LAWN TENNIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 308, 29 December 1924, Page 7

LAWN TENNIS.

N-2. CHAMPIONSHIPS. A LATE START. PLAY ON DEAD COURTS. Those of the competitors in the New Zealand lawn tennis obampionships who rose early this morning were disappointed on finding Mount Eden's head shrouded in mist, with heavy banks of cloud looming threateningly in the south. Rain had fallen before sunrise, and the prospect was not encouraging. Shortly before S o'clock there was a heavy downpour, and all the indications were for a spoilt day, so far as tennis was concerned, but, happily, the sky cleared at about 9 a.m., and the sun peeped out. Officials and greenkeepcrs were soon busy at the Stanley Street courts doing everything possible to ensure nn early start. Sacks and roller were requisitioned. A squally breeze, blowing strongly across the courts, and periods of bright sunshine, did the rest. Promptly at 11 o'clock the umpires climbed on to their tall seats and the sound of balls on lawn and racquet was heard. The first games played were those which were in progress when the vain necessitated a postponement at 5 o'clock on .Saturday. The loss of Boxing Day and an hour on Saturday has, of course, retarded the progress of matches, which, in some divisions, should have reached the semi-final stages by to-day.

Competitors found the wind very tricky, while tbe courts were dead, balls failing io rise from the sodden lawns. Early iv the afternoon they played faster, but visitors found a big difference as compared with Saturday. A couple of easy victories in the combined doubles were gained by Mrs. Marshall and Bartlect, and Miss Knight and V. R. Johns respectively, over Miss Clarke and France, and Miss Good and Charters. Mrs. Marshall and Bartleet won in two sets 6—3, 6—o, and Miss Knight and Johns annexed their match too with the loss of only one game, o—o, G—l. Miss Marion MacFarlane (Remuera) and Miss M. Colebrook (Parnell) had a close contest in the third round oi the ladies' singles, the match going to three sets, with a deuce set and 30—to in the last game. The match was marked by persistent baseline driving, many of the strokes lacking pace owing largely to the heavy nature of the courts. «There was a complete absence of volleying. Miss Colebrook played a consistently steady game, but was defeated by Miss Macfarlane to the tune of o—4, 4—o, 7—5. Goss and Borrows (United) heat Donovan Brothers (Brougham Hill) in three straight sets, gaining a comfortable victory over their youthful opponnets. The score was 6—3, 6—4. Bartleet bad no difficulty in disposingof Knott in the second round of the men's singles, the result of which was 6—3, 6—3, 6—3. Matches in the boys* junior single? were commenced after luncheon, and girls' games were started later in the day. Fotheringham's victory over Griffiths in the second round was no surprise, though the issue was obviously in d >übt till conclusion of the fourth set, which went 7 —5 in favour of Fotherinr;ham. Griffiths was tiring at this stage, and it was only his lead of two sets that carried the game the full journey. Fotheringham annexed the fifth set without difficulty. He covered the net well, but his base line driving appeared to be marred by occasional errors. Griffiths showed good sll round form, but was unequal to the strain of the long struggle. TAe result was •!—6, I—6, 6—o, 7—5, 6—2.

Ollivier had a simple task in his third round contest with Ferkins, and though the youthful Wellingtonian put up a good losing fight, he was only able to win two games out of a total of 20. The Canterbury man did not seem to take the game too seriously and won 6—o, 6—l, 6—l. Jackson and Ohlson had a hard struggle in the second round, and the match went to four sets, the third and fourth of which were deuce sets. On account of the difficult nature of the court, the play was marked chiefly by solid hitting, without spectacular incidents. Jackson won 6—4, 5—7, 7 —i). Miss Knight's win against Miss MacCormick was quick and decisive, fi—l, 6—3. Though the driving of both players was faulty, and inaccurate, Miss Knight had no difficulty in overcoming the Remuera lady with the loss of only four games. Miss Witherow, who had a set to her credit when play stopped on Saturday, beat Miss Cato to-day in a three-set 1 match, the Parnell player serving well and volleying briskly. Miss Withcrow's performance in the second set, which went in her favour 7—5, showed her putting in a strong challenge which Bhe failed to maintain, the result being 6—o, 5—7, 6—o. France beat Wallace in the second round, after four sets, the only set won by Wallace being the first of the match which finished 7—5. The remaining three sets were easy ones for France, and cost him only five games. Wallace was playing the same mixed volleying and driving game that, won liim the match against Dentwistle on Saturday, but his overhead worK lacked much of the sting needed to beat his versatile opponent, and after the first set, France appeared to get his measure which enabled him to win three consecutive sets and the match, 5—7, 6—l, 6—l, 6—3. MENS SINGLES. Second Round. —Lampe beat Cottcrill, n Q B—6.8 —6. 6 —l: Fotherlngha.ro. beat Griffiths, 4—6, I—6, 6—o, 7—5, 6—2; Bartleet beat Knatt, 6—3 ; 6—3, 6—3 ; Jackson beat Ohlson, 6—4, 6—4, 5— <, ■j -; Williamson beat Wright, 6—o, 6—l. 6—l: S. Smyth beat Eobson, 6—l, 6—3, Third Round. —France beat Wallace, g 7 6 1. c—l, 6—3: Ollivier beat Perkins.' G—o. 6—l, 6—l. Second Round.—Chalmers beat Melody, i—4, 2—6, 6—3, 6—l. MENS DOUBLES. First Sound. —Goss and Borrows (United) beat Donovan and Donovan (Brougham Hill). 6 —3, 6—4. 6—4. Second 'Round.—J. C. Teacock (Thorndon) and A W. Sims (Hamilton) beat T. E. Clark (Oncbuniia) and E. M. Ohlson (Remuera), 6-2, 6-2, 6-1. LADIES' SINGLES. I First Round. —Miss Payton (Remuera) 'beat Miss Mantell (Thorndon), 6—o, 6—o; Miss B. Witherow (Parnell) beat Miss Cato (Hastings), 6—o. 5—7, 6—o. Second Honnd. —Miss Knight beat Miss MaeCormick. 6—l, 6—3. Third Round. —Miss Marion Macfarlane beat Miss Colebrook, 6—4, 4—6, 7—5. i LADIES" DOUBLES. I First Round.—Misses Marjorie and Marian Macfarlane (Remuera) beat ilisse* Whitelaws and Hitching? (Eden and Epsom'i. 6—o, 6—2. : noi'S - juxiolk singles. " Fir»t Round. -X. G. Start (Auckland) ibeai A»iL-JMcDbiiald 4Ana'rlandj,-6-3 r -6— 2^

GIRLS* JUNIOR SINGLES. First Round.—Miss Miller (Auckland) heat Miss Major (Wanganui), 6—4, 6 —l. COMBINED DOUBLES. Second Round.—Mrs. Marshall aud Rarlleet (Auckland I beat Miss Clarke (Havelock North,' and D. G. France (Brougham Hill). 6—3. 6—o; Miss Knight nnd V. 1_ Johus (Eden and Epsom) beat Miss Good and Charters (Whangarei), ('.—o, G—l; Miss Sneirs and Sheppard (United) beat Miss Turner and Martin (Wellington), 6-1. 6-1: Miss .1. McLaren (Otago) and K. D. Andrews (.Palmerston North, l.cnt Ml**-' N. F. Crane anil !•". Pea: (Whangarei., ■',-'_.

fi—-**.: Miss W. Wornil! and 11. C. Rowings (Onehunga) beat Miss M. I-itiric aud A. E. Richardson (Onchuusa), 6 —l. o—l.