Men’s singles should decide tennis title

Press, 1 February 1986, Page 80

Men’s singles should decide tennis title

It appears that the outcome of the B.N.Z. senior men’s tennis grand final at Wilding Park today will rest with two players, Michael Mooney (Edgeware) and Alistair Chapman (Fendalton). The last time these two met was in Fendaltoh’s slim seven seta to six victory over Edgeware in the second round final in December. That win allowed Fendalton a second chance-at taking the title and was achieved basically through Chapman taking Mooney to' a tight three set game. He lost 6-4, 4-6, 1-6, but the set he took from the Edgeware captain was enough to push his team ahead.

Since then, Chapman has clambered above Mooney in the eyes of the Canterbury selectors who picked him for the Wilding Shield squad. Mooney suffered through a loss of John Honeywell (United) in the Canterbury championships and has fallen from favour with the selector.

Ironically, both Chapman and Mooney crashed out of the Canterbury open recently in the first round Indicating perhaps that both are in a slight slump at present. The expected clash between Mooney and Chapman takes on most significance because the match is likely to be all-square when they take the court

Stephen Harley will prove too strong for Phil Seeman, although Seeman can be expected to run him close, and . Marty Searle (Fendalton) should redress the balance against Noel Dillon.. Geoff Smith (Edgeware) a. diSappointing loser ,to Gary Lawson in December could surprise especially If he can play the game at his own pace. Something he did very well in the second set against Lawson in December. The lay-off of about six weeks from competition play will mean that both sides, will probably play somewhere below their best of last season, however, a top performance by Chapman could break the Edgeware dominance of recent years. The women’s final between United and Barrington will also be contested. United won their first round encounter 5-1 but Barrington reversed that result to win 4-2 in the second. Canterbury representatives, Shirley Haig and Phillipa Lewthwalte, can be expected to carry the final to Barrington which has, on the whole, had a lengthy lay-off. Haig and Lewthwaite both played in the necent Canterbury open and, as a result, have some match practice under their belts. Robyn Hunt was the only Barrington player to play in that championship.