TENNIS TOURNEY

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 82, 31 December 1934, Page 9

TENNIS TOURNEY

Smith Wellington Singles Champion SATURDAY’S PLAY Women’s Title to Miss Howe The ‘Wellington Lawn Tennis Association was exceedingly fortunate in the weather throughout the Christmas tournament, the finals being played on Saturday under ideal conditions. N. Bedford could not have played more into the hands of N. Smith in the final of the men’s singles if he had wanted to make a gif!: of the match to his opponent. With the .exception of D. G. France, Bedford i? possessed of the finest and most varied assortment of strokes of any player in Wellington, yet he played a type of game against Smith that was unsatisfactory from every point of view. Smith is the finest purely baseline player in Wellington to-day—the finest Wellington has had for many years. Overhead he is lamentably weak, and except for ins low volleying, which is excellent but scarcely a winner of points outright . he iss comparatively weak the further he is drawn away from the baseline. . Bedford has the shots to pull Smith away from the base line, but he scorned to employ them. Not only did he neglect to use the subtle changes of pace and length of which, when he is in the mood, he is a master, he elected to try and knock the cover off the ball, regardless whether or no the ball was one that could be so treated. The result was a heart-breaking succession of nets and outs. If by any chance the ball went in court and was '! not out of Smith’s reach, which was seldom, Smith hhd no difficulty in making a good return. ... So long as Bedford made up bis mind to play the hit or miss brand of tennis he played right into Smith’s hands. Not for a moment in the three sets did Smith falter in his driving. He kept an impeccable length, but if ever he came in he failed badly. Bedford took the net .'a few times, but his hurry to win the point resulted in volleying errors that one associated with a period of his play that all thought he had outlived. Smith has played consistently throughout the past few weeks, and his game is now better than ever it has been. He has achieved the distinction of going through the tournament without losing a set in singles. He has hit hard-but not rashly. ' He has had the good sense to play carefully a ball thaC he at once saw was not the right one to go for the winner on. In a word he played with judgment where the others lacked it. His victories were as much the result of brain work as of actual racket work. Miss Itewe Hitting Hard. Few thought that Miss D. Howe would beat Miss D. Nicholls in the final of the women’s singles. But Miss Howe is hitting much harder now than at any previous time in her career ,and she is keeping a much more consistent length, the ball getting the corners very frequently. Also she has played both with and against Miss Nicholls quite a lot this season, and therefore has got to know her game very much better. Realising the danger to he encountered in feeding Miss Nicholls’s forehand, Miss Howe concentrated on the backhand, and let go no. return of Miss Nicholls’s as being too far away to run to or too difficult to play. While Miss Nicholls’s backhand is, by no means weak and she can hit hard off it, it is in no way comparable to her forehand when the ball is belted hard into the opponent's forehand corner and then goes away fast. On the few times Miss Nicholls did get the ball on the forehand she was in such a hurry to play her favourite drive to the corner that she nearly always played it too wide and it' went over the sideline. Miss Howe did not . once let up. She maintained the pressure from first to last and did nearly all the attacking. In the games in which she had the southerly breeze behind her she made the best of her advantages, and after 3-all in the first set wou eight out of the next 10 games. Miss. Nicholls rallied in the second set, but Miss Howe had the odd game when it came her turn to have the wind behind her. She won many points by hitting the ball straight down the'line on the occasions Miss’Nicholls was short i* Iter length. The men’s doubles final between Ferkins and Roussel land Coombe and Pearce was not a good match. There were far top many errors off easy shots for that. The Coombe and Pearce combination was too unequal, Pearce especially being well below form. Except in hia service he was missing montonously, especially in his volleys as he followed his service in to the net. The uncertainty of his partner also affected the play of Coombe, who, usually fiound overhead, was on this occasion falling into errors on balls well inside the service line —smashes Le is wont to put away for aces. Roussell and Ferkins combined much better than the losers and their volleying was of a much higher standard. Also they were helped in their smashing by the short lobs Pearce and Coombe put up. As it was Pearce and Coombe, after being well down, had opportunities of winning the first set. Failing in that they never looked like winning the other two. Mixed Doubles Final. In the mixed doubles final, R. Ferkins and Mrs. R. P. Adame against D. Coombe and Mias D. Nicholls, the mistake was made by Ferkins of putting Mrs. Adams up to thp net and electing himself to run all about the court after balls which, if he did get and return, left him hopelessly out of position. The result was that Mrs. Adams had not enough to do and Ferkins had far too much to do. That they won the first set wap due as much to the mistakes of I heir opponents— Coombe being off in bis smashing and Miss Nicholls making mistakes in driving —as to any good play of their own. Because Ferkins would career all over the court his partner was at a loss very often what to do or where to go. In the general mix-up balls were allowed to go which Mrs. Adame could easily have got to. From the backline there are few play ers more safe in New Zealand than Mrs. Adams when she has a mind to. When she lobs well it would take a better smasher than Coombe was on the day to win off them. From the backline she might easily have made openings for Ferkins at the net to avail himself of. At the net herself she was not severe enough, and. the reply left her side in an awkward position. In the second and third sets Coombe and Miss Nicholls made no race ■of it. They completely outclassed the opposition. In the final of the girls’ singles Miss Jessie Burns carried too much pace and placed tqo well for Miss Douthett, who nevertheless has some first-class shots. Miss Burns, besides not being afraid, to hit hard, also shows confidence in taking the net. where she volleys and smashes well. S. S. R. Hooper, of Palmerston North, won the boys’ singles from J. E. Bundle, giving a sound exhibition of accurate hitting on the forehand and in serving. He made far more use of the court than did Bundle. Following are the results:— CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS. Men’s Singles. Final: N. Smith beat N. Bedford. 6-3, 8-2 6-4. Women’s Singles. Final: Miss D. Howe beat Miss D. Nicholls, 6-3. 6-4. Men’s Doubles. Final: R. McL. Ferkins and E. A. Roussell beat D..Coombe and E. A. Pearce, 8-7, 6-2. 6-2. Mixed Doubles. Final: D. Coombe and Miss D. Nich-

olls beat R. McL. Ferkins and Mrs. R. P. Adams, 5-7, 6-0, 6-2. SECOND GRADE.

Men’s Singles. Final: J. E. Bundle beat F. Cornet, 6- 6-0. Men’s Doubles. Final: Dyer and Murray beat Hooper and Cope, 6-4, 6-4. Mixed Doubles. Final: F. Pears and Miss D. Maslen beat Calcinai and Miss Forrester, b--, 4-6, 6-1. THE PLATE. First round: L. Pollock beat T.. Lyons by default. . Second round: V. Roberts beat 1 ollock, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1; H. N. Burns beat E. A. Pearce, 6-4, I’o-8; B. McCarthy beat A. D. Bong, 6-3, 6-4; F. Pears beat R. A. Lawer, 6-4, „ - Semi-finals: Roberts beat Burns, <-o, 7- 6-4; McCarthy beat Pears, 6-3, 6-0. Final: McCarthy beat Roberts, 6-3, 6-2 BOVS’ SINGLES. Final: S. S. R. Hooper beat J. E. Bundle, 6—l, 6-2.. ■ GIRLS’ SINGLES. Final: Miss J. Burns beat Miss Douthett, 6-3, 6-3. HANDICAP EVENTS. Women’s Doubles. Final: Misses Maslen and Pears (scr.) beat Misses Forrester and Nicholls (owe 1-6), 2-6, 6-3, 6-1. Women’s Singles. Final: Miss K. Pears (scr.) beat Miss Whitehead (15), 6-5, 6-4. TO PLAY CANTERBURY Wellington Teams Chosen The Wellington Lawn Tennis Association selection committee has chosen the following players (not necessarily in order of merit) to represent Wellington against Canterbury in the Wilding Shield, and Nunneley Casket matches : —- ‘ Wilding Shield (men): N. Bedford, D. G. France, N. Smith. R. Ferkins. Emergencies: D. Coombe and E. A. Rbussell. r Nunneley Casket (women) : Misses D. Nicholls, D, Howe. F. Fernie, M. Whyte. Emergencies-: Misses F. North, M. Howe. EAST HARBOUR PLAY Results on First Day Several fine performances were seen in the east harbour tennis tournament, which opened on the Muritai club’s courts on Saturday, a number of the young competitors revealing form that pointed to a successful career in the sport. Fewer matches than expected were got off over the week-end, but more will be played today. The tournament probably will conclude to-morrow. . . •< The games, which were played in brilliant weather, resulted as follow: — Championship Events MEN’S SINGLES. "First Round: A. D. Long beat J. .C. Marchbanks, 0-4, 0-3. A. G. Smith neat C. L. C. Smith, 0-1, 0-0. . ■ Second round: E. B. H. Jenkinson beat H. W. Robinson, 0-0, 0-0. . WOMEN’S SINGLES. First round: Miss V. Burns beat Miss N. •Bell 7-0, 0-2; Miss A Kean beat Miss ISmith, 3-0, 10-8, 9-7. k , r| Second round: Miss M. Howe beat Miss Wood, 0-3,’ 0-3. ' HANDICAP EVENTS Men’s Singles—First round: K. Longmore (14), beat I Johnson (26), 00-07; Slvyer. (25) beat D. I. M. Anderson (14), CO- 38; A. Andrews (20), beat K. Longmore (22), 01-59; E. Reeves (4), beat C.' M. Turner (22), 00-51. Second round: IV. V. Fisher (12), beat it C. Barnett (26), 00-42; R. Heenan (20), beat A. Wansborough (40), 00-49; N. Robinson (IS), beat A. W. Robinson (20), 00-30; A. G. Smith (12), beat C. F. Nordell (32), 00-52; K. Lockett (22), beat D. N. Anderson (26), 60-58;:S. McMinn (18), beat S. Tait (20), 60-52; K. Soward (20), beat I. Grant (32), 60-55; A. D. Long (scr.), beat C. L. Smith (14), 00-42; R. D. P. Heenan (20). beat N. Robinson (18), 61-59. Women’s Singles—First round: Miss B. Davidson (20), beat Miss N. Bell (10), CO--52; Miss Burch (14), beat Miss Robinson (30), 60-38. Second round: Miss A. Kean (14), beat Miss C. Coyle (20), 60-50; Miss V. Burns (ser.), beat Miss M. Sinclair (16), 61-50; Miss J. Bayfield (20), beat -Miss M. Wood (26), (JO-55; Miss D. Carstens (20), beat Miss -M. Heenan (34), 00-52. Men’s Doubles—First round: Grant and Andrews (40), beat Carstens and Robinson (18), 60-52. Second round: McMinn and Tait (18), beat Wansborough and Heenan . (26), 60-45; Longmore and Longmore (20), beat Marchbank and Hemiton (18), 60-47. Women’s Doubles—First round: Misses Bell and Longmore (scr.), beat Misses Burch and Smith (scr.), 60-53. Mixed Doubles—First round: Andrews and Miss Andrews (405. beat Barnett and Miss Carstens (28), 60-39; Heenan and Miss Heenan (26), beat Soward and Miss Davidson (22), 60-46. Second round: Hill and Miss Burch (20), beat Johnson and Mrs. Moore (36), 00-50. I AUCKLAND CHAMPION Bartleet Wins Title For Fifth Time By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland. December 30. The Auckland tennis championships concluded on Saturday in fine weather. E. L. Bartleet won the Auckland title for the fifth time, defeating M. T. Wilson in I the final by 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, 5-7, 6-3. In the ladies’ singles, Miss N. Beverley. I of Matamata, created a big surprise by > the manner in which she completely eclipsed the title-holder, Miss Marjorie Macfarlane, in straight sets, 6-0, 6-2. The country representative gave a brilliant display, literally driving her opponent off the court. Other results are as follow: — Men’s doubles: Sturt and Morrison beat Johns and Hayr, 3-6, 6-1, 6-1, 6-0. Ladies’ doubles: Misses N. and M. Beverley beat Mrs. Melody and Miss Knight, 6-4, 2-6, 9-7. Combined doubles: Sturt and Miss Macfarlane beat Lees and Mrs. Melody, 6-2. 1-6, 6-2. Besides- partnering her sister successfully in the ladies’ doubles, Miss Margaret Beverley, one of the youngest competitors at the tournament, was runner-up in- the intermediate girls’ singles, nnd with partners secured honours in this division in the girls’ doubles and combined doubles. CANTERBURY TITLES Championship Singles Won By Angas By Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, December 30. C. Angas became Canterbury’s tennis champion again to-day, when he beat H. Dymond, 6-4, 6-3, in a match that was not as brilliant as had been iinticipaL’d. The women’s final was won by Miss M. Sherris, who beat Miss T Poole, 6-2, 6-4, in an excellent match. T. Rhodes Williams lost his third title, when he and I. A. Seay were beaten in the men’s doubles by Angas and Dymond. He lost the combined and singles titles yesterday in the semi-final matches. Championship results are as follow: Men’s Singles.—Final: C. Angas beat H. Dvmond, 0-4, 6-3. Women’s Singles—Final: Miss M. Sherris beat Miss T. Poole. 6-2, 0-4. Boys’ Singles.—Final: It. G. Pattlnson beat C. F. Penfold. 6-4. 5-0. 0-2. Girls’ SlnglPß.—Final: Mtes J. .Senior beat Miss R. Barry. 0-5. C-u. --Men’s Doubles. —Final: C- Angas and H. Dymond bent T. Rhodes Williams nnd I. A Seay. 6-4, 0-3. . Women's Doubles. —Final: Misses 1. anil

T I’oole beat Mrs. D. I. MacDonald and Miss K. Rudkin, 6-2, 12-10. Bovs’ Doubles.-Final: R. G. Pattlnson and C. F. Penfold beat M. J- Conch and W. K. Stevens, 6-3, 6-0.

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