Gerrard Puts Taylor In Second Place

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30980, 9 February 1966, Page 15

Gerrard Puts Taylor In Second Place

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON. The New Zealand No. 1, L. A. Gerrard, reversed the seedings in the Gold Leaf international tennis tournament, which starts at Wilding Park tomorrow, in the Wills tennis series at Central Park, Wellington, yesterday.

Gerrard beat the Englishman, R. Taylor, 7-5, 4-6, 12-10. For the Christchurch tournament, Taylor has been seeded one, Gerrard two, and they have been kept apart to

meet in the final. The features of the Ger-rard-Taylor match yesterday were the powerful service of the Englishman and the New Zealander’s immaculate backhand which won him many points. Taylor’s court coverage was remarkable. He volleyed well, and his ground strokes were sound. Gerrard often demonstrated his superb backhand, whether it was passing shots, attacking shots to Taylor’s forehand or volleys. EASY WINNER Miss Kerry Melville, an 18- • year-old Australian, only lost one game against Miss Sue Clement. Earlier, the 13-year-old New Zealand under-15 champion. Marilyn Pryde, outlasted and out-thought the former British champion, Miss Marilyn Greenwood, in a tough threeset battle. J. B. Souter, of Wellington, beat P. Rodriguez, of Chile, victor over Gerrard at Auckland, 6-2, 6-2. Souter’s backcourt play was magnificent, his volleying sure, and his smashing sound. However, the Chilean played at half pace for most of the game. Qnly occasionally did he produce his strong service. |

J. Gisbert, of Spain, had little difficulty in beating New Zealand’s top junior, B. E.

Fairlie, in straight sets, r- Although Fairlie brought y off some good cross-court f backhands and put away a v number of volleys, he was not consistent enough to extend y Gisbert. R. N. Hawkes beat his s young Wellington team-mate. 1, 0. Parun, in the first match e of the day, dropping one game in the first and three games tl in the second set. >- Hawkes outvolleyed Parun t- every time the players were !- in the forecourt and was much quicker around the j baseline. There was a surprise in the t men’s doubles when Parun e and Gisbert beat the New Zealand champions, Gerrard and Fairlie. v Results:— j Men's Singles J L. A. Gerrard beat R. Tay- :- lor, 7-5,. 4-6, 12-10: J. B. Souter j beat P. Rodriguez, 6-2, 6-2; B. E. Fairlie lost to J. Gisbert, ’ 3-6, 4-6; R. N. Hawkes beat O. Parun, 6-1, 6-3. , Women's Singles Miss S. Clement lost to Mess K. ’ Melville, 0-6, 1-6; Mrs E. Stephan beat Miss- A. Jenkins, - 6-3, 6-3; Miss M. Kent beat Mrs M. Rodriguez, 7-5, 2-6, 6-4; Miss , M. Greenwood lost, to Miss M. 5 Pryde, 4-6, 6-4, 5-7. Women’s Doubles Miss Clement and Mrs Stef phan beat Miiss Pryde and Mrs Rodriguez, 6-1, 6-3: Misses Kent ' and Greenwood lost to M'isses ! Jenkins and Melville, 2-6, 1-6. Men’s Doubles | Gerrard and Fairlie lost to , Parun and Gisbert, 6-2, 1-6, 3-6; Souter and Hawkes lost to Tay- • lor and Rodriguez, 6-0, 3-6, 4-6