TENNIS TOURNEY ENDS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19825, 30 December 1938, Page 10

TENNIS TOURNEY ENDS

POVERTY BAY FIXTURE DEFAULT IN DOUBLES ONE MATCH DEFERRED On account of the inability of Miss M. Allan to continue yesterday afternoon in the final of the combined championship doubles the annual championship and handicap tournament of the Poverty Bay and East Coast Lawn Tennis Association came to an end earlier than expected. While playing late yesterday morning in the final of the women’s championship Miss Allan was compelled to give way to Miss L. Karauti with the scores at 7—5, 3—o. After a rest she gamely took the court again to partner R. 'Bignall against J. J. Steevens and Mrs. Neal in the combined championship doubles, but was again forced to retire, the scores being 6 —3, 2—o, 5—5 in favour of Steevens and Mrs. Neal. At the end of that second game Miss Allan was to have partnered Bignall again in the combined handicap doubles final against R. Richardson and Mrs. Harrison, but it was decided to play off the event at a later date. The trophies won during the tournament were presented then by Mr. D. E. Chrisp on behalf of the association. In doing so he expressed the association’s appreciation to the number of visitors who had entered for the tournament. While congratulating Miss Karauti on her success in the women’s singles final, he said it was unfortunate that Miss Allan had had to withdraw. Miss Karauti, he thought, was the makings of a fine tennis player. To beat her in the girls’ championship singles, Miss J. Burnard showed really good form and deserved her success. Mr. Chrisp commented upon the splend'd condition of the Gisborne club’s courts during the fixture and paid a tribute to the groundsman, Mr. D. Sheahan. HASTINGS TOURNEY CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS Glorious weather favoured the final day’s play on Wednesday in the Hastings Tennis Club’s championships. In a semi-final of the men’s singles, N. J. Lowry had a close call in his match l with R. Fullerton, eventually winning 9—7 in the final set. The holders of the women’s doubles title, Mesdames Cotterill and Milburn, were beaten in the final by Misses M. Glenny and N. Evans. Results of the finals were: — Men’s Singles.—Lowry d. Marchment, 5 —7, 6 —3, G —4. Women’s Singles.—Miss M. Glenny d. Mrs. Cotterill, G —4, 4 —G, G —4. Men’s Doubles. —Lowry and Marchant d. Sharpe and Read, G —3, G—4. Women’s Doubles. —Misses Glenny and Evans d. Mesdames Milburn and Cotterill, 6 —3, G—l. Combined Doubles. Sharpe and Miss Glenny d. Read and Mrs. Milburn, G —4, G—o. TENNIS VISITORS TWO AUSTRALIAN GIRLS Commenting upon the play of the two Australian girls, Misses M. Hardcastle and T. Rice, who are taking part in the Wellington provincial lawn ‘tennis championships, a Wellington correspondent writes: — Miss Hardcastle has a rather stiff action in serving and a long backswing in her ground storkes, but there Is no gainsaying their efficiency. She lias perfect control oer the ball, which she watches intently. Her accurate placements to the side-lines or corners enable her to go to the net, where her volleying and smashing are decisive. Her service is accurately placed, causing her opponent to move to take the ball, often forcing a weak return or .sometimes no return at all. She often puts “work” on the ball in her forehand drive, causing it to whip quickly off the court and making it difficult to return. Miss Rice showed till at she has strokes that are dangerous to even the best players. She imparts slice to nearly all her ground strokes, backhand and forehand, and is very accurate. Although short in stature — Miss Hardcastle is much taller —Miss Rice uses every inch of her height when serving and controls her direction admirably, but hers is not a difficult service to handle- She is quick about the court .and, like Miss Hardcastle, delights to get to the net to volley or smash. She puts plenty of power into her drives and _ hits with freer action than does Miss .Hardcastle.