1938 SINGLES TITLE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19824, 29 December 1938, Page 7

1938 SINGLES TITLE

R. RICHARDSON'S WIN STEEVENS’ RALLY FAILS GISBO RNE TOURNAMENT Winning two sets in succession against J. J. Steevens, veteran of the courts, the newcomer R. Richardson carried off the 1938 singles championship at the Gisborne tennis tournament to-day. The final attracted much attention, and Richardson’s form was well worthy of the success which attended his efforts. For four years Steevens has been a leading contender for the singles title, and he was successful in one final during that time. He has held doubles honours more than once, however, and has been regarded as the most difficult man to beat. Richardson found him comparatively easy to-day, driving and smashing in exhilarating style, and taking the first set at 6—2. Fie then look five games in sequence, and was at match point before Steevens got going. The next f;ur games went to the veteran, and it seemed that he might pull the set out of the fire, and qualify for a deciding set; but he lost his grip again in the tenth game of the set, and was beaten 6 —4. Several final games were set down for decision this afternoon, these including the women's singles, between Miss M. Allan and Miss L. Karauti, the women’s handicap singles, between Mrs. Harrison and Mrs. C. H. Wells; the boys’ champion •fineries, between Graham and Shone: and the boys’ champion doubles, between Graham and Shone, in the one pair, and Neal and Martin, in the other. Results to 3 p.m. were- as under: — turn rule A— follow CHAMPIONSHIP SECTION Men’s Singles Final. —R. Richardson d. J. J. Steevens, C —2, 6—4. Men’s Doubles Semi-finals.- —Chrisp and Shoxfiand d. Steevens and Phillpots, 7 —5, 6 —3; Kaiia and Burdett d. Bignell and Richardson, C —3, 7 —5. Women’s Singles Semi-final. —Miss L. Karauti d. Mrs Neal, G—3. G—4; Miss M. Allan d. Miss Haisman, 7 —5, 5 —7, G —3. Women’s Doubles Semi-final. —Mrs. Baigent and Miss Allan d. Mrs. Harrison and Miss Haisman, G—2, G —2. Combined Doubles Third Round.—Kaua and Miss Karauti d. Burdett and Miss Weliepeihana, G—2, 3—6, G —2. Boys’ Singles Semi-final.—Graham d. D. Neal, 6—3, 6 —3; Shone d. Hinaki, G—o, G —2. Girls’ Singles Second Round. —Miss Gibson cl. Miss Wells, 6—2, G—4. Boys’ Doubles Semi-final. —Graham and Shone ri Ilaapu and Hinaki, G—2, G—o; Neal and Martin w.o. Mackey and Pae-nga. • HANDICAP SECTION Men’s Doubles Third Round.—Bignell and Richardson (o. 40) d. Wilson and McLaughlan (o. 15.3), 9—G; Cranswick and Heremia (o. 40) d. Clark and Muir (o. 3), 9—l. Semi-final.—Cranswick and Heremia (o. 40) d. L. I-I. Tawhiri and Hitchings (o. 15.3), 9—6. Women’s Singles Third Round—Miss Wehepeihana (o. 15) d. Mrs Clark (o. 4), 9—6; Miss Blair (o. 3) d. Miss S. Ormond (o. 15), 9—7. Semi-final. —Mrs. Harrison (o. 30) d. Miss Wehepeihana (o. 15), 9—2; Mrs. Wells (o. 15.3) d. Miss Blair (o. 3), 9 —4. Women’s Doubles First Round.—Mrs. Baigent and Miss Allan (o. 40) d. Misses P. Nolan and J. Burnard (scr.), 9 —4. Second Round.—Mrs. Baigent and Miss Allan (o. 40) d. Misses Blair and Hegartv (o. 15), 9—3; Misses Wehepeihana \tnd Karauti (o. 15.3) d. Mlisses Barton and Barker (r. 15), 9—4. Semi-final.—Misses Wehepeihana and Karauti d. Mesdames Wilson and Kennedy (o. 4), 9—B. Combined Doubles First Round.—•Burdett and Miss Wehepeihana (o. 15.5) d. M. R. Maude and Miss Kemp (o. 15.2), 9 —B. Second Round. —Cranswick and Miss Haisman (o. 30.1) d. Bright and Miss Mitford (o. 15.2), 9—5; Brown and Miss Luttrell (r. 3) d. Connop and Miss Allan (scr.), o—s;0 —5; MoLaughlan and Mrs. Kennedy <o. 2) d. P. Singer and Miss Burnard (o. 15.2), 9 —4; Richardson and Mrs. Harrison (o. 30.1) d. D. Neal and Miss Wells (r. 15), 9—4; Steevens and Mrs. Simpson (o. 15.3) d. Hitdhings and Miss Blair (o. 15). 9—7. Third Round. —Bignell and Miss Allan (o. 40) d. Cranswick and Miss Haisman (o. 30.1), 9—B; McLaughlan and Mrs. Kennedy (o. 2) d. Brown and Miss Luttrell (r. 3), 9—G; Steevens: and Miss Simpson (o. 15.3) d. Tawhiri and Miss Clark (scr.), 9—B.