NEW HOLDERS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLI, Issue 20308, 6 January 1936, Page 7

NEW HOLDERS

DOMINION TITLES By Telegraph—Press Association WEELLINGTON, January 5. A very large crowd turned out for the final day of the New Zealand lawn tennis championships, the events being concluded in brilliant sunshine with a cool southerly breeze. McGrath v. Andrews McGrath was too good for Andrews in the men’s singles final. When play opened, Andrews quickly ran to a 5-0 lead. It seemed that he might win in straight sets, his forehand drives to McGrath’s backhand were practically unplayable for those five games. He made scarcely a mistake, while McGrath made numerous mistakes, but he was not perturbed. As game succeeded game so he improved in his touch. As he did so and varied his length and pace Andrews fell into errors as he belted for winners, and McGrath reached 5-all. At that stage McGrath tried to force matters and played into Andrews’ hands. Andrews sent over sizzling drives that won him the next two games and the set. Andrews continued the same driving tactics in the second set and at one stage seemed as if he might win it, but McGrath, standing in on Andrews’ kicking service, drove hard to Andrews’

backhand, forcing Andrews into errors. McGrath also tried dropshots which were failing badly, and this gave Andrews many a breather. But McGrath ran to a 3-0 lead. Andrews continued to force the pace and storming the net forced McGrath to hurry his strokes and make errors, allowing Andrews to equalise at 3-all. From then on McGrath had the odd game until Andrews led 8-7, but he was a tired man and McGrath, with steady placements, saw to it that Andrews was given no rest. He placed steadily from comer to corner and won the set comfortably. Andrews, by forceful tennis (he was the aggressor practically throughout the entire three sets), had a wonderful chance of winning the third set. The spirit was willing but the flesh was weak. He was able to save set point against him in the tenth game by a sizzling drive, and himself held set points in the twelfth game, but McGrath was not to be denied. He was now stroking carefully, only occassionally rocking them in with his twohanded backhand, and could afford to wait his chance. McGrath’s varied change of pace and length caused Andrews to net, and so McGrath won the third set. The interval of ten minutes did not seem to restore Andrews’ feet, which obviously were giving him trouble. McGrath had seen to it that they were given plenty of use Also, Andrews was not in condition to use his fierce forehand drive consistently. When he did he too often made errors, mainly in the net with it. On the whole, McGrath was content to keep the rally going and Andrews moving, and in the end Andrews was outpaced, McGrath not losing a game.

Success For Miss Nicholls

The women’s singles final between Miss Dulcie Nicholls and Miss N. Beverley was nearly a great surprise. By driving deep and hard to Miss Nicholls’ backhand and going to the net, Miss Beverley completely outplayed Miss Nicholls in the first set, and led 4-1 in the second. She was aggressive and displaying wonderful control. Miss Nicholls was on the defensive and clearly worried. Then in the interval of the men’s singles spectators surged round the court where the women were battling, and a change immediately came over Miss Beverley’s game. She no longer attacked but stayed on the backline and tried to outdrive Miss Nicholls. There is no woman in New Zealand who can do that, and Miss Nicholls, driving from comer to corner to keep Miss Beverley chasing, won the next five games. In the third set Miss Nicholls continued to take control and although Miss Beverley made occasional sorties to the net, by which means she fought up from 1-4 to 3-4, 4-5, Miss Nicholls was never actually in danger. There were times, however, when Miss Beverley had the hardest of luck from the net as volleys went inches out over the side lines and once right on the line, when the umpire called wrongly. When Miss Beverley went to the ->et toward the end of the third set, Miss Nicholls drove her back with lobs. At the end of the match Miss Beverley fainted. Brilliant Play D. G. France and N. G. Sturt played brilliantly to beat McGrath and Seay in the final of the men’s doubles. Both made brilliant cross court volleys and their return of service was excellent. They concentrated on Seay and were also helped by the fact that McGrath, when he came into the picture, was uncertain. No one thought for a moment that France and Sturt could win in straight sets, nor would they have done so had McGrath not missed a sitter in the second set at set point. Although France was the presiding genius of his side and smashed and volleyed brilliantly, Sturt did great execution with sharp angle volleys almost parallel to the net. He avoided McGrath at the net very well, and forced Seay to play awkward backhand strokes, allowing France to intercept at the net. When he did so it was usually to put the ball where

opponents had no chance of getting it. The lobbing of France and Sturt was good and forced the opposition from the net. They combined better and their play was also of a much higher standard. Mixed Doubles Roussell and Miss I. Poole did exceptionally well to get a set off Moon and Miss Nicholls in the semi-final of I the mixed doubles. They did so by crowding in on the net and slamming everything. They missed very little. After that Miss Poole made numerous errors as Moon and Miss Nicholls jumped into their stride and volleyed and drove with scarcely a mistake. In the second and third set Moon and ! Miss Nicholls were always on top and i superior in every department. The final was one-sided and soon • over, Miss Beverley not having recov- ! ered from her attack of faintness in I the singles. Moon and Miss Nicholls did what they liked, and were even un- ' lucky to lose two games in the second I set. The winners made hardly a mistake. It was impossible for Coombe to carry the burden. Miss Beverley was very piucky, even if unwise, to have played. Results:— Men’s Singles Final: V. B. McGrath beat E. D. Andrews, 5-7, 10-8, 7-5, 6-0. Women’s Singles Final: Miss D. Nicholls beat Miss N. Beverley, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Men’s Doubles Final: D. G. France and N. G. Sturt beat V. B. McGrath and I. A. Seay, 6-4, 8-6, Mixed Doubles Semi-Final: E F. Moon and Miss N. Nicholls beat A. Roussell and Miss I. Poole, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. Final: E. F. Moon and Miss D. Nicholls beat D. C. Coombe and Miss N. Beverley, 6-0, 6-2. NEW ZEALAND PLATE Men’s Singles Semi-Finals: R. McL. Ferkins beat F. W. Jenkinson, 6-1, 6-1. •**! E. A. Roussell beat J. L. Stevens, 6-1, 6-3. Final: Roussell beat Ferkins, 6-2, 6-1. Women’s Singles Final: Miss D. Miller beat Miss I. Poole, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1.