LAWN TENNIS Finals Won In Two Sets; Waikato Success

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30041, 28 January 1963, Page 15

LAWN TENNIS Finals Won In Two Sets; Waikato Success

The last day of the national junior lawn tennis championships at Wilding Park on Saturday was something of an anti-climax with the strange result of all nine finals played being won in straight sets, some very comfortably indeed. The semi-finals on Friday were much closer contests. Perhaps the most notable other feature was the success for Waikato. That province had a winner in all four under 19 finals of the day and in two of the five under 17 finals after Waikato players had also won the mixed doubles on Friday.

This would suggest that Waikato will become the strongest tennis province in New Zealand but the junior leaders have not always progressed in senior tennis. For instance, little is now heard ot R. Welsh, of Southland, and C. Pascoe, ot Auckland, who contested the under 19 boys* singes final the last time the championships were played ait Wilding Park, in 1957.

The new singles titleholders are P. Thomaon (Waikato), under 19 boys; E. Terry (Waikato), under 19 girls); N. McAffer (Wellington), under 17 boys; and J. Hewitt (Waikato), udder 17 girls. Both Thomson and Miss Terry won three titles at the tournament because together they won the under 19 mixed doubles, Thomson won the boys’ doubles with D. Simmonds, of Auckland, and Miss Terry won the girls' doubles with S. Clement (North Shore).

In the under 17 section two players won two titles—Miss Hewitt, singles and doubles with Deidre Kerr-Taylor (Auckland); and G. Elliott (Northland), doubles with D. Cassidy (North Shove) and mixed doubles with M. McKegg, also of Northland. In fact, Elliott’s ability as a doubles player was one of the features of the last day. Won With Ease One major surprise was the ease with which Thomson beat his Orange Bowl teammate, J. S. Halligan, of Auckland. He conceded only one game, the fourth in the second set On play throughout the tournament it was thought the promising Halligan, aged 17, would give the 18-year-old Thomson a struggle but this was far from so.

It is hard to analyse the reasons for Thomson’s success. He usually beats Halligan and al the rest of them and only in one of bis four singles a>t the tournament did he drop more than two games. But he does not look a good stroke maker and when these two are seen separately it could hardly be imagined that the difference between Thomson and Halligan would be 12 games to 1. However, what Thomson lacks in style he makes up for with his high Ly-intelligent positional play, his very quick anticipation and his ability to drive bis opponents beck from attack to defence, often with discerning use of the lob. He is a big player and a powerful one and the slowness and lateness with which he makes some of his shots is deceptive because they have plenty of pace. Most of his shots are very wristy. Halligan did not play nearly as well as he did earlier in the

tournament and be was completely outclassed. But he still looks a fine prospect tor New Zealand tennis. Hta ground strokes are sound and hi, volleying Is sharp, but neither wpre UP to the standard he had shown with them previously. He was clapped roundly when

he got hie game in the second rat, but there was some dteKipointment to eee him beetan so easily.

set, but there was some disappointment to see him beaten so easily. Opposition Dropped In the under 19 girls’ final. E. Cavaye, of Hutt valley, gave Mias Terry a tasting tune in the first set, as she was expected to, but then her opposition dropped strangely away. Miss Terry won, 7-5, 6-1. Some of Miss Cavaye's shots were delightful to watch, but eventually she produced too few of these and too many errors, a lot of them into the net She was up against a calm and merctieas opponent who was very competent in almost everything she did. who concentrated much better than Miss Cavaye, and who was in superb touch with the lines. Mias Terry has fine volleys and smashes and she showed this again in her doubles win. As expected, McAffer turned out to be far and away the best of the under 17 boys when he beat D. Cassidy (North Shore). 6-1, 6-1. in the final. Cassidy looked veiy nervous and he did not do himself justice, especially in service. It is usually a strong one, but on Saturday it was of little advantage to him at all. He made a large number of early errors and he could never get out of the doldrums. On the other hand, McAffer. full of confidence again, covered every shot, moving smartly on his long, lean legs, and he cut his errors to a minimum. Cassidy could not afford the slightest error in judgment of position and he made many. The fine run of successes for C. Johnston (Waikato) came to an end when she met another Waikato player. Miss Hewitt. Like Cassidy, Miss Johnston also seemed nervous and she was not nearly as steadily accurate as Miss Hewitt in a game that was mainly a driving tussle. Miss Hewitt won, 6-3. 6-1; Miss Johnston was unseeded. Miss Hewitt seeded fourth.

Thomson and Miss Terry carried their singles form on to their doubles. Thomson was given fine support by the hardhitting Simmonds, and Miss Clement covered the court well as Mies Terry’s partner. Elliott was magnificent in the under 17 boys’ doubles and the mixed doubles. He has not a very strong service, but his play after that is just made tor doubles. Results:— UNDER 19 Boys’ Singles Final.—P. Thomson (Waikato) beat J. S. Halligan (Auckland), 6-0, 6-1. Girls’ Single, Final.—E. Terry (Waikato) beat E. Cavaye (Hutt Valley), 7-5, 6-1.-Boys’ Double, Final.—D. Simmonds (Auckland) and P. Thomson (Waikato) beat V. Fabian (Auckland) and S. Tietjens (Auckland), 6-4. 6-2. Girls’ Denbies Final.—S. Clement (North Shore) and I. Terry (Waikato) beat E. Cavaye (Hutt Valley) and L. Smith (Auckland), 6-1, 6-3. UNDER 17 Boys’ Singles Final.—N. McAffer (Wellington) beat D. Cassidy (North Shore), 6-1. 6-1. Girl,’ Single, Final.—J. Hewitt (Waikato) beat C. Johnston (Waikato), 6-3, 6-1. Boy,’ Double, Final.—D. Cassidy (North Shore) and G. Elliott (Northland) beat N McAffer (Wellington) and D. Scott (Auckland), 6-2. 6-4. Girl,’ Double, Final—J. Hewitt (Waikato) and Deidre Kerr-Taylor (Auckland) beat P. Rogan (North Shore) and B. Vercoe (Auckland), 6-4, 7-5.

Mixed Deobtoa Final.-G. Elltott (Northtand) and Mie, IL McKegg (Northland) best N. McAfler (Woffington) and Mte, Deters KarrTaylor (Auckland). 7-4. 8-4. PLATE FINALS Under 16 boys.—D. Hawks, (Wellington) boat G. Harris (Wellington). H 14, K Under IS Girte.—L. CuDsn (Southland) beat K. Gtetmy (Auckland). 6-3. 6-4. Under 17 Boys.—R. McLennan (Wellington) beet D. Kelly (Wellington), 6-4. 6-1. Under 11 Girl,.—M. Sewell (South Canterbury) beat M. Kent (WeUtogton), S-6. 6-3. 7-4.