LAWN TENNIS

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20740, 25 February 1939, Page 9 (Supplement)

LAWN TENNIS

DEFEAT OF TARANAKI FORM OF WAIKATO PLAYERS D. CLOW’S FINE EXHIBITION (By “ Cross-Court.”) Waikato avenged its last year’s defeat by Taranaki when at Rostrevor Street on Saturday the local representatives were successful to the tune of 16 matches to eight. The standard of play was good without being brilliant, although D. Clow (Cambridge) produced outstanding form in the men’s doubles. The Men’s Singles. While it was generally considered that Waikato would take the larger share of the men’s singles and probably divide the women’s singles, the reverse proved the case. J. Roach, in his -match with A. Dickie, had things well under control and won the first set easily. Dickie got a service break at 4 —2 in the second, but Roach reeled off four games in a row for the match. The Waikato man produced his best tennis from the backhand and volleys. Though perhaps a trifle unlucky, D. Livingstone found McCarthy’s ability to retrieve difficult shots disconcerting, and time and again when he had worked McCarthy out of position the latter effected a return which appeared impossible. McCarthy played a very steady game without being brilliant. L. Roach had to bow to a superior player in E. Dickie, who called the tune throughout and played really attractive tennis to win in straight sets. Showing a glimpse of his old form, Matuschka, who has had very little tennis this year, defeated Clifford Jones after a lapse in the first set. He was hitting the ball very hard, especially with his double-handed backhand, and struck a good length to win the next two sets. A Marathon Contest. Clow and Mathieson had a marathon in which neither player showed any initiative on attack. This seems to be Clow’s downfall in singles play. He has all the shots, but seldom uses them to advantage. Dunlop was outclassed by Strombom, who is a very attractive player, ranked surprisingly low in the singles team. Success in Women’s Singles. The presence of the Beverley sisters strengthened the Waikato women’s team and only one of the six matches was lost to Taranaki. Both the Matamata players produced good displays to win with ease, although their opponents, Misses M. Dickie and K. O’Sullivan, provided good opposition. Steadiness rather than brilliance was the feature of the matches in which Misses Z. Holmes and L. Kirk registered victories over Misses Graham and Broome, respectively. In defeating Miss M. Inman, the promising Putaruru player, Miss M. Hine, provided Taranaki with its only success in this section. Best Match of the Day. The first men’s doubles was probably the best match of the day, and while J. Roach and Livingstone began badly they improved in the second set and settled down to the standard of tennis which is expected of such an experienced pair. In the first set the Dickie brothers were playing splendid tennis, but when Roach got going properly he and Livingstone were usually able to finish off the rallies. All four provided brilliant work close in, with Livingstone the best of the quartette. Incidentally, the Dickie brothers in this match lost their first two sets this year, having won the Hawera, Wanganui and New Plymouth titles without losing a set.

Provided a Surprise. Waikato’s second string, L. Roach and Matuschka, played well, but just failed to make the grade against a strong Taranaki pair in McCarthy and Strombom. It was left to Clow and Dunlop to spring the real surprise, when, after being down 4—5 in the first set of their match with Clifford Jones and Mathieson, they won eight games in a row for the match at 7—5, 6—o. Clow was in devastating form and more often than not hit clean winners in one of the most remarkable displays seen at Rostrevor Street for a long time. In all he made probably no more than three mistakes in the whole match.

Four Sisters Teamed. Two pairs of sisters team in the top women’s doubles in which the Misses Beverley won from the Dickie sisters. The first set was a simple affair for the Auckland provincial title-holders, but in the second the Taranaki pair fought every inch of the way, Miss M. Dickie producing some brilliant shots. Misses Holmes and Buckley combined well to defeat a good pair in Misses O’Sullivan and Graham, while Misses Kirk and Inman had a terrific struggle in the first of the third doubles game and then galloped away with the second.

Upset Calculations. A. Dickie and Miss M. Dickie upset calculations when they defeated one of the strongest doubles combinations in New Zealand in J. Roach and Miss M. Beverley. Miss Dickie was in rare form throughout and though the Taranaki players dropped the first set they definitely held the honours in the next two.

Umpires’ Association Needed. Above all, the Waikato-Taranaki match proved that an umpires’ association is badly needed in the Waikato. Time and again officials were forced to call upon the same umpires, while young players did not see fit to accept the control of a match. This criticism is not directed at players who were taking part, as they should not be expected to act as umpires.

form and. returning 76see, won by a good eight yards. Mathieson Disqualified There was a sensation on the first night when Ihe tiJlehokler. Peter. Mathieson. of Auckland, was disqualified after winning Pie ioO metres back-stroke championship comfortably from Clive Cliff, the diminutive Canterbury swimmer, in r.min 3fi 9-.', see. Cliff’s time being omin 47sec. Mathieson was disqualified for incorrect turning, his fault lying in Ihe fact. that. at almost every turn tie broke the rule, which is to the efIVM that any competitor leaving his normal position o„ the back her..re Ihe foremost hand has touched the end of t.he course for Pie purpose ■! turning or finishing shall he disquali-