S.I. Tennis Titles WOOLF BACK AMONG LEADERS

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30635, 29 December 1964, Page 3

S.I. Tennis Titles WOOLF BACK AMONG LEADERS

(N.Z. Press Association) TIMARU, Dec. 28. Four seeded players, including the No. 2, J. B. Souter (Wellington), were eliminated in the second and third rounds of the men’s singles of the South Island lawn tennis championships which continued today at Maori Park, Timaru.

Displaying excellent form, B. E. Woolf (Auckland) was responsible for the upset victory over Souter. The top seeds, L. A. Gerrard (Auckland) and Miss R. Bentley (England), both had comfortable wins to reach the third and fourth rounds m the singles.

A heavy shower this morning delayed play for an hour, the weather was warm and clear with a light breeze off the sea.

After winning a marathon three-set match of 42 games over the New Zealand junior representative. G. Elliot (Northland), in the morning, Woolf rose to the occasion against Souter.

The former Davis Cup player was in punishing form, particularly at the net. He won, 6-4, 4-6, 6-5. Souter had

a bad time with his service and was often forced on the defensive.

Although his service was not particularly strong, Woolf was quick to follow through to a good attacking position at the net. He also maintained a good length with his ground strokes, from which he scored several fine winners.

A tiring A. S. Bums could not foot it with his fellowAucklander, D. Simmonds, in a third-round singles match and lost 9-11, 6-2, 7-9. It was a match full of errors. Easily the best match of the day was the third-round encounter between J. E. Robson (Auckland) and C. G. Judge, of Canterbury. Robson won, 4-6, 9-7, 6-2. Hitting the ball with great power Judge took the first set 6-4 and looked like taking the second, and the match, when he was leading 3-1 and Robson was finding many of his forehand returns unbeatable.

But Robson gradually improved and. by hard volleying, forced his way back into the picture. It was level pegging until 8-7, when Judge dropped his service and allowed the Aucklander to take the set. Robson dominated the third set, although Judge fought tenaciously. The first seed to be beaten

was the No. 7, P. Becroft (Auckland), who went down to B. Taylor (Wellington), 6-3, 7-9, 4-6. The New Zealand junior champion, N. C. McAffer (Wellington), had a strong work out in the third round against S. Halligan (Auck-

land), the No. 8 seed, whom he beat in straight sets. Results: Men’s Singles Third Round.—N. C. McAffer (Wellington) beat S. Halligan (Auckland), 7-5, 6-2; R. G. Clarke (Wellington) beat R. McCutcheon (Wellington), 7-5, 6-2; L. A. Gerrard (Auckland) beat D. Cassidy (Auckland), 6-2, 6-3; R. N. Hawkes (Wellington) beat J. Mitchell (Canterbury), 7-5, 6-4; J. E. Robson (Auckland) beat C. G. Judge (Canterbury), 4-6, 9-7, 6-2; B. E. Woolf (Auckland) beat J. B. Souter (Wellington), 6-4, 4-6, 6-3; D. Simmonds (Auckland) beat A. S. Burns (Auckland), 11-9, 2-6, 9-7; B. Taylor (Wellington) beat W. Davis (Canterbury), 6-1, 6-2. Women’s Singles Second Round. —Miss R. Bentley (England) beat Miss C. Fleming (Auckland), 6-2, 6-1; Miss E. Terry (Waikato) beat Miss C. Andrew (Canterbury), 6-2, 6-0; Miss B. Vercoe (Auckland) beat Miss M. McGrath (South Canterbury), 6-0, 6-2; Mrs R. Davy (Canterbury) beat Miss M. McKegg (Northland), 6-1, 6-2; Mrs E. Mitchell (North Shore) beat Mrs M. Rennie (Otago), 8-10, 6-1, 6-2. Men’s Doubles Second Round.—Robson and Burns beat B. McLauchlan and J. Kelland (South Canterbury), 6-3, 6-1; Hawkes and Cassidy beat G. L. Bird and J. Mirfin (South Canterbury), 6-2, 6-1; McCutcheon and Taylor beat G. McEachran (Southland) and D. Meredith (Canterbury), 6-4, 6-0. Women’s Doubles . .Quarter-finals. — Mrs E. Mitchell (North Shore) and Miss E. Terry (Waikato) beat Mesdames M. Rennie (Otago) and C. Liddell (South Canterbury), 6-1, 6-1; Misses Bentley and S. Clement (North Shore) beat Misses Vercoe and A. Woods (Canterbury), 6-1, 6-0.