GUNN AND BEDFORD LOSE IN DOUBLES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 30, 6 February 1939, Page 15

GUNN AND BEDFORD LOSE IN DOUBLES.

TENNIS SURPRISE.

BEVERLEY SISTERS GAIN TITLES.

Tin mi i; h the highlight of Saturday's play \v!l1 1 n the Auckland lawn tennis champion-hips were concluded on the Stanley Street court* was the defeat nf J. \V. <> 11 tin and N. F. Bedford. Now Zealand doubles title-holders, by R. W. Smith and M. T. Wilson, public interest was centred chiefly in the menV singles final, in which X. f!. Sturt. making his sixth appearance an a semifinalist. was beaten by X. F. Bedford in a long contest. Once again the IScverleys triuniphed. Miss Margaret Beverley winning the women's single* and, with her sUtcr Nessie, winning the women's doublet*. M. Beverley Again. In the final of the women's singles .\Ii«H Margaret Beverley lind little trouble in disposing of the Wellington pirl, Miss C. I'iuniincr, and retaining her title, in straight sets in a match that was mostly bane-line play, and in which only a few excursions were made to the net. Miss l'liimmer fought gamely against ft superior player, striking a brilliant patch when the score was 2-all with the second set. Miss Beverley, who had overwhelmed her rival in the first »t't, made no mistake about the remaining games, which she won fairly easily, with Miss Plummetoccasionally catching her out of position with well-placed shots. The win for Miss Beverley, o—l, o—2, was a fair indication of the match, although credit was due to Miss Plummer for her consistent courage. Straight Sets to Burna.

Greater concentration on the part of A. S. ISurns was a potent factor in the final of the intermediate boys' single*, in which he played 11. Broun. The latter seemed more affected by the wind, and his beautiful hackhupd proved of no avail against the superior allround play of his opponent, who won o—3,0 —3, o—o,

A. S. Burns retained liis junior boys' singles title in two sets against O. K. Satchell, by crafty court generalship. He was not bustled, and was obviously the more experienced of the two. It was mostly a back-lipe game. Miss Hodges, evidently affected by the crowd, started slowly, and before settling down, made many mistakes on easy shots. She improved, however, in the second set, her forehand and backhand work being very safe. Miss S vines fought doggedly towards the end. and the last few points were decided only after exejting rallies, when Miss Hodges succeeded in capturing the match and the junior girls' singles title.

Another title changed hands, when last year's holders of the women's doubles title, Miss B. L. Bishop and Miss P. Cooke, were beaten in straight sets by the Beverley sisters, who made their own game throughout. The match was not spectacular, both pairs playing for safety and waiting for mistakes. The Beverley sisters were not extended to any great degree. The surprise of the day was tne defeat of the Xew Zealand doubles champions, J. W. Gur.n and 1S T . F. Bedford, by R. W. Smith and M. T. Wileon, runncrft-up in the New Zealand championships last year, for the men'# doubles title of the Auckland province. The game, a gruelling one, ran to four sets, the first two going to the final victors.

At the conclusion, of play, trophies were presented to the victors iu the various sections by J.lrs. Spencer Lamb, wife of the president of the Auckland Lawn Tenuis Association. Results were: — .Men's Singles.—X. F. Bedford beat X. (i. Sturt, ti—4, 5—7, (i—4, 4—ti, o—4. Women's singles.—Mists Margaret Beverlev beat Miss E. Plummet', o—l, o—2.

.Men's Doubles.—R. W. Smith and M. T. Wilson beat J. W. (iunn and K. F, Bedford, ti—l, o—l, 5—7, ti—«4.

Women's Doubles.—Misse's X. and M. Beverley beat Misses B. L. Bishop and P. Cooke, 7 —5, <j—3.

Junior Girls.' Singles.-—Miss M. Hotlpres beat Jliss X. Syntes, 2 —<>, (i—2, o—2. Intermediate Hovs' Singles.—A. S. .Burns beat B. Broun, (i—3, (i—o. Junior Hoys' Singles.—A. S. Burns beat O. Satchel], ti—l), B—o.