LAWN TENNIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 309, 30 December 1922, Page 5

LAWN TENNIS.

set was a hard tussle, Griffiths and Robson winning 7—S. Results:— LADIES' DOUBLES. Final.—Misses Lance and Lloyd beat Mrs. Lascelles and Miss Gray 6— 3, ft—4. MEN'S DOUBLES. Fourth Round.—Peacock and Sim* ;be»t France and France 6—l, 3—6, 7—5. s—«, 6—3. Griffiths and Robeon beat Goas and Greenwood 6—4, 6—2, 4—6, 7—5. NO MORS PLAY. (Bj Telegraph.—Press Association.) HASTINGS, this day. Owing to the continuance of rain play was stoped for the day. NOTES ON THE FINALS. SPECTACULAR MATCHES. . (By Telegrapb.—Special to "Star.") HASTINGS, this day. The tennis championships finish to-day and many interesting matches are being started on the enclosed court. The day is cloudy and overcast with a strong south-westerly breeze sweeping the courts. The New South Wales ladies continued the even tenor of their match-winning way. having scooped the pool in the ladies' championship. In the doubles finals Misses Lance and Lloyd fought out a fast spectacular game with Mrs. Lascelles and Miss Gray. As was to be expected the first named pair won out in two straight sets, powerful back-line rallies dominating the game. All were playing well, and ripped some spectacular cross-court placements when the opportunity offered. The France brothers fought out a gruelling five-setter with Peacock and Sims. D. G. France played very well, and L. France ha 9 been the most consistent player in the tournament. Sims was very weak in his overhead strokes. Peacock wag playing a great game, and his powerful volleying and that dreadful backhand that made him famous, were seen in their intensity, but every stroke was needed to beat the wonderful consistency of the France brothers who get everything back, often bringing off seemingly impossible returns, and making very few errors. - The scores 6—l, 3—6," 7—5, 4—6, 6—2 give but little, indication of the closeness of the encounter. Greenwood and Gos s fell to Robson and Griffiths in a hard four-setter. The present champions fought very hard, but youth and vigorous net play told its tale. Goss was serving well, but his eyesight must be growing dim, as occasionally he mistimed fast balls. The vigorous Remuera pair played very well, taking the first two sets comparatively easily, and leading 4—2 in the third, but the veterans pulled themselves together and toi kthe third set, but lost much in the fourth set. Robson has been easily one of the best servers in the tournament and has been strong in his overhead work. Griffiths was not quite so good as hie partner, but both set out on a vigorous net offensive to win. The result came as no surprise, as although old hands at doubles tactics the pair were not good enough to win this year, making far too many mistakes and playing somewhat erratically, although their lobbing net play and team work caused the younger pair much difficulty in getting the winning shot. Just after Peacock and Sims had beaten the France brothers and while the ladies' final between Miss Lance and Mrs. Lascelles was startinvj, there was a tropical downpour, sending the spectators and officials flying for shelter from the heavy hailstorm which lasted about fifteon minutes. All play was then post-' poncd until one o'clock, but at 12.15 rain again set in and it was then doubtful if play would be continued this afternoon. ROTORUA TOURNAMENT. (By Telegrapn—Own Correspondent.) ROTORUA, Friday. The Rotnrna teuuin tournament was continued to-day. Results are as follow:— Men's Singles Championship.—X. Smith t'Hotoruai beat Bevln <Hamilton). IS—3. « —«. Tbey agreed to play the best of three sets Instead of the best out of five, both being tired from playing many hard game*. This m'Hitatefl against brilliant play. SmitJi was more consistent and played better fh»n tils opponent. Bevin had a more dtcnrfflt service, hut this was ncr: sufficient to counteract .x'mutli'H steadiness. Combined Handicap Doubles. - Miss Sharp* and Reed iKotnrna) voi> from Miss Renshaw (Auckland! and Kraser Whafcatane>. «—5. f.— \ after the scores were 5—4 ami 4ft—l3 against tr-em in the List set. I'oinWneit Championship Doubles.—Final: Miss ."harpe and Heed (Rotorua) beat Mis* I. Mansou IRcitoniai and Bevln (Hamilton). B—sl. S—C. after a 'lose lowtest, Heed! and his partner playing: with more steadiness and more vim than their opponent*. ladies' Handicap Singles—Miss Moorbouse, scratch i.Rotomai. heat Miss Suttlc. •_'-<".. 6—l. B—s, after a good, baril game. The winner's bark line nlay wi« snod.

N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIPS. TBE SEMI-FINALS. CONCLUDING EVENTS TO-DAY. <By Telegraph.—Special to "Star.") HASTINGS, Friday. The most outstanding feature of this afternoon's play was the men's semifinal. Lauren son had no difficulty In defeating L. France. The present champion was off his deadly overhead shots lor the greater portion of the game, but his versatile play gave France but little chance. France is just a consistent player with no outstanding features, but in constant practice and in good condition, while Laurenson, although quiet on service and forehand, has a strong backhand, and is one of the greatest vollevers in the world. Franco is a wonderful potterer, who has the faculty of .drawing players down to.his level. Ollivier had the hardest struggle of his life to beat Sims. The university champion fed his backhand consistently, and outplayed Ollivier the greater part of tbe time. TTie champion had the misfortune to rick an ankle in the second set while Sims got cramp badly in one hand in the fifth set. Ollivier fed the youth's forehand, but was often a trifle astray on his essays to net. Both men were at high tension, Sims changing his shoes after slipping down twice, while Ollivier twine changed his shoes. After losing the first set 6—3, Sims took the next two sets with the loss of one game each. Ollivier gained the next 6—4, and Sims had a commanding lead 4—o in the final set, and still led at 5—3. Ollivier caught up, however, and took tho set 7—5. Throughout back-line play predominated, and on the day's game Ollivier was lucky to win. He proved better at court tactics, while Sim had been consistency itself. This leaves last year's finalists, Laurenson and Ollivier, to battle for ultimate supremacy. Sims and Miss Lance had just played a gruelling singles when they went out to play Mrs. Hodges and Goss. The veteran played a great game against so formidable a pair. After losing a gruelling first set lf> —8, chiefly owing to a splendid game by Goss, Sims and Miss Lance agreed to play hard to the Auckland lady. They rained shots like hail on Mrs. Hodges, and left Goss a spectator until he began to poach, and paid the inevitable penalty against a hot combination, while Mrs. Hodges proved the yveakest spot in a strong combination. Sims' service aces were counteracted by Goss' iaziling placements, and Goss' game would have done credit to a man thirty years his junior. The New South Wale's lady and the varsity champion were too good in the last two sets, winning out S—3. «—o. * Mrs. Laacelles and Miss Gray were too good for Mrs. Scott Watson and Miss Payton to the tune of 6—J, 6—4. Mrs. Scott Watson was playing a good allround game, but Miss Payton was somewhat off her game. The New South Wales girls were too good, and the Auckland ladies, playing "the rock," did well to get five games to four. The Remuera men battled to enter the semi-final, but Robson and Griffiths proved too strong a combination for Page and Moir at 6—2, B—6, 5—7, B—2. after a hard-hitting fast match' Results are as follows:— MEN'S SINGLES. Fifth Round: Laurenson beat Robson, 7—5, 6—2, r—3: L. France beat Pearock, 2—6, B—4, 7—5. 2—6, 6—l; Ollivier beat Page, 6—2, 6—3, 6—3; Sims beat Young, 6—o, 6—o, 6—2. Semi-final: Ollivier beat Sims. 6—3, I"-*, I—4l, 6—4. 7 —5; Laurenson beat L. France, 6—2, I—6, 6—2, 6—l. LADIES' SINGLES. Fourth Round: Mrs. Lascelles beat Miss Payton, 6—o, 6—l; Mrs. Scott WatBon beat Miss L'.oyd, 6—4, 6—3. Seml-flnal: Miss Lance beat Miss Gy.v. 4—6, 7—5. 6—3; Mrs. Lascelles best Mrs. ?cott Watson, 6—o, 6—2. MEN'S DOUBLES. Third Round: France and France beat Pearse and Edmundson, 6—2. 6—2, 6—4; | Griffiths and Robson beat Denton and l Field, B— 1, 6—o, 7—5. i Fourth Round: Goss and Greenwood beat Powdrell and Lampe, 2—6, 7—5, J—3, 10—8; Griffiths and Robson beat Page and Meir, 6—2, B—6,' 5—7, 7—2. LADIES' DOUBLES. j Third Round: Mrs. Hodges and Miss | Macfarlane beat Mrs. Hetley and Miss Snow Clark. 13—11; Mrs. Lascelles md Miss Gray beat Miss Melody and Mrs. Green, 6—3. 6—2. ; COMBINED DOUBLES. ; Fourth Round: Miss Gray and Griffiths beat Mrs. Green and Walker, 4—6, 6—3, j H—2; Mrs. Melody and Wallace beat ' Miss Lloyd and Allison, B—6, 6—4: Miss Lance and Sims defeated Mrs. Hodges md Goes, B—lo, 6—4, 6—o. BOYS* AND GIRLS' EVENTS. Boys' Singles.—final: Andrews beat R. Williams, 6—4, 6—l. v Girls' Singles.—Semi-final: Miss East beat Miss Johnstone, 6—l. 6—o. Final: Miss D. Hart '(Dunedin 1 beat Miss M. East (Wellington). 6—5. 6—l. Semi-final. —Misses Lance and Moyd ieat Mrs. Hodges and Miss Maefarlane, i 3 ; 5—7, 6 —3: Mrs. lascelles and Miss 3ray beat Mrs. Scott Watson« and Miss Payton, 6—l, 6—4. TO-DAY'S PLAY. LADIIS' DOUBLES FINAL. WON BY AUSTRALIANS. RAIN STOPS PLAY, fg- Telegraph. —Press Association.) HASTINGS, this day. The New Zealand tennis champion ( hip tournament wag continued this norning in dull weather and with a toutherlv wind blowing across the court. fhe first final reached wa« the Indies' Doubles, the contestants being four New South Wales ladies Mioses Unce and Jovd beat Mrs. Lascelles and Miss ira'v 6—3. 6— i. The exhibition oi ennis was splendid. Miss Lance especiilly playing a magnificent game. Mrs. :»'seelles and Miss Gray led two love In he second set, but their opponents won he next five g»mss after a succession ot ong rallies and secured the set 6—*. Heavy rain fell before midday and the day wis suspended till the afternoon, rhe final of the ladies' singles between ttiss L-ince and Mrs. Lascelles wss in irogrese, the former leading 4 —l when am stopped the game. The weather ippcarg to be clearing. Goss and Greenwood, last year's cham>ion were beaten by Griffiths and Sotaen (Auckland). The latter won :he two first sete comfortably, but the 'hampions took the third set. The final