Tennis.

Putaruru Press, Volume XI, Issue 252, 18 May 1933, Page 8

Tennis.

NEW ZEALAND TITLE. Miss Margaret Beverley’s Wly. Miss Margaret Beverley, the 14-year-old member of the Matamata Tennis Club, was successful in winning the title of junior hard-court tennis champion of New Zealand, at Auckland, on Friday. Miss Beverley put up a great performance at this her first appearance in national championship circles, and outplayed her older and more-experienced opponents, who in some cases were nearly four years her senior. According to metropolitan comment, in the final game against Miss Sullivan, of South Canterbury, which Miss Beverley won 6—5, 6—5, Miss Beverley displayed such a variety of strokes that she kept her opponent on the run throughout. Miss Sullivan fought back splendidly with both hands, considering the amount of ground she had to cover, and possessed the better backhand stroke, but. Margaret’s variety and placement shots told in the end and proved the determining factor.

The performance is an outstanding one for such a young player, and with the experience gained in the next two or three seasons Miss Beverley should be right in the top flight, if not champion, of New Zealand lady players while still a junior. Miss Beverley’s complete scores were:—First round: v. Miss R. Drake (Auckland), 6—4, 3—6, 6—3. Second round: v. Miss D. Smythe, ] 4—6, 6—5, 6—2. Third round: v. Miss A. Burgess Watson (Auckland). 6—2, 6—4. Semi-final: v. Miss J~ Senior (Canterbury), 6—2, 6—IV Final : v. Miss N. Sullivan (South Canterbury), 6—5, 6—5.

COMMENT BY OFFICIALS.

A Waikato Weakness. Keen disappointment at the action of the Waikato Tennis Association in not consulting the East Waikato Association before forwarding nominations for the New Zealand junior championships was expressed by prominent officials of the latter association to a representative of the Record last week. It was pointed out that the performance of Miss Margaret Beverley in winning the junior singles championship at the first time of entry was an outstanding one, but was not quite unexpected among: those who had opportunity to judge-, her form with outsiders. Yet Miss. * Beverley had not been nominated byWaikato until asked to do so. With her standard to judge by last season it was felt that in not consulting the East Waikato Association the splendid performance of two other young players, who were quite capable of performing in the New Zealand junior championships with credit, had been overlooked. These two young players were Miss Stewart, of Te Whetu, and Miss L. Kirk, of Kiwitahi. Miss Stewart had won the open ladies’ championship at the Pukekohe Easter tournament, in which she had defeated Miss Bishop in the final. This was an outstanding performance and fully merited her inclusion among the Auckland entrants. In the East Waikato tournament at New Year Miss Kirk showed good form in the handicap singles and defeated Miss Nessie Beverley in the final. There was not the close co-operation shown by the Waikato association which should be cultivated by a parent body, and it was unfortunate that this weakness had resulted in the merits of promising country girls being overlooked. Reverting to Miss Margaret Beverley’s success, both officials expressed their gratification and heartily congratulated Miss Beverley on her performance. Miss Beverley, though only fourteen, had been encouraged by the committees of the Matamata club and East Waikato association, and had represented East Waikato in all games last season. She had fought put the Matamata club final with her sister Nessie, and partnered by her sister had also won the ladies’ championship doubles, in which she had displayed great ability in stroke play. Her club and association were proud of her victory, and it was a matter for pride that among members they now had a New Zealand champion in Miss Margaret Beverley, and an ex-New Zealand champion in J. T. Laurenson.