NATIONAL TENNIS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 2, 4 January 1937, Page 4

NATIONAL TENNIS

KEEN PLAY AT TIMARU

ANGAS IN FINE FORM QUARTER-FINAL DAY (By Telegraph.) (From "The Post's" Special Keporler.) TIMARU, January 2. SDectacular tennis was seen in the quarter-final of the New Zealand championships between Angas and Roussell at Timaru today. Roussell was alternately brilliant and erratic. He missed many simple returns at the net, but won numerous hard-fought rallies with magnificent smashing and angled volleying. The one set lost by Angas was the only one he has lost this season.

\ Angas played exceptionally well, although at one time he was overshadowed by his opponent. Angas was much steadier and more accurate, his exceptional placements on the lines and in corners being a feature of the match.

Roussell showed lack of confidence in the opening stages and lacked depth in his drives, enabling Angas to get to the net. The Canterbury man angled his drives well and with more accurate confident placements took the first two sets, 6-2, 6-2. In the third set Roussell abandoned caution and recklessly attacked from the net, and with devastating smashes he ran up to a 3-love lead. With greater confidence he volleyed brilliantly and although he was frequently overhitting,' he outplayed Angas "with superior overhead and drop shots, taking the set 6-4. Roussell took the lead in the third set, but his erratic stroking on easy shots and a double-fault at 4-3 cost him the match. On his present form Angas's chances of the New Zealand singles title are very bright. Charters led in the first half of each of his three sets against Coombe and had an excellent chance of a 4-1 lead in the second set. He drove beautifully and volleyed well, but Coombe barraged his backhand and lobbed whenever Charters came to the net. The smashes of Coombe and Neal Edwards in the mixed doubles were the best seen in the championships. The slowness of the turf severely handicapped the play of Miss Mavis Howe in her match against Miss T. Poole. Although it was mainly a baseline encounter in which both players drove well. Miss Poole constantly varied the length of her drives and drop-shots, which Miss Howe was unable to reach. The courts dried rapidly and were in excellent condition for the matches played later in the day. ROUSSELI/S GREAT FIGHT. Roussell put up a spirited against Angas. He took the third set off the Canterbury man by effective driving, well-judged placements, and stop volleying which was delightfully crisp. The first six games and sot went on service but Roussell could not cope with Angas's steadiness and placements in the last three games. Miss M. Howe, second woman for Wellington, finished badly in her match against Miss Thelma Poole, who ranked fourth in the Dominion. The second set was h3rd fought but Miss Howe netted easy returns too often. Miss Poole was the more enterprising and deserved her Victory. The defeat of Miss Wilson (Southland) by Miss Bishop (Christchurch) completed the list of semi finalists in the women's singles. They are, Miss Dulcie Nicholls (Wellington), Miss Nessie Beverley (Waikato), Miss Noeline Bishop (Canterbury), and Miss Thelma Poole (Canterbury). On Monday Miss Nicholls will meet Miss Bishop, and Miss Beverley will meet Miss Poole. ' • ~ By defeating J. Charters (Auckland) D. Coombe (Wellington) earned the right to meet Angas (Canterbury) in the semi-flnal on Monday. BEDFORD BEATS FERKINS. In a brilliant five-set battle, the result being in doubt until the- end Noel Bedford defeated R. Ferkins in the quarter-final, the score being 1-6, 6-1, 6-1, 3-6, 6-4. Both players were right on form, and were driving magnificently. Ferkins was superior at the end, and was smashing very well. Bedford was placing his drives within inches of the sideline, his excellent passing shots being a feature of the game. His play, though brilliant, w.as inclined to .be erratic. The encounter was mainly from a distance. Ferkins frequently fought his way to the net only to be forced down the. line by fast drives. , Ferkins was smashing brilliantly and lobbed Bedford whenever he came to the net. Ferkins took his first set with difficulty. Bedford struck a brilliant patch placing in the corners many fine volleys and drives and took the next two sets with the loss of only two games. Ferkins's volleying was' again on top in the fourth set, but both players were fighting hard. Ferkins led in the final set but Bedford fought up to three all. The strain was too great and Ferkins double-faulted at the crucial moment. Bedford led 5-4, and with three successive unreturnable spin drives took the set and match. One of the big surprises of the afternoon was the defeat of Barnett by Sturt in straight sets, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4. It was mainly a baseline encounter with very hard driving, and long rallies. Barnett several times took the lead in the sets but could not maintain it. Using a large amount of spin, particularly on his backhand, he won many points, but Sturt was more accurate. There was very little opportunity for either player to get to the net. Excellent smashing and volleying

■was a feature of the mixed doubles; match, Neal Edwards and Miss Mavis Howe v. Seay and Miss T. Poole. Mis:: Howe drove across court well, but wai: not fast enough on the heavy court. Seay's reverse American serve caused his opponents a lot of trouble. Mis ; Poole volleyed well. At one stag : it looked as though Edwards and Mis; Howe would eliminate this very stron,; pair from the mixed doubles competition, but Miss Howe, despite the excellence of her driving, was unable to maintain the pace and the match was lost in the third set. Misses Nicholls and Howe were beaten in straight sets by Misses Bishop and Wake, who won on the superiority of their combination, speed, and volleying. There was a great battle in the final set. Some excellent tennis was seen :n the men's doubles. Wellington playe-s were successful in three of the five matches and only just lost the fourth. SPECTACULAR RALLIES. The match in which Coombe and Charters met Sturt and Gunn (Auckland) produced many spectacular rallies which evoked hearty applauss from the crowded gallery. The players fought out every point. Charters sometimes retrieved the apparently irretrievable. Both he and Coombe were superior in smashing although both netted a number of recklnss smashes. Charters's lobs were excellent but his drives at times were erratic. Coombe drove and volleyed well. Gunn, although he angled his volleys well, was not sufficiently severe with his smashes or deep lobs to prevent Charters from retrieving them. Sturt was at the top of his form end played beautiful passing shots end half-volleys.

Coombe and Charters won the first set, 7-5, by superior combination but had to fight hard in the second set, which they lost 5-7. The match became keener as it progressed, and in the. final sets both sides were showing the effect of the great pace. Charters and Coombe were more evenly paired and their better stroking and net play won them the final sets, 6-4, 6-4.

Ferkins and Roussell had lillle difficulty in their quarter-final, defeating Sandral and Latham 6-2, 0-4, 6-1. FevkiniJ was playing his best tennis for yea;:s. He was very steady and accurate in his volleying and driving and made exceedingly few mistakes. Roussell was good in his overhead volleys. and backhand. Roussell, although erratic, brought oft many brilliant strckes. Sandral and Latham, with their greater experience, combined well and their driving was good, but they could not stand the pace. Cant and Barnett had a terrific twohour battle against Edwards and McArtliur which was notable particularly for its long rallies. Honours were even until the last few moments .Edwards was particularly good in his smashing and his angled volleys were accurate. McArthur's drives and volleys when in the court were winners but very frequently they were netted. Ba-nett used considerable spin in his backhand. His driving down the lines was hard and accurate. Cant was in excellent form at the net and was lobbing well. With the match two sets all it appeared that the Wellingtoriians would defeat their redoubtable opponents but the pace was too great for them. Bedford and Dyer combined brilliance and erratic lapses in their victory over Macdonald and Smith. Dyer s backhand passing shots secured many points and Bedford played good angled volleys, but neither was at his best. Macdonald and Smith were both reliable in their driving and volleying.

Clow and Leng nearly took a set in th:;ir quarter-final from the very strong pair, Angas and Seay, but the greater experience of their opponents carried the day. Angas's sideline placements and volleys and Seay's service and half-volleys took the match in straight sets. Leng's low volleys skimming the net were excellent.

MEN'S SINGLES. Quarter-finals. G. Sturt beat K. A. Barnett, 7-5, 6-2, 6 X. F. Bedford beat R. McL. Ferkins, 1-6, 6-:, 0-1, 3-6, 6-4.

.MEN'S DOUBLES. Second Round. 'Ft. Dymond and W. E. Renton beat T. C. HiEl and S. McDougall, 6-1, 6-1, 6-4. 0. Antras and I. A. Seay beat A. D. Brown ard J. T. Mayson, 6-1, 6-3, 6-2. A. 1!. Cant and H. A. Barnett beat X. V. Edwards and C. T. McArthur, 7-5, 4-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4. X. F. Bedford and K. W. Dyer beat L. Macdonald and W. J. Smith, 3-6. 6-1, 7-5, 6-3. IJ. C. Coombe and .1. C. Charters beat X. G. StJrt and J. W. Gunn, 7-5, 5-7, 6-1, 6-i. Third Round. P. Angas and I. A. Seay beat D. Clow and J, Leng, 6-1. 6-2. 8-6. R. McL. Ferkins and E. A. Rmissell beat A. Latham and A. 15. Sandral, 6-2, 6-4, 6-1. WOMEN'S DOUBLES. Second Hound. Mrs. Beatson and Miss Could beat Misses Kerning and Ramsay, 6-3, 7-5. Misses N. G. Bishop and M. Wake beat Misses D. Nicholls and M. Howe, 6-1, 8-6. Misses T. and I. Toole beat Mrs. Peppier and Miss Wilson, 6-3, 10-8. MIXED DOUBLES. First Round. 11. Dymond and Miss X. Bishop beat A. D. Latham and Mrs. Latham, 7-4, 6-4. Second Round. 1. A. Seay and Miss T. Boole beat X. V. Edwards and Miss M. Howe, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. 11. Dymond and Miss X. Bishop beat O. Tearce and Miss X. Flemlnp, 6-3, <-5. . NEW ZEALAND PLATE. First Round. J. Roach beat B. Souter, 6-2, 5-7, 6-3. Second Round. C. Tenfold beat H. Shields, 6-1, 6-3. ,T. Roach heat W. McKlnnon, 6 ; 3, j-7 6-2. J. T. Mayson-beat E. talconer, <-0, W. Smith beat I. Mathieson, 8-6, 6-2. X. Edwards beat T. Morrison, 6-1, 6-3. R. G. Tattlnsoii beat G. C. Reld, 6-3, 3-6, C ~li. H. Lewis beat D. McCaAey. fi-l, 6-2. K. W. Dyer beat K. Mctallum, 0--, < ' \v !!• Renton heat .T. D. fi-3, 6-1. ('. Beatson beat T. -Hill, "-7. 10-S, 3-6 (re,irCC"' Third Round. T Rhodes-Williams bent A. Burke. 6i-1, 6-1. c! Tenfold beat W. Smith, i-J, 3-0, 6-». K. Vearee heat R. H. Lew ' s > 6 """ . ,1. Roach beat M. Sou T ter j, 8 ;?' Bo R R. G. Pattinson beat J. T. Majson, 6-3, 6 .. D. Livingstone beat W. E. Renton, 6--, , 7-3. WOMEN'S TLATE. First Round. jllss S. Anderson beat Miss D. Smythe, i-3, 1 Mrs. C. Beatson beat Miss D. Shlrtcliff, 6-3, 3 1h 8S K. Smythe won by default from Miss Fatchett won by default from Miss M Mis" d 1. 6 P001e won by default from Miss M. Drake. Second Round. Miss J. Eaton beat Miss K. Smythe. 6-0, G "mlss B. Gould beat Miss D- Patchett. 6-3, 10 Miss I. Toole beat Miss S. Anderson, 6-1, 6-1.

EAST HARBOUR TOURNEY

The East Harbou.- tennis results 01 mo ainirles—Final: Jenklnjlen's Championship Singles. nn.t son beat Shaw, 6-1. b- • sincles. —Final:

a Ml MeJT"ii™liMl| 6 ' Singles—Final: Dohorty (22) beat Wiggins (18) 60-54. Women's Handicap Slmlm.- , lnr fi .; r Small beat Miss D. Maslen bJI-4". Men's' 1 Handicap Doubles.-Flna : Irmes and Sinclair (30) beat Cross and McLarui ""women's Handicap Doubles.-Final: Miss Z. Castle and Miss Nichols beat Miss I. -mall and Mrs. McMlnn GO-46. Ml\ed Handicap Doubles.—beml-flnal. McLaren and Miss Castle Uo> beat Lonsmore and Miss Andrews (16) 60-54. F] na '• Mc Laren and Miss Castle beat Jackacti and Miss Warsaw (14) 60-56.