NORTH ISLAND TITLES

Taranaki Daily News, 16 January 1931, Page 12

NORTH ISLAND TITLES

TENNIS AT NEW PLYMOUTH REVIEW OF THE TOURNAMENT. WILSON'S OUTSTANDING PLAY. (By “Half-Volley.”) 1 In reviewing the North Island championships and Taranaki provincial championship tournament held at New Plymouth last week one of the most striking features was the large crowd that was present to witness the finals on Saturday. The attendance was estimated at more than 1000 people, which must be a record for any tennis tournament held in New Plymouth. The crate takings amounted to about £53. ° Considerable organisation is required to conduct a tennis tournament successfully and the success of last week’s meeting was due in a large measure to the secretary (Mr. A. H. Richards), who not only devoted the whole of his.time during the week to ensure the smooth running of the tournament, but was also responsible for most of the preliminary work in . connection with the meeting. Despite the work of the grounds committee and the caretaker the courts were not in as good condition on the opening day as might have been expected for a North Island cham-pionship-meeting, nor did the rain which fell on the following day tend to improve matters. However, the New Plymouth borough footpath roller was commissioned 011 Thursday morning and consequently the courts were thoroughly rolled. With a drying wind and warm sfin the conditions became considerably better and play became faster. The local entries were far below expectations, due no doubt to the fact that the entrance fees, which had been increased on account of the North Island titles as well as the Taranaki provincial titles being at stake, were in most instances prohibitive. There were also a number of leading players absent from the district. TITLES NOT DEFENDED. The North Island title holders who did not defend their titles were C. Angus (Canterbury), singles champion; Miss D. Nicholls (Wellington), singles champion; and.C. E. Malfroy (Wellington), who, partnered with N. R. C. Wilson, held the doubles title. The provincial title-holders who did not compete were Miss D. Nicholls, singles champion, and - 'iss M. Andrew (Christchurch), who with. Mrs. W. J. Melody held the ladies’ doubles title. In the men’s' doubles N- R- C. Wilson (Wel-_ lington) was partnered with A. C. Stedman (Auckland), while J. C. Charters (Whangarei), who had Stedman as a partner last year in the provincial championships, was this year partnered with M. L. Lampe (Wanganui). The men’s singles, ladies’ singles and ladies’ doubles North Island titles changed hands. Wilson retained his doubles title and with Mrs. Melody the combined doubles title, which they won at Wanganui last year. All the provincial titles changed hands, Auckland and Wellington sharing the honours. The standard of play generally was very high and many spectacular games were witnessed, especially the finals of the men’s doubles between Wilson and Stedman and Hubble and Turner, and the semi-final between Stedman and Wilson, in which the Wellington player created a surprise by defeating the New Zealand champion 6 —o in the third set. After participating at the Dominion tournament at Christchurch in which he reached the semi-final of the men’s singles only to be beaten by the youthful Canterbury player (Barnett), who created a surprise in the first round by defeating D. G. France, N., R. C. Wilson was' at the top of his form when he . competed at New Plymouth. Having drawn a bye in the first round he met A. K. Turner (Auckland) in his first match in the singles to win in two straight sets 6—4, 6—l. This clash was productive of some sparkling tennis and the Aucklander fully contested every point In the next round Wilson met another Auckland player (E. W. Griffiths) and won 6—l in the third set after two advantage sets had been played in' which the honours were even. Wilson continued his winning' way in the fourth round when he defeated T. Rhodes-Williams in two sets, the second of which required 14 games before Wilson secured the match. The Canterbury, representative played an excellent game but "Wilson was at. his best and was not to be denied. CHAMPION NOT AT BEST. In the semi-final it was expected that Wilson would meet his Waterloo when he faced A. C. Stedman across the net. It was obvious, however, that the Dominion singles champion was not at his best. Stedman relishes a high bouncing ball,, and with .such his driving is'a treat to watch. Wilson, on the other hand, favours the rising ball and the soft condition of the courts suited him more than it did Stedman. From the commencement it was realised that a great contest would be staged and a large crowd was quickly drawn to No. 4 court. At the end of the second set honours were,even, each having a victory 6—4. Although Stedman strove ' hard in the filial set he was unable to secure a game and Wilson entered the finals after a well-deserved victory. E. L. Bartleet (Auckland and ex-Do-minion champion) did not at any time durino- the tournament display the form whiclT thrilled the Taranaki public .when he defeated Haege, the brilliant Victorian player, in the semi-final of the Taranaki provincial championships three or four years ago after, a strenuously contested five-set match. In the first round, he found no difficulty in dis-

posincr of I. Haworth 6—-2, 6—-2, but he received somewhat of a check in the next round when he faced the New Plymouth Club player (A. H. Richards) and was unable to capture the .match until 16 games had been played in the second set. Bartleet next met V. N. Hubble, another Auckland player, who made a, strong bid to capture the match without success. In the fourth round Bartleet beat the holder of the Taranaki title (J. C. Charters) in a match in which the youthful Whangarei player went down in the third set 10—8. In the semi-final the ex-Dominion champion clashed with L. France (Wellington). Notwithstanding the fact that Bartleet was not at his best, he took the first set from France with comparative ease by accurate placements. France, improved in the next set and evened at 5 all when Bartleet found it necessary to leave the court owing to indisposition. ■ He soon returned, however, but having committed a breach of the rules should have immediately defaulted to France, or rather the umpire should have awarded the match to France, more especially in view of the fact that Fraiice made no serious effort to win the match. BARTLEET’S DEFAULT. Had Bartleet defaulted it would have enabled France to meet Wilson in the fingl. This would have been more satisfactory to all concerned as the final would then have been decided, by two plqyers who could quite easily have stood up to a .hard, five-set match if necessary. As it was. when Bartleet played Wilson in the final on Saturday the former found it impossible to finish the match and consequently Wilson won by default, a most unsatisfactory conclusion to a North Island championship title. In fairness to Miss Macfarlane, with whom he was partnered, it would have been better had Bartleet defaulted to France instead of to Wilson, for the ex-Dominion lady champion would have played the combined finals with a partner whose energies had not been spent on a fruitless fiveset singles match. ■ When the final of the Combined doubles came to be played, however, the title-holders retained their title by defeating the Auckland combination 6—l in the third set. A. K. Turner and V. N. Hubble (Auckland) 1 provided some bright tennis in the men’s doubles. In the first match they defeated ■ Dart and Wilson without the loss of a game, but received somewhat of a check when they faced Court and Melody. In the third round, which was played on the final day, the Auckland. pair defeated Bartleet and Griffiths (also of'Auckland) in two straight sets. This victory gave Hubble and Turner the right to play the Taranaki representatives (Wallace and Webster) in the semi-final. The Taranaki pair went down in the third set g 7 after an interesting match. The final between Stedman and Wilson and Hubble and Turner drew, a large gallery and resulted m a win for the . Auckland-Wellington combination after a match which will be long remembered by those fortunate enough to witness it. ' , . The Taranaki players prominent at the tournament were Misses O. J. Taylor and E. Rundle (New Plymouth), who contested the final of the. ladies’ doubles with Misses B. M. Knight and N. Whitelaw; Miss'Jean Ward (Stratford), who was defeated by Mrs. Melody in the! semi-final of the ladies’ singles; Wallace and Webster (New Plymouth), who met Hubble and Turner in the semi-final of the men’s doubles; R. W. Wilson (Urenui), who was defeated in the final of the boys’ singles by N. Davys (Wellington), the holder of three Dominion titles; and Miss A. Graham (Waverley), who found it necessary to default., to Miss Betty Griffiths (Auckland) in the ninth game of the third set of the girls’ singles championship. As a result of the tournament the New Plymouth Club should benefit to the extent of about £5O.