MATCHES AT MIRAMAR

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 1, 2 January 1932, Page 13

MATCHES AT MIRAMAR

WELLINGTON CHAMPION-

SHIPS

Play was continued in the Wellington Lawn Tennis championships at the Miramar Grounds to-day, the- brilliant day being somewhat marred by wind.

In the semi-finals of the women's first graded singles there were two hard fights, Miss M. Whyte offering strong opposition to Mi;s I>. Nicholls, while Mrs. T>. G. Prance scored a straightsets win against Miss D. Howe. Miss Whyte was hitting with accuracy and making good placements, and led 5-4 and 6-5 in the opening set against Miss Nieholls. Down 1-3, Miss Why to took the score'to 3-all and after 3-4, began a patch of fine hitting which gave her an excellent chance of winning the set. Breaking through her opponent's service twice, Miss , Whyte failed . to take full advantage of her chance, while Miss Nicholls steadied up her play. When she had her first winning lead, Miss Whyte dropped service after a double deuce and though she led again at 6-5 after, breaking through Miss Nicholls's delivery without loss of a single point, Miss Nicholls spurted and lost only three points in the next three games, winning the set 8-6 and the match 8-6, 6r4. . ■ ;

Mrs. D. G. France was "steadier aiid more forceful than Miss D. Howe, and won 6-3, 64, showing a clear margin of superiority in a match which was a base-line duel with, both girls moving fast. Mrs. France scored many points by good driving. . ; . '.'"'■.

N. R. C. Wilson failed to show.good form against A. L. Franco when they1 met in the semi-final, but won in straight sets nevertheless. Wilson was down 1-3 in the first set and 2-3 in the second'and France had a chance to make the sets even, when he was ahead for the last time at. 5-4. Wilson was erratic with his ground shots and was not able to maintain his usual net attack, while France often took the offensive, ran his opponent-about, and went in to finish rallies with neat volleying. Wilson's shots were powerful, though not always well-directed, but his service and volleying were Bound and he carried too much p,unch in his forehand for France. The latter relied chiefly on. steadiness, and gained: many .points on. errors made by Wilson, ifrom shots played straightback to him; Whenever Wilson opened 'out, however, France had no chance. ■ R. Mcl/. Ferkihs fought > valiantly against iD.Gv France in the semi/final of the men's first-grade singles, but was overwhelmed by superior -power and placement. , Ferkins gave as much as he received, and frequently had Franco defending against hot attacks, but the latter's greater control and superior strokes turned the match in his.favour. . ,'-.\ Results follow:— FIRST GRADE. Men's Singles. Third Round: R. McL. Ferkins beat C. A. Wilkinson, 6-1, 6-4. Semi-final: N. R. C. Wilson beat A. li. France, 6-4, 8-6. .-■■'••■• Semi-final! D. G. France beat R. McL. Ferkins, 6-3,, 6-3, ■ Women's Singles. Semi-finals: Miss D. Nicholls beat Miss M. Whyte, 8-6, 6-4; Mrs. D. G. France beat Miss D. Howe, 6-3, 6-4. Final: Miss M. Whisker beat Mrs. Latta, 3-6, • 6-1, 6-4. Men's Doubles. Second Round: France and France beat Clark and Sykes, 6-1, 6-o;.Buijns and Watt beat Byng and Lander, 3-6,' 6-3, 6-1. ' Women's Doubles. Semi-final: Misses D. Howe and D. Nicholls beat Mrs. D. G. France and Miss V. Dyer, 6-2, 6-1. Semi-final. Mrs. Campbell and Miss M. Maeassey beat Misses S. Tofld and M. Whyte, 7-5 8-10, 6-4. . Mixed Doubles, Second .Round: Wilson and Miss Todd beat Tilbury and Miss Dyer, 7-5. 6-2. Second round: -Pollock and Miss Line beat Evans-Scott and Miss V. Wheeler, .6-3, 3-6, 6-1. SECOND GRADE. Men's Doubles. Semi-finals: Armes and Manoy beat Bedford and Fisher, 5-6, 6-4, F-4. Men's Singles; Third round: Tilbury won from Suisted by default. Carstens beat Reeves, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2. Pollock beat Fisher, 6-5, 6-4. Mixed Doubles. „ Second Round: Evans-Scott, and Miss Wheeler beat Gibson and Miss Burns. 6-1, 6-5. THIRD GRADE. Men's Singles. Semi-finals: E.. Page beat W. Johnstone, 6-3, 6-3; J. Moffatt beat J. Kingham, 6-1, 6-0. • Final: Page beat Moffatt, C-2, 6-3. Women's Singles. Final: Miss I. Small beat Mrs. Heard, 6-0, 6-4. Men's Doubles. - Semi-final:,Moffatt and Osbornebcat Calcinai and Lawer, 6-1, 6-5.