AUCKLAND SUCCESSES

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 869, 13 January 1930, Page 7

AUCKLAND SUCCESSES

TARANAKI TENNIS TITLES MRS. MELODY SCORES Special to THE SI X NEW PLYMOUTH. Saturday. Tho finals of the Taranaki tennis championship events were played at New Plymouth on Saturday. The courts were heavy after overnight rain. Charters < Whan gar ei). wqp the mens singles and with Steelman, the men’s doubles. Mrs. Melody took the women’s singles and with Miss Andrew,, the women’s doubles. Miss Nicholls and Rhodes-Williams won the mixed doubles. The sky was overcast, but occasional glimpses of brilliant sunshine made the light very harsh. .Details of the play are as follow:—j MEN’S SINGLES Pinal.—Charters beat Rhodes-Wil-liams, 6—4, G—3. WOMEN’S SINGLES Mrs. Melody beat Miss Myers, 6—2. 6—4. Final.—Mrs. Melody beat Miss Myers, 6—2, 6 —4. MEN’S DOUBLES Semi-finals. —Rhodes Williams and Dymond beat Tlubble and Nicholson 6 —3, 2 —6, 6—4; Stedman and Charters defeated Wallace and Wills 6—4, 6—4. Final.—Stedman and Charters beat Rhodes-Williams and Dymond, 6—2, 6 —2. WOMEN’S DOUBLES Semi-finals. Misses Lloyd and Whyte defeated Misses* Myers and Nicholls 6 —3, 6—o. Final.—Mrs. Melody and Miss Andrew beat Miss Lloyd and Miss White, MIXED DOUBLES Semi-final. Miss Nicholls and j Rhodes Williams defeated Miss Lloyd ! and Wallace 6 —l, 6 —4. Final: Miss Nicholls and RhodesWilliams defeated Miss Andrew and Stedman, 6—3, 6 —3. GIRLS’ SINGLES Final. —Jean Ward beat Joan Ward, 3 6, 6—3, B—6.8 —6. CHARTERS PLAY MAGNIFICENTLY Charters (Wliangarei) beat RhodesWilliams in two straight sets, 6 —4, 6 —3. Me played magnificent tennis. Rhodes-Williams had improved since the morning’s play, and his beautiful placing and half-volley shots were delightful to watch. Charters’s overhead play was superb and his placing clever. His knack of hitting low balls won him > many points. In the second set Rhodes-Williams played upon his opponent’s backhand. Charters, however, had improved in that department since playing at Wanganui and returned everything. At the end of the second set, Williams netted often. Mrs. Melody beat Miss Myers, 6— 2, 6 —4. A heavy ground favoured the winner’s heavy slice, and may of her shots broke back or fell dead. Miss Myers commenced badly but soon picked up. Mrs. Melody’s anticipation was pitted against perfect placing and strong back and forehand driving by Miss Myers. The second set was a hard fight. Miss Myers was leading 4 2 at one stage. PLAY IN THE DOUBLES Perhaps the greatest triumph for Auckland was the play of Hubble and Nicholson against Rhodes Williams and Dymond *in the semi-finals of the men’s doubles. Although the latter pair won, the Auckland players played brilliant tennis. Both played at the net. Hubble’s placing was marvellous at times. The pair resorted to lobbing, especially from the back line. Their accuracy was uncanny. Rhodes Williams and Dymond took the first set 6 —3. after their opponents had run them to 5 —3 and 40—30. The second set was a duel, which the Aucklanders won 6 —2. Both Hubble and Nicholson smashed unplayable all over the court: in fact, everywhere where their opponents were not. Tlio third set commenced with Hubble and Nicholson in winning form, but after inspiring play Nicholson’s service failed in the ninth game and they lost 6—4. Rhodes-Williams was not in perfect health, but that in no way detracts from the merit of the Auckland players. STEDMAN AND CHARTERS In a fine display Stedman and Charters beat Wallace and Wills in two straight sets. '6—4. 6—4. Play was slow and lacked interest. The win-

ning pair did not play well, and Sted- I man showed that he is unable to volley. Wallace’s judgment is im- | paired and his eyes are not as quick [ as they were. He has had practically . no tennis this season. At times he j showed flashes of his old brilliancy, j but Wills failed to support him. Stedman and Charters lobbed well, but , found the net many times. Stedman made no mistakes when playing with Charters against RhodesWilliams and Dymond in the men’s doubles. Both Auckland men were on the top of-their form, driving and smashing strongly. They won the first set. 6 —2. The second set became interesting. Rhodes-Williams and Dymond combined splendidly, but Stedman and Charters won the second set and the match. Another unexciting match was the semi-final between Misses Lloyd and Whyte and Misses Myers and Nicholls. Miss Whyte combined splendidly with the New South Wales champion. Miss Nicholls started well, but lost confidence and played bad tennis. Miss' Myers broke down on her forehand. with the result that Misses Lloyd and Whyte won 6—3, 6—o. In the finals? Mrs. Melody and Miss Andrew commenced with confidence against Misses Lloyd and Whyte. Miss Andrew played beautiful tennis at the net. with Mrs. Melody hitting well from the back-line. Both Miss Lloyd and Miss Whyte seemed nervous and bungled their services. Miss Andrew’s playing of overhead shots at the net was almost uncanny. After a long struggle Miss Lloyd and Miss Whyte won the first set, G —s. The match became interesting when Mrs. Melody and Miss Andrew won the second set, 6—2. Miss Lloyd had more success with her short shots in the third set, but continued to play backline balls. From a 4 —l lead, Mrs. Melody and Miss Andrew lost four games and won one, making the score five all. After an exciting final game, Mrs. Melody and Miss Andrew won the set, 7—5. WAIKATO EAST TOURNEY PROGRESS RESULTS OF PLAY From Our Own Correspondent. CAMBRIDGE, Saturday. The Waikato East tennis tournament has been continued during the week, and it was hoped to finish today, but heavy rain again interfered with play, and the remaining games will be decided during next week. Further results are: WOMEN'S HANDICAP SINGLES Semi-final.—Miss N. Bevferley beat Miss Oates, 60—57. Pinal.—Miss N. Beverley (owe 20) beat Miss Mathieson (rec 5), 60—45. MEN’S HANDICAP SINGLES Third Round.—Egan beat Laurie, 50— 45; Howes beat Connolly by default; Watson beat Germann, 50—31; Green beat Hollis. 60—45. Semi-final. —Watson beat Hawes, 50 — 47. Afen’s Handicap Doubles.—Ward and Hollis beat Hutchison and Fitzgerald, 60—57. MEN’S CHAMPION DOUBLES Second Round. —Hawes and Porter beat Laurie and Connolly by default. Semi-final. —Ward and Hollis beat Hawes and Porter, 6—l, 6—2; Egan and Watson beat Oates and Germann by default. MEN’S CHAMPION SINGLES Third Round Green beat Hitchcock, 6_ Se’mi- final. —Ward beat Watson, 6—o, 4—6, 6—2. WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES Final.—Miss N. Beverley beat Miss Stewart, 6 —2, 6—2. COMBINED HANDICAP DOUBLES Miss N. Beverley and Fitzgerald beat Miss Ellery and Alexander by default. CHAMPION COMBINED DOUBLES Third- Round. —Keeley and Miss Stewart beat Webster and Mrs. Hutchison by default. , , „ c,, Semi-final. —Keeley and Miss Stewart bent Egan and Miss Mathieson. G—o, G—o.