NUNNELEY CASKET Waikato Strong And Well Balanced

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30687, 1 March 1965, Page 3

NUNNELEY CASKET Waikato Strong And Well Balanced

"The Press’’ Special Service HAMILTON, February 28. Strength from top to bottom was the deciding factor in Waikato’s 9-3 win over Canterbury in its Nunneley Casket tennis challenge at the Lugton Park courts, Hamilton.

Canterbury had the current New Zealand champion, Mrs R. Davy, as its top player, and she was the only Canterbury player to win a singles. By winning both their singles against the Canterbury third and fourth, Misses D. Smith and S. Field, Miss B. Paterson and Mrs V. Morrison, formerly Miss V Fladgate made the breaks needed for a Waikato win. This plus the fact that Miss J. Davidson, a former national singles title-holder, was beaten in both her singles, gave Waikato and overwhelming advantage. Down 2-4 after the first day’s play, Canterbury hopes brightened when Mrs R. Davy scored a straight set win over Miss E. Terry, top for Waikato. Miss Davidson was expected to be too good for Mrs J. Bignell, and it looked as if Canterbury might draw level. LIFTED GAME Mrs Bignell lifted her game and swept Miss Davidson off the court, winning the second set at 6-1 after taking the first set, 64. Waikato played well as a team. Although beaten by Mrs Davy, Miss Terry and Miss Bignell struck big blows for their side in downing Miss Davidson. Miss Terry and Mrs Paterson have both had stomach trouble, but the way they played both their doubles matches must have been a big relief to the Waikato selector. Mr J. D. Bruce. Miss Paterson and Mrs Morrison were sound and very constructive. It would be hard to find a better number three and four combination in New Zealand. Mrs Davy was all one could expect. She played extremely well in both her singles and showed the Waikato public she is in a class of her own. Miss Davidson was a disappointment. She looked to have the better of Miss Terry

after winning the second set, yet let the game slip away from her control at the vital stage. Misses Smith and Field stuck to their tasks admirably but were up against a better pair in Miss Paterson and Mrs Morrison.

On Saturday, Miss Smith lost her first set against Mrs Morrison, 10-12, after holding a 5-2 advantage, while in her second singles, she went through the second set against Miss Paterson without dropping a game.

Results were (Waikato names first):—

Saturday Singles.—Miss E. Terry beat Miss J. Davidson, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4; Mrs J. Bignell lost to Mrs R. Davy, 1-6, 4-6; Miss B. Paterson beat Miss S. Field, 6-3, 6-3; Mrs V. Morrison beat Miss D. Smith, 12-10, 6-4.

Doubles.—Misses Paterson and Terry beat Misses Field and Smith, 6-2, 6-4: Mesdames Bignell and Morrison lost to Mrs Davy and Miss Davidson, 4-6, 5-7.

Sunday Singles.—Miss Terry lost to Mrs Davy, 2-6, 3-6; Mrs Bignell beat Miss Davidson, 6-4, 6-1; Miss Paterson beat Miss Smith, 7-5, 0-6, 6-3; Mrs Morrisori beat Miss Field, 6-3, 6-3.

Doubles.—Misses Paterson and Terry beat Mrs Davy and Miss Davidson, 9-7, 1-2 (unfinished); Mesdames Bignell and Morrison beat Misses Smith and Field, 7-5, 6-1.