Hutt Valley Avenges Past Tennis Defeats

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31002, 7 March 1966, Page 18

Hutt Valley Avenges Past Tennis Defeats

A strong Hutt Valley representative tennis team gave a consistent performance when it beat Canterbury, 11 matches to 5, at Wilding Park yesterday. It was the first meeting between the provinces for three seasons.

Canterbury has usually won this fixture but this time it was beaten decisively. The Canterbury women did not win a singles, the men only two, and after the singles and doubles had been played it was known Canterbury had to win all four mixed doubles to draw the contest All it gained was one. The Canterbury players, both men and women, looked too lethargic. Second Set Lapse In a meeting of lefthanders, the experienced top man for Hutt Valley, B. N. Shute, beat the Canterbury member of the Linton Cup New Zealand junior team, J. Mitchell, 3-6, 6-3, 8-6. Mitchell began well but he lapsed in the second set and just could not regain control. He was also lacking in concentration. Shute has played good tennis for many years. He lost on Saturday to N. C. McAffer, but McAffer was reputed to have played much better than he had previously this season. D. Claxton (Hutt Valley) made good use of a fine service and neat volley’s to beat the second Canterbury man. R. McCutcheon. 6-4. 6-2. Then W. Thom and W. Edge-

cumbe both won their smr les for the home side, Thom beau inn J Borren in three sets and Edgecumbe defeating M. Brown comfortably. Brown may ha'e treated Edgecumbe a little easily and he fell the wa) a good many others before him have done to the steadiness and relentless returning. Women Ovorshadowod The Canterbury women were overshadowed, although two of them got to three seas. Mtts S. Field met a good returner Miss C. McLauchlan. and could take only the one game. In second position for Hutt was the former Can terbun woman. Mrs E. Campbell, who never seems to age. She beat Miss C. Andrew, many years her junior, 1-6. 6-1, 6 : 3 - * n ° ne of the best singles of the day, with some outstanding driving. Mrs Campbali hit hard and a< The Canterbury double-hander. Mrs L. Buxton, had a strange score 1-6. 6-1, 1-6. when her good form of the middle set tailed off against Mtss: B. McNeilly. Miss J. Bishop (Canterbury) produced her shots well enough but did not put them in the right places when she lost 1-6. 4-6. to Mrs J. Carr, who has played for Hutt for a good many years. Results: Man's Singles J. Mitchell lost to B. Shute. 6-3 3-6. 6-8: R. McCutcheon lost to D. Claxton. 4-6. 2-6; W. Thom beat J. Borren. 6-2. 4-6, 6-3; W. Edgecumbe beat M. Brown. 6-3. 6-1. Woman's Singles Miss S. Field lost to Miss C. McLauchlan, 1-6. 0-6; Miss C. Andrew lost to Mrs E. Campbell. 6-1 1-6. 3-6; Mrs L. Buxton lost to ’ Miss B. McNeilly. 1-6. 6-1.

1-8; MISS J B'.snop lost to Mr. J. Carr. 1-6, 4-8. Men's Doubles Mitchell and Edgecumbe b ia Shute and Claxton, 4 « s s s McCutcheon and Thom lost t Borren and Brown. 2-6. 8.3. 6 ,, Woman’s Doubles Miss Field and Mrs Buxton lost to Misses McLauchlan McNeilly. S-«. Andrew and Bishop beat M vi dames Campbell and Carr r. 18-8. Mixed Doubles Mitchell and Miss Field to Shute and Miss McLaudv ,n 3-6, 11-9. 5-7: McCutcheon ant Miss Andrew lost to Claxton ant Mrs Campbell. I-S. 16: Thor and Mrs Buxton lost to Born-r and Miss McNeilly. 6-4. 2 6 _■ „ Edgecumbe and Miss Bisho; beat Brown and Mrs Carr i s 8-2. 6-3.