Tennis

Favoured by the weather, the tennis tournament proved a great success, particularly for A.U.C., who won 4 out of 5 titles. Our hosts are also to be congratulated for the conducting of the tourney. Highlight from V.U.C's viewpoint was the form shown by Pritehard and Edey in taking the men's double title.

After an easy first round win when they edged out Otway and Malsey (O.U.) in three sets by careful, determined play; they had to contend with two capable young opponents, Wright and Glass (O.U.) in the final. First set went to Otago, due to an unusually large crop of errors by Edey. He was right off but Pritehard kept his end up. In the second, a grim battle of lobs and smashes, Pritehard was the most accurate. They managed to scramble out the set at 6/4. Edey returned to form in the last set. He began to find touch with his ferocious overhead and superb volleying, enabling them to clinch the match at 6/4. It was the best game of the tournament, Pritehard displaying sound knowledge of doubles play. He played extremely carefully and shone in every phase of the game except in smashing, where he failed to reproduce his best form.

Lois Holland and Lil Kingdon did very-well to reach the ladies' doubles final. They had a tough game in the first round, but a win the semi-final, but were easy victims for the well-performed Catley sisters in the final (6/2, 6/0).

Pritchard and Lois showed the benefit of a practice knock-up they had on Sunday with Elaine Becroft and her "scratch" partner in defeating their first round opponents 6/1. 6/1. In their semi-final match they failed to reproduce this form to lose to Cliffe and Pat Catley (A.U.C.) 6/3, 6/4. Bacon and Bice Young were brushed aside (6/1, 6/0) by Elaine Becroft and Nicholson (A.U.C), the eventual winners. B. and J. Young went down to experienced Jennifer Dudding and S. McLeod (O.U.) 6/1, 6/3. Jan Young, in losing to J. Catley 6/0, 6/0, was unlucky not to win several games. She played extremely aggressively throughout but could not match the courtcraft of her opponent, J. Dudding was too experienced for Lil Kingdon in the other single.

The men's singles entrants were rather disappointing. Edey was beaten 8/3, 7/6 by Burns (A.U.C), who played a steady accurate game. Reddy took exceptionally long to warm up and just where he was beginning to get a few In, the match was won by his net-rushing opponent Russ Blewdon (C.U.C.) 6/1, 6/0. Jack Benstead and Reddy were a trifle unlucky to lose to Cliffe and Burns (A.U.C.) 6/4, 3/6, 6/4. This matched last two hours.

G. Nicholson won the men's singles by steady and sometimes brilliant tennis.

Outstanding player of the Tournameat was Elaine Becroft, a prominent personality in national events, holder of several titles and the only person awarded a tennis blue. We shall look forward to seeing her in Wellington next Easter. She completely overwhelmed Joyce Catley in the final of the women's single.

—B.H.R.