LAWN TENNIS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23284, 1 March 1939, Page 17

LAWN TENNIS

CAEO CUP CONTEST PARNELL'S SUPERIORITY ADVANTAGE IN SINGLES GAMES BY SIDELINE Parnell's defeat of ltoyal Oak in the final of the Caro Memorial Cup elimination contest on Saturday did not coino as a surprise. The winners had a distinct margin of superiority in the singles events, and, although one or two of the matches might have gone either way, the score of B—4 represented the run of the piny. The outstanding player for Royal Oak was A. W. Allen, who is showing improved form in spites of lack of regular pructico. He scored a decisive win over O. Litherland in straight sets. Allen's play merits consideration from tha Auckland selectors and a little encouragement might help to remove that lack of control in his' shots, which is at present keeping him from reaching the first flight.

Mrs, Colledge showed to advantage and when she starts her matches as well as sho finishes them she will be a very difficult proposition. For Parnell, Lusk was niost prominent. His strokes are well produced and next season should see a considerable im> provement in his play.

In tho first single, Allen produced a better service than Litherland. His marksmanship was superior and tho second ball was often as telling as tho first. The Parnell player stuck to his guns manfully, but was not quite aggressive enough to test Allen, who set a fast pace from tho start and. maintained it throughout. On the simpler returns he was inclined to be erratic and his tendency to try and knock the cover off tho ball, when finesse would have sufficed, did not always pay.

AN EVEN CONTEST WEAKNESS OF SERVICES Watson and Copscy had an even contest, in which the standard of play was quite good. Services wero weak, however, and the sparkle of attack with the first blow was missing. But the ground shots of both were accurate, and, except for an occasional backhand from CopsCy which missed its mark by a wide margin, there were virtually 110 bad mistakes in driving and the net received few shots. Watson came from behind to take the first set at 6—5, having to break Copsey's service in the final game to do so. The latter helped with a double fault. Services were lost regularly in the second set, but Copscy survived an anxious 11th gnmo and got home ngalnst the service to square the match. Watson was on top in the third set, which he took with the loss of two games. Lmk had n fairly even match with G. Brough. who never gavo up until the ball was out of play. The Royal Oak player was on terms at 4-all in both sets, but at the crucial stage Luck braced and Brough did not respond. Mitchell was a little more versatile than Waller, whom he defeated in straight sets. both of which were close. The Royal Oak player drove. well on the forehand and a little more speed in his volleys might easily have brought him' a set.

A PROLONGED MATCH MRS. WREN BEATS MISS WADE Miss Mary Wade had a long drawnout contest with Mrs. Wren and had to make many visits to the net to recover the latter's well-executed drop shots. The Royal Oak player was uncertain on her backhand in the first set and could-only get two games, but she won the second at 6—4. The match bore an open aspect when the third set was commenced. Mrs. Wren led and 4 —3, but made three weak returns in succession and the patch was square at 4-all. In the remaining three games Mrs. Wren was much safer, although she was challenged for every point. In the Ilth and last game Miss Wado helped the Parncll player's cause by some timing errors and Mrs. Wren held her service "to 30 to take tho ni^tcb.

Mrs. Colledge, as is her custom, started verv slowly against Miss Sherlock and for the first nine games gave a very timid display. The Parnell plaver had only to swing for her shots, and, with her forehand functioning well, hit some fine winners down the line and across the court to take the first set to love. The Royal Oak player recovered her touch and her courage just in time, and, squaring the second set at 3-all, took it without the loss of another game. The third set was strenuously contested, but Miss Sherlock had lost some of her accuracy on the forehand and was unable to chcc-k Mrs, Colledge. who wont out at 6 —4.

DOUBLES MATCHES HARD-HITTING DISPLAY Lusk and Mitchell and Allen and Copsey had a hard-hitting contest. Games went with the service in the first set; which was won by Parneli at 6—5/ but the Royal Oak poif were in constant danger through Copsey s teudencv to stay at the baseline. The result was that Lusk and Mitchell were able to assume the attack at the commencement of every rally. Allen's spectacular volleying kept his team in the picture for a time, but command or the net position governs ascendancy in doubles, and the Parnell pair took the third set with tile loss of three games. Watson and Broun were too aggressive for Ohlson and Steele, although the last-named scored on occasions with well-placed over-spin drives. Possibly the failing light affected the winners less than their opponents. Waller and Bf'ough, not so well equipped from a stroke point of view, but with a better knowledge of doubles play, scored a well-merited success at the expense of Litherland and Bull. The last-named lias a particularly pleasing style, but will ha\c to learn the art of" finesse. , In the combined doubles Ohlson and Miss J. Wade did well to get a set from Broun and Mrs. Tong, who may have been lulled into a false sense ot security after the first set. Miss J. Wade is improving and some of ner forehand driving was excellent, but she was not as good a tactician as Mrs. Tong, whoso lobbing and play m general was better calculated to make openings for her partner at the net. Two old campaigners in Steele and M' ss Edwards out-general led Hull and Miss Mitchell. The last-named, although she volleyed well on occasions, neglected the lob. and Steele was able to do considerable damage at the net. Miss Edwards made few mistakes and her shots were always directed with the object of helping her partner. Misses Sherlock t *»d Mitchell gained a good win JfMses Edwards and J. Wade in the lacjies' doubles. Miss Sherlock, drove wt/» and Miss Mitchell showed to advantage at the net. Honours were evffli between Mrs. Colledge and Miss Mary AVade and Mrs. Tong and Mrs. Wren. The match was stopped at on® set all because of the late hour and because a decision had already been reached.