N.Z. CHAMPIONS BEATEN

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 23, 28 January 1939, Page 19

N.Z. CHAMPIONS BEATEN

TENNIS SURPRISE.

THE MIXED DOUBLES.

GUNN-M. BEVERLEY LOSE.

SMITH AGAIN IN ROLE OF

' 'GIANT-KILLER."

Though play at the Auckland provincial tennis championships at Stanley Street yesterday was never of a scintillating order, it had more than usual interest in the showing of some of the players, and the downfall of previous champions. Some of the more prominent players >-.Tincd decidedly off form and unsteady in stroking.

The most notable results were in the semi-final of the coinbineds, where the 10.T8 Auckland and New Zealand doubles champions, J. W. Gunn and Miss M. Beverley, were defeated by W. T. Pountncy and Miss N. Beverley, and N. F. Bedford and Miss B. L. Bishop went down to R. W. Smith and Miss P. Cooke.

Pountney and Miss Nessie Beverley plnycd an enterprising, attacking game with good combination, which found weaknesses in the oDoosition of Gunn and Miss Margaret Beverley. The latter was prominent for her volleying, but her service lacked sting. Gunn took a great deal of the play on himself, and at times there seemed a lack of understanding between himself and his partner.- Sustained rallies, the first of the afternoon, provided excitement for the gallery, and in these Pountney gained the upper hand with severe overhead work. Pountney has played good tennis ull through the tournament, and his victory in this contest was popular.

Equally interesting waa the exhibition of Smith and Miss Cooke against Bedford (the most successful member of Auckland's Wilding Shield team) and Miss Bishop. Again it was the attacking game that gained the victory. Bedford had been off form throughout th 4 afternoon's games, and he was still missing unaccountably at times, but he made a determined effort to withstand the attack of the other two. His partner. Miss Bishop, was making many mistakes, and thia threw added responsibility upon Bedford. However, it was of on avail against the punishing stroking of Smith and Miss Cooks, both of whom were in excellent form. Bmith's service and overhead work were * decided asset to his side, and Miss Cooke was equally at the top of her form. Her range volleying gained them many points.

.diss Bishop's Good Start. The moat interesting game of the singles contests was that in which Mies Margaret Beverley defeated Miaa Biahop. Miss Bishop was well to the fore at one stage, but when slie appeared in a good position in the first set she steadied down the severity of her stroking. This had been the major factor in her success to that stage, and her adoption t>f "safe" tactics allowed Miss Beverley to break through. Miaa Bishop could not again assume the leadership. In the other singles Miaa E. Plummcr, of Wellington, waa steady and accurate. She kept the fight koine throughout, and gradually wore down the ex-champion. Mitchell was not particularly impressive. .Neither Bedford nor Mitchell could find touch, and rallies rarely were longer than four atrokes in length. It was left to Gnnn and Lusk to fight it out, attempting on either side to play to the.weaker man. Bedford waa the stronger <rf' the other two, and the result depended on/that margin of difference. Later results on Friday:— ▲ GRADE. WOMEN'S SINGLES. Seal-finals.—Miss M. Beverley best Miss B. L. Bishop, 7—5, 6—l: Miss E. Plummer beat Miss N. Beverley, 6—3, 6—B. MEN'S DOUBLES. Seßil-flnst.—T. W. Ounn and N. F. Bedford beat E. D. Lusk and 3. D. Mitchell, •—l, a—2, o—B. MIXED DOUBLES. Seml-flntls. —W. 1. Pountnejr anJ MIM N. Beverley beat 3. W. Gunn and Mlm M. Beverley, 2—6, fl 3. 6 " 81 R- W. Smith and Miss P. Cooke beat N. P. Bedford and Miss B. I* Bishop, B—B, B—2. B GRADE. MEN'S SINGLES.

HEA S BlflUliHß. v Final.—J. D. Mitchell beat G. M. Radoalch, 6—l, 6—o, 6—2. INTERMEDIATES. BOYS' SINGLES. Third Round. —W. T. Pountney beat R. McMillan, 6—l, «— 1; A »• bMt St V Twtman, 10-8. 6-4); M. Solomon beat P. O. Haddock, 6—l. 4—6, •—2; J. H. Meller beat O. R. .Arkell. 6—3, 9—l, J. B. Smith beat C. W. smith, 6—g. 7—5. B„ Bronn beat R. Gordon* •—3. 6—2. K.. I. Clements beat B. McL. Wallace, 6—4, 4 —«, 6—#• A. S. Lamond beat R. M. Nicholson, 6—4, B—6. GIRLS' SINGLES. Quarter-final.—Mlis P. Cooke beat Mls» P. Mitchell, 6—o, 6—2. BOYS' DOUBLES. Second Round. —Porter and Rog'/" Dryland sod Perkins, 6—3, .6—3; Lamond and Moller beat Speight and Stevens. 6—-. 6—4; Bollard and Garlick beat Knight and Moore, 6—l, 6—l. GIRLS' DOUBLES. Second Round.—Misses B. Potter and J. MeL. Wallace beat Misses B. Jerratt and P. Wallls, 6—l, 6—2; Misses M. Beverley and P. Cooke beat Mlssea B. Reyburn and P. Wallace, 6—o, 6—l. MIXED DOUBLES. Second Round.—B. McL. Wallace and Miss J. McL. Wallace beat Leea and Miss Thorburn. 6—l, 6—3; Burns and Miss Potter beat Babe and Miss R. Smith, 6—o. 6—l; Speight and Miss Howie beat Cadman and Miss Whyte, 6—2, 6—l; J. B. Smith and Mlsa W. Smith beat Hickey and Miss Prothero, o—o, 6—l. THE JUNIORS. BOYS' SINGLES. Third Round.—R. McMillan beat K. Lane, 6—2. 6—B; A. 8. Burns beat H. N. Monckton, 6—l, 6—o; W. Huckstep De«t T. W. Smith, 4—6, 7—5. 6—4; F. G. Haddock beat H. M. Barrance, fl—4, 9—7; J. B. Smith beat K. I. Clements, 6—o, 6—4. Quarter-Anal.—O. K. Satchell beat I. Thomson, 6 —0,. ft—B. GIRLS' SINGLES. Second Round.—Miss N. Symes won from Miss D. Corfe by default; Miss J. McL. Wallace beat Miss P. Prothero, 6—l, 6—2; Miss A. Johnstone beat Miss J. McDonald, 4—6, 6—4, 6—4 ; Miss B. Potter won from Miss P. Miller by default.