LAWN TENNIS N.Z. TOURNAMENT

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21574, 9 February 1940, Page 9

LAWN TENNIS N.Z. TOURNAMENT

Players Hampered By Gale Mixed Doubles Champions Defeated By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, February 8. A northerly gale, even more treacherous than that of yesterday, seriously hampered players in the New Zealand Centennial tennis championships at Miramar to-day. The wind played Incredible tricks, being sufficient to send wooden boxes used as extra seating accommodation rolling across the courts. It caused many lobs to stop suddenly in mid-air and then fall vertically on the wrong side of the net. The Australians, especially, were sorely tried and their play suffered accordingly. Some of the courts are already showing signs of wear and clouds of dust from around the baselines added to the general discomfort. Fairly large galleries were treated to many splendid matches. The holders of the mixed doubles title, Miss Hardcastle (Australia) and Sturt (Auckland) went down to R. Howe (Wellington) and Miss M. Beverley (Waikato), who used the vagaries of the wind better than their opponents. Crawford had to fight hard at times to stave off a determined challenge by Painter, the Wellington youth, who won the first set and took the fourth to 14 games. Another interesting match was that between Misses N. and M. Beverley and Misses Attwood and McLean, who played inspired tennis to take a set from their more experienced opponents. Barnes, the 16-year-old Australian, added to his laurels by defeating France. Results:—

Men’s Singles Third Round

C. Angas (Canterbury) beat R. McKenzie (Wellington), 6-3, 6-3, 7-5. N. V. Edwards (Wellington) beat G. Pearce (Wellington), 7-5, 6-2, 7-5. J. H. Crawford (Australia) beat S. Painter (Wellington), 4-6, 6-1, 6-3, 8-6. J. Bromwich (Australia) beat M. J. Corich (Canterbury), 6-1, 6-1, 6-2. N. G. Sturt (Auckland) beat O. Bold (Canterbury), 6-4, 6-0, 4-6, 6-2. R. Howe (Wellington) beat A. D. Brown (Canterbury), 2-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-0, 8-6.

R. G. Pattinson (Canterbury) beat R. V. Robb (Wellington), 7-5, 7-5, 6-2. R. Barnes (Australia) beat D. G. France (Wellington), 6-3, 6-3, 6-2.

Women’s Singles Third Round Miss N. Wynne (Australia) beat Miss D. Miller (North Otago), 6-3, 6-1. Miss M. Beverley (Waikato) beat Miss N. Beverley (Waikato), 6-3, 6-3. Miss T. Coyne (Australia) beat Miss T. Poole (Canterbury), 9-7, 6-1.

Men’s Doubles Third Round

J. Bromwich and J. H. Crawford (Australia) beat W. T. Pountney (Auckland) and R. Sharpe (Hawke’s Bay), 6-4, 6-1, 6-3.

D. G. France and N. G. Sturt beat R. Barnes and K. Dyer (Wellington), 6-4, 1-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5.

N. V. Edwards and R. Howe (Wellington) beat R. McL. Ferkins and E. A. Roussell (Wellington), 6-1, 6-4, 6-4.

Women's Doubles Second Round.

Miss Hardcastle and Mrs Gallagher (Wellington) beat Mesdames France and Dykes (Wellington), 6-4, 6-3. Misses N. and M. Beverley beat Misses E. Attwood (Manawatu) and McLean (Wellington), 6-1, 4-6. 6-1. Miss Poole and Mrs Hatherley beat Miss Z. Castle and Mrs H. Kennedy (Wellington), 6-2, 6-3.

Mixed Doubles Second Round

N. V. Edwards (Wellington) and Mrs I. Hatherley (Canterbury) beat C. Angas and Miss T. Poole (Canterbury), 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.

R. Barnes (Australia) and Miss P. Cooke (Auckland/ beat R. G. Pattinson and Miss K. Armstrong (Canterbury), 6-3, 7-5. R, V. Robb and Miss J. Douthett (Wellington) beat P. Hawksworth (Wairarapa) and Miss R. Wilson (Southland), 8-10, 6-1, 8-6. Third Round

J. H. Crawford and Miss N. Wynne (Australia) beat C. F. Penfold (Canterbury) and Miss M. Howe (Wellington), 6-1. 6-1.

R. Howe (Wellington) and Miss M. Beverley (Waikato) beat N. G. Sturt (Auckland) and Miss M. Hardcastle (Australia), 6-2, 6-2.

J. Bromwich and Miss T. Coyne (Australia) beat W. T. Pountney (Auckland) and Miss N. Beverley (Waikato), 6-2, 6-2.

Notes on the Play

One of the best matches of the day was the singles between Crawford and Painter. The spectators saw many fine driving rallies in which the New Zealander conceded nothing. Crawford lost the first set 4-6' and was fully extended in the remainder of the games. Painter drove freely and accurately on both hands and covered the court with amazing ability, but he was unable to match the superior courtcraft of the seasoned Australian whose magnificent low volleying won him many points. Painter on his present form is one of the most promising young players in the Dominion. He won the New Zealand junior championship three years running between the ages of 14 and 17. He toured Australia on the last visit of the New Zealand junior team and his play is showing consistent improvement. Barnes played his best game of the tournament to defeat D. G. France in straight sets. The passing shots of the Australian player were superb, and he volleyed and smashed confidently at all times. Bromwich was never extended to beat Corich with the loss of only four games.

Playing a brilliant interceptive game at the net, Angas beat the New Zealand junior champion in McKenzie who, in spite of employing a full battery of orthodox strokes, could not master the Canterbury man’s resource and technique. Pountney and Sharp made valiant efforts to capture points from Crawford and Bromwich, but fewer than half a dozen games went to deuce. Sharp was not playing at the top of his form and was wisely content to leave the lion's share of the work to Pountney, who frequently found the Australians out of position. The visitors rose to brilliant heights whenever they needed the points. A Thrilling Encounter The final match of the day, the men's doubles between Sturt and France and Barnes and Dyer, provided one of the most thrilling encounters yet seen. The play was even throughout and victory came to Sturt and France only after a sensational incident. Sturt at match

point returned a ball that hit the net and bounced three yards on. Barnes ran up and played the ball back. It also struck the net, hovered an Instant then, lacking the fraction of an ounce more velocity, rolled back to give Sturt and France the match. Most of the games went to deuce and throughout it looked like anybody’s match. Barnes delighted the gallery with his stroke equipment and although he failed sometimes, it was either through overkeenness or the gusty wind. Although frustrated by an unkind wind the women players managed to enjoy their games. Miss Coyne did not have things all her own way against Miss Poole (Canterbury). The Australian player, who was drawn with Bromwich against Pountney and Miss N. Beverley in the mixed doubles never found herself seriously threatened. She and Bromwich earned praise for deciding to play rather than accept default from Pountney, who was unavoidably delayed in reaching the courts. TEAMS FOR SATURDAY St. John’s A2 v. Wal-iti: C. Mackay, J. Venning, P. Tobin, W. Kelly; Misses K. Story, J. Orr, M. Wurm, D. Doyle. St. John’s C v. Fairview, at St. John’s: L. Collins, G. Kinney, S. O’Connor, J. O'Connell; Misses H. Oliver, M. Henry, A. Driscoll, T. Burton. Baptist C grade v. Wai-itl at Baptist at 1.30 p.m.—L. Armstrong, L. Wright, W. Pettigrew, R. Smith; Miss M. Liddle, Mrs R. Armstrong, Miss R. Wilson, Mrs Stowell. Wai-iti A2 v. St. John’s at Maori Park at 1.30—5. Blanchard (capt.), P. Walsh, I. Hislop, T. McDonnell; Mrs T. C. Morrison, Miss V. Campbell, Miss R. Irving, Mrs McPherson. Wai-iti C v. Baptist at Baptist, 1.30 —J. Lewis (capt.), V. Roberts, J. Phillips, P. Weenink; Mrs V. Roberts, Mrs B. Tyson, Miss R. Tyson, Miss N. Ritchie.