Tennis

Putaruru Press, Volume XXVI, Issue 1313, 20 January 1949, Page 8

Tennis

NEW YEAR TOURNAMENT Waikato East Venture Entries Were Disappointing In view of the fact that the energetic president of the Waikato East Association, Mr Neville Pond, h.vi personally sent out 100 programmes and entry forms to A, B and C grade players in the Waikato East area, the entries for the revived New Year tournament were most disappointing. The entries were by no means as large as anticipated by the committee, there being only 12 ladies and 20 men competitoru, nine of which were visitors to Matamata. Nevertheless, the small entry should not deter the association from holding the tournament next season, writes Mr H. G. Keeley, president of the Council of Sport, as he felt sure that this year’s competitors would again be starters owing to the great enjoyment received. The standard of play improved considerably as matches reached. the semi-final stages, and many excellent games were witnessed and many surprise results. In winning the men’s singles, Ralph Settle play ed consistently and lost only one set, and that to M. Ashley, a visiting player from Miramar. His final against Rex Simonsen was not the close-fought match anticipated, although the first set went to Settle at 6/5, Simonsen led 5/4, but from then on seemed to lose touch, and Settle took the next eight games and the Keane Cup. The ladies’ singles final between Mrs Harrison and Mrs V. Tapper was also disappointing, the former winning- 6/3, 6/1. Mrs Harrison scored many winners with passing shots when her opponent attempted to come into the net. The Livingstone brothers, Fred and Hilton, played top-grade tennis to take the doubles championship from R. -Simonsen and Ossie Edwards in what was the best match of. the tournament. The tennis was at times brilliant, each one of the four giving of his very best. The winners had a close call in their first round match, just getting the odd game in each set to beat the Wellington pair, Ashley and Peach, 6/5, 6/5. The final of the ladies’ doubles championship produced changing fortunes in that Mrs Tapper and Mrs Pond won the first set 6/1 against Mrs Wells and Mrs Harrison, only to lose the second l by a simili’j margin. The final set was even all thi way, the former pair eventually getting the last two games to win 6/4. The same four ladies again met in the final of the handicap doubles, and Mrs Wells and Mrs Harrison found that by receiving 15 every other game the handicap just made up the difference and they eventually turned the tables, to win 9/5. Mrs Jacobs, leading Morrinsville player, showed much improved l form after the first day, during which she was beaten in the championship singles by Mrs Wells. Although the hack-marker in the handicap singles she won the event after a close contest in the final against Mrs O. Edwards by a score of 9/7. Mrs Jacohs, partnered by D. Johnston, has still to play the final of the championship combines against the Hinuera pair, R. Settle and Mrs Wells. This match was held up on account of one player being not fit to play and rather than default the pair the committee decided that the match would he played at a later date. Mrs Jacohs was the only lady competitor who played an attacking net game, -both in singles and doubles. Not going to the net in this manner is a had fault with nearly ail Waikato EUst women players.

The net play of Mrs Tapper was the deciding factor in the final of the combined handicap doubles, as ehe won many points. This final was another great match, and S. Lugton and Miss P. Wells just failed when they were beaten by F. Livingstone and Mrs Tapper, 10/8. The championship doubles was annexed- by Livingstone brothers and the handicap doubles -by Lugton -brothers, who defeated Gubh brothers in the final, the score -being 10/8. Gubb brothers had 1 previously eliminated Livingstone brothers in this section.

An interesting final was that beween M. Ashley (Miramar) and Rex Simonsen (Matamata), who had a few years back been secretary of the Miramar club. The former won 9/4, although the game was much closer than anticipated. It was very pleasing to note that the trophies were well distributed in that players from Morrinsville, Tinau, Miramar, Hinuera, Matamata and Walton were successful.