LAWN TENNIS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22643, 3 February 1937, Page 20

LAWN TENNIS

PROVINCIAL TITLES

YOUNG PLAYERS PROMINENT

SEVERAL SURPRISE RESULTS

BY SIDELINE

The Auckland provincial lawn tennis championships were a triumph for tho younger players. A. D. Brown, the new holder of the singles championship title, is in his early twenties, while Sliss Margaret Beverley, the lady singles champion, is 18 years of ago. The entry list comprised all the prominent players of the province, as well as D. C. Cooinbe and Miss D. Nicholls, of Wellington, holders of tho men's and ladies' singles championships of tho Dominion.

Tho new men's singles title-holder played sound tennis during the tournament. Brown forced N. G. Sturt, a player with much greater experience, in the final and won after a splendid match, which went the full distance. Sturt led by two sets to one at the interval and put up a gallant fight in the fourth set. However, Brown's steadiness was tho deciding factor in the fiith set.

The early rounds were full of interest and not without their surprises. The most unexpected victories were registered by M. T. Wilson, who disposed of J. C. Charters and D. Coombe, the national title-holder, in consecutive rounds. It. Smith eliminated J. T. Mayson, but was unable to cope with Brown. J. Gunn showed to advantage in defeating E. L. Bartleet and in carrying Sturt to a five-set contest, which was in doubt until the last strode had been played. M. T. Wilson, reacting after his performances against Charters and Coombe, fell in straight sets to Brown, whose hard driving forced him into errors.

GREATLY-IMPROVED PLAYER

SUCCESS OF MISS M. BEVERLEY

Miss Margaret Beverley, of Matamata, is Auckland's provincial lady champion. Coming through a field of 23, which included three former provincial title-holders in Miss Marjorie Macfarlane, Miss N. Beverley and Miss D. Nicholls, Miss Beverley won in so convincing a manner as to make her the outstanding figure of the year in ladies' tennis. Her advance during the past few seasons has been steady rather than meteoric, and for one so young she learns rapidly and her progress is consistent. Her advancement is such that the national title is not likely to elude her for long.

The meeting also indicated that there are plenty of other players who liavo youth and promise. Chief among these are Mis 3 P. Cooke and Miss B. L. Bishop. Miss Cooke has a forehand stroke that, with better control, might carry her very far. It is quite apparent that there is plenty of promising material among the lady players, due more than anything else to the fact that they hit out consistently and have due regard to the use of speed and the value of the volley. The outstanding fault of women's play in the past has been the subordination of attack to defence.

DOUBLES EVENTS LACK OF SOUND TACTICS The ladies' doubles went to Misses N. and M. Beverley, who were not seriously threatened until they reached the semi-final, which they were somewhat lucky to win against Misses Macfarlane and Ruth Taylor. The latter pair came from behind to take the second set arid had four match points in the third, but failed to get the necessary winning shot. The Matamata pair were not threatened in the final. The Misses Beverley cannot as yet be rated as a strong pair, Miss N. Beverley's rush to the net being more full of promise than result, while her sister's withdrawal at the same moment to the baseline is hardly sound tactics. These methods would spell disaster against a strong pair. D. C. G'oornbe and Miss D. Nicholls had no difficulty in taking the combined title, their success being mainly duo to Miss Nicholls' ability to go to the net with her partner and deal successfully with all manner of returns. Other prominent pairs were N. G. Sturt and Miss Macfarlane, J. Gunn and Miss M. Beverley, and J. C. Charters and Miss Ruth Taylor. N. G. Sturt and J. W. Gunn gained a well-deserved success in the men's doubles. It is a remarkable tribute to the former's doubles ability that he has now won the Auckland title on seven occasions, six of his successes being with different partners. The final between Sturt and Gunn and Mayson and Brown failed to come up to expectations, tho latter pair proving easy victims. The losers appeared to lack tho will to win. Sturt was the outstanding player of the four, but he received excellent support from his young partner whose clever lobbing frequently threw the opposition out of position.