TENNIS CONTESTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22622, 9 January 1937, Page 11

TENNIS CONTESTS

THE WILDING SHIELD CANTERBURY V. WAIKATO SOUTHERN PLAYERS LEADING [nY TELEGRAPH —OWN CORRESPONDENT] OHHISTCHURCII, Friday Canterbury gained a lend in both tho Wilding Shield and Niinnelev Casket matches against the challenging Waikato teams at Wilding Park to-day. At the close of the first day's play Canterbury led in the shield match by four matches to two and in the casket contest by five matches to one. The northern teams are composed largely of young and promising players and they gave a good account of themselves against the more experienced Canterbury team, which has held the trophies for the last two years. The weather was excellent and the courts, although by 110 means fast, gave welcome speed to the shots of players who had been struggling for the last week on the rain-soaked Timaru courts. The Waikato shield team is headed by a pair of young players who have created a most favourable impression 011 their visit to the South Island. ,1. Roach, first man, has a good record in North Island tennis, including a win over N. O. Sturt. He played good tennis to-day to beat H. Dymond, the consistent Canterbury player. .Still 110 less meritorious was the performance! of Livingstone in taking a set from 11. A. Harnett-, playing iirst for Canterbury in the absence of Angas. Long, Waikato's third'man, made a very good light of his match with 1. .J. Corich. 1). Clow played a well-varied game, against A. R. Cant, driving well on the forehand and bringing off some good volleys. The Canterbury players' attack to the backhand corner proved a little, too strong for the visitors. Canterbury's doubles pairs were at a disadvantage in not having played together previously and their performances were disappointing. Livingstone and Roach out-volleved Cant and Corich and won convincingly, but the surprise of the match was the excellent showing of Clow and Long against Barnett and Dymond. All the Nunneley Casket matches went according to expectations. Waikato's team is headed by Misses Nessie and Margaret Beverley, now well-known in New Zealand tennis. The third and fourth players are not quite up to this standard, although both Miss AT. Kdmondson and Miss R. M. Drake are sound and capable players, Miss N. Beverley gained Waikato's only win of the day in the casket series, her driving being too fast and well controlled for Miss I. Poole. Res Tilts aro as follows: — WILDING SHIELD Singles.—H. A. Barnett beat T). Livingstone, 6—3, 2—6, 6—2; H. Dymond lost to J. Roach, 7- —9, 6—2, ,V-6; A. R. Cant heat 1). Clow, 6 —3, 6—3; I. J. Corich beat J. Ixuig, 6—l, 10 —8. Doubles.—Barnett and Dymond beat Clow and B—6,8 —6, 6—-1; Cant and Corich lost to Roach and Livingstone, 2_6, 6 —B. Canterbury won four matches, nine sets, 80 games and Waikato two matches, five sets, 70 games. NUN.\LLEY CASKET Singles.—Miss T. Poole beat Miss M. Beverley, 6—2, 6—4; Miss 1. Poole lost to Miss N. Beverley, 3—b, I—b;1 —b; Miss N. Bishop beat Miss R. M. Drake, 9—7, 6—l; Miss E. Rudkin beat -Miss M. Edmondsjin, 6—l, 6—3. Doubles. —Misses I. and T. Poole beat Misses Edmondson and Drake, 6 —o, 6—l; Misses Bishop and Rudkin beat Misses N. and M. Beverley, I—6,1 —6, B—6, 6 —4. Canterbury won five matches, 10 sets, 70 games and Waikato one match, three sets, 47 games.