Lawn Tennis NORTH ISLAND TITLES

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28475, 3 January 1958, Page 11

Lawn Tennis NORTH ISLAND TITLES

Finals Reached In Singles

{New Zeatana Association) WELLINGTON, January 2.

A day of play that was free from surprise enabled New Zealand’s best tennis players to survive the tough competition of the North Island tennis championships, which approach, ed the final stages at Lower Hutt today Miss R. Morrison and J. E. Robson, of Auckland, and Miss S. Cox. of Wellington, have not yet been beaten in any of the three events R. S. McKenzie, of Wellington, is still in the men’s singles and doubles.

McKenzie and Robson, both former national title-holders, beat J R. McDonald and C. T. Parker respectively in the singles semi-finals Misses Morrison and Cox will meet in the women’s final as a result oi their easy wins over Miss P. Nettleton and Mrs H. Robson respectively In both singles and doubles, Robson looked the complete player. He produced a wide range of shots, and though the younger Parker was sometimes brilliant overhead and with his passing shots he could not match Robson as a tactician.

Though McDonald took a set from McKenzie in the other semi-final and played well, he went down to a better player. Suffering from a stomach upsei late in the day, Miss Morrison showed enough form to win all her matches. She met with surprisingly weak opposition from Miss Nettleton in the singles, but was really tested in the mixed doubles. Partnered by L. A. Gerrard against the young Canterbury players, G Judge and Miss J. Davidson, she lost the first set, but recovered during the next two.

Miss Cox, anxious to repeat her recent Auckland win over Miss Morrison, should* go close tomorrow if she maintains her form. Against Mrs Robson she produced patches of first-class tennis. Results today were:—

Men’s Singles.—Semi-finals: J. E. Robson beat C. T. Parker, 6-2, 6-2, 6-3; R. S. McKenzie beat J. R. McDonald, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, 7-5. Women’s Singles.—Semi-finals: Miss R. Morrison beat Miss P. Nettleton, 6-2, 6-2; Miss S. Cox beat Mrs H. Robson, 6-1, 6-2. Men’s Doubles.—Quarter-finals: R S McKenzie and j. E. Robson beat M Healy and J. Borough, 6-4, 6-4; G. K Roberts and F. Scarlett beat R. Sandilands and D. Higgins, 5-7.. 6-1, 6-4; J. R. McDonald and J. A Barry beat R. A. Wong and K. H. Long. 6-2, 6-0; L. A. Gerrard and C T* Parker beat R. Ferkins and B Shute. 6-2, 6-3. Semi-final: McKenzie and Robson beat Roberts and Scarlett, 6-1, 6-1.

Women’s Doubles.—Quarter-finals. Misses S. Cox and P. Nettleton beat Misses L. Luxton and J. Davidson. 6-0, 6-2; Misses D. Taylor and D King beat Misses V. Fiadgate and D Cummings, 6-2, 6-2; Mrs H. Robson and Miss - R. Morrison beat Misses J Burmeister and J. Burton. 6-0. 6-1; Misses B. Bryant and J. Glennie beat Misses G. Hopkinson and J Baigent. 6-4, 6-3 Semi-final: Mrs Robson and Miss Morrison beat Misses Taylor and King. 6-1, 6-2. Mixed Doubles.—Quarter-finals:’ J E Robson and Mrs Robson beat R Mahy and Miss D. Taylor. 6-1, 6-0; B. R Boon and Miss S Cox beat A Chester and Miss M Douglas, 6-2. 6-2; B E. Wool! and Miss B Bryant beat M. Healy and Miss L. Luxton. 6-1, 6-4; L. A. Gerrard and Miss R Morrison beat G. Judge and Miss J Davidson, 6-4, 6-3, 6-2.