PLAY YESTERDAY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22956, 7 February 1938, Page 13

PLAY YESTERDAY

SEMI-FINAL MATCHES >• ( —_ BROWN ELIMINATES MAYSON WINNERS OF LADIES' GAMES MISSES BEVERLEY AND MILLER After having been postponed on Friday and Saturday on account of rain the annual New Zealand lawn tennis championship tournament was continued at the Stanley Street courts yesterday. Play commenced at 11 a.m., but shortly before 3 p.m. a heavy downpour caused a stoppage for th« remainder of the afternoon. The attendance was easily the largest of the tournament. Although no charge could be made, the majority of the spectators gave liberally toward a voluntary collection, with the result that just on £7O realised.

One semi-final of the men's singles \ras decided and in this A. D. Brown, winner of the Auckland title, eliminated J. T. Mayson in straight sets. The contestants in the other match were A. C. Stedman and P. G. Pattinson, of Canterbury. Stedman Avon a prolonged first set, but was down 2—4, when rain interrupted play.

The semi-finals of the ladies' singles were decided and Misses M. Beverley, Auckland title-winner, and D. Miller, of North Otago, prevailed over Misses E. Plummer, Wellington, and N. Beverley respectively. The winners of the combined doubles semi-finals were J. TV. Gunn* and Miss M. Beverley anil P. J. D. Sharpe and Miss M. Glenny, of Hawke's Bay. Their respective wins were gained over R. W. Smith and Miss P. Cooke and M. T. "Wilson and Miss E. Stewart. , Two quarter-finals were played in the men's Plate competition and one semifinal in that for ladies. Following were the results:—

MEN'S SINGLES Semi-final.—A. D. Brown beat J. T Mayson, 6 —3, 6 —4, 6 —4. LADIES' SINGLES Semi-finals.—Miss M. Beverley, Matamata, beat Miss E. Plummer. Wellington, 6—l, 3—6, 6—2; Miss D. Miller, North . Otago, beat Miss N. Beverley, Matamata, B—6, 6 —2.

COMBINED DOUBLES Semi-finals. —J. W. Gunn and Miss M. Beverley beat R. W. Smith and Miss P. Cooke, 6—l, 6—3; R. J. D. Sharpe and Miss M. Glenny, Hawke's Bay, beat M. T. Wilson and Miss E. Stewart, 6—2, 6 —4. , MEN'S PLATE MATCHES Quarter-finals.—R. McL. Ferkins, Wellington, beat 0. N. Bold, Wellington, 6—o. 7— 0; M. T. Wilson beat J. D. Mitchell, 6—3, 6—2. LADIES' PLATE MATCHES Semi-final.—Miss K. Armstrong, Canterbury beat Miss R. Taylor, 6 —o, o—6, 6—4.

PROGRAMME POR TO-DAY

EARLY START TO BE MADE

Following is the programme for to day:—

y.30 a.m.—Stedman v. Pattinson, France and Sturt v. Roussell and Ferkins, Misses N. and M. Beverley v. Misses I. and T. .Poole, M. T. Wilson v. M. F. Lees, Miss Stewart v. Miss Glenny, followed by A. Porter v. R. Ferkins, Gunn and Miss Beverley - v. Sharpe and Miss Glenny, Stedman and Coonibe v. Wilson apd Smith, final of men's Plate, final of Ladies' Plate. Holders of New Zealand championShip players' passes, other than actvlal competitors in . the above list of matches, will be asked to pay 2s lOd admission which will be refunded to them in the event of their leaving the ground prior to 1 p.m.

COMBINED DOUBLES PLAY IN THE SEMI-FINALS MISS BEVERLEY OUTSTANDING The semi-finals of the combined doubles did not rise to such great heights as matches in the earlier rounds, but they were nevertheless well contested. The meeting between Sharpe and Miss Glenny and Wilson and Miss Stewart went to three sets. In the first tlie Hawke's Bay pair began more steadily, Sharpe bein«; particularly active at the net, while his partner served well and generally returned steadily from the back line. Wilson attacked ,at the net in the second set and found touch with his smashes. Miss Stewart employed an effective cross-court drive and won points on her chop shots against the wind. Miss Glenny.was inclined to he erratic and short-fobbed, giving Wilson many chances at the net. In the final set the games were «*"enly contested to 4-n 11. Wilson was again inconsistent and lost his service twice. Sharpe continued to be a menace at the net. Wilson loot-faulted badly all through but was not called by the umpire. • Gunn and Miss Margaret Beverley Wade an auspicious start against Smith and Miss Cooke, taking the firstoet With the loss of only one game. They Continued to hold the ascendancy in the second set, the main reason for their success being the fine judgment of Miss Beverley and her skill in throwing her opponents back on to their ■neels by astute lobbing or passing them splendid driving when the slight- ' ®*iopening presented itself. The two days' sjloll from plav proved of undoubted benefit to Miss ceverley, who was right on her game, uunn lobbed very effectively, but jfl'Knt have shortened the match had open more severe on occasions. Miss vooke did not plav so well as in her SF* l matf .'bes, but the main factor Which contributed to their substantial H vl w . as poor all-round play of ■Lu' t on ' v c '' ( ' he miss a lot himf®'»j but he also put his partner off came by continually running into ®er. court, with the result that there .*s almost a total lack of understandIfjte