FIVE TITLES WON

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21042, 19 February 1940, Page 8

FIVE TITLES WON

TENNIS SUCCESSES AUCKLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS j ■ WAIKATO OUTSTANDING J. ROACH’S FINE PERFORMANCE MISS BEVERLEY’S THREE WINS Winning all the senior titles, with the exception of the combined doubles in which Miss M. Beverley shared the honours with J. W. Gunn, of Auckland, Waikato players established a record as far as the association is concerned when the Auckland tennis championships were concluded on Saturday. J. Roach won the men’s singles for the first time. Miss M. Beverley won the women’s singles for the fourth time and with Miss N. Beverley, the women’s doubles for the fourth occasion. J. Roach and D. Livingstone won the men’s doubles on January 30. In the women’s final Miss Margaret Beverley (Waikato), playing better tennis than at any stage of the tournament, beat Mrs Morse (formerly Miss Bishop), of Auckland, in straight sets, 6—2. 6—3. Roach’s Great Fight J. Roach’s well-known fighting qualities stood him in good stead in his match with J. T. Mayson (Auckland), when, after he had lost the first two sets, he won the final three, two, of which were advantage, in a battle which lasted over two hours. Both players suffered from lack of practice, which has been almost impossible owing to the recent wet weather. The Waikato player commenced indifferently but improved as the match progressed to wear Mayson down. A net-cord shot gave Roach his only game in the first set, which Mayson clinched in the seventh game with a deep volley to Roach’s forehand. In the second set, Roach began to find touch with his backhand, although his forehand was still unreliable. He also found a weakness in Mayson’s overhead work, with the aid of which he secured two games. The first four games in the third

set followed the service. Roach broke through Mayson’s service in the sixth game for a 4—2 lead, which he held to win the set at 6—3 with a perfect backhand drive down the side line. Roach gained many points in this set from errors on Mayson’s forehand, which he undermined with slow, high-bouncing drives. Mayson led 3—l in the fourth set but wonderful retrieving saved Roach the fifth game. He drew level at 3-all, and, after a close struggle, took the set at 7—5. In the final set Roach was down 3 0 but he persisted in the tactics which had gained him the third and fourth sets and finally drew level at 4 4. Varying his attack with advances to the net behind slow balls to Mayson’s forehand Roach earned points with splendid volleys and smashes. Breaking through Mayson’s service, he led 6—5 and had match point at 40—30 on his service. Mayson, however, rose to the occasion with a brilliant cross-court forehand drive, which gave his opponent no chance and he took the next two points for game. Each secured a service break to give Roach a second match point on his service in the sixteenth game, which he won, after an exciting rally, with a finelyjudged toss which Mayson tried in 1 vain to recover. Popular Figure One of the most popular figures in the game, J. Roach has been the leading player in the Waikato for many seasons and holds the reputation of being beaten only once in the annual Waikato v. Auckland match when playing on the home courts. This was by N. F. Bedford last season, and Roach reversed this decision in the Auckland championships. Roach is better known for his doubles’ success with D. Livingstone but, nevertheless, he has been one of the hardest players in the Auckland Province to beat in recent years. : One of his finest performances was in beating Barnett and Dymond, two of Canterbury’s leading players, when Waikato came very close to lifting the Wilding Shield in 1937. This has been the best season for the Waikato champion, whose claims to higher honours are now bright. Doubles Contests Misses N. and M. Beverley began

shakily against Mrs Morse and Miss Cooke (Auckland), who played inspired tennis in the first set. The Auckland pair’s attack was concentrated on Miss N. Beverley, who at this stage was uncertain. However the second set was a different story, and Miss M. Beverley came into the picture with brilliant retrieving. Mrs Morse and Miss Cooke again produced their best form at the commencement of the final set and quickly ran into a 4—o lead. Miss N. Beverley served very well to win the fifth game. Thereafter the Auckland pair were able to secure only one more game, their opponents taking full advantage of Mrs Morse’s failure to get right in to the net for her volleys, and frequently catching her at mid-court with shots that landed at her feet. Title Regained J. W. Gunn and Miss M. Beverley regained the combined doubles title, which they lest to Pountney and Miss N. Beverley last year, by defeating M. T. Wilson and Miss P. Cooke in three close sets. In the first, Gunn was not ssie as usual with his smashes, and, although his partner drove with wonderful accuracy, Wilson and Miss Cooke showed superior combination and won 7—5. As the match proceeded, Gunn recovered his accuracy and some of his severity overhead. On the other hand, Miss Cooke, who had been the outstanding player in the women’s doubles final, lost much of her confidence and fell into frequent errors. Wilson played well throughout, some of his volleying, in particular, being of a very high standard. Miss Beverley’s driving was a substantial factor in the final victory and, in addition to the points which it won outright", made frequent openings for decisive play. She and her partner won the second and third sets, 6—3, 6—4, and showed themselves at this stagi; the betterbalanced pair. RESULTS OF MATCHES Following were the results:— . Men’s Singles Final: J. Roach beat J. T. Mayson, I—6, 2—6, 6—3, 7—5, 9—7. Women’s Singles Final: Miss M. Beverley beat Mrs W. G. Morse, 6—2, 6—3. Women’s Singles Final: Misses N. and M. Beverley beat Mrs W. G. Morse and Miss P. Cooke, I—6, 6—3, 7—5. Combined Doubles Final: J. W. Gunn and Miss M. Beverley beat M. T. Wilson and Miss P. Cooke, 5—7, 6—3, 6—4. B Grade Men’s Singles.—Final: R. G. Coldham beat F. Haddock (Waikato), 6—2, I—6, 7—5, o—6, 6-2. Intermediate Grade Men’s Singles.—Semi-final: A. S. Burns beat J. B. Smith, 6—2, 7—5. Final: A. S. Burns beat B. Broun, 4—6, 6—l, 7—5. Girls’ Singles.—Semi-final: Miss W. Smith beat Miss B. Potter, 6—2, 6—3. Final: Miss W. Smith beat Miss M. Hodges, 6—2, 9—7. Boys’ Doubles.—Final: A. S. Bums and B. Brown beat J. B. Smith and P. Smith, 6—4, 6—4. Combined Doubles.—Semi-final*: J. H. Moller and Miss B. Potter beat J. B. Smith and Miss W. Smith, 7—5, 6 —l. Final: B. Broun and Miss N. Symes beat J. H. Moller and Miss B. Potter, 6—3, 3—6, 6—2. Junior Matches Boys’ Singles.—Final: P. Smith beat M. G. Casey, 7—9, 6—4, 6—o. Girls’ Singles.—Semi-finaL: Miss M. Hodges beat Miss J. Dryland, 6— 2, 6—2. Final: Miss R. Hodges j beat Miss M. Hodges, 7—5, 6—2. j