TENNIS TRIUMPHS

Matamata Record, Volume XIX, Issue 1693, 6 January 1936, Page 4

TENNIS TRIUMPHS

RESIDENTS of Matamata district and the Waikato generally will be pleased with the successes w'hich have been achieved by .the Misses Nessie and Margaret Beverley over the last fortnight. Matamata can take splendid pride in these two girls, who are distinctly “ tennis products of the district.” Without the amenities and strenuous competitive play of the more fortunate ladies in metropolitan areas, the Beverley sisters have fought their way to the top by sheer grit and determination. It is doubtful if ever in the country’s history a girl so young as Miss Margaret Beverley has achieved similar distinction in tennis. She has many years of tennis ahead, and will be fortunate in that she and her elder sister are obtaining experience, so that Matamata may look forward to still more triumphs from this direction.

For the second year in succession Miss Nessie Beverley has had to fili the role o- runner-up to Miss Dulcie Nicholls. To get so far this year shows that her tournament play in 1935 was no fluke. The difference is that although it is generally recognised that Miss Nicholls has improved in her tennis during the last few months, the improvement has not been as great as shown by Miss Beverley. According to expert reports on the match, Miss Beverley had the measure of her opponent until disconcerted by the crowd. This is but natural for a country player. It is now on the cards that Miss Beverley will yet become No. 1 in the ladies’ tennis ranking of New Zealand. There is compensation for this player in that she and the pre-

sent No. 1 lady player (Miss Nicholls) hold the doubles championship of New Zealand for the second year in succession. She is also North Island Auckland lady champion. We repeat that Matamata has just cause for pride in the success of the Beverley sisters. When the circumstances of practice and play are considered the performances are truly remarkable. Their presence alone on the Matamata and Waikato courts should have the result of improving and maintaining the standard of tennis for- many years to dome. ■ ■■