Whamgarei Too Good For Mairfown

Northern Advocate, 23 January 1947, Page 7

Whamgarei Too Good For Mairfown

Ti:e clash between the two top teams, Whangarei and Mairtown, in the A grade interclub competition of the Whangarei Lawn Tennis Sub-As-sociation, did not produce the high grade of tennis that was anticipated. Whangarei scored an easy win by nine sets to five. Both teams were without a number of their leading players, and this factor. coupled with the marked superiority of the Whangarei players, contributed to the disappointing nature of the matches.

The outstanding game was that between the No. l women of each team, Miss Moira Finlayson (Whangarei) and Miss Betty Birchall. Miss Finlayson won by eight games to seven after Miss Birchall had held two match points when leading 7—6.

Both players drove strongly to the sidelines, but the Whangarei champion made more mistakes than usual and allowed Miss Birchall to lead most of the way. With the score evened at 7—all, Miss Finlayson rallied strongly and won with severe serving and driving. DECISIVE WIN The No. 1 men's match was decisively won by R. Mullins (Whangarei), who beat C. Wyatt, 9—l. Wyatt displayed an excellent variety of strokes and played steadily. His lack of initiative, however, allowed Mullins to attack and .score winners. Mairtown's No. 2. Jack Burch, reproduced much of his pre-war form in inflicting a 9—l defeat on J. Price. Burch rushed the net at every opportunity and gave Price no chance with accurate placements. The better combination of the top Whangarei doubles pair, Mullins and Price, gave them a decided advantage over Wyatt and Burch.

The opposite was the case in the second doubles, in which Robinson and Berridge were sucessful. Berridge smashed and served well and Robinson was steady, although inclined at times to leave large areas of court uncovered. The Whangarei women’s doubles pairs wore far too good for their opponents, displaying superior combination and steadiness. A second match between the two clubs is f ’ble before the season plosgs Mfi RAU’S VICTORY In the uiner A grade match, Matarau beat Portland by 11 games, with the sets even at 7—all. A feature was the number of sets won by a single game. Matarau took 103 games to Portland’s 92. Results of B grade matches played since the ho idaya are: Whangarei beat Portland, 13—1; Mander’s Park beat Bargain Stores, 13 —1; Matarau beat Onerahi, 10—4; Whangarei beat Mander’s Park, 14—nil; Portland beat Bargain Stores, 13 —1; Mairtown beat Onerahi, 11—2. Foints scored in the two competitions to date are—

lIARDCOURT CHAMPIONSHIP The second annual Whangarei hardcourt championships open at Mairtovvn on Saturday and conclude on Anniversary Day. The men’s singles have attracted 10 entries and the doubles 20. Only 10 women palyers have entered for the singles and a similar number for the doubles. The women's singles will in all probability develop into a good final oetwcen Misses Moira F'mlayson (Whangarei) and Miss Betty Birehall <Mairtown). These tw T o players have been prominent in the Auckland intermediate championships this week. but. although Miss Finlayson has shown the better form localiy, the Mairlown champion has gained the headlines with her good wins ever highly fancied candidates. The men's singles appears to be more open that last year’s title-holder. Viv. potter, has left the district and will not be competing. R. iVlullins, ranked No. 1 on the Whangarei Sub-Association's ladder, is the most likely winner. The absence of Mairtown's two leading players. T. O’Carroll and J. Burch, will rob the competition, of a certain amount of interest. Plate competitions for players eliminated in the first and second rounds cf the men’s and women’s singles championships are to be conducted. Lack of time and court accommodation prevent the staging of a combined doubles championship.

Whangarei A GRADE P. W. ... 3 3 L. D. Pts G M'iiricwn .... ... 3 2 , 1 — 4 Matarau .... ... 4 2 2 — 4 Portland .... ... 3 I 2 — 2 Bargain Stores .. — 3 — — Whangarei It GRADE ... 3 3 _ 10 Mairlovvn .... . .. . 4 3 1 — G Portland .... ... 4 2 1 1 5 Matarau .... 4 2 — 4 Wander's Park 4 i 2 1 3 Onerahi . . . . 4 i 3 — 2 Bargain Stores 5 — 5 — —