WIN FOR NORTH TARANAKI

Taranaki Daily News, 20 February 1933, Page 3

WIN FOR NORTH TARANAKI

SOUTH DEFEATED AT TENNIS THIRTEEN MATCHES TO ELEVEN. TEAMS EVEN IN ANNUAL FIXTURE. North Taranaki defeated South Taranaki by 13 matches to 11. in an' annual tennis contest played at Eltham on Saturday in ideal weather. The tennis taken right through was of a better class and more even than last year, as is shown by the fact that although North won on the number of matches they were down in the. number of games, winning only 264 games to South’s 266. Thirty-two sets were won by North and 26 by South. C. H. Stxombom, who was playing well up to form, had no trouble in disposing of E. Dickie in two straight sets, and playing in the doubles with L. Christie, who was driving consistently, particularly off the forehand, accounted comfortably for E. and A. Dickie, who did not seem to get going. They were not playing their usual game and were below the form produced in the recent tournaments. ' John Watson’s experience proved too' superior for C. H. Des Forges, who was outplayed in two straight sets. Ballantyne had a tussle which lasted three sets with A. Dickie, who played the better game in the last set, although his opponent showed himself on top in the second with his old time volleying and smashing. Christie was driving well against M. Jones and several times caught him on the wrong foot. In the second set when down 2—5 Jones placed accurately and drove more forcibly than in the first set and was unlucky not to force the issue to three sets after making the score even at 6 all. Rutherford, who played his first North Taranaki match, played a splendid game. He drove beautifully to the corners and showed up to advantage with well-placed volleys and smashes when opportunity occurred. Pease, his opponent, was patchy, playing some fine shots, but he generally lacked the finish to clinch several of the games, which could have easily gone in his favour. Lobb was serving well throughout the day, but was extended to 10—8 in the first set against Gordon, who played an.all-round game and who might easily have sent the match to three sets. In the ladies’ singles, which were halved, Miss . Peggy Wylds created, a surprise by defeating Miss O. J. Taylor, who has played top for Taranaki for some years. Miss Taylor, who was not playing near the top of her form, obviously from lack of practice, often drove out and netted shots which usually would have been winners. Miss Wylds, who this season has improved out of sight, drove hard, placed exceptionally well and on the day thoroughly deserved her win. The most, interesting of the doubles was the match between Ballantyne and Lobb and Watson and Jones. Some fine tennis was played by all, as the scores, 13—11, 7—5, indicate. Strombom and . Miss Taylor versus Watson and Miss J. Hicks was one of the finest combined doubles seen in Taranaki this year. All served exceptionally well, the second ball being seldom required. For the South Watson was a tower of strength, always anticipating, directing and taking every advantage of out of position play. Stromborn smashed, volleyed and exploited a nasty chopped forehand with success. Both ladies reproduced their old foxmx at times.' Miss Hicks’ backhand was always safe, while Miss Taylor was sure at the net and overhead., South were unlucky to lose the-match after winning the second set 6—o and having the advantage of four match points. The Pukekura Park pair, Des Forges and Miss Walton, played .well to send their match against E. Dickie and Miss Wylds to three sets. They produced their best in the second set, which they won 6—4. ’. An addition to the match this year, was the inclusion of two junior players from North and South. The singles were even, while the' doubles went to South. Clifford-Jones played well to defeat Wilson 6—0,. 7—5, and Bamitt had a long three-set match before accounting for Gibson. - These , young players showed great promise and should be kept in view. It was the first time for two seasons that the match had. been., held at the Eltham courts, - which,; considering the recent rains, played well. Mr. R. H. L’eece, president of the. Taranaki Lawn Tennis Association, was present and expressed ' thanks to the Eltham -Club for. its hospitality and to those , who assisted in umpiring. * < Details, with North names, first, are:—. Men’s .Singles. . C. H. Strombonx beat E. Dickie 6—4, 6—3. C. H. Des Forges lost to J. Watson o—6, 2—6. . ’ D. Ballantyne lost, to A. Dickie 6—2, 3 — 6, 6-—O. / . 11 . ■ , L. Christie beat M. R. Jones 6—l, B—6. W. Rutherford beat; J. Pease 6—2, 6—2. M. Lobb beat G. Gordon 10—8, 6—4. Men’s Doubles. Strombom and Christie beat Dickie and Dickie 6—rl, 6—2. Lobb and Ballantyne lost to Watson and Jones 11—13, 5—7. 1 Des Forges and Rutherford beat Pease and Gordon 6—l, 6—2. Ladies’ Singles. Miss O. J. Taylor lost to Miss P. Wylds 4—6, 4—6. Miss E. Pepper lost to Miss A. Hicks 4— 6—3, 3—6. Miss J. Walton lost to Miss J.’ Hicks 1-6, 3—6. Miss D. Lobb beat Miss A. Graham 6—4, 2—6, 6—4. Mrs. A. J. Papps beat Miss Best 6—3, 6—2. Miss D. Simpson beat- Miss P. Wood 6—3, 6—4. " Ladies’ Doubles. . Misses Taylor, and Simpson beat Misses A. and J. Hicks 6—4, 3—6, 6—l. Misses Pepper and Lobb beat Misses Wylds and Graham 6—4, 4—6, 6—4. ■, Miss Walton and Mrs. Papps lost to Misses Best and Wood 3 —6, 6 —3, o—6.0 —6. Combined Doubles. Strombom and Miss Taylor beat Watson and Miss J. Hicks 6—4, 2—6, 9—7. Des Forges and Miss Walton lost to E. Dickie and Miss Wylds 3—6, 6—4, I—6. Ballantyne and Miss Lobb beat Jones and Miss A. Hicks 3—6, .6—4, 6—l. Christie and Miss Simpson lost to A. Dickie and Miss Graham 5—6, 3—6, 4—6. Rutherford and Mrs. ' Papps lost to Pease and Miss Best .3 —6; 5—6. Lobb and Miss Pepper lost to Gordon and Miss Wood 2—4 J, 6—4, 3—6. Wilson lost to Clifford-Jones o—6, 7—5. Barnitt beat • Gibson 3—6, 6—3, 7 —5. Junior Doubles. . .. Wilson and Barnitt lost to Clifford-

Jones and Gibson 9—7, . 5—7, 3—6. North South M’ S G M S G Men’s Singles ... 4 9 64 2 4 57 Men’s Doubles .. 2 4 40 1 2 26 Ladies’ Singles .. 3 ' 7 54 3 7 65 Ladies’ Doubles .. 2 5 40 1 4 40 Combined ....... 2 7 66 4 9 78 Totals 13 32 264 11 26 266