TENNIS TITLES

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 104, 26 January 1933, Page 11

TENNIS TITLES

North Island Tourney SINGLES TO MALFROY Interesting Play Seen MISS WHYTE SUCCESSFUL Dominion Special Service. Masterton, Jan. 25. Practically all events Un the North Island Lawn Tennis Championship Tournament were concluded to-day. R. A. Court (Hawke’s Bay), holder of the men’s singles title,.was defeated in the final by C. E. Malfroy, while Miss M. Whyte (Wellington) retained the North Island women’s ■ championship. Both finals provided Interesting tennis, which at , times rose to great heights. • The tournament was scheduled to conclude to-day, but, owing to several players being in more than one event, it was found impossible to conclude a few events, including the combined championship doubles, and these will be completed tomorrow morning. The weather was perfect to-day and the finals were played before a fairly large gathering of enthusiasts. The tourney suffered, so far fcs entries were concerned, through its proximity to the Dominion fixture, but it has proved enjoyable for players and spectators alike and to-day there was little room for complaint regarding the quality of the tennis. The North Island and Wairarapa thampionship holders for the present season are:—Men’s singles: C. E. Malfroy (Wellington). Women’s singles: Miss M. Whyte ( Wellington). Men’s doubles: D. C. Coombe (Manawatu) and E. APearce (Wellington). Women’s doubles: Misses Macassey (Wellington) and B. Gould (Canterbury). Combined doubles: Undecided. Girls’ singles: Betty Bayton (Masterton). Boys' singles: J. W. Malfroy Gives True Norm. Malfroy gave an indication of his true form in his final with Court. He played tenuis that was always good and at times was magnificent. His driving was fast and deep, and his volleying crisp, while his court coverage was remarkable. His work at the net, too, was magnificent, and Court was subjected to some smashing attacking. Court stood up gallantly, however, and in the first set extended his opponent to 9—7. He sent across some unplayable balls, earning applause on several occasions by swift drives that left Malfroy standing at the net. Malfroy •> was pressed for time, as he wanted to leave by car for Palmerston North to connect with the Limited to-night in order that he might compete at the Auckland tourney to-morrow, and appeared determined not to let the game go past three sets. He took the first 9 —7 and, playing slashing tennis, won the second 6—2. He continued to force in the third set, and took the first game, but when Court took the following two he steadied down a little. He continued more coolly and won. the four following games, taking the match 9—7, 6 —2, 6 —2. J. N. Lowry (Hawke’s Bay) played the best tennis he has played for many a. year when he met Malfroy in the semi-finals of the singles. He found the Wellington crack too finished, but plugged at him gamely, chasing everything and making some amazing recoveries. Malfroy found difficulty in driving the Hawke’s Bay player’s shots, which had a great deal of work on them. He took the first set S —6. In the second set Lowry went into a 4 —2 lead with great angle shots at the net. Malfroy evened four each and took the following game with his service. Lowry dropped his service in the final game, giving Malfroy the match B—6, 7 —5. Both players were Oxford Blues. Fine Exhibition. The final of the women’s singles, in which Miss Whyte defeated Miss Howell, was a fine exhibition characterised by deep driving, baseline duels and occasional bright exchanges at the net. The overhead work of both players was a trifle inaccurate. Miss Howell put up a gallant fight, particularly in the second set, when she had her more experienced opponent on the defensive practically throughout. She varied her play nicely, driving deep to both wings with accuracy. Right through the match she had more pace and length on her balls than did the title-hold-er, whose recoveries, however, were at all times excellent. When Miss Whyte came to the net, her opponent frequently passed her with stinging sideline shots which were invariably winners. Playing at the top of her form. Miss iWhyte won the first set comparatively easily. In the second, however, Miss Howell, forcing the issue, assumed a load of 5—2. Miss Whyte’s steadiness told, and she evened up at 5-all. Fortunes fluctuated, and Miss Whyte finally took the set. match, and title, 9—7. Though she lacked Miss Whyte’s finesse and footwork. Miss Howell gave a fine display of free, vigorous hitting, but the remarkable manner in which Miss Whyte time and time again retrieved almost impossible balls had an unsteadying effect on her. Brilliant Overhead Work. The final of the men’s championship doubles between D. C. Coombe (Manawatu) and E. A. Pearce (Wellington) and P. Hawkesworth and G. A. Pearce (Otago), provided sparkling tennis. The overhead work of all four was brilliant, the smashing at the net of Coombe and Pearce being killing, and the volleying, particularly of the winning pair, crisp and accurate. Hawkesworth and Pearce took the first, two stats, 6—l, 7 —5. They made a magnificent recovery in the second set from I—4.1 —4. Coombe and Pearce showed an improvement in the next two sets, which they won, evening matters. In the last set they led 3 —l. Hawkesworth and his partner took the next set, but lost the three succeeding games, giving Coombe and Pearce the match, I—6, 5—7, 6—3, 6—2, 6—2. The final of the women’s doubles between Misses Macassey and Gould and Misses Whyte and Todd, also provided interesting tennis. Miss Macassey played an outstanding came, she and her partner won 6—3. 6 —3. Marathon of Tournament. The marathon of the tournament was * third round match in the championship combined doubles event between M att and B. Swainsou (Pahiaiua) and Longinorc and Miss Whisker (Wellington). The first set of the match went to 32 games. Watt and his partner finally won li —lu, The detailed results are as follow: — Championships Men’s Singles. Fourth round: Lowry beat Barrer, 6—3, ", t —s; Malfroy bent Perkins, 6—3, 6—2. Semi-finals: Court beat Coombe, 6—l, fr-3, 6—2; Malfroy beat Lowry, S—6, 7—5. Final: C. E. Malfroy (Wellington) beat It. A. Court (Hawke's Bay), 9—7, o—2, 6—2. Men’s Doubles. Semi-finals: Hawkesworth and G. A. Fearco beat Barrer and A’Court, 6-4, 6—l; Coombe and E. Pearce beat Court and K. Dyer. 6—o, 6—3. Final: D. C. Coombe (Manawatu) and 13. A Pearce (Wellington) beat P. Hawkesworth and G. A. Pearce (Otago), I—6, 5—7, 6—6, 6—2, 6—2. Women's Singles. Semi-finals: Miss Howell beat Miss Bell, 6—3 6—3; Miss Wbyte beat Miss G. Rutherford, 6—3, 3—6, 7—-o. Final: Miss M. Whyte (Wellington) beat Miss N. Howell (Hawke’s Bay), 6—o, B—7. Women's Doubles. Third round: Misses Bell and Sturrock heat Mrs. Major and Miss Haggltt, 6—2, <-3. Setni-flnal: Misses Macassey and Gould beat. Misses Hell and Sturroek, B—3, 6—l.

Final: Misses M. Macassey (Wellington) and B. Gould (Canterbury) beat Misses JL Wbyte and S. Todd (Wellington), 6—3, 6—3. Combined Doubles. Second round: Watt and Miss B. Swalnson beat Hobson and Miss Collier, B—7, 4— 6, 6—l; Khodes-Williams and Miss Gould beat Reeves and Miss Macassey, 6—l, 6—2. Third round: Robertson and Miss Haggitt beat Lowry and Miss P. Rldditord, 6—l, 6—3; Court and Miss Howell beat Campbell and Miss L. Rutherford, 6—l, 6—3; Coombe and Miss M. Rutherford beat Lampe and Miss Glennie, C—o, 6—l; Burns and Miss Todd beat E. A. Pearce and Miss Beetham, 3—6, 6—3, 6—1"; Rhodes-Williams and Miss Gould won from Tilbury and Miss V. Dyer by default; Watt and Miles B. Swainson beat Longmore and Miss Whisker, 17—15, 4—6, 6—4. Fourth round: Rhodes-Williams and Miss Gould beat Plank and Miss Gill, 6—2, 6—4; Robertson and Miss Haggltt beat Burns and Miss Todd, 6—4, 6—o; G. Pearce and Miss Pragnell beat Watt and Miss Swainson, I—6, B—6,8 —6, 6—4. Fifth round: Rhodes-Williams and Miss Gould beat Hodder and Miss Nathan, Girls' Singles. Third round: P. Riddiford won from N. Rishworth by default. Semi-final: P. Riddiford beat C. Smith, 6—3. 6—3; B. Payton beat J. Rutherford, 6 —3, 6—4. Final: Betty Pay ton (Masterton) beat Patricia Riddiford (Masterton), 6—3, 6—4. Handicaps Finals and semi-finals in the handicap events resulted as follow:— Men’s Singles. A grade semi-finals: Hobson (IS) beat Hawkes wood (25), 76—61; B. A. Barrer (scr.) beat J. Martin (14), 70—58. Men’s Doubles. A grade semi-finals: Whiteman and Hobson (22) beat Tatham and Bunny (25), 70 —61; Hawkesworth and G. Pearce (12) boat J. Martin and W. G. Martin (14), 70—57. Women’s Singles. A grade semi-finals: Miss Pragnell (13) beat Miss M. Collier (16), 50-35; Miss Sturrock (8) beat Miss Bell (8). 50—47. B grade semi-finals: Miss B. Barton (20) beat Miss J. Rutherford (13), 50—40. Final: Miss P. Hessell, Masterton (20), beat Miss B. Barton, Masterton (20), 50—42. Women’s Doubles. A grade semi-finals: Miss P. Betts and Wakelyn (20) beat Mesdames Bird and Dalziell (18), 50 —41; Misses Bradley and L. Rutherford (9) beat Mrs. Major and Miss Haggltt (10), 50—43. Final: Misses R. G. Bradley and L. Rutherford, Masterton (9), beat Misses P. Betts. Masterton, and Wakcly, Featherston (20). 50—38. B grade semi-finals: Misses P. Payton and B. Bunny (8) beat Misses J. Betts and C. Smith (8). 50—44; Misses J. Rutherford and J. Betts (20) beat Misses Barton and Barton (IS), 50—30. Final: Misses J. Rutherford and ,T. Betts, Masterton (20). beat Misses B. Payton and B. Bunny, Masterton (8), 50 —38. Combined Doubles. A grade semi-final: Johnson and Miss Bradley (19) beat Goodin and Miss Peters (20), 60—52. B grade final: P. Rishworth and Miss P. Betts, Masterton (6), beat J. Payton and Miss B. Bunny, Masterton (4), 61—59.