NEARLY OVER

Northern Advocate, 18 April 1933, Page 6

NEARLY OVER

NORTHLAND TENNIS FIXTURE. CHARTERS WINS AGAIN. THE FINALS COMMENCE. Some scintillating play was seen yesterday afternoon in the third day of the Northland Latvn Tennis Association’s annual Easter tournament.

lii other years, on the Monday, there usually , has been a certain amount of congestion, but/ yesterday all the available courts were not in use, except for a brief period in the morning. This year the committee was not embarrassed by a large number of entries, and this, coupled with the consistently fine Easter and good organisation from the official tent, has resulted in an earlier conclusion than usual. The lateness of the season and, the heavy rains which fell last week have not given the groundsman a real chance, and the surface was very much worn on most of the popular courts, so that "shooters” were not uncommon.

J. C. Charters became Northland champion for the fourth time, outplaying K, Hayr to win in two straight sets. Early, it appeared as if the, .game would be a battle royal. Charters led 40 —love on Hayr’s first service, but the Pakotai player pulled it out of the fire. He took the next easily, serving two acos, and driving powerfully to back-court and side-line. After seven deuces, Charters, whose shots had lacked length, took the next game, in which both volleyed effectively. Charters captured four games pn end, and eventually itho set, G —4. The second set went to 2—all, but thenceforth Charters was more and more in the ascendancy. His opponent fought to the last, however, and match poiht was called half a dozen times'before Charters finally clinched the issue, 6 —2. Charters, who first won the title in Easter, 1927, showed very clever footwork, and made practically every ball of a, : length to suit himself. His game was remarkable for many recoveries from apparently hopeless situations. Hayr used his backhand rather than forehand as an attacking shot.. His splendid anticipation enabled him to make several great placements. The final of the boys’ championship was an all-country affair, in which, after, a long drawn-out struggle, Edgar Child, of Maungakaramea, proved too good for Frank Carter. Both were good in overhead play. Carter, a six-foot stripling, had an awkward style, but was the more consistent of the two. After losing the first set G—B, Child, who was very energetic and more forceful, took the next two and the match. The second semi-final of the combined championship i doubles provided one of the best contests of the tournament. It was a game of long and interesting rallies and clever stroke craft. The score in the final set fluctuated considerably, with Smith and Miss Remiger first taking the load, and then allowing their opponents to draw level once move. In this way the score fluctuated 2—2, 3—2, 3—3, 4—3, 5—3, 5—4,, 5—5, 6—5, G—o, 7—G. B—6. -

There was a.-surprise result in the third round of the , handicap combined doubles. Prosswood (Whangaroi) ■ and Miss Mason (Onerahi) ( —4-G) beat Smith and Miss Remiger ( —4O), the Rodney and intermediate champions of Auckland. The prodigies went down in the |6emifinals to Charters and Miss Massey. • Details of events are as follow: CHAMPIONSHIPS. Men’s Singles.

Final. —J. C. Charters beat K. Hayr, (1 —3, G —2. Boys’ Singles. Final.—Child boat Carter, 6—B, G—4, 6—l. 'Girls’ Singles. Semi-final. —Miss Massey (Pukekohe) beat Miss M.- Griffiths, .6—2, G—3. Final, —Miss Massey beat Miss P. Ryder, 6—4, 6—O’. Men’s Doubles. . . Semi-finals. —Smith and Pickmere beat Byles and Johns,, G —2, 6 —2; Hayr and Charters bead Wilson and Carter, 6 —3, 6 —l. Combined, Doubles. Semi-finals.- —Smith and Miss Eeiniger beat Pickmere and Miss Eccles, 6—3, 4—6, B—6. ' ‘ HANDICAPS. : Men’s Singles, A Grade. Semi-final. McLean beat Wood, 6—l, 6—l. Combined, A Grade. Semi-final. —Briggs and Miss Bishop beat O’Carroll and Miss Remiger, 9—5.

Ladies’ Doubles. Final, —Mrs and Miss Rcmiger beat Misses. Leo and Lander, 6 —4, 6 —3. Ladies’ Singles. Third Round. —Mrs. Burry beat Mrs McLeod, fi —li, Semi-final.—Miss Piggott boat Mrs Barry, o—7. Men’s Doubles, A Grade. Semi-final. Wilsqn and Carter boat. Lindsay and Prcsswood, o—7,0 —7, Boys’ Doubles. Final.—"McLean and Smith beat E. R, and J. Carter, (1 —3, o—2,0 —2,

TODAY’S PLAY. TUB CLOSING STAGE. With three finals in progress, the spectators this morning were treated to some glorious tennis. The concluding game in the men’s championship doubles was a thrillingly contested match, in which the general-

ship of Charters in the final set was an outstanding feature. There Avas little between the players in the first sot, in which A r olleys and smashes were frequent. Pickmere, playing at his best, and Smith evened up in the second set, holding a marked superiority throughout. The position Avas reversed in the deciding set, Charters and Hayr winning the first Jive games, mostly to love, They gained match point on two occasions in the next game, but Smith, who had suffered a momentary loss of form, and Pickmere fought hard to Avin, only to lose the next game after deuce, and the match. Charters has been a member of the Avinning pair in the men's championship here on three previous . occasions, hitherto having been partnered by Pickmere. ' v

■Steadiness and the ability to drive at a very fast speed, were the dominating factors Avhich gave Miss Eccles victory in the final of the ladies' championship singles.- Miss Eccles was the 1932 titloholder. Her membership of an Auckland club and regular opportunity for match practice gave her a distinct advantage over her younger opponent, avlio has no strong opposition in her club play at Whakapara. The distinction won, by the Northerner in reaching the finals does her groat credit. . The final of the ladies' championship doubles was a great example of tenacity of purpose. After being down lo\’c —five, the Misses Remiger made a splendid recovery to Avin B — 6. The Whangarei pair again made a. good start in the second set, but repeatedly failed to follow the advantage gained from good shots by following to the net.

Further results are: — CHAMPIONSHIPS. Men’s Doubles. • Final. —Charters (Auckland) and Hayr heat R. W. Smith (Warkworth) and L. T. Pickmere, 7 —5/2 —6, 6—l. Ladies’ Singles. Final.—Miss V. Eeeles (Auckland) beat Miss M. Berghan, 6—3, 6—2. Ladies’ Doubles, Final. —Misses Remiger beat Mrs D. J. Thomson and Miss Wilson, B—6, (!— 3. HANDICAPS. Ladies’ Singles. Final. —Miss M. Berghan (—4O) beat Miss M. Piggott (—ls), 6—o, 6—l. Combined Doubles, A Grade. Final.—Charters and Miss Massey ( —ls 4-6) boat Briggs and Miss A. Bishop (scr), 6—4, 6 —2. Men’s Doubles, A Grade. ! Final. —R. Carter and D. Wilson (—3O) beat Burch and o’Carroll ( —ls 2-6), 6—2, 6—3. : Men’s Doubles, B Grade. Final.—Miller and Wood (—ls 3-6). won from Baigent and Baigent (—3-6 V ■by 1 default. Junior Combined Doubles. Final. —Carter and Miss J. Clarke. ( —ls 4-6) beat McLean and Miss, Thomassen ( —-15), 6—3, 4—6, 6—4. The final of the Combined B Grade Doubles between "Wood and Miss Lee ( —ls) and Miller and Miss Lauder ( —ls) will bo played in Auckland.

Last of All.

The tournament reached finality this afternoon, when the- combined championship doubles were played. In the deciding match D, Wilson and Mrs Thomson defeated 'Smith and Miss Rcmiger (Rodney) in a game which ran to three sets, the scores being—--o—2, 2 —o, o—2.0 —2. The game was closely contested throughout. Mrs Thomson was'outstanding, especially in the latter 'part of the game. i

OTAGO TITLE. CHAMPIONSHIP PINAL. (Per Press Associate.—-Conyrifiat.) , / • DUNEDIN, This Day. Finals in the Otago lawn tennis championship tournament resulted:— Men’s Singles.—G. A. Pearce ;beat S. G. MeDougall, 3—6, 6—2, 6-—2; Ladies’ Singles.—Miss D. Miller (Oamaru) beat Miss H. Cox, 6—o, 6—o. Boys’-Singles.—F. Kerr (Waitaki) beat Valentine, 3 —6, 6—3, 7 —5. - Girls ’ Singles.—Miss Bolwell beat Miss Ewing, G —s, 6—l.

WELLINGTON TOURNEY. (Per Press Association.—Copyright.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Wellington Easter lawn tennis tournament was continued yesterday at Miramar in beautiful weather. Champion events completed were:— Ladies Singles.—Mrs R. P. Adams bent Miss D. Howe, o—s; G—s. Men’s Doubles. —D, B. Livingstone and R. Ho wo boat E. A. Roussell and R. W. Lander, 9—7, 2—G, G—2.. . Ladies’ Doubles. —Mrs Adams and Miss Howe beat Misses V. and J. Burns, G—], 6—l. In the semi-final of the Men’s Singles R. MeL. Perkins beat N. Bed* ford, 6—l, G—2, and R. Howe beat Roussell, o—l,0 —1, 6 — 2.