AUCKLAND WINS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 23, 19 April 1927, Page 13

AUCKLAND WINS

VARSITY SPORTS TOURNAMENT SHIELD TRIUMPH IN TENNIS The one point which Auckland must gain in the women’s doubles tennis match gives the Tournament Shield to that college. The total points won by the college in all the tournament events except the tennis are:—Auckland, 111; Otago, 9£: Victoria, 7, and Canterbury, 2. By winning both semi-finals of the women’s doubles, Auckland must bring its total to 12J. Otago is left in only two tennis events, so that its total cannot be more than 111. If Victoria wins the two events it is left in, it can reach only 9, and Canterbury is negligible.

VARSITY TENNIS FINALS AND SEMI-FINALS TO-DAY’S PLAY In dull weather the New Zealand Universities’ inter-college tennis championships were continued at Stanley Street to-day. The women's singles were reduced to the final, in which Auckland meets Otago. In the men’s doubles final, Canterbury meets Auckland, so that with two pairs left in the women’s doubles, Auckland has every chance of taking the challenge clip from the holders, Canterbury. Results of to-day’s play: Women’s Singles.—Holder, Miss E. Partridge, C.U.C. SEMI-FINALS Miss P. Witherow (O.) beat Miss N. Whitelaw (A.). 5—6, 6—o, 6—4. Miss E. E. Miller (A.) beat Miss E. K. Scott (C.), 6—l, 6—o. Men’s Doubles.—Holders, W. R. Robinson and A. B. Loughnan (C.U.C.). SEMI-FINALS V. N. Hubble and A. M. Nicholson (A.) beat J. A. F. Watson and D. W. Earle O.), 6—3, 6—3. C. J. M. Hunter and A. W. Smithson (C.) beat F. R. Chisholm and J. O. Mercer (O), o—6, 6—o, 6—3. Combined Doubles. —Holders, A. B. Loughnan and Miss L. Saunders (C.U.C.). SEMI-FINALS R. McL. Ferkins and Miss O. M. Shepherd (V.) beat R. B. Hardy and Miss J. Muellei*, I—6, 7—5, 6—l. C. J. M. Hunter and Miss E. K. Scott (C.) beat V. N. Hubble and Miss E. E. Miller (A.), 6—4, 6—2. Women's Doubles.—Holders, Misses E. Partridge and L. Saunders (C.U.C.). Misses E. E. Miller and J. M. Mueller (A.) beat Misses E. K. Scott and H. G. Jones (C.), 6—4, 6——2. Misses N. Whitelaw and J. Brownlee (A.) heat Misses O. M. Shepherd and M. Cameron (V.), 6—4, 6—l. THE PLAY DESCRIBED

STEADINESS WINS In both of the semi-finals of the women’s singles steadiness and experience had victory over occasional brilliance. The Otago woman, Miss Witherow, met Auckland’s second string, Miss N. Whitelaw, and the match went to three sets. The first was even and strenuous and the Aucklander, keeping a good length, managed to take the eleventh game after 5 all. In the second she was just missing the back line with her drive, and Miss Witherow, making few mistakes, took six games in succession. The Otago girl was exceptionally steady in the last set and her experience told. Though she has some pretty strokes, including a fine back-liand cross-court Miss Scott, of Canterbury, was no match for the court-craft of Auckland’s hope, Miss Miller. The Aucklander’s length was almost perfect, and her drive, which lacks pace, was effective. Recoveries of merit were often made by the Southerner, who took only one game in two sets. CANTERBURY’S BRIGHT PAIR In a semi-final of the combined doubles Hunter and Miss Scott, Canterbury, proved themselves a brilliant pair, gaining a fairly easy win over Auckland’s best, Hubble and Miss Miller. Both the Southerners liked the net and Miss Scott volleyed and smashed with brilliancy. She really won the match. Hunter was on his game, but Hubble, who also struck form, neutralised him. Miss Miller plays a much better singles than she does a doubles. OTAGO FAILS Tennis was not brilliant in the semifinals of the men’s doubles. Otago men who were defeated in each of them seemed to have the “morning after” feeling and they failed to reproduce Saturday’s form. Lobbing upset the Otago second pair, Watson and Earle, who were defeated by Hubble and Nicholson, Auckland, in two sets. Hubble played well at times, and Nicholson was like a wall. Nothing could get past him, and his singling made up for his lack of pace. The Otago men were off colour overhead, Watson failing to punch his smashes and kill easy balls. There was little of the spectacular in the match. Otago took six games in the two sets. Except for Hunter’s occasional brightness, the other semi-final was a poor exhibition. Hunter and Smithson, of Canterbury, beat Otago’s hopes,

Chisholm and Mercer, in three sets. Chisholm was badly off form and he and his partner, often got in each other’s way. The lion’s share of the work for Canterbury fell on Hunter, Smithson lobbing and then keeping out of the play. Otago took the first set, (>—o, and then faded out. leaving Canterbury to win the next two, 6—o, and 6—3. AUCKLAND ON FORM The Auckland seconds, Misses N. Whitelaw and J. Brownlee, were above themselves in the match against the Victorians, Misses Shepherd and Cameron. In two straight sets they proved themselves a very accomplished pair, with steady ground strokes and marked ability at the net. Wellington took four games in the first set, but in the second it was outclassed. This was the best match of the morning and the Aucklanders were given an ovation. The courage to go in and finish off a stroke carried the match. AUCKLAND AGAIN. Auckland fights out the final of the women’s doubles between its two pairs, Misses Miller and Mueller, having defeated Misses Scott and Jones (Canterbury) in two sets. . The Southerners played up in the first set. the opening games going to several deuces. The opposition broke down in the second set. the Auckland driving being too accurate and steadv. There was very little net play in the match, and the ground strokes of the Northerners were superior. REVERSAL OF FORM Starting brightly Hardy and Miss Mueller, of Auckland, faded out in the third set against Ferkins and Miss Shepherd. The Wellington man was taking too much on himself in the first set. and though he made some marvellous efforts the Auckland pair often found him out of position. In the first set the northerners were unbeatable, and the Victorians were lucky to get a game. The second and third sets showed a reversal of form. Ferkins and his partner pulling themselves together, while their opponents became erratic. j