lost all three and forfeited eight points. The top men’s doubles featuring Brett Steven and David Mustard (Auckland) against Brett Hibbert and

Peter Hampton, produced some inspired rallies and remarkable dashes across court to retrieve seemingly impossible shots. The Auckland combination proved too strong, winning 6-2. Hibbert went on to face an almost faultless Steven in the top singles. Steven was in top form and accounted for Hibbert 6-2. Ruth Seeman suffered a 3-6 loss to Julie Richardson, but found some sound form. Brendon Furness, reversed his loss to World Youth Cup player, Michael Zorocich, earlier in the league to win 64. Furness, who obviously enjoys the surface at the Wellington complex was back in touch and placed the ball wisely to draw the errors from Zorocich’s usually dependable game. Play-off for third and fourth:

Shirley 17, Edgeware 9 M. Belcher lost to S. Harley 2-6; B. Furness beat J. Brightwell 6-0; A. Trail beat R. Hunt 6-4; P. Hampton beat M. Mooney 6-2; A. Hunt and B. Hibbert lost to A. Hunt 4-6; R. Seeman beat M. Fischer 63; Trail and Seeman lost to Fischer and Hunt 6-7; Hibbert and Hampton beat Harley and Hunt 6-2; Belcher and Furness beat Brightwell and Mooney 7-6. Final.

Wellington 22, Auckland Two 4 G. Liddell beat M. Zorocich 62; J. Grubi beat J. Stephen 61; S. Guy beat D. Mustard 6-0; M. Parun beat J. Perkinson 63; B. Cordwell lost to J. Richardson 3-6; C. Lewis beat B. Steven 6-4; Liddell and Guy beat Stephen and Zorocich 6-0; Cordwell and Parun beat Perkinson and Richardson 6-4; Lewis and Guy beat Mustard and Steven 6-4. Semi-finals:

Wellington 24, Edgeware 2 R. Dalman lost to G. Liddell 1- S. Harley lost to J. Grubi 2- R. Hunt lost to M. Parun 1-6; M. Mooney lost to S. Guy 1- M. Fischer beat B. Cordwell 6-3; A. Hunt lost to C. Lewis 1-6; Hunt and Fischer lost to Cordwell and Parun 5-7; Harley and Mooney lost to Grubi and Liddell 6-7; Dalman and Hunt lost to Guy and Lewis 1-6. Auckland Two 18, Shirley 8 M. Belcher lost to J. Stephen 2- B. Furness beat Zorocich 6-4; P. Hampton beat D. Mustard 6-1; A. Trail beat J. Perkinson 7-6; R. Seeman lost to J. Richardson 3-6; B. Hibbert lost to B. Steven 2-6; Trail and Seeman lost to Richardson and Perkinson 46; Furness and Belcher lost to Zorocich and Stephen 3-6; Hibbert and Hampton lost to Steven and Mustard 2-6.