LAWN TENNIS NEARING THE END

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21575, 10 February 1940, Page 14

LAWN TENNIS NEARING THE END

Centennial Fixture

Australians Likely

Champions

By Telegraph—Press Association WELLINGTON, February 9

With only the semi-finals and finals to be played in the New Zealand Centennial tennis championships, the indications are that the Australians will win all the events. In the men’s singles J. Bromwich is to meet R. Howe (Wellington) and J. H. Crawford will meet C. Angas (Canterbury). On to-day’s form the final next Monday should be fought out between Bromwich and Crawford. In the other events the Australians are just as certain to win the finals. Misses Wynne and Coyne have shown such impressive form in both singles and doubles that only a miracle can stop them from becoming the new champions. Conditions to-day were much more favourable than hitherto, and players had no excuse whatever for their lapses. There was bright sunshine for most of the day, and the northerly wind had dropped considerably.

The best match of the day was the singles between Crawford and R. Barnes, of Australia, in which Craw-

ford, after dropping the first set 1-6, had to go flat out in the second and third to ensure victory in four sets. Crawford took some time to settle down, and his 16-year-old opponent, playing at the top of his form, deserved full credit for winning the first series with the loss of one one game. Barnes’s driving on both hands matched that of his redoubtable opponent, but Crawford’s superb volleying at the net was the decisive factor in his victory. Barnes drew applause from the large gallery with amazing recoveries. In the third set the score ran to three-all, and Barnes lost the vital seventh game and dropped the set. This was the turning point in the match and Crawford won the final series with comparative ease. Barnes has all the strokes, and he plays with the confidence of a seasoned player. Results:— Men’s Singles Quarter-finals. J. Bromwich (Australia) beat N. G. Sturt (Auckland), 6-2. 6-1, 6-3. R. Howe (Wellington) beat R. G. Pattinson (Canterbury), 5-7, 6-4, 6-3, 6-1. C. Angas (Canterbury) beat N. V. Edwards (Wellington), 6-1, 4-6, 6-4, 6-0. J. H. Crawford (Australia) beat R. Barnes (Australia), 1-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-1. Men’s Doubles Semi-finals. J. Bromwich and J. H. Crawford (Australia) beat N. V. Edwards and R Howe (Wellington), 6-1, 6-3, 6-3. Bromwich and Crawford will meet the winners between N. G. Sturt (Auckland) and D. G. France (Wellington), and A. D. Brown and C. Angas (Canterbury). Women’s Doubles Semi-finals. Miss M. Hardcastle (Australia) and Mrs Gallagher (Wellington) beat Mrs I. Hatherley and Miss T. Poole (Canterbury), 6-3. 6-1. Misses N. Wynne and T. Coyne (Australia) beat Misses N. and M. Beverley • Waikato), 6-1, 6-2. Mixed Doubles Quarter-finals. R. Howe (Wellington) and Miss M. Beverley (Waikato) beat R. V. Robb and Miss J. Douthett (Wellington), 6-4. 6-4. R. Barnes (Australia) and Miss P. Cooke (Auckland) beat N. V. Edwards (Wellington) and Mrs I. Hatherley (Canterbury), 6-2, 7-5. Veterans’ Doubles Semi-finals R. V. Hooker and M. L. Lampe beat J. A. McGill and W. P. Walker, 6-3, 6-1. R. Browning and D. F. Glanville beat W. J. Melody and H. J. Thompson, 6-3, 8-6. Bromwich in Form Bromwich showed a measure of his greatness by defeating Sturt in straight sets. Sturt is always a hard man to beat, but Bromwich, showing his best form of the tournament, was irresistible. The Australian concentrated on Sturt’s backhand, and although the Auckland player was stroking very well, his returns gave Bromwich opportunities to volley for winners at the net. Bromwich put over some sizzling drives which gave Sturt no chance of return. Edwards was unable to find touch In the first set with Angas, winning only one game. He showed something closer to the form that won him the New Zealand singles title last year in the second set, but he failed at crucial periods of the match, which never reached brilliant heights. However, Angas’s steadiness plus his outstanding ability to dbver the court were the deciding factors. Picturesque Player Pattinson, who is the most improved player in Canterbury this season, came

through four strenuous sets with Howe with colours flying. Howe owed his win to a greater variety of shots among which was a chop shot which he exploited to advantage. Howe is a picture: "me player, with tennis experience in many parts of the world.

In the doubles with Edwards, whe seemed more at home than in his match against Angas. Howe was always

worth watching. Many men’s pairs at the present championships have approached a match against the Australians with some obvious trepidation, but Howe and Edwards gave the impression that they thought more of the game than of the result. Hamilton Girls Overawed The Misses M. and N. Beverley would have taken the Misses Wynne and Coyne to at least three sets if they could have concentrated more on the immediate game. Instead they played as if overawed by their opponents’ reputation. Miss Wynne showed herself to be the hardest hitter among the women at the present tournament. Apart from her serving. Miss Wynne got home many smashes that gave no chance of being played back.

Mrs Hatherley and Miss Poole were not in the same class as Mrs Gallagher (nee Miss Dulcie Nicholls) and MissHardcastle, and could not cope with the superior all-round solid game of the winners. Mixed Doubles R. Howe and Miss M. Beverley disposed of Robb and Miss Douthett in straight sets, although the losers put up a good fight against more formidable competition. Howe was brillianr at the net. where he piled up points with superbly angled volleys. Barnes and Miss Cooke were too steady for Edwards and Mrs Hatherley. Edwards was erratic in the first set, outing many smashes and failing to show his customary brilliance in interceptions at the net. Barnes volleyed and smashed with confidence and he was well supported by Miss Cooke, who drove steadily on forehand and earned applause for a number of passing shots.