LAWN TENNIS

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25092, 25 January 1947, Page 4

LAWN TENNIS

JUNIOR* TITLES RESULTS OF SEMI-FINALS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, January 24. V. Donnelly (Central Otago) and W. Keys (Taumarunui), two boys from tennis associations, eliminated their opponents in the semi-finals of the New Zealand junior lawn tennis championships which were continued to-day at Lower Hutt. A strong northerly wind blowing down the court made play difficult, but the wind was exploited to advantage by more experienced players. All the semi-finals were played and the finals will be held to-morrow.

A major surprise was the defeat of R. Arbuckle (Wellington) by W. Keys (Taumarunui) in a gruelling three-set game. Keys failed in the first set to settle down to the pace and depth of Arbuckle’s driving power. Playing confidently, Arbuckle took the first, set 6-3, without being fully extended. Using a fine backhand to advantage, Keys contested the second set with composure. His returns were hard and Arbuckle was often forced to abandon an offensive game because of splendid passing shots from Keys. The final stages of the second set proved the determining factor of the match. With the score at 10-10 in the second set, Keys pushed home a vicious series of attacks and gained the next two games to win by 12-10. By the third set Arbuckle had lost his hard service and his drives were of poor length. Keys continued his pace and by continuously hard corner drives and smashes, won the set without being troubled. ' . . , _ Using the strong down-court wind to strengthen his play, V. Donnelly showed good courtcraft in his match with A. Bailey (Christchurch). * He gained many points bv a heavily-chopped drop shot, followed' by clever crosscourt stroking. Playing with the wind, he forced his opponent to the back of the court by deep lobs and heavily chopped smashing. Bailey, who lacked the reach of his taller opponent, played a fairly sound game, but fell into many simple errors, maKing the game easier for his opponent. He was beaten 6-3 in the first set, but his game in the following set -, l^onn "*X was the more clever player and asserted himself in the latter stages. Miss -J. Dudding (Hutt beaten by Miss V. Johnson (Auckland) in one of the best at the tournament. Miss Dudding played an excellent game, but Miss Johnson was particularly strong in her overhead and varied her aggressive play with pentrating back-line drives. Miss E. Becroft (Auckland) beat Miss P G. Drower, another Auckland 6, ir J> in a hard-fought three-set match. Timing her shots well. Miss Drower won the first set. 6-3. A feature of her game was her fine cross-court shots. Miss Becroft es tabljshed herself in the second set, and by consistently hard stroking carried the following two sets, 6-4. 6-4. The two Hutt Valley boys. L. Douthett and W. Double, qualified for the finals of the boys’ doubles, by beating T. M. Cooper and J. R. Little, both of Auckland. The game was not of a very high standard, both sides dropping comparatively simple shots. Results:—

Boys’ Singles Semi-finals.—V. Donnelly (Otago) beat A. H. Bailey (Christchurch). 6-3, 6-4; W. Keys (Taumarunui) beat R. Arbuckle (Wellington). 3-6, 12-10, 6-1. Girls’ Singles Semi-finals.—Miss V. Johnson (Auckland) beat Miss J. Dudding (Lower 1-6, 6-2, 6-4; Miss E. Becroft (Auckland beat Miss P. G. Drower (Auckland), 3-6. 6-4, 6-4. Boys’ Doubles Semi-finals.—L. M. Otway (Auckland) and A. Mowbray (Auckland) beat W. Glass (Wellington) and D. L. Robinson (Wellington), 6-1. 6-2; L. Douthett (Hutt Valley) and W. Double (Hutt Vallty) beat T. M. Cooper (Auckland) and R. R. Little (Auckland), 6-1, 6-4. Girls’ Doubles Semi-finals.—Misses P. Wilson (Auckland) and P. Raines (Auckland) beat Misses S. Williams (Wellington) and P. Joplin (Wellington), 4-6, 6-4, 6-3; Misses V. Johnson (Auckland) and J. Burke (Bay of Plenty) beat Misses P. Moore (Hutt Valley) and B. Little (Hutt Valley) 6-3, 6-0. Mixed Doubles L. W. Double (Hutt Valley) and Miss J. Dudding (Hutt Valley) beat A. Mowbray (Auckland) and Miss J. Burke (Bay of Plenty), 6-2, 6-4; M. Otway (Auckland) and Miss V. Johnson (Auckland) beat B. Reynolds (Auckland) and Miss P Drower (Auckland), 6-0, 6-2.