TENNIS

Hawera Star, 13 January 1930, Page 6

TENNIS

TARANAKI TITLES CHAMPIONSHIPS DECIDED MANY CLOSE FINISHES. Play has been impeded in the Taranaki championship tennis tourney at New Plymouth by bad weather, but was concluded on Saturday, when the singles championships were won by Mrs. Melody (Wellington) and J. C. Charters (W liangarei), who fought out the tinals with Miss Myers (Wanganui) and T. 11 bodes Williams (Christchurch) respectively. In tin; doubles tlie two champions also figured, Airs. Melody being partnered by Miss Andrews (Christchurch) and Charters by A. C. StedmanWallace (Waverley) and V ills (Patea) made a great struggle m the men’s doubles, being beaten only b 4 an d o—40 —4 in the semi-finals and succumbing to the champions in one of the closest contests seen during tie tournfey. Wallace did exceptionally well throughout and showed remarkable , form and lasting power. He was m the semi-finals in both men s and combined doubles. Misses Joan and Jean Ward, ot Stratford, were among the most cessful of tlie competitors. They fought out the finals of the s juries and were beaten in the finals of 'tlie ladies’ doubles handicaps, giving tlieir opponents a great run Mins Gibbs (Alton) in the ladies singles handicap lost her match by a very small margin.

LIST (IF CHAMPIONS. The champions were as follow: _ * Men’s Singles. —J. C- Charters (V hangarei); runner-up, T. Rhodeis-AA illiams (Christchurch). Men’s Doubles. —J. C. Charters (Whangarei) and A. C. Stedman (Auckland); runners-up, T. Eliodes-AA illiams (Cliristcliruch) aud Dymond (Christchurch). Ladies’ Singles.—-Mrs. W. J. Melody, (Wellington); runner-up, Miss Myers (Wanganui). \ _ ' Ladies’ Doubles—Mrs. V . J. Melody (Wellington) and Miss M. E. Andrew (Christchurch); runners-up, Miss Lloyd (Sydney) and Miss Whyte (Wellington). Combined Doubles. —T. RhodesWilliams (Christchurch) and Miss D. Nieholls (Wellington*!; runners-up, A. C. Stedman (Auckland) and Miss M. E. Andrew (Cliristchurch)._ Boys’ Singles. —A. H. Dickie (Waverley) ; runner-up, P. Ralfe. Girls’ Singles—Miss Jean \\ aru (Stratford); runner-up, Miss Joan Ward (Stratford).

HANDICAP EVENTS. Men’s Singles, A Grade. —J. T. Shaw (Wanganui); ruuner-up, Eiitwistie (Auckland). Men’s Singles, R. Grade. —A. B. Wilson (New Plymouth); runner-up, Hill (New Plymouth). Men’s Doubles —A. Powdrell ('Wanganui) and J. T. Shaw (Wanganui); run-ners-up, V. N- Hubble (Auckland) and A. M. Nicholson (Auckland). Ladies’ Singles.—Miss M. Whyte beat Miss Sanderson 53-51. Ladies’ Doubles. —Miss Ballantirie (Otago) and Miss Scott (Otago); run-ners-up, Misses Jean and Joan Ward (Stratford).

PLAY REVIEWED. In the finals of the men's singles the young Whangarei player Charters struck his best form and quite outplayed his more experienced rival Rhodes Williams. AA illiams opened well and had two games before his opponent scored; then Charters got to work and, taking three gardes in -succession, led 4—3. Williams made it four all and then Charters, playing brilliantly, ran out a winner G —4.

The second set opened evenly, and two all was called after much fine volleying and driving. Charters then went ahead and led four to two, and, Williams getting only one more game, the younger, player won the set 6 —3 and the match and championship. Playing with fine combination and showing both brilliant form, Charters and A. Steelman won the finals of the doubles from Williams and Dymond, 6 —-2, 7 —5. The winners were altogether too solid and good in the first- set, and won easily by a margin of four games. The second set was keenly contested, the losers having the advantage easily and leading 5 —2, but the winners then asserted themselves and, taking three matches, were five all. Going on well, they scored two more games and secured the championship by a good margin. Mrs Melodv had not much difficulty in winning the final of the ladies’ singles. getting the first set easily. She had more work to do in the second, Miss Myers setting up a good lead in the opening games. The- champion, however, quickly not into her stride and, playing soundly, ran out a- winner by a margin of two games and thus won the championship. The final of the ladies’ doubles saw one of the most interesting finishes, for Mrs Melody and Miss Andrew had to plav three hard sets before they secured the championship. They met •Miss Lloyd and Miss Whyte. and were beaten 5 to 6 in the first set. In the second set- thev had a fairly easy win. but the third proved a tough proposition. After winning the first four games, their opponents struck form and took the score to five all. Then the champions showed their

best and ran out winners by 7to o. i Excellent play was seen when Williams and Miss Nieholls met Stedman and Miss Andrew in the finals of the combined doubles. Hie winners, lionever. were more consistent and won in two straight sets. • In the final of the girls’ singles the two Misses Ward from Stratford fought out the final, Miss Joan beating her sister Jean in a three-set match in which honours were very even. Detailed results were as follow: — CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS. MEN’S SINGLES. Final. Charters beat Rhodes-W illiams 6 —-4 6 —3. MEN’S DOUBLES. Senii-final-s : iiihontes- Williams and Dymoticl beat Hubble arid Nicholson 6 —3. 2—6, 6—4; Charters and! and Stedman. beat Wills and Wallace 6—4, 6—4. Filial. —Charters and Stedman defeated Riliod es- Will iam s and Dymond 6—2, 7—5. LADIES’ SINGLES. Final. —Mrs. Melody beat Miss Myers 6—2, 6—4.

LADIES’ DOUBLES

Semi-finals.—Miss Whyte and Miss Lfioyd beat Miss Nicihotis, and Miss Myers 6 —3, 6 —o. Final —Alr.s Melody and Miss Andrew beat Misses Lloyd and Whyte 5 6, 6—2, 7—5. COMBINED DOUBLES. Semi-final. — Rhodes- Wiilliianis and Airs Nieholls beat AVailace and Mrs Lloyd 6—l, 6 —4. . Final.—Rhodes-AV illiams. and A.iss Nieholls beat Stedman and Miss Andrew 6 —3, 6 —3. GIRLS’ SINGLES. Final. —Alias Jean AYaird beat Miss Joan Ward 3 —6, 6—3. B—6. HANDICAP EVENTS. MEN’S SINGLES—A GRADE. Third Round.—Nieholls (rec. 4) heat Dickie (rec. 12) 60—55. Fourth Round. —Entwistle (owe 10) beat Daniell (rec. 10) 60—53; Strombom (scr) beat Powdrell (scr) 60 —46; Shaw (scr) beat Hay-Campbell (sci-) 60—52. Semi-final. —Shaw (scr) beat Strombom (scr) 60—50; Entwistle (owe 10) beat C. M. H. Nieholls (rec. 4) 63—61. Final. —Shaw (scr) beat Entwistle (owe 10) 60 —48.

MEN’S SINGLES—B GRADE. ■Semi-final.—Hill (rec. 3) beat Stace (scr) 60—50. Final.—Wilson (rec. 20) beat Hill (rec. 3) 60—45. MEN’S DOUBLES. Third Round.—Powdrell and Shaw (scr) beat Hardy and Turner (.owe 10) 60 —41; Hubble and Nicholson (owe 8) beat Small and Hudson (rec. 12) 62—60. Semi-finals.—Powdrell and Shaw (scr) beat Daniell and Patterson (rec. 18) 60—55 ; Hubble and Nicholson (owe 8) beat AVebber aud Mason (rec. 12) 60—42. Final. —Powdrell and Shaw (scr) beat Hubble and Nicholson (owe 8) 60 —35. LADIES’ SINGLES

Third Bound. —Miss Latham (scr) beat Miss Jean Ward (scr) 50 —49 ; Miss Cameron (owe 5) beat Miss Graham (rec. 12) 50 —40; Miss Pjeedy (owe 5) beat Miss Greiig (ret*. 16) 50—43. Fourth Round.—Miss Sanderson (scr) beat Miss Howell (rec. 3) 50—42 ; Miss Gibbs (rec. 18) beat Miss Weston (ret*. 25) 50 —41; Miss Latham (scr) beat Miss Preedy (owe 5) 50—28; Miss Whyte (owe 15) beat Miss Cameron (•owe 5) 50—30. Semi-finals. —Miss Sanderson (scr) boat Miss Latham (scr) 50 —*17; Miss Whyte (owe 15) beat Miss Gibbs (ret*. 18) 50—47.

LADIES’ DOUBLES. Second Round. —Misses Whyte and Shantl (ret*. 8) beat Miss Mace and Miss Great batch (rec. 16) 50 —40. Third Round. —Miss Ballantyne and Miss Scott (owe 4) beat Miss Gibbs and Miss Hicks (scr) 50—43; Misses Cameron and Preedy (rec. 6) beat Misses Whyte and Shahdi (rec. 8) 50—46. Semi-finals.—Misses Ballantyne and Scott (owe 4) beat Misses Cameron and Preedy (rec. 6) 50 —46; Misses Jean and Joan Ward (owe 4) beat Misses Pepper and Thomson (rec. 6) 50 —33. Final.—Misses Ballantyne and Sooth (owe 4) beat Misses Joan and Jean Ward (owe 4) 50—38.

PRESENTATION OF PRIZES. The prizes won during the tourney were presented by Dr Home. In a brief introduction Mr E. AY. B. G riffiths, president of the association, said the 39th annual tourney had been a great success, and had set a high standard of play. He thanked, competitors for assisting and paid a welldeserved tribute to the committee of management■ who liad done fine jyorlt throughout the five days. Their hard work and co-operation made everything go with a fine awing from first to last.