SINGLES CHAMPION BEATEN

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22600, 4 January 1939, Page 13

SINGLES CHAMPION BEATEN

Surprise in N.Z. Tennis Tournament A. D. BROWN GOES DOWN TO N. V. EDWARDS Mayson’s Desperate Fight Against Dyer A. D, Brown, the former Auckland player now resident in Canterbury, who played undefeated through the national tournament and many provincial championships last season, suffered his second defeat in a fortnight when he was beaten by N. V. Edwards, of Wellington, in the quarter-final of the New Zealand championship at Wilding Park yesterday. Once again Brown failed to produce the form of which he is known to be capable, and he was well beaten by a fine stroke player playing at the top of his game. Added to the withdrawal from all three events of Miss Margaret Beverley, triple champion last year, this result leaves only one title to fee defended—that of the men’s doubles, held by E. A. Roussell and R. McL. Ferkins, of Wellington.

The tournament, in its third day, was again favoured by perfect weather —almost too perfect for the players, for it was overpoweringly sultry in the morning. In the afternoon a’ nor’wester, not a really violent one, affected play to some extent. The Wilding Park courts, fairly wet for most of the season, are now becoming firm and fast under the, influence of the fine weather, and as they are standing up well to the hard play it is likely that they will still be in fim- order for the final rounds on Friday and Saturday. Excellent progress was made again yesterday. The men’s singles has narrowed down to six players, Edwards and C. Angas (Canterbury), who are in the semi-finals, and J. T, Mayson (Auckland), R. G. Pattinson (Canterbury), J. W. Gunn (Auckland), and H. A. Barnett (Canterbury). Edwards plays the winner of Mayson and Pattinson and Angas the winner of Gunn and Barnett. The women’s singles has reached the semi-final stage, the last four being Miss M. Hardcastle (Queensland). Miss D. Miller (North Otago), Miss T. Rice (New South Wales), and Miss R. J. Wilson (Southland). Semi-finalists have been found in the men’s and women’s doubles, but the mixed event is still behindhand. Brown Fades Away Edwards and Brown met early in th"? morning, which was the most sultry part of the day, and the former’s success seemed to be due as much to his ability to stand up to the trying conditions as to his —on the day—superior stroking power. Brown lost much of his sting after the first set, and Edwards was able to break through Brown’s usually reliable service almost at will. The first set showed Brown at his best, hitting vicious forehand drives into either corner and following to the net to put away the returns with full-blooded smashes and volleys.

ground strokes are more reliable than they were and his volleying is as decisive* as ever.

R. G. Pattinson started off at a great pace against B. E. Souter, who did not, until the third set, produce the solid and tenacious game at which he excels. Souter took the third set, notwithstanding Pattinson’s many excellent strokes, and the young Canterbury man had to play at his best to win the fourth. Pattinson, for the most part, maintained an unceasing attack, pushing his drives wide to the corners, and making Souter do most of the running. Yet his attack was tempered with the patience necessary to succeed against a player of Souter’s steadiness. In the fourth set, Pattinson waited for the right moment for a net attack, and he rarely failed to bring off a winning volley once he had gone into “the forecourt

J. W. Gunn and A. R. Cant had a match of long rallies, but the further I the game went the more did the former player’s steadiness prove a winning factor. Cant led 5-3 in the first set, but mistakes prevented him pressing home an advantage gained by solid driving and occasional good volleying coups. Gunn served and smashed well and his ground strokes were Very accurate^ The young Wellington player, R. V* Robb, found H. A. Barnett a most disconcerting opponent. Robb drove well, but Barnett sent the ball safely back with the utmost regularity, and if the Wellington man did not break down in the preliminary rally, Barnett was usually able to finish the point off at the net. A Fine Women’s Match The women's singles quarter-finals were all good matches, that between Miss M. Hardcastle and Miss T. Poole being one of the best of the day. The score of 6-2, 6-1 in favour of the Australian does not suggest a good match, but it was, in fact, a brilliant exhibition. Miss Hardcastle, hitting stinging shots, both backhand and forehand, kept Miss Poole on the run, yet the Canterbury player not only had the courage to keep on returning these punishing shots, but she also found the opportunity to make many brilliant forays herself. In volleying she was the equal of the Australian; her ground shots had nothing like the same accuracy and controlled power. Miss Hardcastle hits the ball on the rise on both hands, and she conceals the direction of her shots until the last moment. She is most skilful at “wrong-footing” her opponents, and Miss Poole was often beaten outright by balls which most unexpectedly came back to the place from which she was running. A most meritorious win was gained by Miss R. J. Wilson, the young Southland player, against Miss B. L. Bishop (Auckland), who is ranked fourth among New Zealand women. Miss Wilson played a cool, confident game, keening her opponent on the run with well-controlled drives to either sideline. Miss Bishop, a strong driver herself, was out-steadied in some great exchanges from long range, and too often hit beyond the lines in her efforts to keep the ball away from the agile Southland girl. Miss Wilson also matched her opponent in volleying, her placements from the net position being clean and decisive. She showed none of the hesitancy that marked her earlier games on grass courts, and this performance must rank as one of her best so far. Miss Rice Extended v Miss T. Rice, the other visiting Australian, had a -battle of drives with Miss E. Plummer (Wellington), who played splendidly to extend the visitor in the first set. Miss Rice, however, was usually the more severe and the more accurate, her game was much more varied, and she was more resourceful in defence. Again she used the drop-shot skilfully, although Miss Plummer sometimes anticipated tne move and turned the tables on her opponent by neat placements from these Sh Miss H. Elsom, who caused a sensation by beating Miss N. Beverley on Monday, could not reproduce her , brilliant form against Miss D. Miller (North Otago). Miss Elsom was obviously less happy against a player who only on the rarest occasions made an error and who reached and returned monotonously all but the very best of her opponent’s shots. Miss Mil-

For the remainder of the match it was Edwards who called the tune from the net position. Both players were stroking steadily from the back of the court, but it was usually Ed-

wards who took the initiative by heading for the net after he had put in a niore than usually deep drive. Once there he cut oft the returns with beau--tifully angled volleys, short over the net and within inches of the sidelines. Or, if Brown’s reply was a lob, Edwards moved'back and rarely failed tp put the ball cleanly away with his splendid smash—one of the finest scoring shots in New Zealand tennis. Edwards controlled the length and direction of his gijnUnd strokes far better than Brown did, proved just as resourceful in producing winning shots from awkward positions, and altogether played with a confidence that the champion lacked. It was a most attractive game to watch, for both are splendid shot-makers. Dyer’s Fine Performance . Perhaps even better play was seen in the match between J. T. Mayson (Auckland), who recently won the Canterbury championship, and K. W. Dyer, of Wellington, The latter nearly caused another big surprise, for he topk the first two sets with play of a quality which surprised his opponent and delighted the spectators. Dyer is a left-hander with a fine stroke equipment, and he hits the ball consistently harder than any other player in the tournament. . Unfortunately his flat-hit shots are not always under the perfect control he showed yesterday. He hit Mayson off the court in ithe early, stages of both the first and second sets, leading 4-0 in the first and 4-1 in the second. Each time Mayson equalised only to lose the set after a hard struggle. Had Dyer been able to clinch these sets earlier he' might have had greater reserves for the Succeeding sets. As it Was, his .shots lost a little o£ their early forcefulness and accuracy, and Mayson, for the first time in the match, was able to impose his own game on Dyer in the third set. This dominance continued in the fourth, but Dyer rallied strongly in the fifth, and Mayson, now stroking confidently and well, had to fight grimly for the last two games after 4-all had been called. Angas Advances The other men’s singles matches yesterday were less exciting, C. Angas, who is now Canterbury’s chief hope in the singles, entered the semi-final with a good win over N. G. Sturt, the popular Auckland player, who has'rarely been able to trouble Angas. Nevertheless Sturt played well in patches, often beating Angas with angled backhand drives and crisp volleys which, just clearing the net, shot deep into the corners. Angas was in good form, and notwithstanding his occasional failures in recent matches he must have a good chance of regaining the title. His

Miss T. Poole, Canterbury’s leading woman player, who was beaten by Miss M. Hardcastle (Queensland) in a good match in the New Zealand championships yesterday. ler has played herself into good form, and with more than a fortnight’s practice on grass courts she is hitting her shots harder and more accurately than in the Canterbury tournament. She may be expected to put up a good fight against Miss Hardcastle in the semi-final. Doubles Semi-Finalists Three men's doubles matches sufficed to bring the event out to the semi-finals, Roussell and Ferkins, Barr nett and Cant, and Gunn and Bedford joining Brown and Angas in that round. The event produced no such sensational matches as were seen on the first day. The veteran, J. H. W.

Sheppard, and L. Morris played well against the title-holders, but RousselTs smashing was too severe, and Ferkins as usual, presented a brick-wall defence either from the back line or at the net. Gunn and Bedford had no difficulty in keeping command of the net position against H. Dymond and I. J. Corich, and volleyed and smashed their way to a decisive victory. Barnett and Cant met serious opposition from W. J. Smith and E. S. Falconer (Otago) only in the third set. There were some excellent mixed doubles matches in the afternoon. One of the best saw the elimination of the sixth seeded pair, Mayson and Miss T. Poole, by Dyer and Miss J. Burns, of Wellington. Dyer was again brilliant overhead and on the volley, and Miss Burns was an imperturbable retriever of the best of her opponents’ strokes. Another fine match was between Robb and Miss J. Douthett (Wellington)) and Roach (Waikato) and Miss Bishop, the former pair winning by virtue of their splendid defence and active covering of the court. C. F. Penfold *md Miss Rice were taken to three sets by F. H. Renouf and Miss J. Forrester, young Wellington players, who played vigorously throughout. ( The match was unfinished, with Penfold and Miss Rice leading at 5-3 in the final set. THE RESULTS Results of matches played yesterday are as follows; — Men’s Singles (Holder: A. D. Brown, Canterbury) Third Round J. T. Mayson (Auckland) beat K. W. Dyer (Wellington), 4-6 5-7. «,-3. 6-i. 6-4. R. G. Pattinson (Canterbury) beat B. E. Souter (Canterbury), 6-0, 6-l, 5-7, 6-3. J. W. Gunn. (Auckland) beat A. R. Cant (Canterbury), 9-7, 6-3. 6-2. . , H. A. Barnett (Canterbury) beat R. V. Robb (Wellington), 6-0, 6-4, 6-2. Quarter-final N. V. Edwards (Wellington) beat A. D. Brown (Canterbury), 1-6, 6-3 6-4, 6-2. C. Angas (Canterbury) beat N. G. Sturt (Auckland), 6-2, 6-4, 6-3. ~ Women’s Singles (Holder: Miss M. Beverley, Waikato) Quarter-final Jdiss R. J. Wilson (Southland) beat Miss B. L. Bishop (Auckland), 6-4, 7-5. _ Miss T. Rice (Australia) beat Miss E. miler^North 6 Otago) beat Miss 5&5 a.).... Miss T. Poole (Canterbury), 6-2, 6-1, Men’s Doubles (Holders: E. A. Roussell and R. McL. Ferkins, Wellington) Quarter-final R. McL. Ferkins and E. A. Roussell (Wellington) beat J. H. W. Sheppard and L>, Morris (Canterbury), 6-3, 6-3, 6-4. A. R. Cant and H. A. Barnett (Canterbury) beat V*T J. Smith and. E. S. Fax- 1 coner (Otago), 6-3, 6-1, 9-7. , . 3. Vf. Gunn and N. F. N. Bedford (Auckland) beat H. Dymond and 1. 3. Corlch (Canterbury), 6-0. 6-3, 6-2. Mixed Doubles (Holders; J. W. Gunn, Auckland, and Miss M. Beverley, Waikato) First Round R. V. Robb and Miss J. Douthett (Wellington) beat C. B. Beatson and Mrs Beatson (Nelson), 6-1, 6-2. _ • N V. Edwards and Mrs Edwards (Wellington) beat D. X. Robertson and Miss) H. Elsom (Canterbury), 3-6, 6-3, 6-2. Second Round - C. Angas and Miss I. Poole (Canterbury) beat R. Howe (Southland) and Miss M. Howe (Wellington), 6-3, 6-4. A. D. Brown (Canterbury) and Miss P. Cooke (Auckland) beat R. Browning and Miss B. Gould (Canterbury), 6-2, 6-1. R. V. Robb and Miss J. Douthett (Wellington) beat J. Roach (Waikato) and Miss B. L. Bishop (Auckland), 6-3, 5-7, N. V. Edwards and Mrs Edwards (Wellington) beat B. J. Kelly (Wellington) and Miss D. Elsom (Canterbury), 6-0, 2-6, 7R. J. D. Sharpe and Miss M. J. Glenny (Hawke's Bay) beat E. S. • Falconer (Otago) and Miss M. Sexton (Manawatu), N. F. N. Bedford (Auckland) and Miss E. Plummer (Wellington) beat N. Adams and Miss J. H. Peake (Canterbury), 6-4, 8C. F. Penfold (Canterbury) and Miss T. Rice (Australia) v. F. H. Renouf and Miss J. Forrester (Wellington), 3-6, 6-3, 5-3 (unfinished). N. A. Morrison (Canterbury) and Miss J. Bedford (Wellington) beat S. Painter (Wellington) and Mrs Herrick (Hawke’s Bay), 5-7, 6-2, 6-2. N. G. Sturt (Auckland) and Miss M. Hardcastle (Australia) beat A. R. Cant and Mrs E. M. Peppier (Canterbury), 6-3, 6-2. Third Round C. Robertson (Otago) and Miss R. J. Wilson (Southland) beat P. D. McGregor and Miss I. Morrison (Canterbury), 6-4, 6-2, K. W. Dyer and Miss J. Burns (Wellington) beat I. T. Mayson (Auckland) and Miss T. Poole (Canterbury), 7-5, 7-9, 7-5. Men’s Plate : First Round ** B. J. Kelly beat N. Adams, 8-6, 6-1. C. F. Penfold beat M. Ferkins, 9-11, 6- 11-9. . D. Livingstone beat C. Robertson, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2. H. Dymond beat E. H. Orbell, 6-2, 0-6, 9-7. J. Roach beat S. Painter, 8-10, 6-4, 6-1. P. D. McGregor beat C. H. Baird, 6-0, 6-2. C. B. Beatson beat A. Burke, 7-5, 6-4. N. A. Morrison beat J. W. Arnold, 6-4, 7Second Round Roach beat Dymond by default. F. H. Renouf beat L. Morris, 7-5, 8-6. A. Roussell beat T. D. C. Childs, 6-1, 6-3. Women’s Plate First Round Miss M. J. Glenny beat Mrs N. V. Edwards, 6-2, 6-1. Miss P. Cooke beat Miss J. Burns, 6-3, 6Miss J. Senior beat Miss M. Sefton, 6-2, 6-1. Mrs C. B. Beatson bekt Miss J. H. Peake, 6-1, 6-4. Miss C. Chester beat Mrs Herrick, 6-3, 6-2. Miss J. Douthett beat Miss 1.. Poole, 7- 6-3. Miss N. Beverley beat Miss J. Forrester, 6-2, 6-1. TODAY'S MATCHES Following Is the draw for matches to be played, to-day:— • ■ 10.301 a.m.—Men’s plate: Donkin v. Falconer, R. McL. Ferkins v. Kelly, Penfold v. Livingstone, Corich v. Sharpe, Beatson v. Morrison.

11.30 a.m.—Women's plate: Miss Glenny v. Miss Cooke, Miss Chester v. Miss Douthett, Miss N. Beverley v. Miss Bedford.

1.30 p.m.—Men’s singles, quarter-final Gunn v. Barnett: men’s" plate, quarterfinals.

3 p.m.—Men’s singles quarter-final. Mayson v. Pattlnson. Mixed doubles; Angas and Miss I. Poole v. Livingstone and Miss N. Beverley, R. McL. Perkins and Miss Miller v. Edwards and Mrs Edwards, Patterson and Miss Wake v. Sharpe and Miss Glenny, Brown and Miss Cooke v. Robb and Miss Douthett, Bedford and Miss Plummer v. Penfold- and Miss Rice, Sturt and Miss Hardcastle/y. Morrison and Miss Bedford. 5 p.m.—Quarter-finals of mixed doubles, also men’s and women's plate events. Get that new Racket you need from the Canterbury Sports Depot, 113 Cashel street, any price from 12s 6d to 85s, or have your Racket restrung from 12s 6d to 355. Call in and see our splendid range. Everything for Tennis and all Summer Sports stocked. Quality the Best. C322S