Rain Stops Play in Tennis Competitions

Franklin Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 22, 26 February 1940, Page 5

Rain Stops Play in Tennis Competitions

FRANKLIN’S ILL LUCK SERIES OF WET WEEK-ENDS FIXTURES AGAIN POSTPONED The heavy rain on Saturday once more stopped all play in the Franklin Lawn Tennis Association’s inter-club matches, and this being the fourth occasion on which this has occurred it has left the association in a very awkward position in trying to find the winners of the B and C grades. In most, cases no matches have been played in the second half of the programme and steps will now have to he taken to select the leading teams and play them against each other in the few remaining Saturdays of the season. .In the A grade, Pukekolie will play \Vaiuku on March 9 and in the reserve A grade Pukekolie and Te Toro will play their programme match and the result of this will decide the championship in this grade.

FRANKLIN v. LOWER WAIKATO ANNUAL MATCH PLAYED FRANKLIN VICTORIOUS During the week-end Ihe annual match between the representatives of the Franklin and the Lower Waikato sub.-associations was played on the Pukekolie courts. The match resulted in a substantial win for the Franklin players who proved to be stronger .all round, ’especially on the men’s side. Neither team was fully representative as substitutes bad to lie played in two or three positions in each learn, but this only applied to Hie tail end. The leading players of bolb associations were included in the lirsl six or seven of each side. A very slrong gusty wind made good tennis very difficult and no doubt affected some of the results, but. on the whole the games were well contested and in some cases the tennis reached a high standard.

Franklin’s No 1 Defeated .1. Menzies, a veteran .player, lirsl .man for Lower Waikato, put up an excellent performance in heating K. Clark in straight sets. He proved distinctly a class above any oilier player -on his side. His pace and halt control makes him a difficult proposition for any players. Clark was rather disappointing and seemed to he greatly troubled by the conditions, hut on the whole this was a good exhibition ■of tennis. In the other men s singles Franklin had a distinct superiority, winning all but one in straight sets. Aitkenhcad, Bayly and Lynn were placing well and the opposition was hardly good enough to extend them fully. R. Saddleton and Abbott had an excellent match and the latter appeared to he playing in a much lower position in the team than his abilities warranted. C. Morrin, the veteran, playing substitute, had the only three set match in the men’s singles and showed some glimpses of his old lorm in the thud .set.

The ladies’ matches were much better contested and on the day the teams finished equal in this department dividing the honours evenly in both singles and doubles. Four of the eight ladies’ singles went the full three se ts and these were some of the best matches of the day. Miss Hayes won decisively against Mrs Emmerson, Miss Barker had her usual "marathon,” meeting in Mrs Farrell a player equally as steady as herself. This match was the longest of- the day going well over two hours. Miss Sutcliffe was not at her best in the first set against Miss Heskett but only narrowly missed taking the second. Miss Lawrie started well hut once Mrs Black settled down she won easily. Miss Scott had a good win over Mrs Berry and Miss N. Thomson, although beaten, put up a great fight against Mrs Lamare. Miss M Thomson, her sister, had another “marathon” with Miss McNamara, winning well in the third set. Miss Sujrtner. playing substitute, was well beaten by Miss Knapper. a young playe. of great promise.

Local Wen Excel in Doubles

In the doubles the Franklin men won three out of four and these matches provided the besl tennis ol the day. Clark and Ailkenhead had a hard hitting match with Menzies and Sampson, winning in straight sets. Bayly and. Lynn had a three-setter with Hill and Abbott who showed a good knowledge of the doubles game. Saddleton and Willis won from Parsons and Wilkinson in straight sets, the latter doing well to reach five-all in the second. McDonnell and Morrin, a combination of Ihe oldest and youngest members of the team, had a good three-setter with Barnes and Collins and lost the third after having a four —one lead. The ladies’ doubles were a repetition of the singles, three out of four going to three sets. Only four of the eight combined matches were played and Franklin won all of these. The following arc the details, Franklin names mentioned first: Mpn’s singles: K. Clark lost to J. Menzies, 2—6, 4—6; .T. Aitkenhead beat -L Barnes, 6—2, 6 —3; I. Bayly beat R. Sampson, 6—l. 6—4; R. Lynn

Franklin Wins byp 20 to 8 heat H. Hill, 6 —2, 6—2: It. Saddleton heat Abbott, G—s, 6 —a; G. Willis heal. Collins, 6—f>, 6—4: D. McDonnell beat Parsons, 6—3, 6 —4 ; G. Morrin beat F. Wilkinson, 6—a, o—6, 6—4. Ladies’ singles: Miss T. Hayes beat Mrs Emmerson, 6—2, 6—a; Miss .). Barker beat Mrs Farrell, 4 —6, 6 —a, 6—3; Miss V. Sutcliffe lost to Miss Heskett, I—(>, a—6; Miss R. Lawrie lost to Mrs Black, 6 —3, o—6, I—6; Miss A. Scott heat Mrs Berry, G—3, 6 —■>: Miss N. Thomson lost to Mrs Lamare, 6—4, 2—6, 3—6; Miss M. Thomson heat Miss McNamara, 6—5, 4 —G, 6—i; Miss 11. Sumner lost to Miss Knapper, o—6, I—6. Men’s doubles: Clark and Aitkenhead bent, Menzies and Sampson, G—i, 6—4: Bayly and Lynn heat Hill and Abbott, 6—3, 3—6. G—2: Saddleton and Willis heat Parsons and Wilkinson, 6—3, 6—a: McDonnell and Morrin lost to Barnes and Collins, G—4, 4—6, 4—6. Ladies’ doubles: Misses Hayes and Barker heat Mrs Emmerson and Miss Heskett, 3—6, 6—2, 6—4 : Misses Sutcliffe and Lawrie lost to Mesdames Black and Farrell, 4 —6, 6 —l, a—7; Misses Scott and N. Thomson heal Mrs Berry and Miss McNamara, a—G, 6—3, 6—2: Misses M. Thomson and Sumner lost to Mrs Lamare and Miss Knapper, a—6, a—6. Combined doubles: Clark and Miss Barker heat Menzies and Miss Heskett, o—s;0 —5; Aitkenhead and Miss Hayes beat Sampson and Mrs Emmerson, 9—3; Bayly and Miss Sutcliffe beat, Hill and Mrs Farrell, 9—3; Lynn and Miss Lawrie heat Parsons and Mrs Berry, 9—B. Result: Franklin, 20 matches; Lower Waikato, 8; 4 unplayed.