TENNIS

Hawera Star, Volume L, 4 December 1930, Page 6

TENNIS

] NTER-CLUB COMPETITIONS. Under ideal weather conditions last Saturday a start was made with the South Taranaki inter-club competitions. All the A grade matches were played, but, unfortunately, the Manaia Club could not field a B grade team to travel to Patea. In the A grade the closest game was between Sportsdale and Waverley at 1 Stratford, Sportsdale winning by 9 matches to 7. Urwin was fully extended by Dickie, the young Waverley top player, who did well to take a set from his more experienced opponent. Lance and Newell, playing second for their clubs, had a hard fight for Lance to win at 8--6 in the third set. Sportsdale’s top lady beat Miss Matthews, but the remaining Waverley ladies — Misses Dickson, Alexander and Walkin eton—all had fairly comfortable wins. Manaia travelled to Hawera Park and were beaten by 13 matches to 3. Beck had his revenge from last year and beat A. Christie in straight sets. Armitage caused a surprise by beating Billows, a new member to the Park, 6—2, 6—3. Hickey took the second set from Bernard, but faded out in the third and failed to get a game, whilst Yearbury had a comfortable win from Crompton. The Park ladies’ team — Misses J. and A. Hicks, Mesdames Jenkins and Hoder —were too strong for the visitors and won their singles easily, but in the doubles Mesdames Jenkins and Hoder were beaten by Mesdames Winter and Davies after a very close struggle, 9—B.

1 The match between Eltham and Hawera at Eltham resulted in a win for Hawera by 11 matches to 4, one being abandoned. In the ladies’ singles both clubs won two matches. Mrs. Rudge was beaten by Miss Cooper, who is ranked sixth on the South Taranaki ladder and with more practice will probably climb much higher. Mrs. Baigent, who is a new player in Taranaki, defeated Miss Wylcls after a hard, even match, and Miss Buist ! proved too steady for Miss V\ ilsou. Miss Kobertson (Hawera) did not show her usual form and hit too many balls out. The Hawera ladies won both doubles, although the decision may have gone the other way in a 9—B set between the second pairs. The Eltham men’s team was not as strong as in previous years and failed to win a match. McFarlanc beat Wills in a marathon match ol' 40 games after Wills had match point in the .second set at o —3. McCarthy heat Morrison in straight sets m a hard hitting duel, with McCarthy the more consistent and showing good form in his first match tills season. Baigent’s superior placing gave him a victory over Phillips, who had to do all the running, but made a bold bid for the second .set to lose it 6-—5. Jones staged a come-back _ and played an aggressive game against Picard, following hard drives to the net and volleying for winners right through the ! match to win with the loss of one ' game in each set. The draw for next Saturday is as follows: A Grade.— Patea v. Eltham at Eltham; Hawera v. Sportsdale at Hawera; Park v. Waverlev at Wavorley; Mann ia a bye. B Grade.—Manaia v. Park at Maim ia ; Waverlev v. Stratford at Stratford; Patea v.‘ Hawera at Patea. LADDER. CHALLENGES. The following challenges have been received and approved by the ladder committee: A. C. Thompson (Patea) v. J. Pease (Ha wera), for sixth position; Mrs. P. McLean (Sportsdale) v. Miss A. Martin (Stratford) for seventh position ; Miss Joan Ward (Stratford) v. Miss J*. Hicks (Park) for fourth position. it was with the idea of giving players in the district more experience in match play with members of other clubs and improving the standard generally that the ladder was arranged, but a lot of those on the ladder now are quite content to stay where they are instead of trying to get higher up. Only two ladder matches have been played this season, and with prospects of line weather the committee would like to see more activity on the ladder. A. C. Thompson beat T. Urwin (Sportsdale) G —3, I—6, 6—3 for

seventh position, and K. McFarlane defended his position against H. P. Wills, 3—6, 12—10, 6—3. HAWERA TEAMS. Hawera teams for Saturday are as follow : A Grade. —Hawera v. Sportsdale at Hawera: Mrs. lludge, Mrs. Duncan, Mrs. Baigent, Miss Buist, K. McFarlane. B. McCarthy, R. P. Baigent, M. R. Jones. B Grade. —Hawera v. Patea at Patea (leave post office at 1 p.m.) : Mrs. Pease, Miss Robertson, Miss Joll. Miss Walter, Mrs. Rota, Miss M. Hawken, J. J. Pease, R. Syme, B. White, H. H. Bramwell, G. Merrick K. Cambie.