CANTERBURY TOURNAMENT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26349, 2 January 1947, Page 6

CANTERBURY TOURNAMENT

OTAGO PLAYERS PROMINENT Otago players figured prominently In the Doubles finals at the Canterbury tournament. Commenting on these events, the Christchruch Press says:— McKenzize was the dominating figure in the Men’s Doubles final, in which he and Edwards beat the Canterbury title-holders, J. E. Robson and O. M. Bold It was, nevertheless, a well-tught match. All four excelled In picking up apparently winning shots, and rallies were prolonged for many strokes after they appeared to have been ended by a powerful smash or a volley to a gap in the court. Edwards has not been in the best of form at this tournament, but in the Doubles he'hit all his shots confidently. his only weakness being a tendency to overdo the use of the lob. Had Robson and Bold been a little more consistent \ overhead they might have taken a set. McKenzie's return of service was excellent, and his volleys were always purposeful. Robson was very consistent and Bold compensated for occasional inexplicable errors with some shots that had a touch of doubles genius. When Misses Attwood and Burrell won the first set of the Doubles final against Miss Kerr and Mrs Adams with the loss of only two games, it seemed that they were going to have as easy a win as they did against the New champions, Mesdames J. Graham (Hutt \ alley) and J. McVay, on Saturday. In this set they drove, volleyed, and smashed with a speed arid precision that gave their opponents few chances to attack, and brought them many points in forced errors. A change came over the game in the second set. Mrs Adams, who had been very inconsistent, achieved a measure of steadines. She lobbed well In defence and she followed drive or lob to the net to bring off many winning volleys. After leading 5—3, she and Miss Kerr took the set at 7—5. Misses Attwood and Burrell may unconsciously have relaxed after the first set. All attempts to re-establish their former dominance failed. Faster shots ended only in mistakes. All through the second and third sets Miss Kerr played a magnificently sound game. Perhaps she played too much from the baseline, but from there she did exchange drives, with a credit balance in her favour, with two strong-driving opponents. Not only did she give away no errors, but she made many openings for her brilliant but much less consistent partner. Mrs Adams played some superb shots, her flat forehand forcing Miss Burrell far out of court, and her volleys were as effective as they were spectacular and daring.