TENNIS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 316, 29 March 1928, Page 6

TENNIS

SUBURBAN INTER-CLUB FINAL ROUND PLAYED The final round of the outer suburban inter-club tennis competitions was played on Saturday, and although two of the matches are still to be played, the results cannot affect the leading team. In the A grade, most interest was centred in the meeting of Papakura and Mangere Central, on the latter’s I courts, as the defeat of Papakura and a victory by Papatoetoe, would have placed these two teams level again. Papakura maintained its lead by defeating the home team 10 —0, the biggest margin’ registered in these competitions. Probably the keenest match of the day was the first men’s singles, Ellett, of Mangere, v.’ McDonald, of Papakura, as neither of these players had lost a match in the competitions. In the first set McDonald had an easy victory by 6 —l, but in the second set Ellett steadied up with his play and managed to get to 5 all, when McDonald won the next game and the match, maintaining his unbeaten record. Only three matches went to the third set, and in each case the deciding set went to Papakura by a good margin. The closest contest of the was between Mangere East and East Tamaki on the former’s courts, when the Tamaki representatives gained the verdict by the narrow margin of 13 sets to 12, with the games at 5 all. At the commencement of the competition, East Tamaki lost the first three matches, and in the next match met Clevedon, when it was one of the leaders in the A grade, and there registered a first victory. Since then it has not suffered defeat, and if the team can maintain the improved form for next season, it will have to be seriously reckoned with. Papatoetoe started well by Winning the first three matches in the competition, but it was unable to stand the strain of fielding three teams, and it concentrated on Hie Auckland’C grade competition and the suburban teams suffered to a marked degree.

In the B grade, Papakura maintained its unbeaten record through the seven matches, the nearest on the list being its sister club, Valley, comprising the Brookby and Alfriston Clubs, whose totals are five wins and two losses, followed by Papatoetoe and Clevedon. The positions of the teams at the end of the competitions are: A Grade. —Papakura, won 6. lost 1; Papatoetoe, 4—3: East Tamaki, 4—3; Mangere East, 3—4: Clevedon, 3 4: Valley, 3 —4: Mangere Central, 2—4; Manurewa, 2 —4. B Grade. —Papakura, won 7, lost 0: Valley, 5 —2; Clevedon. 4 Papatoetoe, 4—3; East Tamaki, 25, Mangere Central. 2 —4; Mangere East, I—6; Manurewa, I—s. LAST CITY MATCH The final match of the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association’s C grade competition will be played on Saturday next between the Papatoetoe and Eden and Epsom teams, at the Stanley Street courts. BIRKENHEAD TOURNEY The Easter handicap tournament, commencing on Good Friday, will be held on the courts at Northcote under the auspices of the Birkenhead and Northcote Tennis Club. The ten chip courts are in very good condition. Entries will be received by the secretary, Mr. H. W. Tyer, until Monday next. NORTH ISLAND TITLES The North Island tennis championships are to be decided at the nine grass courts of the Te Aroha Club at Easter. As well as tennis there is a big programme of social arrangements for the visitors.