Southern Area Competitions At Levin

Chronicle (Levin), 8 March 1948, Page 4

Southern Area Competitions At Levin

Owing' to the large entries re.ceived. all events* in 'the Manawata Lawn Tennis Association's annual fournament for players in the southern area could not be completed * during the weekend.- On Saturday evening when it was real« •ised that there were some 60 games .. to be played in the handicap events, it was deeided* to hold these games over, until next weekend. All championsfxip events were . completed except the final of- the men's championship singles, and this will be played- off next weekr end also. . ... The entries » totalled 280, eomprising 153 for handicap events and 77 for championship events. The weather remained fine throughout the tournament, although at * times nasty cross-wind was blowmg, This inade accurate play particularly difficult, especfaffy when the handicap events Were being played at the Horowhenua College on Saturday^ the wind being troublesome on the unsheltered courts. Competitors "were pre§ent from clubs throughout the 'district ' and some excellent tennis was witnessed by a large crowd of spectators on both days. Competition was keen, especiaily in the handicap events> Speeial mention must be made of the controllers who were faced with a most difficult and unenviable job. That the tournament will have- to run into another week is entirely due .to the large entries. Men's Doubles The final of the men's championship doubles was a most interesting .and keenly foughtt game. It was won by* M. R. Smith and AKeeling 6 — 2, 6 — 5, from M. Sexton and J. Douds. Smith, a seasoned veteran, played the;hetter game of the comfcination and proved -himself to he an adaptable player. He would hit forehand drives, sm'gshes and backhand drives with equal force and accuracy, or' would gain points with a ehop from off either his backhand or forehand. Keeling played a very steady game throughout and showed himself to be cool no matter what position he was in. He made some very remarkable- recoveries in the course of the game. Sexton played a good game and was conspicuous for the manner in which he cut or spun nearly every ball. His spun services espqcially s(eemed to worry his opponent^ at times. His net work .and the manner in which he recqyered' balls seemingly lobbed, far, . beyond' reach broiight "acdlamaition from the- . spectu vprs, Douds also shbwed himself to pe a •very steady player, He . hit some very hard . shots; ' his forehand drives being especiaily good. In the first set, Smith and "Keeling took the initial game at 40—15. The second went *to Sexton and .Douds as did the third, but n'ot until it had- been taken to * thr.ee deuces. Smith and Keeling took the next five easily to win the first set 6 — 2. ' ' . In. tha second set, . competition was much keener. Games were alternated; until: Hmith'/ahd Keeling were-' 2—1/ They dropped the next two and then won the following two, making-- the score 4—3. Douds took the next- game on his service, and Keeling did likewise with the next one, making it 4 — 5. Smith then came to light with some brilliant play and, backed up by Keeling* went on to win the game 40 — 15 and set 6 — 5. Ladies' Doubles The final .of the ladies' championship doubles was a very hard fought game. The finalists. were Miss Hesp and Mrs. Haynes and Mrs. Bell and Miss Bevan. The la'tter pair, who woq thqjhutch 6- — 3, 6 — 5, were probably the strongest combination on the courts. Seldom did either play hehind- half -court. Mrs. Bell has a partieularlyj fifie service and smash/ and5 seemed/'to be in good form -f oi' the final! 'Miss Bevan also played Some .ej&elleht shots, her volley$/I^lf-vpfi%S' qnd smashes bejng vqr^.^cp.uratq^- Miss Hesp made soriie%iee^®f .Wcoveries from smashes and altogether • played a sound game. As the game went on, she lost the touch of nervousness she displayed at the beginning, and played both forehand and " backhand shots to" advantage. Mrs. Haynes was the stronger of the combination and although she displayed a disinclination to" run for balls which bounced near the net, her general play was very good. The first game in the. opening set "went to three deuces before Miss Hesp and Mrs. Haynes won it. Miss Bevan and Mrs. Bell took the following three games and Miss Hesp the next on her sqrvice. The games were alternate until 5—3, when Miss Bevan and Mrs. Bell, taking advantage of the- sun, won the set 6—3. In the second set Miss Hesp and Mrs. Haynes forged ahead to lead 5 — 1, but they then lost the next five games.. The first -an'd second games were won by Miss Hesp and Mrsr Haynes and the third by Miss Bevan and Mrs,.BelI. After this it seemed that Miss Hesp and Mrs. Haynes might wip the set, but the combined barrage set up at the net by their opponents proved too much, and they lost it 6—5.

Ladies' Singles The final of the ladies' championship singles went to Mrs. Beil, last year's winner of the event. She played Miss M. Karauti, emerging ' the victor 6—0, 6—2. Miss Karauti played a very steady game, her forte bejng an accurate and deadly ehop-shot. At times • ' she was caught too far past the back line afid missed several shots which just dropped over the net. She djd not seem to be able to.find her distance in lobs, these being very (Continued on Fage 7)

\ ' ^ ; Tennis Championships

(Continue-d from Page 4) neceSsary as Mrs. Bell played plose to the net most of the time. The first set. Mrs, Bell took 6—0 and the second' 6 — 2, the final game running out into five deuces before being .decided. Had Miss Karauti . been able to win the secon'd set, she would have had every chance of taking the third, as Mrs. Btell seemed to be tiring and was begipning to serve double faults near the end. ; Men's Singlps The final of the men's championship singles between M. R. Smith • and H. Benning will be played next weekend, and should provide good tennis. In the semi-finals, Smith •defeated Sexton 6—5, 6—0, in a good hard game. Benning defeated HUdson 4 — 6, 6 — 5, 6—2. He might have a little difficulty in the finals, but provided he keeps Smith at the back line he should make a good game of it. Sifiith, on the other hand, is one of the best players" in the district, and although not at the top of his form at present, he will keep Benning running. Detaile'd results of the cham- • pionship events are as follows:— Men's Championship Doubles First round: Ching and Mackle beat Stantial and Roskruge * 2— 6, 6 3, 6 — 2; S. J. Thompson - and Rathbone beat Ryder and Rhodes: 4 — 6, 6 — 2, 7 — 5; Sexton and Douds beat Elliott and Thompson 6—4, 6 —1; Mcllraith and Benning beat Booker and Pope, by default; Smith an'd Keeling beat Stewart and Reid 6—0, ,6—3/ Waghorn and ' White beat Baker ' and Hill 6 — 2, 6 , — 3; Batt and Pope beat Staples and Staples 6 — 0, 4—6, 6—1; Har- . vey and Leach beat Antcliffe and Landers 6 — 4, 6—2. Second round: Ching and • Mackle beat .Thompson and Rathbone 6—2, 4—6, 6— 3; 'Sexton and Douds beat Mcllraith and Benning 6 — 4, 6 — 5; Smith and Keeling beat Waghorn and White 6 — 2, 6 — 4;Batt and Pope defeated Harvey and Leach 6 — 4, 6 — 2. Semi-finals: Sexton and Douds beat Ching and Mackle 1 — 6, 6 — 2, 7 — 5; smith and Keeling beat Batt and Pope 6 — 1, 6—2. Final: Smith and Keeling beat Sexton and Douds 6 — 5, 6 — 2. Men's Championship Singles 'Seeded players : M . Smith, M. Sexton, J. Staples and H. Benning. First round: D. White _ beat C. •Ste.war.t_ 6 — 2, 6 — 3; S. J. Thompson beat K. Thompson by default;. A. Pope beat, R. Elliott 5—6, 6—2, 6— 0; L. J. Staples beat B. H. Rhod'es 6 — 2 (Rhodes retire.d);.C. F! Harvey beat S- McMinn (McMinn r.etired injur.ed) ; ,B. Sudson 'bea'LWBaker ,6—2,! 6—0; R.. Waghorn beat i J. Tomlipson 6—3,, 6—1. ,i4. ! Second round.;, M. Smith; blat d. ; M., Staples ,6— 3," *6 — 4; K. Batt.-beaf M. Ching 6—4, 5— 6, 6— 3; M; Se'x- ; ton beat White 6—^, ,1,6— ' Bpde beat Thompson 6— r5,i, 6— 4h5'p'. L. Staples beat . Harvey 6—3, : 6— .3 ; Hudson beat. Waghorn t6. — 4V 6— >!;■ H. Benning beat-A. Keelmg '6-4-3] 3 —6, 12—10;. R. Mcllraith;. beat '%. Mackle 6 — 4, 6 — 4. : . Third round ; . M,; , Smith' : beat Batt 6 — 2, 6 — 3; Bexton beat Pope 6 — 5, 6 — 0; Hudson beat Staples 6— j 0, 3 — 6., 2—2 (Staples retired) ; Benning beat Mcllraith 6 — 3, 6-—2. : Semi-finals: Smith b£at Sexton 6 . — 5, 6 — 0; Benningv beat Hudson 4 — 6. 6—5, 6—2.

| Final: To be played. | Boys' Championship Singles * Seeded players: White and Staples. ; First round: D. White beat R. J. 5 Edmonds 6—1, 6—3; N. Parker beat ! M. Fox 6 — 4, 6 — 3; G. Harrison beat ; P. Frederikson 6 — 1, 6 — 1; P. MerI cer teat P. J. Stewart by default; I | B. Morrison bdat W. R. Taylor by I default; J. Norton beat W. T. ! Smith 6 — 2, 6 — 2; -L. J. Staples beat | J. Reid 6 — 0, 6 — 1. Second round: White beat Parker 6 — 3, 6 — 1;: Harrison beat J. Larse'n 6 — 0, 6—2; Morrison beat Mercer 8 — 2, 6 — 2; L. J. Staples beat Norton 6 — 1, 6 — 1; Fraser beat Morrison 8 —1,. 6—5. 1 Semi-final : white beat Harrison 6 — 0, 6—0; Staples beat Fraser 6 — 3, 6—1. Final:- White beat Staples 6 — 2, 6 — 4.

Girls' Championship Singles , First round: M. King beat P. Burtt, '6—5, 3—6, 6—3; B. Stern beat B. Norton 6—4, 6—2; N. Hall beat E. Christie 6 — 1, 6 — 2; M. Fuller beat B. Hooker 6 — 2, .6—2; N. Hall beat N. Staples 6 — 2, 6 — 0. Semi-finals: M. King beat' B. Stern 6—5, 6—5; N. Hall beat N. Fuller 6 — 3, 6 — 4. Final: N. Hall -beat M. King 6—4, 6 — -1. Ladies' Championship Doubles . First round: Miss* Fuller and Mrs. Pope beat Misses Mulcahy and Cameron 6—3, 3—6, 8— 6; Misses Hall and Staples beat Mesdames Dawe and Ryder 2—6, 6—5, 6—1; Miss A. Hesp and Mrs. Haynes beat .Mrs. Porter and Miss Karauti 6—4, 6 — 2. Semi-finals: Mrs. Bell and Miss Bevan beat Miss Fuller and Mrs. Pope 6—0, 6—1; Miss Hesp and Mrs.' Haynes beat Miss Hall and Miss Staples 6 — 1, 6—0. Final: Mrs. Bell and Miss Bevan I beat Mrs. Hesp and Mrs. Haynes 6 — 3, 6—5. Ladies' Championship Singles Seeded. olayers: Mrs. Bell and Miss Karauti. ' ; Semi-final : Mrs. Bell beat Mrs. Dawe 6—0, 6 — 0,; Miss Karauti beat Miss Bevan 6— 2, 6 — 3. Final: Mrs. Bell beat Miss Karauti 6 — 0, 6—2.