LAWN TENNIS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23616, 28 March 1940, Page 5

LAWN TENNIS

lIARfI-COUIIT TOUBNEY A. S. BURNS OUTSTANDING MANY PROMISING PLAYERS Eleven years ago the first Auckland hard-court tennis championships wenheld at the courts of the Mount Eden and Nicholson Park Clubs, and they proved a great success. Since then the tournament has grown in popularity year by year, until it lias become necessary to limit the number of events for which a competitor may outer, and, even with this restriction, a combination of good luck and good weathtr is essential to enable it to be completed within the allotted dates. Catering at first almost exclusively for the hardcourt player, the tourney now attracts large numbers of players from the grasscourt clubs, including some of the best in Auckland. A. S. Burns, ex-New Zealand junior champion, showed himself to be the outstanding player in this year's championships, by winning nil three titles without being seriously challenged in any event. Incidentally, he again proved himself to bo the possessor of fine stamina, playing three semi-finals and three finals on the last day. Burns is a player who Is developing steadily. He bus the strokes and temperament, and is rapidly acquiring the courtcraft of a Dominion champion. It. \V. Smith, who contested all finals, produced some brilliant shots, but his game is not. nearly as reliable as that of Burns. (). M. Bold, of Lower Halt, provided the chief outside interest in the tournament, but his results were disappointing, both to him self and his supporters. After his victory over \V. 'l', rouiilncy in the New Zealand chainpionship.s, it was expected that he would reach tin: final of the singles, hut lie went down in three, sets in the semi-final round. Hold is of medium height, strongly built and very quick on his feet. Left-handed, lie plays his ground shots with a noticeable wrist action. His forehand drive, which ho plays either flat or with a considerable amount of spin, is a real match-winner, and his smashing is both powerful and accurate. Against It. W. Smith ho produced dazzling tennis in the first set, which ho won to lovo. Halfway through the second set, rain caused play to bo abandoned for the day, and on resumption Bold, playing with a strange racquet, was uuablo to find touch, and offered little opposition for the remainder of the match. 11. Poninghaus, the fourth semi-finalist, is an unobtrusive player of real merit, who depends moro upon accuracy and courtcraft than upon spectacular stroking for his results. Miss Cooke Successful As expected, the ladies' events were dominated by Miss I'. Cooke and Mrs. W. (J. Morse. Miss Cooke possesses rather more powerful shots, and shows greater determination in playing tlieni than does Mrs. Morse, and this appears to be the reason for her superiority in match play this season. Miss W. M. Kichardson, of the Bay of Plenty, who last year was runner-up to Mrs. Morse, again played well this year, beating Mrs. P. E. Potter and forcing Miss Cooke to an advantage set in the semi-final round. Miss L. E. Adams, a former title-holder, also played good tenuis and, with a little luck, might well have won her semi-final against Mrs. Morse. Her shots arc strong and accurate, and her courtcraft is good. She is quick and active, and only lacks experience against sood players to place her in the first half-dozen players in Auckland. This tournament produced the usual crop of promising players in the lower sections, but the large number of entries and the limited time available for play tended to put an unduly high premium on stamina, and it is probable that, had more leisurely progress been practicable, some results would have been different, t. C. Bayly, of Pukekohe. and J. C. Itogan, the finalists in the second section, howover, showed up as solid all-round players, who fully merited their positions. G. Kerr-Taylor, of Ilelensville, was playing very well until he had the misfortune to sprain his ankle during his semi-final against Bayly, and K. F. Deprosc paid the penalty of too much success when he had to default in the quarter-final to ttogan, having also reached the semi-final round in the third section singles and the final of the third section doubles. Promising Players Deprose, who is a Taranaki player attending the Teachers' Training College, is an attractive performer, of whom more should be heard. Had he concentrated on the third section it is quite possible that he may have won his semi-final against L. Burgess, the ultimate winner. O. It. Arkell was another player in the third section whose over-full programme of matches prevented wiim from riisplnvinir his best form in the final stages. Paired with Mrs. Adams, he won t ho combined doubles title, hut fatigue and a leg injury prevented him from offering the opposition or which he is capable when ho met Burgess in the final of the. singles event. Arkell has an excellent all-round equipment of strokes, his forehand drive, in particular, being very powerful and accurate. 1,. Burtcess, however, showed himself well equipped in all departments, and lie won his title in convincing fashion. The boys singles was -won by D. Kelly, who made better use of the forecourt than his opponents, and volleyed and smashed with good effect. . Among <he Indies in the second section. Mrs K. Pickering. who was runner-up last year lo Miss Kichardson. played the most attractive tennis, and was almost the only one to make effective use of the fore-court. The standard of play in the third section, also, was disappointing. Miss C. 11..I 1 .. Solan being convincingly file best of a rather mediocre draw. Miss .T. Dryland was outstanding in the girls' similes event, her stroke equipment being definitely superior to that of any other olaver. but Miss V. McCombe. "ho took Miss Dryland to three close sets in the "Jpmi-finiil round, deserves special credit for her clever placements and excellent anticipation.