TENNIS TOURNEY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLVII, Issue 10808, 31 December 1926, Page 5

TENNIS TOURNEY.

NEARINC THE END., "A" AND "B" GRADE HANDICAPS.. RESULTS OF TO-DAY'S PLAY. The Mid-Canterbury Lawn Tennis--Sub-Association's Christmas tournament was continued to-day, A and B grade matches being played. Unlike previous days, there were very fewspectators. The courts were in excellent condition. , Results of to-day's play up to thetime of the " Guardian" goir<£ to. press are as follow: "A" GRADE HANDICAPS. Ladies' Singles. Third Round.—Miss Bonnington won from Miss Andrew by default: Mass Stewart (owe 30 2-6) beat Miss Vesty (owe 15 3-6) 9-8. Semi-final.—. Miss Percy (owe 4-6> beat Miss Bonnington (owe 4-6) 9-6. Semi-final—Miss Percy (owe 4-6)\ beat Miss Bonnington (owe 4-6) 9-6. Miss Stewart (owe 2-6) beat Miss: Campbell (owe 15 2-6), 9-6. The final will be played earlv this evening. Men's Singles. Third Round.—Dickson (owe 15' 4-6> beat Christie (scr) 9-2. Semi-final.—Dickson'won from Dort. by default. Semi-final—Barnett (owe 4-6)) beat Bonnington (owe 30) 9-6. Final.—Barnett (owe 4-6) beat Dickson (owe 15 4-6), 9-3. _ Barnett's' steadiness! won the game, his lobbing and backhand play being a, feature. Dickson played a fair game, but was inclined to get rather erratic at times. Men's Doubles* \ Final—Pinfold and Thomas (owe 15 2-6) beat Bonnington and Dart (owe 15 2-6) 9-6. The play was .very erratic throughout, Bonnington and Dart putting the ball out frequently from their smashes. Pinfold and Thomas were much surer in their volleying, -frequently finding their opponents out of position. Ladies' Doubles. Second Round.—-Miss Petty and Mrs--Pinfold won from Misses Dixon and Porter by default; .Misses Bonnington and Stewart won from Misses McDonald and Andrews by default. Semi-finals—Misses Bonnington and Stewart (owe 15 4-5) beat Miss Pettey and Mrs Pinfold (scr) 9-2; Misses Sowden and Wood (owe 30) beat Misses Campbell and Guy (owe 15 4-6) 9-3. Final.—Misses Sowden and Ward! (owe 30) beat Misses Stewart and Bon-i nington (owe 15 4-6), 9-4., Miss Sowden and her partner had the best of the first five games, winning 4-1. Miss Sowden played a good game at the net, smashing effectively.. Miss Ward drove well to the. back and side lines, outplacing Miss Bonnington; And her partner. The ninth gaane went to deuce four times before being' won. by Miss ISowden and Miss Ward making the score 6-3. The next two o;ames, which were won by Miss Sowion and her partner, were uninteresting. The last game went to deuce and was won bv Miss Sowden and Miss Ward, giving tbeni the set and final. Combined Doubles. Final.—Bonnington and Miss Guy ''owe 30) beat Lee and Mrs Lee (owe 14-6) 9-3. The end of the fifth game found Bonnington and his partner leading 3;2. In the sixth, Lee's services were twice successful, but Bonnington playeu to Lee's backhand and won the game. There were some good volleying interchanges in the next two games, and ! Bennington's overhead work secured him several points, winning the next three games 7-2. The next game fell to Lee and his partner, who showed a sudden burst of form, Lee playing, a remarkable game at the net. Bonnington and his partner, however, proved too strong for their opponents, winning the next two games and the set 9-3." DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIPS. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, This Day. 1 The New Zealand lawn tennis cham- ! pionships were continued, to-day m' brilliant weather. Results:Combined Doubles.—Second round: McCausland and Miss "Myers beat Lainpe and Mrs Melody, 0-6, 6-2,6-2; Sims and Miss Knight beat Dr. North and Miss Warson (NvS.W) 7-5, 9-7, ( Third round: Brinsden and Mrs ScottWatson beat Watson and Miss Lloyd, 6-3, 6-2. • Men's Doubles.—Third round: Knott and Stuart (Auckland) beat Haege (Victoria) and Malfroy (Wellington), 5-7 7-5, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5. Semi-final: Pencil Bros, beat Robson and Bartlett, 57, 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Ladies' Singles. —Semi-final: Miss Home beat Mrs Melod- 6-3, 2-6, 6-0; "Miss Spiers beat Miss Watson, 6-3, 6-d. Combined Doubles.—First round: Miss Nicholls and Knott beat Missi Lowerv and Andrews, 7-5, 6-4.