CHAMPIONSHIP TENNIS.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 2, 3 January 1924, Page 8

CHAMPIONSHIP TENNIS.

CUP AND BANNER. WON BY CANTERBURY. AUCKI.ANDERS IN COMBINED DOUBLES. A HARD FOUGHT GAME. (By Telegraph. —Press Association.) CHRTSTCHURCH, Wednesday. Two Auckland pairs were left to-day to fight out the final of the combined I doubles, the final match in the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Championships. The result was a win for Miss Marjorie Maefarlanc and 11. L. Robson. The weather was fine. Detailed results were as follow: — Combined Doubles, semi-final.—Mrs. Scott-Watson and E. L. Bartleet (Aucklland), beat Miss G. Wellwood Hawke's ißay), and F. Peach (N.S.W.), 6—4, 2—6, B—6. Final. —Miss Marjorie Macfarlane and H. L. Robson (Auckland) beat Mrs. Scott-Watson and Bartleet (Auckland) 2—C, o—7, 10—8. I In the final Robson took the first serI vice and won the game. Bartleet's serjvice coming in hard won the next game, but Miss Macfarlane and Robson lost the third game through their own mistakes. Bartleet and his partner led 4—l and s—l through their opponents' mistakes. Miss Maefarlane netted a number of times from the back of the court. She won the sixth game off her service, only to see Bartleet and Mrs. Scott-Watson take the set from 40—30 off the latter's service. Tims far the tennis had been devoid of anything spectacular in contrast with the semi-final, where Peach's smashes always made the match interesting. Robson won his service at the beginning of the second set. Bartleet scored an ace with his' service when leading 40 —15, and the games were even. With Miss Macfarlane serving, Robson scored a couple of well-placed smashes to Mrs. Scott Watson and won the game. Two all was called when Miss Macfarlane hit the final shot out in the next game. Two more outs by the came player followed by a centre-line drive b\- Bartleet, which landed at Robson's feet" put Mrs. ScottWatson and her partner in the lead, 3_2. From 15—40 in the sixth game Robson placed a smash to Mrs. .ScottWatson off Bartleet's service and the scores were three all. Miss Macfarlane, who had been making more errors than usual, sent a fine backhand drive straight down the line which won the 7th game off Mrs. Scott-Watson's service. The score in the next went to deuce, the last points going finally to the server — four all. Good work at the net by Miss Macfarlane won the odd game and she led. Bartleet then collected a love game, his service being well backed up by Mrs. Scott-Watson at the net. Deuce was called five times in the 11th game, until Robson scored the winning point with a good smash. A quick volleying rally at the net between Bartleet and Miss Maefarlane ended in Bartleet hitting the net, but he won the game through the other side hitting out—six all. Robson served an ace when leading 40—15, and again had the odd game. Bartleet again drew level by serving finely down the centra line, but good overhead work by Robson gave him the lead. Twice Bartleet hit his volley out, and Robson and Mies Macfarlane won the set, 9—7. : Robson eerved well in the opening game of the third set, getting great spin on his second ball. Bartlect's service failed to get its usual effect, and Robson led 2 —o. Rallies were brighter and the tennis of a higher standard in the next pame. Miss M/tcfarlane showed her best form of the match, and scored a fine backhand shot down the line, which won her the game. Robson led 3 —o. Robson and bis partner played winning tennis at this stago, and though they lost the fourth game, Robson gave them I a good lead in the fifth by gaining a love game off his service. Miss Macfarlane's mistakes were largely responsible for the lead being lost, the scores drawing level at the twelfth game, with no difference at the 16th. Robson then won his service from deuce and led 9 —S. With Bartleet serving the 18th. the game went to o—ls, o—30, lo—3o, 15 —tO. .30 —40, and then the server hit a backhand shot out and lost the match. Miss Macfarlane and Robson thus won, 2—6, !)—7, 10—8. At the conclusion of the match, Mr. W. N. Seay, president of the New Zealand Tennis Association, announced that the Wilding Cup and Banner had been won by Canterbury with six points. Auckland was second with four points.