LAWN TENNIS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23620, 2 April 1940, Page 11

LAWN TENNIS

CAEO MEMORIAL CUP s PARNELL WINS SEMI-FINAL EDEN AND EPSOM'S DEFEAT The victorious progress of Eden unci Epsom's No. 2 team in the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association's open grade inter-club competition came to an abrupt end last Saturday, when the team sud'ered an overwhelming defeat by Famuli's first team. For the losing side, J. M. Moller won his singles match against J. 1). Mitchell and .Misses JL Potter and N. Svmes were successful in their doubles match against Alosdames C. Partridge and V. Swann, but these were tlie only victories achieved by the team. Eilen anil Epsom missed the services of A K. Turner, who has been undefeated in inter-club matches this season, anil Miss D.' Peters, but, even pillowing for this fact, tho teum as a whole played below the standard exhibited in its matches against Campbell Park, Royal Oak and Remuera earlier in tho month. By contrast, the Parnell team, while far from under-rating the opposition, played with tho confidence of assured superiority, which the results fully justified. E. D. B. Lusk was always in command in his match with 13. Broun. Ho depended chiefly on severe and accurate ground strokes, the backhand in particular being played with a good deal of spin. Ho rarely advanced to tho forecourt, but when he did he seldom failed to gain the point from that position. Broun produced soino brilliant shots, although he failed signally to profit from the openings which he created. J. D. Mitchell was slow in finding accuracy and this allowed J. H. Moller to win the first set with ease and reach a <l—2 lead in the second. Mitchell then settled into his game, and, with forceful, sparkling tennis, secured the next three games for a s—t lead. At this stago a short adjournment, was taken to enable a team "photograph to be taken. Upon resumption of play it. was obvious that Mitchell had again lost, touch and he was able to win only one more point. Hard-hitting Match A hard-hitting and fairly even match resulted from the meeting of C. O. Litherland and l\ E. Potter, with tho former rather tho more aggressive in the forecourt and thereby clinching the match in straight sets. L. II Watson played excellent, tennis to heat A. .E. McKeown with the loss of only fivo games, liis game had more pace than that of McKeown and lacked nothing in accuracy. Tho latter made a fine attempt to retrieve the match from I—s down in the second set and was successful in taking two more games nnd saving two match points before succumbing. Mrs. C. Partridge was in fine form and played confideutly and accurately to beat Miss B. Potter after losing the first set.-In the final set Miss Potter lost a number of points through over-anxiety, which caused her to drive out repeatedly. Mrs. V. Swann, a newcoiner to Auckland City, but for many years an outstanding figure in Thames Valley tennis. used the tactics which her experience told her would break up Miss N. Symes' attack. Well-timed variation of length, pace and spin proved most effective against her young opponent and it was but rarely that the latter was able to employ her powerful shots to advantage. This was Miss Symes' only defeat in Inter-club matches this season, but the experience obtained from pSaying against so fine a tactician as Mrs. Swann should prove invaluable to her. The Doubles Contests Both the first and second men's doubles went to three sets. The first, played between Lusk and Mitchell and Broun and Moller, resolved itself into a duel between Lusk and Moller to create openings for their rnoro forceful partners. Of the two latter, Mitchell was the more reliable, particularly in the later and this factor was decisive. Watson and A. Broun narrowly escaped defeat at the hands of the Kden and Epsom veterans, Potter and McKeown. After winning the first set by the odd game, they lost tho second in short time to a much superior combination. By tightening up their plav they reduced the disparity in the early stages of the third set, and, gaining confidence, scored a decisive win by effective use of their superiority in the forecourt. In tho first ladies' doubles match. Mrs. Partridge and Mrs. Swann lost to Miss Potter and Miss Svmes by the odd game in each of two sets. In both the former pair established an early lead which they lost through failure to make their volleys from sufficiently near the net. Tn the second ladies doubles match, Misses Sherlock and .Mitchell were never in any real danger aarainst Misses Mninford and Cowper and held a definite margin of superiority throughout. \ Broun and Miss Sherlock defeated Lamond and Miss Mumford by the narrowest of margins in a match in which the Eden and Epsom players conceded something in stroke equipment. Miss Mumford, however, was very safe on the baseline and Lamond made some truly remarkable recoveries. In the second combined doubles match, Radonirh and Miss Mitchell held the upper hand throughout. Molloy was responsible for some sparkling play at times, but was inclined to sacrifice accuracy to speed.