TENNIS TITLES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23574, 7 February 1940, Page 17

TENNIS TITLES

DOMINION TOUE.NEY RAIN INTERRUPTS PLAY ONLY SIX MATCHES DECIDED KEEN COMBINED DOUBLES [bt telegraph—PUKSS association] WELLINGTON, Tuesday ' Steady rain caused an abandonment of play in the New Zealand lawn tennis championships at Miraniar shortly before three o'clock this afternoon, after only six games had been played. Several light showers fell soon after play began this morning and a gusty northerly wind made conditions more unpleasant. The weather improved, however, as the morning advanced, and play continued until 1 p.m., when a heavy shower caused an interruption. Rain then set in and play had to bo abandoned. The Australians were due to make their first appearance in the; tournament this afternoon and the spectators were keenly disappointed.

In an evenly-contested match between R. McKcnzio (Wellington) and R. Cant (Canterbury). marked for tho moat part by steady driving from tho base-line, McKenzio's steadiness was the deciding factor. Neither player adopted aggressivo tactics nnd there was little sparkling play. Tho wind troubled Cant more than McKcnzio and the Canterbury man fell into errors at crucial periods of the match. A former New Zealand singles champion, C. Angas (Canterbury), had a win in straight sets over K. McL. Perkins (Wellington). With sound ground strokes Angas made openings at the net. where he piled up points with skilfully-angled volleys and severe smashes.

[ii her mutch airuinst Mrs. Milhnrn (Hawke's Bay), Miss M. Beverley (Waikato), a former title-holder, never lookeil like heinu beaten. Miss Beverley's powerful and well-placed forehand drives often caught her opponent yards out of position. Sparkling tennis was seen in the combined doubles mutch between France and Mrs. Franco (Wellington) and Edwards (Wellington) and Mrs. Hatterley (Canterbury). When rain interrupted play each pair had won a sot. France's neatly-angled volleys, which found holes in the defence, and Edwards' devastating sniashos, provided spectacular touches and there wero many brilliant exchanges at tho net. With ono set in, Edwards and Mrs. Haltorloy led 5 —3 in tho second set, but tho Frances recovered brilliantly and won out at LI —0. In the other combined doubles match R. Barnes (Sydney) and Miss P. Cooke (Auckland) outclassed S Painter and Miss Z. Castle (Wellington). Barnes was tho dominant figure on the court, his volleying and overhead work being particularly slrong. Following are the details:— MEN'S SINGLES Second Round.—R. V. Robb (Wellington) beat C". F.. Penfold (Canterbury), ({—l, (>—l. (>—'J; I?. McKenzie (Wellington) beat R. Cant (Canterbury), 7—o, 6—t, 4—o, <*—•{; C Angus (Canterbury) beat R. McL. Perkins (Wellington), o—3.0 —3. (i—o, f>—4. 00MB1NED DOUBLES First Round.—R. Barnes (Australia) and Miss P. Cooke (Auckland) beat S. Painter and Miss Z. Castle (Wjllington), C—l, 6—2; D. G. Franco and France (Wellington) v. X. V. Edwards and Mrs. Hatterley (Canterbury), unfinished at one set all. LADIES' SINGLES First Round.—Miss M. Boverley (Waikato) beat Mrs. R. H. Milburn (Hawke's Bay), 6—2, (5—3: Miss N. Beverley (Waikato) beat Miss J. Pitcaithly (Canterbury), 6—2, 6—o.

PASCOE CUP CONTEST ; POSTPONEMENT OF MATCHES In the series of Pascoe Cup inter-house lawn tennis games played on Monday night . Westfield Freezins, last year's winner, defeated National Distributors by two matches to one. Details are as follows, Westfield .names being mentioned first: —D. Verrall and T. Clayton beat J. Dobson and D. Arkle. s—(>, (J—l,. o—t; A. R. Hemus and McLelland lost to L. Holmes and .1. Cowper. I—o, o—l, I—(>; Hemus and Verrall beat Arkle and Cowper, 50 —."J, <i —0. No games were played last evening, owing to rain. The series arranged for last night will be played to-morrow week. Following is the draw- for to-night:—Burton and Company v. Sargood. Son and Ewen, court No. lj Air Force No. '2 v. A.M.P. Society, court No. *2; Gunrdlnn Trust No. •> v. Native Department, court No. 3; Alex. Harvey and Company v. Abattoir Employees No. I, court No. 4.

TAURANGA BEATS TE PUKE [from Ol*R mvx correspondent] TE PUKE. Tuesday In a match for the Watt Cup played at Jubilee Park between the Te Puke and Tauranga South Tennis Clubs the latter won by 10 games to G. OTOROHANGA TOURNEY AH finals wero completed in the Anniversary Day tournament of tho Otorohanga Lawn Tennis Club during: tho week-end. Results arc as follows: Ladies' Singles.—Semi-finals: Miss G. Bell (Te Awamutu) won from Miss Walker (Te Kuiti) by default; Mrs. Hemara (Otorohanga) beat Miss Hotson (Otorohanga), 7 —U. Final: Miss Bell beat Mrs. Honiara, 7—<i. Men's Singles.—Semi-finals: Lynn (Pukekolie) beat P. Jones (To Kuiti), 9—7; J. Smith (To Awamutu) beat Prescott (Otorohanga), 9 —o. Final: Lynn bent Smith, o—l.0 —l. Ladies' Doubles.—Semi-finals: Mcsdames .Rhodes and Taylor (Otorohanga) beat Misses Scarborough (Otorohanga) and "Walker (To Kuiti), 7 —o; Misses Millar and Mcohan (Otorohanga) heat Mrs. Lapski (Otorohanga) and Miss Bell (To Awamutu), 7—5. Final: Mcsdarncs Rhodes and Taylor beat Misses Millar and Median, 7—l.

Men's Doubles. —Semi-final: Lynn (Pnkekohe) and Taylor (Otorohanga) beat Harnett. Brothers (Rangiatea), 0—">; Prescott and Rhodes (Otorohanga) beat Gooding and Leo (Otorohanga), o—7. Final: Lynn and Taylor beat Prescott and Rhodes, o—4. Combined Doubles. Semi-finals: Hunt (Rangiatea) and Miss Dalzicl (Otorohanga) beat Hotson and Miss Hotson (Otorohanga), »—8; Prescott and Miss C. Hall (Otorohanga) beat Qnin and Miss G. Bell (To Awamutu), 9 —5. Final: Prescott and Miss C. Hall beat Hunt and Miss Dalziol, 9—7.