TENNIS AT ELTHAM.

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 348, 1 February 1937, Page 4

TENNIS AT ELTHAM.

Outstanding Matches Of The Afternoon. e > - Although play generally, afflicted by the wind and slowness of the courts, did not reach any unexpected heights, the north v. south tennis match at Eltham on Saturday provided a number of closely fought and interesting encounters. Not the least of several surprises of the afternoon was the manner in which C. Nicholls handled S. CliffordJones, whom he defeated 6—3, 6 —4, Clifford-Jone s from start to finish found himself outplayed in all departments and could produce nothing to worry the southern man. Nicholls seemed little affected by the awk--1 ngth drives with complete confidence. Clifford-Jones, by contrast, was never able to settle down to effective ground-stroke play and his volleying was neither accurate or ward bounce of the ball and used full severe. Nicholas played heady tennis and his policy of interchanging full length driving with short low trajectory shots gave the northerner no chance to get set.

McCarthy Extended, J. J. McCarthy, who ordinarily would have headed the southerners, 1 ut was played third to enable Dickie to play Strong-bom, met unexpected opposition from the veteran P. Bennet, who took the first set and fought out the longest match of the day. Even when winning, McCarthy was never impressive in this match. He was inclined to take his older op ponent very easily in the first set, but having learned that the powerful forehand and consistent net work of Bennet could not be ignored, he settled down to tire him out in a scries of protracted rallies. The fact that Bennet is practically negligible, as far as back-band play is concerned, made, this policy comparatively easy for McCarthy. In spite of the handicap of being “one winged,” however, Bennet made a great effort to hold his advantage and displayed amazing ability in running round to bring McCarthy’s placements within the scope of his aggressive forehand. Strongbom v. Dickie. Greater consistency and superior courtcraft gave Strongbom a decided advantage over the more stylish A. Dickie. Dickie showed the greater preference for rushing the net, but his sallies were often ineffective through being made when Strongbom was in good command of the ball. Strongbom, on the other hand, was often able to force a weak return before coming up to employ his incisive volleying.

Best Tennis. The best tennis of the afternoon was provided by the men’s double, in which the Dickies secured a narrow victory over Strongbom and Lobb. The Dickies, a combination liable to cause trouble to any pair in New Zealand, deserved their win but they came near to losing it when the NewPlymouth pair made a splendid recovery in the last of the three sets. After losing the second 6 —3 the Dickies took the third easily enough and were leading 5— 2 in, when Lobb, who had tended to go to patchiness during the set found touch. Even then on the Nev Plymouth pair had the. better of the play, which was en livened by constant forecourt duels, until five all was reached. The D’>kies then managed to break through Strongbom’s service and took the following game with aggressive net play.. Women’s Matches. Among the women Miss O. J. Taylor was the only player able to produce form that was at all in the tournament class and had little difficulty in disposing of Miss M. Dickie. Miss Warren, who won well against Miss Quin and is'probably the most promising junior in Taranaki this year. Miss Walton, accustomed to hard courts in New Plymouth, was overwhelmed in the first set of her maltch with Miss Graham, but settled down to take the next two sets. A notice by the Stratford Borough Council regarding water supply will be found on page 1 of this issue.