LAWN TENNIS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22685, 24 March 1937, Page 21

LAWN TENNIS

VETERANS' TOURNEY FORMER CHAMPIONS COMPETE WIN FOR JOHNS AND CAMPBELL ,11Y SIDELINE Three most interesting tennis fixtures have been held in Auckland during the last few days. The veterans' handicap doubles for the Thomas Macky Memorial Cup was played last Thursday, and the teams match for sub-associations, to contest the Spalding Cup, was held during the week-end. The Australian Davis Cup team gave an exhibition match at Stanley Street on Monday. Officials of the Auckland Association can feel proud of the outstanding success which attended all these functions. The veterans' event, now an annual fixture, drew a good entry, and a number of prominent players of the past, including It. G. Rainger, C. I' 1 . QuinS nell, T. K. Hickson and H. W. Griffiths, were seen, the last-named being a former Auckland singles champion, and still a participant in championship fixtures. The winning pair, V. R. Johns and X. A. Campbell, both regular club players, combined well and played soundly to defeat Hickson and Lewis in the final. C. Stewart and R. C. Rainger scored a popular win in the Veterans' Plate. WIN FOR THAMES VALLEY HIGH STANDARD OF PLAY The contest for the Spalding Cup, among teams representing Franklin, Kaipara, Rodney and Thames Valley, played during the week-end, resulted in a win for the last-named team after a number of even and exciting matches. The standard of tennis was exceptionally high, and the players should derive | considerable benefit. I In the first men's singles, honours fell to Lewis, Thames Valley, who won all his matches, and shows promise of developing beyond the average stage. Overhead he is particularly impressive. His hardest match was against A. Cooper, Kaipara, who did well to capture the second set at 6 —4. In the second men's singles W. Derecourt, Rodnov, was most successful, and came through unbeaten. Mrs. Swann, Thames Valley, was unbeaten in the first ladies' division, and Miss E. Remiger came through without a loss in the second ladies' singles matches. Generally speaking, tho ladies' play was disappointing, being in most instances based on defence, with long rallies of unenterprising tennis. The most exciting doubles matches of the series, and one in which a high standard of tennis was reached, was played between Matuschka and Lynn and and Harnett, the latter pair winning, 4—6, 6—G—Thomson and Derecourt (Rodney) also played well against the Thames Valley pair. The tournament is to be held regularly each vear during the first week-end in March. VISIT OP AUSTRALIANS DAVIS CUP PROSPECTS Great interest was taken in the appearance of tho Australian Davis Cup team at Stanley Street on Monday, tennis enthusiasts feeling that they were seeing tho most likely winners of this year's contest. Additional interest was added by the appearance of ,J. Bromwich, who has not previously been seen in Auckland. The team will face its first serious trial in May, when it meets the United States, as in 19.HG. If it can survive this test the chances of the cup returning to* Australia will be high indeed. The United States* is relying on Donald Budge to hold the Australian players in check. He defeated Crawford in the fifth set last year and Quist in straight sets when the tie had already been decided. Support for Budge may be found from Mako, Grant, Parker. Riggs or possibly Hunt, but it is doubtful if any of these players can win a point from Australia. It would appear, therefore, as if the United States will have to rely on two singles wins by Budge and a win in the doubles. A single slip may spell disaster. EASTER WEEK ATTRACTIONS HARD-COURT CHAMPIONSHIPS The attraction for tennis enthusiasts in Auckland during Easter will be the hard-court championships, which will bo commenced at Windmill Road on Friday. This tournament, which was inaugurated seven years ago, is steadily gaining in popularity, and is one of the largest tournaments held by the Auckland Association. The present title-hold-ers are:—Men's singles, A. D. Brown; men's doubles, A. I). Brown and J. L Mavson; ladies' singles, Miss B. L. Bishop; ladies' doubles, Misses Hall and Stewart; combined doubles. J Long and Miss B. L. Bishop. Considerable interest will bo taken in the North Island championships, which arc to be played at the Rostrevor Street courts, Hamilton, during Easter week. This is the first occasion that this tournament has been held in Hamilton, and there is every indication that the meeting will be a success. Prominent players taking part are A. 1). Brown, N. G. Sturt, and M. T. Wilson (Auckland), and J. C. Charters, E. A. Rousell and N. Bedford (Wellington).