LAWN TENNIS FINALS DECIDED

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22471, 5 January 1943, Page 4

LAWN TENNIS FINALS DECIDED

South Canterbury Tournament Successes Of Christchurch Juniors Brilliant sunshine prevailed for the conclusion of the South Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association’s New Year tournament at Maori Park yesterday. The courts were in good order and there were glimpses of some first-class tennis. The following took the trophies in the championship events: Men's singles, J. Bushell; men’s doubles, J. Bushell and N. Taylor; women’s singles. Miss H. Elsom; women’s doubles, Mesdames D. Mouat and R. J. Taylor; combined doubles, J. S. Satterthwaite and Miss T. Poole; boys’ singles, A. G. Elsom; girls’ singles. Miss M. Adam. Expressing pleasure at the success of the tournament, the president of the South Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association, Mr J. S. Satterthwaite, thanked the players from Christchurch for their support. One of the objects of the tournament was to bring players together and create fellow feeling, which was so necessary in the world. He mentioned the players who were overseas In the service of their country and hoped that It would not be long before they were back. Tournaments assisted the younger players as they had seen that day, and he hoped that the same success would attend the next tournament. Mr J. Mercer, president of the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association, agreed with Mr Satterthwaite that Interest in tennis should be maintained by continuing the tournaments. It was their duty to encourage the juniors as they were the future champions. He thanked the South Canterbury Association for their welcome and hospitality. Comment on the Play Taylor disposed of Burning in the semifinal of the men’s singles without much trouble, but the other semi-final finished, after a hard fight, in favour of Bushell. The Christchurch boy took the first set 6-2, but Satterthwaite came to light in the second, taking it 6-1. In the final set Satterthwaite was leading 5-2, but the strain began to have its effect on the older player, and Bushell took the set 8-6. Bushell proved the better player in the final. After taking the first set 6-4. he ran to a 4-1 lead in the second and looked a certain winner. Both players had had a strenuous day and were undoubtedly tired. Both served a number of double faults, but throughout Bushell maintained a greater degree of accuracy. The boys’ singles final between A. Elsom and J. Bushell was won by the former after two closely contested sets. Elsom, In this match, was steadier than on Saturday. He covered the court effortlessly and returned the hardest of Bushell’s shots with ease. Women’s Singles • The final of the women’s singles was too one-sided to be interesting. Miss H. Elsom had no trouble in defeating Mrs D. Mouat, 6-0. 6-2. She kept an immaculate length throughout and had Mrs Mouat fully extended to cope with her finelyexecuted fiat cross-court drive. There is no doubt that Miss Elsom is at the top of her form. Fresh from her triumphs in the Canterbury championships, she had the edge on her opponent, who, on the other hand, has had little opportunity of getting much match play recently. Men’s Doubles The men’s doubles championship final went to three sets, J. Bushell and N. Taylor beating the veterans. J. H. W. Sheppard and J. Fulton. The pace and accuracy of the winners was responsible for them taking the first set. but their opponents hung on tenaciously in the second to take it 7-5. In the deciding set the veterans played remarkably well, Sheppard especially volleying crisply for many winners. The games went to 5-4, but Bushell clinched the next game on his service for the set and match. Mixed Doubles The mixed doubles championship final between Miss T. Poole and J. S. Satterthwaite and Miss H. Elsom and J. H. W. Sheppard proved the highlight of the day, the former pair winning after dropping the first set. Full credit for the win must go to Miss Poole, however, who played a heady game throughout, and who had the honour of hitting the winning shot, when an opening was made after the most exciting exchange of volleys and half-volleys seen during the tournament. The losers went down fighting and saved four match points before the winning hit was made. Miss Elsom’s forehand drive was again prominent, while her partner played a good ail-court game, but seemed to be tiring towards the end. This was only to be expected as he had just previously played in three hard sets in the men’s doubles final. Women’s Doubles In the women’s doubles championship Mesdames Taylor and Mouat proved too strong a combination for Misses Poole and A. Mercer. The winners took the first 10 games in a row before their opponents showed colour. During this period Mrs Taylor had not made a mistake. The losers showed little fight, the winners conceding them only two games in the second set. Girls’ Championship Miss Elsom had more than her share of bad luck in the final of the girls’ championship. In the third set the score was 4-all when a ball landed on Miss Elsom’s foot, and what should have been 5 4 in her favour went the other way. Driving by both players was good, but Miss Adam’s cuts upset Miss Elsom. Miss Adam was the better at the net, but Miss Elsom kept her opponent running throughout the match. Results were as follows: CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS Men’s Singles Semi-finals: N. Taylor beat P. Burning. 6-1, 6-1; J. Bushell beat J. S. Satterthwaite, 6-2, 1-6, 8-6. Final: Bushell beat Taylor. 6-4, 6-2. Men’s Doubles Semi-finals: J. Bushell and N. Taylor beat P. Burning and J. S. Satterthwaite. 3-6, 6-3, 6-4: Sheppard and Fulton beat Jovce and Gresson w.o. Final: Bushell and Taylor beat Sheppard and Fulton, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4. Women’s Singles Semi-finals: Miss H. Elsom beat Miss J. Doyle, 6-1. 6-0; Mrs D. Mouat beat Mrs K. O. Andrews, w.o. Final: Miss Elsom beat Mrs Mouat, 6-2, 6-0. Women’s Doubles Semi-finals. Misses T. Poole and A. Mercer beat Misses H. and S. Elsom. 7-9, 6-3, 6-4; Mesdames D. Mouat and R. J. Taylor beat Mesdames Hanan and Lawson. 6-4, 6-1. Final: Mesdames Mouat and Taylor beat Misses Poole and Mercer, 6-0, 6-2. Mixed Doubles Semi-finals: Sheppard and Miss H. Elsom beat P. Burning and Mrs D. Mouat, 7-5, 0-6, 6-4; J. S. Satterthwaite and Miss T. Poole beat Fulton and Mrs Hanan, 6-1, 3-6, 6-1. Final: Satterthwaite and Miss Poole beat Sheppard and Miss Elsom, 5-7, 6-2, 6-4. Boys’ Singles Final: A. G. Elsom beat J. Bushell. 6-4. 9-7. Girls’ Singles Final: Miss M. Adam beat Miss S. Elsom. 6-3, 3-6, 6-4. HANDICAP EVENTS Men’s Singles Third Round: R. Joyce (owe 30) beat T. Williams (owe 30). 6-3, 6-4; J. Adam (scr; beat F. R. Coales (scr), 6-5, 4-6. 6-5; M C. Gresson (owe 30) beat I. Hislop (Owe 30). 4-6. 6-4. 6-1; R. Judge (scr) beat J. J. Burrough (owe 15 3-6) w.o. Semi-finals: Gresson beat Judge w.0.; Adam beat Joyce, 6-2, 2-6, 6-2. Final: Adam won by default. Women’s Singles Semi-finals: Miss M. McKenzie (owe 15 3-6) beat Miss D. Connor (scr), 9-4: Miss M. Adam (scr) beat Miss J. Fraser (owe 15), 9-5. Final: Miss McKenzie beat Miss Adam. 9-3. Men’s Doubles Semi-finals: G. Atkinson and K. O. Andrews (owe 15) beat Lane and Elsom (owe 40). 6-4, 3-6, 6-4: D. M. Gibb and I. Oldfield (scr) beat Gardner and Coales (OWC 30), 6-0. 6-3. Final: Gibb and Oldfield won by default. Women’s Doubles Semi-finals: Misses T. Poole and B. Drennan (owe 30) beat Misses B. Wilson and M. Coles (scr), 9-6; Misses M. and N Adam (owe 3-6) beat Misses M. McKenzie and P. Green (owe 3-6), 9-8. Final: Misses Drennan and Poole beat Misses N. and M. Adam. 9-3. Mixed Doubles Second Round: Gresson and Miss H. Ward (owe 15 3-6) beat Crowe and Miss P Green (owe 3-6). 9-4; Joyce and Mrs Andrews (owe 30) beat Wilkinson and Miss Coxhead (scr), 9-7; Alloo and Miss Armstrong (owe 15) beat J. Adam and Miss M. Adam (owe 15) w.0.; Hislop and Miss Coles (owe 15) beat Taylor and Miss Mercer (owe 30). 9-2. Semi-finals: Joyce and Mrs Andrews beat Gresson and Miss Ward, 9-7: Hislop and Miss Coles beat Alloo and Miss Armstrong, 9-2. Final: Hislop and Miss Coles beat Joyce and Mrs Andrews, 9-8.