Sixth Title To Gerrard

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30938, 20 December 1965, Page 3

Sixth Title To Gerrard

<\eu> Zealand Pref A facial ion) WELLINGTON. The New Zealand Davis Cup play* er, L. A. Gerrard, won his sixth Welling* ton men’s singles tennis title at Central Park yesterday, beating the Wellington player, J. B. Souter, 0-6, 6-2, 7-5, 6-3, in the final.

The women’s singles champion is the top New Zealand junior. Miss B. Vercoe, of Auckland. She beat Miss M. McKegg (Northland), 6-3,6-3. The men's doubles champions are R. G. Clarke and Souter, who boat the juniors. J. Mitchell (Canterbury) and O. Parun (Wellington), 6-2, 64,64.

Gerrard punctuated a game of power and many fine shots, especially off his backhand

and at the net with numerous errors and a number of netted serves. Souter’s movement around the court and his tenacity were the main features of his ptey. Gerrard made one mistake after another in the first set and failed to win a game. But it was a different story in the second set, with Gerrard hitting out freely off both forehand and backhand wings and volleying surely in the forecourt. The third set was notable for a number of remarkable recoveries made by Souter. Time and again Gerrard would smash and drive wide, and Souter would be there, picking up the shot, often returning it so well that Gerrard would be forced on the defensive. In the fourth set Gerrard was on top. A number of netskiinming drives sped from his racket and although Souter tried gallantly to stay with Gerrard, the greater power of the champion prevailed. Showed Better Form Much of the interest on finals’ day was centred around a special match between the Auckland junior, B. F. Fairiie, and R. G. Clarke, of Wellington. Fairiie, showing much better form than he did when losing, 14, 4-6, to Parun on Saturday, beat Clarke 6-1, 8-10, 6-4. Fairlie was in complete control in the first set He served magnificently and hit returns of service with pace and direction. He was down, 24, in the second, caught up to lead 54, and held a match point But Clarke’s fighting qualities enabled him to stay in the match. Fairiie got the early break in the final set and kept it to take the match. Results:— Man** Single, Seml-finale—L *. Gerrard beat R. G. Clarke. «-4, S-J s-3-Souter be,t *■ N - Hawkes. •-’• J-5, •-»- Final: Gerrard beat Souter, 0-S, S-2, 7-5, S-3. Wamaa'e Sinaia, Seml-flnai, —isina B. Verroe H*" D. Kerr-Taylor, SI. S-l; Mia, M. McKegg beat Men K. Rower, S-4, 10-S. Final: Mlm Vercoe beat Miao McKegg, S-J, Maa', Datable, Seml-flnal.—J. MMchell and O. Parun beat R. N. and D. Havrkeo S-l, J-S, S-J. S-3. Final: R. G. Clarke and J. B. Souter and Parun, S-2, Women's Doubler Plnat.—lUaa I. Vauee and Mtae T. McGregor beat Mie, J. KerrTaylor and IHoa M. McKegg, 3-7.