TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Taranaki Daily News, 17 January 1930, Page 5

TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

THE TARANAKI TOURNAMENT l/LLL. TITLES LIFTED BY VISITORS. PROMINENCE OF YOUNG PLAYERS. (By “Half-Vollpy.”) Last week wag an important and strenuous period in - Taranaki tennis circles, being occupied- with the Taranaki Lawn Tennis Association’s annual tournament. Though rain caused an adjournment of an hour on the third day and a late, start,on the fourth day, the 'a.ssbbiatibn was particularly fortunate in the weather, especially on Saturday afternoon when the finals were played. (The officials of the New Plymouth club [who' conducted the tournament deserve credit for the interest and energy they ,put into' the successful running of the [fixture. A. C. Stedman and T. Rhodes-Wil-liams were picked as, the probable final- ' ists for the men’s singles, but the fore- ; east was made incorrect by a re-ar-rangement of the draw from that at first published, in which the’two play; era were-.in different halves. As the . snatches were, played, however, Rhodes[Williams met Stedman in th© semi- ' final. The finalists, Williams and J. C. Charters, both had byes in the first round. ' Charters’ hardest fight was in Ibis first match, N. Hay-Campbell winning a set from him. Rhodes-Williams Iliad no trouble in the, first two matches, but lost’the first set of his match with lA. K. Turner.' -

, It'was Stedman's own fault that he [was defeated by Rhodes-Williams in the Bemi-final. . Stedman is a fine net-play-er and volleyer, but seemed to lose his . confidence at the net when he was passed once*or twice by, his' opponent.. It [was disappointing to see his game fall ' «,wav because of this lack of confidence. On the last two days of the tournaiment he did not get conditions to suit (him. He drives best off a high-boune-fing ball, but after the heavy rain the "courts were too heavy and holding for the ball to do that. He had to.lift the [ball and was unable to and lost in two sets to Charters. .. * ■ . . CHARTERS IN HIS* BEST FORM. Charters struck. his- best form ■ and (Rhodes-Williams his worst in the final, v It was one of Charters' best performances so far, and he deserved his win. A left-hander, physically as hard as nails, he has a chance to become a topaiotcher. His service • was like a champion’s and lie drove oh both hands, smashed and volleyed equally well. His forehand drives had power and sting and he beat Rhodes-Williams at his own game of placements. Though he was beaten, Rhodes-Williams’ game was : a delight to watch. He played every aliot so perfectly correctly that he served as a model to be emulated by • (budding Taranaki champions, but the .very time he took to play those strokes / was his undoing. He was bustled by a good player. His service was not particularly strong and his game did not seem to have improved a great deal from the previous year, when he also [filled the position of runner-up. Mrs. Melody was easily the best of the lady players, and retained her singles title without difficulty. It was a pity that Miss D. Nicholls did not compete in the event, as a return match (between the pair would have been inter- ’ esting. Miss Nicholls had defeated Mrs. Melody at the New Plymouth championships at Wanganui and Mrs. Melody at Auckland had defeated Miss Knight, the conqueror of Miss Marjorie Macfarlane, the present New Zealand champion. iMiss Nicholls, however, was reserving herself for the Manawatu and the national championships. The champion . won all her matches in two sets and was never extended, always . appearing ■ to have complete control of the game. Miss Myers made her run a little in the final, but was made to do even more running herself. Mrs. Melody’s backhand was not strong and towards the end of the match she preferred to a’un around the ball and play it with that forehand chop Miss Myers found ao hard to drive.

DOUBLES CHAMPIONS DEFEATED.

The semi-final of the men’s doubles jjaw the defeat of age by youth. A. G. Wallace, for years with Dickie Taranaki’s best doubles player, and Cl. Wills, last year’s champions, were defeated by Charters and Stedman. They were beaten by better players, and nothing more can be said. Some of the best net play during the tournament was provided Iby V? N. Hubble and A. M. Michelson in their semi-final aganist Rhodes-Wil-liams and H. Dymond. The Auckland pair simply hugged the net and very nearly defeated the Christchurch pair, through their persistence in maintaining the same tactics of attempting to drive past the pair at the net, who were practically impassable. Stedman and Charters won the final comfortably in two sets. Their opponents were not going too well together, Dymond being drawn too easily out of position and leaving an unguarded gap, which was (quickly found. The ladies’ doubles final provided a great struggle. It took three sets for Mrs. Melody and Miss Andrew to defeat Miss N. Lloyd and Miss M. Whyte. Superior generalship, especially on the part of Mrs. Melody, proved the deciding factor, together with the ability of herself and her partner to settle down quickly, for in each sot they early secured a substantial load that proved a dominating feature in giving them [the victory. The best exhibition of the five finals played in the afternoon was seen in the combined doubles, Rhodes-Williams and Miss Nicholls defeating .Stedman and Miss Andrew in two sets. Miss Nicholls, [the North Island singles champion, gave a glimpse of the form that won her the° title. She was outstanding among the four, driving with the force of either of the men and making each shot sharp and decisive. Rhodes-Williams showed his best form in his placements and (Stedman played a sound, reliable game. Miss Andrew was steady, though at times she betrayed the same nervousness as she had shown previously. No player at the tournament won three championships and only two, Charters and Mrs. Melody, won two. (Both the singles champions were also in the winning pair in their respective doubles. Miss Andrew, a winner in three championships at the South Island championships at ’ Christchurch, had to

be content with a win in the ladies doubles only. THE DOMINION TOURNAMENT. The draw for the New Zealand championships to be commenced at Wellington on January 27, contains. the name of only one Taranaki competitor, A. G. Wallace, Waverley. Wallace has entered in three events. In the men’s doubles he plays with E. B. W. Smyth, Marlborough, and in the combined doubles with Mrs. W. A. Scott, South Canterbury. Miss M. Myers, Mrs. C. Smith and M. L. Lampe are the only Wanganui entrants. Miss Myers and Lampe play together in the combined doubles. Present holders of the Dominion titles are: —Men’s singles, E. L. Bartleet; ladies’ singles, Miss Marjorie Macfarlane; men’s doubles, E. L. Bartleet and J. T. Laurenson; combined doubles, C. Angas and Miss Spiers; ladies doubles, Misses Spiers and Wake; boys’ singles, H. A. Barnett; girls’ singles, Miss Ruth Taylor. The association which secures the greatest number of points at the meetbig will hold the Anthony Wilding Memorial Cup until next year. Points are allotted as follows: —Men’s singles, 3; men’s doubles, 2; ladies’ singles, 3; ladies’ doubles, 2; combined doubles, 2; boys’ singles, 1; girls’ singles, 1. The Auckland Association won the cup last year with a total of 8 points,