TENNIS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4963, 19 April 1926, Page 2

TENNIS.

HAURAKI PLAINS'MATCHES. FINAL OF THE COMPETITIONSThe final, matches of the Hauraki Plains Tennis Association’s championship and handicap tournaments were played on the Ngatea. C’ub’p: courts on Wednesday afternoon. M. O’Connor, of ’Ma,nagwhero, and Miss J. Duffy, of Mangawhero, emerged the winners of the championship jf, tournaments... In the handicap tournaments D. G. McMillan, of Turua, a.nd Miss J. Duffy, of Mangawhero, won in .their respective classes, while , V. Mesdames Hudson and ©’Loughlin, Kerepeehi, won .the ladies’ doubles and S. and EL Coppins,, Hopai, the men’s doubles. ? Fine, wa,rm, summery weather prevailed, and there was a large attendance of spectators. Ma ; ny of the matches were good exhibitions pt tennis, but in others tha players were very cautious, and .the games were poor. This particularly applied to the men’s championship singles. O’Connor is a player who surpr'sed many by getting so far in the competition. He has the v style of play of a beginner, but of that style he is; a master. He does, not play winning • strokes, but returns; almost every ba.H over the net, demoralising his opponent and winning off Ms faults. A steady player who will not take risks is brought down to his level and beaten in the long rallies that follow-. 1 From O’Connor’s service Robinson won the first game to love. O’Connor won the next .three games, Robinson securing two points; in one game and one stroke in. the others. Robinson ' won the fifth, sixth, and eighth games, two of them going to deuce. ~ O’Connor won his fourth game from deuce, and in .the other .two Riol(inson reached 30 a,nd 15. The first game in the second set went to Robinson from 30—40. O'Connor won the next game from one deuce and the following one from 40— 15. The fourth game went to deuce and then to Robinson. A love, set :to each player brought the score to three-ajj. The next three games went to O'Connor, his opponent securing three strokes in the three gamete. The ladies’ championship match, Mrs Bird v. Miss Duffy, was a better exhibition, though both, players were tired through having previously played in the handicap finals/ Play was hard, and the rallies .Were long ones. Mrs* Bird secured the first game from 40—30. The next game went from deuce to Miss, Duffy, who also won the third game, her opponent reaching 15. A love set went to Mrs Bird, and then both’ players secured a win fin closely contested games. The next three games and the set went to Miss Duffy, Mrs Bird securing three strokes. Lend deuce games opened the second set, one win going to each player. They then won a game each, the loser securing one stroke. A love game and a game from. 4—30 went to Mrs * Bird, who lost the next. Alternate wins were secured, the loser scoring one or two strokes only, until Mrs Bird won her sixth game and the sat. In the final set the games were again even. The scores went to 2—l in favour of Mrs Bird and then Miss Duffy won five games on end and with them the set, match, and championship. In the five games Miss Unify won 20 strokes and Mrs Bird eight strokes. In the handicap finals D. G. McMillan, whose handicap was owe 18, caught his opponent, D. Moleswortli, of Waitakaruru (owe 10'), iff the 13th service and then went ahead steadily to Win by 13 strokes. The game was ha.rd and fast, and was a good exhibition. Miss Duffy (owe 25) caught Mrs Bird (owe. 10) in the 16th service, 41- a,nd the game ended in her favour with the scores 50—47. : Mrs Hudson and Mrs O’Loughlji) _ (owe 6), of Kerepeehi, reached 50 in a good game while Mife and Miss Clotworthy (owe 10), of Turua, were making 43. The final of the men’s doubles was played by S. and E. Qoppins (owe 10), of Hopai, and Howa,rth and Averillj (owe 8), of Turua, and resulted in at win for the Hopai players by three points after a hard, fast, and even match.