LAWN TENNIS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22934, 12 January 1938, Page 19

LAWN TENNIS

HOLIDAY TOURNAMENTS CANTERBURY CHAMPIONSHIPS A. BROWN IN BRILLIANT FORM

BY SIDELIKE

Christmas and New Year tournaments, which give a line on the chances of players entered for the New Zealand championships to be played in Auckland at the end of the month, have been watched with more than usual interest Jby tennis enthusiasts throughout tho Dominion. Auckland players have been showing exceptionally good form and it is many years since so many major successes have been scored by our leading players. The outstanding figure of the season up to the present has undoubtedly been A. D. Brown, and if he can continue as ho has commenced 'he will be a strong candidate for the New Zealand Davis Cup team. He has youth on his side, which should strengthen his claims to and he should show a further advance in skill before the close of the present season. In the Canterbury singles championship, which he won, his hardest match was against the local champion, C. Angas, who won the New Zealand title in 1929 and 1931. Christchurch reports state that there was no doubt that Angas met someone more than his match. It was a strenuous game and at times both players showed signs of fatigue, but Brown produced the energy when it was needed most and from 3—all in the final set forced the pace in a manner which left no doubht as to the issue. Low, speedy and wollplnced forehand drives kept Angas on the move and made many openings for Brown to come to the net. Once there ho had the measure of Angas, his angled volleys giving the Canterbury player no chance. Brown's smashing was also very reliable and well placed. In the final Brown had a comparatively easy win over H. A. Barnett in straight sets.

J. T, AJavson did well to reach the semi-final, being beaten by H. A. Barnett, o—3,0 —3, 6 —l. In the third round he gained a notable success over A. R. Cant, the Canterbury Wilding Shield player, at 6—3, 6—7, 6—4. Brown and Mayson reached the semi-finals of the doubles, being defeated by H. Dymond and B. E. Souter, 3—6, 7—5, 6 —4, The ladies' singles event was won by Miss T. Poole, who beat Miss M. Wake fairly comfortably in the final. The ladies' doubles went to the Misses Poole.

A DOUBLE SUCCESS WELLINGTON TITLES STURT PLAYS CONSISTENTLY Congratulations are due to N. G. Sturt for his very fine play which earned him his double success in the Wellington provincial championships. Hia victory in the singles against a strong field s is his most notable performance to date. Previously his sucdeSsfiS major events have been sc^uwctt mostly in doubles in which he has a'remarkable record. He has won tho Auckland doubles title six times with almost as many different partners and the Dominion title twice. His hardest match was in the semifinals against N. F. Bedford, whom he defeated 3—B, 7 —5, 6—4, 6—4, thus reversing last season's New Zealand 1 championship match when Bedford won 6—B, 6—l, 6—4, 6—4. Sturt dropped the first set and was well down in the second, but before the set finished in his favour he was right at the top of his form. Sturt employed the lob with success and gave a brilliant exhibition of sustained and accurate driving and deserved, his success. A feature was the excellent sporting spirit in which the match was played. In the final the accuracy of Sturt's game is given as the reason for France's inability to find his top form. Sturt won, 6 —2, 6—2, 6—2. In the doubles final G. A. Pearce and T. Robertson failed to extend France and Sturt. They were able ta take only five games in three sets. Sturt plaj'ed finely, his volleying being outstanding. Miss J. Douthett won the ladies' singles from Miss E. Plummer, 4—6, 6—o, 6—3. D. C. Coombe won the men's singles at the Hastings Lawn Tennis Club's annual tournament. Coombe played well but was not really tested. In the final he defeated M. Ferkins, 6—4, 6—o. The final of the ladies' event was "won by Mrs. Milburn, who beat Miss Gleny, I—6, 6—3, 6—4. The winners at the Hawke's Bay provincial championships were M. Ferkins and Mrs. R. H. Milburn. Ferkins was extended by W. H. Read in the semi-final, but defeated R. J. D. Sharp in the final, 6—l, 6 —l, 6—4.

NORTH ISLAND EVENTS

AUCKLANDERS IN FINAL

The North Island championships Slaved at New Plymouth brought A. >, Brown and N. G. Sturt together in the final match, which was won by the former in straight sets. Brown's most difficult match was against J. T. Mayson, in which he came from behind to win, while Sturt had a very close contest with J. Gunn. A feature of the play in the ladies' Bingles was the defeat of Miss N. Beverlev by Miss O. J. Taylor, who won, 6—4, 3 —6, q—4, Miss Taylor dominated the first set and lasted better in the third, which she won by forceful tennis, in the final, however, Miss Margaret Beverlev avenged her sister's defeat and won in straight sets at 6—2, 6—4. Auckland players were very successful at Wanganui, J. W. Gunn winning tho men's singles, while Miss Hnnsendominated the ladies' events, taking the singles, the doubles with Miss Ramsay, and the combined doubles with A. Dickie.