Auckland's Strength In Womens Tennis

Press, Volume C, Issue 29433, 8 February 1961, Page 13

Auckland's Strength In Womens Tennis

ALTHOUGH Auckland’s male lawn tennis players have had several interesting matches in defence of the Wilding Shield in recent years, there appears little likelihood of that province losing the Nunneley Casket, for women's competition, for several sea-

This was well demonstrated at the end of last season when the New Zealand ranking lists were published. On the women’s list eight of the 10 players ranked were from Auckland, and on the junior girls’ list seven of the top 10 were from that province. This season's tournament results have confirmed this. Misses R. Morrison and A. Smith, the finalists in the national women’s singles for the last two seasons, are both from Auckland. They are well supported in their province by a number of other leading players. These were, the two top seeds in the recent national singles event, and the other eight included three more Aucklanders in Misses E. Green, V. fTSdgata, and H. Lockington. Miss Fladgate did not eventually play because of a leg injury. Miss B Wright was another Aucklander who reached the last eight at the national meeting. Her subsequent win in the Auckland intermediate title against a strong field of under 21 players stamps her as a player of great ability.

I Miss Green won the-national I junior title this season, beating 1 Mist Smith in the final and ! Miss P. Belton (Auckland) in ! a semi-final. Misses Belton and 1 P. O’Carroll (Auckland) won ! the national girls' doubles ’ title.

Miss P. Nettleton has recently returned to Auckland after two years ot play on the Continent, and she should be a Strength next season. In her last two seasons before going overseas Miss Nettleton was ranked second and third in the Dominion. Injury Mrs J. Tinnock, four times national champion and ranked second last season, intended to play in the main tournaments this year but was prevented from doing so by injury. Mrs H. Robson is another Aucklander who returned to play last season and gained a national ranking. Other top-flight Auckland women playing in club matches include Mrs R. Ferkins, formerly nationallyranked and this season runnerup in the New Zealand women's doubles, Misses D. Taylor, J. Glenie and B. Bryant, regularly on the national ranking lists for the last few seasons, and last year’s ranked juniors Misses G. Landells and C. Drummond.