LAWN TENNIS N.S.W. HAS LEAD OVER N.Z. WOMEN TOURISTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 November 1949, Page 7

LAWN TENNIS N.S.W. HAS LEAD OVER N.Z. WOMEN TOURISTS

SYDNEY, November 11.—New South Wales leads New Zealand by eight rubbers to one in the women’s tennis match at the White City courts. Although outplayed today, the New Zealanders performed very creditably against a strong New South Wales team. Generally the visitors were unable to cope with the speed of the local women in singles or to match their courtcraft in the doubles. The star of the day for New Zealand was Miss J. Mac Gibbon, of Christchurch. She won her singles after a splendid recovery and then was the outstanding player in a marathon doubles partnered with Miss E. G. Attwood. The New Zealanders should have won the doubles rubber, as they had a match point at 5-3 in the third set. They also led at 9-8, but went under after a most gruelling struggle. u 1 In both this doubles and in her singles against Miss Penrose, Miss Mac Gibbon volleyed brilliantly. In the singles Miss Mac Gibbon recovered from 1-3 in.the final set to take the rubber. She peppered her opponent’s backhand continually and came to the net to volley winners. . Miss M. Kerr, playing with her right forearm bandaged, could do nothing right against her hard-hit-ting opponent. The juniors, Misses E. Becroft and J. Burke, particularly the latter, drove well in their singles, but were unable to match the allcourt games of the New South Wales women. Although decisively beaten, Miss B. Potter and Miss Attwood showed some excellent shots and were perhaps the best of the New Zealanders. They were opposed to the New South Wales first and secondranked players respectively, Mrs T. Long and Miss J. Fitch, both of whom drove with great power. Results (New Zealanders mentioned first): —

Singles.—Miss J. Mac Gibbon beat Miss R. Penrose, 6-8, 6-3, 6-4; Miss E. Becroft lost to Mrs D. Fogarty, 6-8, 2-6; Miss J. Burke lost to Miss E. Ashford, 5-7, 5-7; Miss M. Kerr lost to Mrs M. Hawton, 0-6, 1-6; Miss E. G. Attwood lost to Miss J. Fitch, 3-6, 2-6; Miss B. Potter lost to Mrs T. Long 3,-6, 1-6. Doubles. —Misses Potter and Kerr lost to Mrs Hawton and Miss Ashford, 2-6, 1-6; Misses Attwood and Mac Gibbon lost to Mrs Fogarty and Miss Penrose, 7-5, 3-6, 10-12; Misses Burke and Becroft lost to Mrs Long and Miss Fitch, 2-6, 1-6. The match will be concluded tomorrow.