TENNIS

Southland Times, Issue 21589, 29 December 1931, Page 8

TENNIS

SOUTHLAND TOURNEY MRS SCOTT WINS LADIES’ SINGLES MEN’S SINGLES FINAL TO-DAY There was much interesting tennis played at Waihopai yesterday when most of the finals of the Southland Lawn Tennis Association’s Christmas tourney were completed. Although fine, the weather conditions were again more or less unpleasant for tennis and competitors and spectators suffered the annoyance of a gusty wind practically throughout the day. Fortunately number one court, where the most important matches were played, was partially sheltered and finalists were not troubled nearly so much as those using other courts. Notwithstanding this drawback in the playing conditions, a high standard of tennis was again reached and some close and exciting contests resulted. There, was a good attendance of the public at both morning and afternoon sessions. As the result of yesterday’s play the tournament was completed save for the finals of the men’s singles championship, the combined doubles handicap and the ladies’ doubles handicap. These events will be played at the Waihopai courts to-day, commencing at 2 p.m. In the men’s singles championship H. K. Sumpter and A. J. Deaker are the finalists; in the combined doubles Barnes and Miss E. Payne meet Cockerill and Miss Cutt; and in the ladies' doubles handicap Misses Bamford and Guest and Misses Cuppies and Griffiths (Dunedin) play off. Yesterday most interest centred in the finals of . the men’s doubles championship, the boys’ junior championship, ladies’ singles and doubles championships.

Strang and Stephens commenced well against Sumpter and Lindsay in the men’s doubles championship, but after the first set fell away and the champions had -an easy victory' in straight sets. Sumpter and Lindsay had a perfect understanding—• Sumpter at the net and Lindsay watching the back line —and made few mistakes whereas Stephens and Strang, particularly' the latter, made many and netted potential winners time after time. Sumpter delighted the crowd with his net play. He was confidence itself and brought the “house” down with several neatly executed angle volleys. He is playing at the top of his form at present and will be a hard proposition for Deaker in the final of the men’s singles championship to-day. The final of the boys’ championship between W. Strang and A. Baird was full of sparkle, but form and consistency worked out right and Strang prevailed in two sets out of three. Both boys gave of their best. They went for everything, so to speak, and delighted the crowd with many brilliant rallies. Strang took the first" set and Baird the second, both sets providing a contrast in styles. Baird’s enterprise won for him and Strang’s consistent driving and accurate placing won his set. The third and final set saw Strang gradually wear Baird down with further good driving on both hands and win tho set and match. Tho boys were loudly applauded for their good display. They played first-class tennis throughout and on present form are fit to hold their own with the best juniors in the Dominion. The ladies’ singles championship promised well, but after a good start Miss Guest failed to play up to form and gave Mrs Scott a fairly easy win in straight sets. Miss Guest failed to kill much loose overhead stuff. Instead she patted the ball back when she could have turned the play to better account. Her serving and driving were very good. Mrs Scott’s steadiness and splendid placing won her the match. She commenced quietly, but appeared to have a little in reserve and at the finish of the second set was driving strongly and accurately. On the day she was much superior than her opponent, who failed to rise to the occasion and lost many possible winners through carelessness.

The ladies’ doubles final was a good match between two dashing players in Misses Guest and Bamford and two steady drivers —Misses Kelly and Harvey, of Gore. Miss Guest was particularly effective at the net, but after the first set the Gore ladies adapted themselves to the style of play and lobbed with good effect. With one set each and the visitors showing improved form, the match resolved itself into a battle of tactics. Miss Kelly crossed cleverly from her backhand and placed so accurately that the Gore ladies led 5—4 and looked like taking the match. Here Misses Bamford and Guest played more solid tennis, and making fewer mistakes, took the next two games and the match. It was a good tussle with little between the pairs.

There was plenty of interesting tennis in the other sections. In the men’s singles championship Sumpter had a comfortable victory over R. Johnstone in the semifinal and Deaker eliminated Strang after a three-set encounter. Deaker’s steadiness in driving was a feature and now that his ankle injury appears to have recovered thoroughly he should give Sumpter a great game in the final. The girls’ junior championship was won by Miss Cuppies (Dunedin) from Miss Hunt (Nightcaps) after a game which was spoilt by the wind. Miss Hunt’s steadiness hail Miss Cuppies thinking during the early games, but in the later stages the Dunedin girl adapted herself to the conditions and drove well.

Miss E. Payne, of Limehills annexed the ladies’ singles handicap in good style, although her opponent Miss Sutherland, made a good match of it and took six games.

G. Thomas was probably the surprise of the tournament. He won the B grade singles convincingly and was in the final of the men’s doubles handicap with A. Walsh. He has a good style both at the net and the back of the court, and was always at his best when returning difficult shots. In the doubles against Lopdell and Lindsay, he and Walsh ran to 9—B before accepting defeat. This was a good duel. McCallum was trailing Cockerill at one stage in the men’s singles handicap, but rallied strongly and won decisively 9—6. His placements were well executed and nullified much of Cockerill’s net play, Cockerill was a trifle erratic and drove wildly at times. Following are the results of yesterday's games: MEN’S SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP. Third Round. A. J. Deaker beat G. Lindsay 4 —6, 6—o, 7—5. Semi-Final. H. K. Sumpter beat R. Johnstone 6—l, 6—2. A. J. Deaker beat W. Strang 3—6, 6 —3, 6—2. The final between Deaker and Sumpter will be played to-day. MEN’S DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP. Semi-Final. Hl K. Sumpter and G. Lindsay beat Pollock and Rawlinson (Dunedin) 9—7, 7—5. ■ W. Strang and Stephens beat R. Johnstone and L. G. Townsend 6—4, 3—6, 6—3. Final. Sumpter and Lindsay beat Strang and Stephens 6 —4, 6—l, 6—2.

MEN’S SINGLES HANDICAP. Second Round. Rigby beat Strang by default. McCallum beat Strettell 9 —7. Leishman beat Wood 9—6. Cockerill beat Hodgson 9 —3. Kerr beat Mitchell by default. Boyd beat Anderson 9—B. Third Round. Rigby beat O'Neill 9 —6. McCallum beat Leishman 9—7. Cockerill beat Henderson 9—6. Kerr beat Boyd 9 —6. Semi-Finals. McCallum beat Rigby 9 —7. Cockerill beat Kerr 9—5. Final. McCallum (owe 15 4-6) beat Cockerell (owe 30 2-6) 9-6. MEN’S HANDICAP DOUBLES. Third Round. Hanan and Strettell beat Strang and Stephens 9—7. Henderson and Baird beat Barnes and W. Johnstone 9- —8. Lopdell and Lindsay beat O’Neill and Baird 9—4. Semi-Finals. Thomas and Walsh beat Hanan and Strettell 9 —5. Lopdell end Lindsay beat Henderson and Baird 9 —6. Final. Ijopclell and Lindsay (owe 30 4-6) beat Thomas and Walsh (owe 4-6) 9—7. B GRADE SINGLES HANDICAP. Semi-Finals. Darracott beat J. R. Baird 9—2. Thomas beat Twemlow 9—3. Final. Thomas (owe 15 4-6) beat Darracott (owe 2-6) 9—l. LADIES’ SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP. Final. Mrs Scott (Timani) beat Miss P. Guest 6— 6—2. LADIES’ DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP. Final. Misses Bamford and Guest beat Misses Kelly and Harvey (Gore) 6—2, 3—6, 7— LADIES’ SINGLES HANDICAP. Third Round. Miss M. Fitzgerald beat Miss Guest, 9—5. Miss E. Payne beat Miss G. Basstian, 9—4. Miss Sutherland beat Miss Hallamore, 9—2. Miss Manson beat Miss Levvey, 9—o. Semi-Finals. Miss Payne beat Miss Fitzgerald, 9—5. Miss Sutherland beat Miss Manson, 9—l. Final. Miss E. Payne (owe I's 1/6) beat Miss Sutherland (owe 5/6), 9—6. LADIES’ DOUBLES HANDICAP. Semi-Finals. Misses Bamford and Guest beat the Misses Fitzgerald, 9—2. Misses Cuppies and Griffiths beat Misses Manson and Sutherland, 9—2. The final will be played to-day. COMBINED DOUBLES HANDICAP. First Round. Townsend and Mrs Werry beat Leishman and Miss Finlayson, 9—4. A Baird and Miss Guest beat Boyd and Miss Woods, 9 —4. Strang and Miss Harvey beat Shand and Miss Shand, 9—B. Hanan and Miss Tapley beat McKenzie and Miss Manson, 9—5. J. Baird and Miss Cuppies beat Swale and Mrs Henderson, 9—4. Lindsay and Miss Bamford beat Pankhurst and Mrs Pankhurst, 9—B. Cockerill and Miss Cutt beat Rigby and Miss Sutherland, 9 —4. O’Neill and Miss Griffiths beat McCallum and Miss McCallum, 9 —5. R. Baird and Miss Alexander beat McLeod and Miss Kelly, 9—6. Second Round. Sumpter and Mrs Scott beat Baird and Miss Guest, 9 —B. Townsend and Mrs Werry beat Strang and Miss Harvey, 9 —4. Baird and Miss Cuppies beat Hanan and Miss Tapley, 9 —7. Barnes and Miss Payne beat Lindsay and Miss Bamford, 9—l. Cockerill and Miss Cutt beat O’Neill and Miss Griffiths, 9—5. Hodgson and Miss Batchelor beat Henderson and Miss Graham, 9 —7. Stephens and Miss Ronald beat Baird and Miss Alexander, 9—B. Third Round. Townsend and Mrs Werry beat Sumpter and Mrs Scott, 9 —4. Barnes and Miss Payne beat Baird and Miss Cuppies, 9 —4. Cockerill and Miss Cutt beat Hodgson and Miss Batchelor, 9 —6. Stephens and Miss Ronald beat Lopdell and Miss Levvey, 9 —3. Semi-Finals. Barnes and Miss Payne beat Townsend and Mrs Werry, 9 —7. Cockerill and Miss Cutt beat Stephens and Miss Ronald, 9—4. The final will be played to-day. • JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS. BOYS. Final. W. Strang beat A. Baird, 6—3, 2—6, 6—2. GIRLS. Miss J. Cuppies beat Miss M. Hunt, 9—5. PLAY AT CALCUTTA JUNIOR’S SENSATIONAL WIN. (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) Calcutta, December 27. There was a tennis sensation in the semifinal of the Calcutta championships when Jiro .Fuji Kura, a slim 17-year-old junior champion, easily defeated H. Satchi, Japan’s number two plpyer, 6—4, 6—4.