PERRY WINS MORE

Evening Post, Issue 25, 30 January 1935, Page 15

PERRY WINS MORE

DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIPS

FINAL DAY'S PLAY

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) AUCKLAND, January 29

Some brilliant tennis was witnessed by a'large gallery at the Stanley Street courts this afternoon, when the remaining finals of the New Zealand chamrjiooships were decided in bright sunshine.

Tho new title holders are:— Men's Singles.—F. J. Perry (England). Women's Staples.—Miss Dulcle Nlenolis (Wellington), Men's Doubles.—F. J. Perry (England) and D. G. France (Wellington). Women's Doubles.—Miss Duloio Nicholls (Wellington) and Miss Nessle Beverlcy (Matamata). . „ Combined Doubles.—F. J. Perry (England) and Miss Shirley Whlttaker (Vic°Meii's Intermediate Singles.—N. Bedford (Wellington). «.,,«■ 1 Women's fjermo^te Slnoles.—Miss Margaret Beverlcy (Matamata). Boys' Singles.—R. G. Pattinson (West Coast). Girls' Sinoles.—Miss Margaret Beverley (Matamata). ~ _ . Boys' Doubles.—C. F. Penfold (Canterbury) and R. G. Fattinson (West Coast). Girls' Doubles.—Miss P. Cooke (Auckland) and Miss Margaret Beverley (Matamjunior Combined Doubles.—C. F. Penfold and Miss Ft. Bsrry (Canterbury).

The fact that Perry, the Wimbledon and United States champion, and A. A. Kay and the other young Victorian, R. VV. Ewin, were playing in the finals lent unusual 'interest to the matches. Playing with tennis artistry seldom before seen in the Domtoioa, J'erry defeated Kuy ■ m straight Bets, although the young ' Victorian gave a fine performance in a match which delighted the crowd with the brilliance of the play and the' variety ot strokes it produced. Perry and France accounted for tt.ay and Ewin in straight sets. All four players gave of their best, although the Victorians made more mistakes than their

opponents. . Miss Nicholb, ranked as No. 1 m ftevr Zealand, disposed o£ the Aucklander Miss Marjorie Macfarlane without losing a- set, and partnered by Miss Beverley, she also prevailed in the women's doubles over Mrs W. J. Melody. (Wellington) and Miss Shirley Whittaker (Victoria). Playing tennis of a high standard, the promising Wellington player tf. .Bedford won the intermediate title in straight sets from A. D. Brown, but not until the Auckland youth had taken five games in a desperate bid to win the second set. COMMENT ON PCAY. Neither Perry nor Kay had lost a set during the earlier rounds, and each stroked with confidence in their preliminary; hitup. Both players stroked well with crisplyhit drives, Perry forcing-his opponent into errors. The Wimbledon champion forced the pace from ithe backline, but went to the net successfully on occasions. . Be mt terrific drives from difficut positions. By annexing the title Perry added another championship to his long list of successes. Although the result may have been a foregone conclusion, tho full .galleries en-] thusiastically gave applause to merited | shots by both players. Miss Nicholls, the 1929 and 1932 New Zealand champion, and Miss.Marjone Macfarlane, seven times the Auckland champion, contested the final in the women* singles. The first set was very keenly contested, Mies Nicholls prevailing 04. bhe maintained a consistent length, beveral of the games were productive of long rallies, the Aucklander being kept on the -run along ,the biwdine. Miss Macfarlane 'seemed to tire as'the second eet progressed, and her opponent did most of the attacking. Miss Nicholls displayed a far greater variety of strokes, the chief of which was a cut forehand drive. ■ The match may be summarily described as ,an exhibition of safe returns by the Aucklander, which was not sufficient to withstand the more varied attack of the champion. , 'Perry and France met Kay and Kwin (Australia) .in the final •of tha mec s doubles championship. The. crowd had grown somewhat impatient at a wnull delay, and clapped gently while awaiting the players. ' Prolonged applause greeted their entry on the courts. No doubles cpuld have been brighter, the players bitting through the openings crisp and hard and exchanging quick volleys which thrilled the crowd. Kay directed his side 8 attack to France, who played well 'under the strain of the concentrated attack. The Australians, in putting up their bright display against formidable opposition, just failed to control the net as well as many of their fellow-countrymen, and their return of service was not as consistent as that of their opponents,, beautiful shots alternating with errors. Perry was the outstanding player, showing much more determination and .concentration than in the previous encounters. He made somo remarkable returns from all , kinds of angles. His driving from the back of the court wan powerful and1 well directed, frequently, giving his opponents no chance of recovery. Ewin served strongly, and many of his brilliant cross-court placements were unreturnable.

In the final of the women's doubles clinmpionship, Miss Whittakcr, the No. 3 Victorian player, was partnered by Mrs. Melody, already four tiroes winner of the doubles title, in 1921, 1023, 1924, and 1930. Their opponents were .Miss Beverley (Waikato), who was playing in her second New Zealand championship meeting, and Miss Nicholls (Wellington), who is better known in eingles play. This pair had narrowly avoided defeat in an- early round. Misses Nifholls and Beverlcy certainly played with greater confidence and less error than in the early round. Both were severe overhead arid drove power. Mrs. Melody wae but a shade of her: old self, but u«ed her head well to save her feet.' She could not, however, manage lobs over her head, but did better when she' employed her heavy «hced drive from the back of the court. Miss Whittaker by no means lowered her reputation, playing -well from the net and the back line.

Detailed results are as follows:— Men's Singles. 1 Final, F. J. Perry (England) beat A. A. Kay (Victoiia), 6-2, 6-3, 6-2. Men's Doubles. Final. F. J. Perry (England) and D. O. France (Wellington) beat A. A. Kay and R. W. Ewin (Victoria), 6-4, 6-4, «-3. Women's Singles. X^inal, Miss Dulciq JNicholls (Wellington) beat Miss Marjorie Macfarlane (Auckland), 0-4, 6-3. Women's Doubles. - Final. Miss Dulcie Nicholls (Wellington) > and Miss Nes>sie Beverley (Matamata) beat Mrs W. J. Melody (Wellington) and Miss Shirley Whittaker (Victoria), 6-2, 6-4. Men's Intermediate Singles. L Final, N Bedford (Wellington) beat A. D. Brown (Auckland). CO, 7-5. Women's Intermediate Singles. Final. Miss Margaret Beverley (Matamata) beat Miss Betty Griffiths (Auckland), 8-C, 7-5.