TENNIS TITLES

Evening Post, Volume CXXIX, Issue 33, 8 February 1940, Page 13

TENNIS TITLES

PLAY AT MIRAMAR

WIND TROUBLESOME

DOUBLES MATCHES

Bright sunshine did little to compensate xor the high gusty northerly wind which continued for today's play in the Centennial tennis tournament at Miramar. The wind had a marked effect on the performances of the majority of players. The Australians, ir. particular, were unable to display their best form, but for the most part Were still too strong for the opposition.

Despite the upsetting conditions, there was some excellent tennis, especially in the mixed doubles match between Edwards and. Mrs. Hatherley and Angas and Miss T. Poole, the issue of which was always in doubt.

The first major upset of the tournament came with the defeat of the mixed doubles title-holders, Sturt (Auckland) and Miss M. Hardcastle (Australia) by R. Howe (Wellington) and Miss M. Beverley (Waikato), 6-2, 6-2. The losers could not master the wind. Howe was in good fettle.

C: .wford and Miss N. Wynne (Australia) had more trouble with the gusts than with their opponents, Penfold (Canterbury) and Miss M. Howe (Wellington) in their third-round match and lost only two games. Miss Wynne played confidently, but Crawford was content just to shade the opposition without unnecessary exertion. Bromwich and Miss T. Coyne (Australia) sportingly refused to accept default from Pountney (Auckland) and Miss N. Beverley (Waikato) when Pountney . was unavoidably delayed in arriving at the court. The match resulted in an easy win for the Australians, who lost only four games.

The gusts of wind were not so frequent after .: luncheon and improved tennis was seen.. .

Angas's ability to score from the net was a deciding factor in his match against R. McKenzie, the New Zealand junior singles champion, who, however, played with his usual steadiness and drove most effectively.

Edwards, the New Zealand singles champion, had an unusually long tussle with Pearce and displayed some of his best form. ■ ■ :

S. Painter (Wellington) made an excellent showing against. Crawford in their third-round match, in which at the time of going to press Crawford was leading two sets to one. Bromwich was having little difficulty with M. J. Corich (Canterbury) and the Australian _Barnes was leading D. G. France (Wellington) by two sets to one.

Howe was two sets down to A. D. Brown, a former New Zealand champion, but took the next two with accurate positional play and the fifth and final set after one of the most spirited tussles of the tournament. Both1 Brown and France, whom the Australian Barnes beat in straight sets, were seeded players. . Results are as follows: — ... MIXED DOUBLES, Second Round. „ N. V. Edwards and' Mrs; I. Hatherley beat C. Angas and Miss T. Poole, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. . A. R. Barnes arid Miss P. Cooke beat R.-G* Patterson and-Miss K. Armstrong, 6-3, 7-5. R. V. Robb and Miss J. Douthett beat P. Ilawkesworth and Miss R. Wilson, 8-10, 6-1, 8-6. Third Round. J. H. Crawford and Miss N. Wynne beat C. F. Penfold and Miss M. Howe, 6-1, 6-1. P. Howe and Miss M. Beverley beat N. G. Sturt and Miss M. Hardcastle, 6-2, 6-2. J. Bromwich and Miss T. Coyne beat W. T. Pountiiey and Miss N. Beverley, 6-2-6-2. WOMEN'S SINGLES. Third Round. Miss N. Wynne (Australia) beat Miss D. Miller (Otago), 6-3, 6-1. MEN'S PLATE. Second Round. A. R. Cant (Canterbury) beat R. J. Sharpe (Hawke's Bay), 6-1, 8-6; 8,. Ferkins (Wellington) beat J. Foster (Wahganui), 6-1, 6-4; J. Hamilton (Wellington) beat F. H. Renouf (Wellington), 6-3, 6-1; S. S. Hooper (Manawatu) beat E. Walker (Wellington), 0-6, 8-6, 6-2; E. D. Falconer (Otago), beat I. Willis (Wellington), 4-6, 7-3, 6-4. MEN'S SINGLES. Third Round. C. Angas (Canterbury) beat R. McKenzie (Wellington), 6-3, 6-3, 7-5. " N. y. Edwards (Wellington) beat G. A. Pearce (Wellington), 7-5, 6-2, 7-5. R. Howe (Wellington) beat A. D. Brown (Canterbury), 2-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-0, ■8-6. R. Barnes (Australia) beat D. G. France (Wellington), 6-3, 6-3, 6-2. WOMEN'S PLATE. Second Round. Miss M. Kerr (Otago) beat Miss E. Attwood (Manawatu), 6-1, 6-2. ,