LAWN TENNIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 24, 29 January 1926, Page 5

LAWN TENNIS.

AUCKLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS, j SMYTHE BEATS BAETLEET. SIMS GOES DOWN TO I'.OBSOX. j Two surprises lent added interest to the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association's animal championship tournament tlii.-s morning. Sims, who it was thought might have turned up in the final. . de.-T>!te the fact that h<. , lias been nefflectinjr the game this season, went down to the versatile H. 1.. Rob.«on, an<l t!:<» hard-driving Smrthe quickly disposed of E. L. Bartleet in two straight sets. Both "amps were watched by a fair jrallery nf onlookers. Althouah somewhat worn, the courts were hard and fast, and played well. Lobbing experts were affected slightly by a slig-ht north-east breeze, which was tricky at times. His Excellency the Governor-General (Sir Charles Ferjrusson), who is a keen follower of Lawn tennis, visited the courts during the afternoon, accompanied ■by Lady Ferguson and suite. His Excellency was met on arrival by the president (Mr. E. W. Griffiths) and his wife, also by the vice-president (Mr. H. U. Thomson 1 and Mrs. Thomson. The vice-regal party was escorted to the enclosure, his Excellency and Lady Fergiisson evincing much interest in the semi-finals of the men's singles, which were played on courts 0110 and two, directly in front of the stand. Supporters of the popular Miller sisters had some anxious moments during the initial stages of the second round, in which Mrs. Scott-Watson and Mis.s IverrTaylor started off brightly, taking the first set with the loss of only one game. Mrs. Scott-Watson, who did not appear to settle down to her usual game till well on in the match, was returning everything to Mi?s Pat Miller's backhand, while Miss Kerr- Taylor was successful in lobbing over the. younger players, who are inclined to be short. Hwpver. the Misses Miller made a wise move at the end of the first set. when they changed places. Miss Pat Miller going to the left-hand side, allowing her elder sister to take "most of the backhand returns. Occasionally they went tip to the net, departing from their usual safe tactics, and a great setruggle resulted in the second set, when the sisters went after everything-. They combined to greater advantage than their opponents, whose lobbing was faulty, while Mrs. Scott-Watson's service lacked stiiiff. Mi-s Kerr-Taylor made some nice placements, but she was frequently outmanncuvred by Miss D. Miller, who was rich! on her game, despite lack of practice dwuring the last few weeks. Taking the second set, o—:s, the Misses Miller maintained their for mm the final set, Miss Pat Miller's service showing a big improvement on her handicap tournament form, and they won the match decisively by taking the third set without the loss of a game. Showing a clover variation of pace and length, and using a jrood cross-court drive to advantage. Miss Marjorie Maefarlane quickly ran up a s—l5 —1 lead in the first fpi of her semi-final match with Miss Dulcie Nicholls. The junior champion took some time tosettledown and it was not until she had dropped the first set I—o that she- started driving with any accuracy. She took thp first same of the next sot with her service, hut could not breakthrough Miss Macfarlane's reverse service, ami persistently hit the tape with her drives. By missin? the base-line with both back and forehand drives. Miss N'icholls lost, the nc\t game. Miss Maefarlane worked her way to the. net in the next garao find won a couple, of points with clean placements. The following game saw Mis? N'ielioll* driving a good-length ball down both sidelines, but in the next she became erratic again and drove many balls out of court. At four all some pood driving was ?een by both players. Mi«s Nicholls stave a good display of net play on one occasion, and she kept her opponent running up and down the baseline. Miss Maefarlane made two good attempts to pass her young opponent, but was eventually beaten by a good placement. Miss Nwholls, who played below form all through the match, gave the next game to Miss Macfnrlane, the set and the match. I—6, 4—«• A colourless display was given by Griffiths and Watkins in the fourth round of the singles. Although the first two sets went to advantage, both players made many mistakes, constantly driving out of court and missing many overhead strokes. Griffiths, however, marie fewer errors than his opponent in the last set. and with an occasional flash of his true form took the set and the match, 7—!), 11—0. G—o. The youthful Sturt did well to take four games in each of his two sets against Lampe. Greater experience won the day for Lampe. who was still fresh after a hard match earlier in the morning. Sturt went after everything, and several occasions had Lampe chasing up and down the base line. Both players seemed to delight in playing to each other's backhand, and this seemed to be Sturt's weak point. When Lampe came up to the net his shots for the corners were accurate, and this, of course, kept Sturt running, but on more than one occasion he showed that he possessed a nice passing shot. It was not often that iie went in close, but when he did he beat Lampe with clean placements. His first serve is a good one when he gets it. but, like most young players, he only pats the second one over, and this gave his opponent a chance for successful hard driving. The surprise ot" the morning was the defeat of K. L. Bartleet by the Wellington champion. E. B. W. Smythe. in the fourth round of tiie singles. Apparently content to remain on the base line, both players opened the first set with some beautiful driving, and there were occasional exciting rallies to the net. Smythe was very accurate, and took the first four games on end, the fourth being evenly contested, and deuce was called five times. Bartleet secured the fifth and seventh games, but the Wellington champion was superior all round, and took the set without the loss of another game. Showing more enterprise in the second set. both players ventured to the net more frequently when opportunity offered. Smythe. however showed better discretion in choosing the balls to smash. Many rallies terminated in his favour in consequence. Indeed he can be accredited with playing 1 very heady game, and well deserved hi; win. Bartleet was patchy, and was per haps affected by having to play a dofen |sive game against his brilliant oppo nent. He seemed inclined to take feM risks, and he fought every inch of thi way. On the day he was beaten by 5 . better player. Smythe led is—l, and ii the deciding game was very accurate taking it with the loss of only one pom i to win set and match, 6—2, 6-— i. Much interest was taken in the Rob ■ son-Sims match, and the win for Robsoj came as something of a surprise. Sims

j one-time New Zealand champion, and .twice winner of the Home Cup. has had ! little practice of late, and this could ,be easily seen when he was iv a tight : corner. In the first set he outplayed IRobson, who was just working up his j variety of strokes. Robson gave a delightful display in the second set. however. He was right on his game, and | troubled Sims with a severe chop stroke J .to his, back band, which was weakly j ireturned and well smashed by Robson. \ Sims put up a great light in the third i set. and made a desperate attempt to catch Robson. Robson took many chances, and not letting up on his game | at all ran out a winner, I—li,1 —li, (i —1, (j— -. I Playing their usual hard driving game.' the Miss.es Maefarlane proved a little ; too good for Miss Whitelaw and Miss j Xieholls in the second round of the j doubles. It was a game of hard driving! by all four Indies from the base line, with an occasional Hash of bright net I play. Slr.rt. nr-.d his quick-moving little j •lartiier, Hunter, put up a game fight j against the more experienced Johns ! brothers in the second round of the; doubles. The young players were j troubled considerably by the severe j service of V. R. Johns, but their general; court craft showed them to be players i of great promise. | i Lampe. the Wanganui champion, had i .no difficulty in beating Watson in two . straight sets in the second round. ! Lampe's long tournament experience pulled him through a hard match, and, j although he won easily, Watson gave a !creditable display. j Mis.s Dulcie Xieholls. tiie junior I , champion, staged the surprise of the j ! day when she defeated Mrs. Scott- j ■ I Watson. The match provided the best j ■ . tennis of the day. Playing with great I i'confidence and certainty for tiie set • and up to three love in the second. Miss >! Xieholls was in complete command of . J the gnme. At times Mrs. Scott-Watson played well on the base line and worked | 1 ! her way up to the net, but Miss f j Xieholls always managed to pass her • i down the side-lines or beat her with a ■■beautiful cross-court drive. By making a concentrated attack on her oppon- - I ent's back-hand. Mrs. Scott-Watson drew ' up to three all. and from that stage i ! onwards it was level fighting to seven "'all. .Miss Xieholls then broke through ' I Mrs. Scott-Watson's service and. win- ■, ning her own. took the set and the match, '! 6—2, 9—7 U Results.— ; J Men's Singles. SECOXI) ROUND. Sims heat lirinsden. (! —1. o—2. I.nmpo beat Part-mice, β-l, c> —:', Warson beat Bowden, S—6, <i— 2. K. 1.. Uanleet beat G. L. Kno:t, O—C, j r>—i;. t:—i. ' THIRD ROUND. : Srnrt bent A. C. Johns, i>—2. r—3. j Sims bent Rowlands, 6—2. T—s. ' Kobson iipat <"haimers o—2 6—l j Lampe benc Watson o—2. «—l , . FOURTH •ROUND. Robson bent Sims. I—l>. 6—l, 6—2. Smjrthe bent E. L. Bartleet. 6—2, 6—4. <;ritfuhfi bent Watkins, 7—9. 11—0, G—o. i Lampe beat Sturt. (3—4, C—4. Men's Doubles. : FIRST HOUND. V.. nnd A. Ohlson beat Mori-is and King, C—l. (i—l. ' j Hunter and Sturt beat A. S. C. Brown i I and It. B. Hnrrlept. 6—l, ti— P.. i I -\. K. RlcUarrtson and H. Rowlands beat jf. Partridge nnd P. I , otter, 4—S. 6—3. 6—-1. i I Ituhble and Knott beat Chalmers and ■ ] McKeowD. 6—3, β-l'. . j SECOND ROOTD. ; ! Watkins and Entwistle beat Lamb and j Clark. 6—o. H— 'J. • i Smythp and L.irupe, brat Ohison. and ■ I Ohlson, f> —0, B—("i. -, Nicholson and "Jrnnt Tonks and! . I Macfarlanc. 6—a, 5—7. o—l. , ! 'Irifflths and beat Watson and J Chi.-.b.dm. (I—l. (J —2. 1 ■ JVviins and Johns beat Sturt and Hunter • : C—3. 0 -4. Home and Turner beat Richardson nnd , Rnwliind. R—o. (5 —1. ■ i Harrison nnd Harrison brat Knott and ; Hubmo, 1 —~. o—(s. 7—5. THIRD nOL'ND. j K. T.. Bartleet and Robson beat Nicholson I ; and (irant, S—6, 6—2. ; I Ladies' Singles. | ' SBCO.ND ROUND. I Mrs. Scort-Wnrson beat Miss N. Mar- ' , Cormlolc, li—-L , . i>—■_>. ■ j Miss P. .Milier beat Miss Damps, 6—2. ! 6—l!. I Miss ?.r.ijorip Maefarlane beat D Wilson, IS — 2. G—j. THIRD ROUND. . Miss Knijrhr beat Miss γ^iwry. f! .T. f» 7. Miss Mcl'herson beat Miss "potter," 6—4^ • ! Miss D._\icholls'beat Mrs. Scott-Watson, ; j SEMI-FINAL. I I Miss Marjorie Maefarlane beat Miss , 'Dulcie Nicholls. C—l, 6—4. i ■ I Ladies' Doubles. ! ■ ; SECOND KuTNL). : i Misses Macf.iri.me beat Misses Whitelaw , I and XlcholU. 6—.'». 6— 'Z \ Misses Miller beat Mrs. Scott Watson and Miss Kcrr-Ta vlor. I—6. 6—3, 6 0. i Mixed Doubles. 1 I FIRST ROUND. - ! Smythe nnd Miss MacConnlck bent A X I i Turner and Miss WhitPlaw, (i— 2, o—3. r I SECOND ROUND. 3 Lamb and Miss Napier beat Hill and Miss j mil. (i—l, (i—;!. j T. E. Clnrk nnd Miss D. Miller beat C - 'Partridge nnd Miss BartWt. o—l. o—30 —3 '- I Chalmers and Miss Crai? beat R B 5 j Hardy and Miss P.urler. o—7,0 —7, e2. t • Johns nnd Miss Knicht beat lioardman land Mrs. Fearnle;.-. 4— (J, i! 4. r 4 1 ! And.-rson and Miss Wilson bea;: Thomson : I 1 and Miss Thomson, ti—4 (i 2 t i.. '-,- m :!' n:! and Miss M. Maefarlane beat , : 1 , .. _<f. ttatfclns and Miss M, Papton, 6—l, 5 ; K. -n. Bartleet and Miss P. Wlthemw , j l>e;»r R. O. Gardner nnd Miss P. Miller. ' I Smrthp an.l Miss Ma.-Cortniok beat E. - ohlson and Mrs Kobson. li—l, (j " I E. Tonks nnd Miss Lovrry 'bont'M.irfarlanc and Miss Asser. (i—:! .- 7 »; 1 i Robson nnd MKs Mr.ofarlan" beat Christmas and Miss Kerr-Taylor. C—3, G 2." P i THIRD ROUND. ' Hubble nnd Miss Mcl'hrrs >-i o-u riirt • and Mi?* r>. Miller r, ] 0 :: ■'i DrinsdPii nnd Mr.,-. Kcott-Vvatson br-t h Chalmers nnd Miss <'rn\p. li—l r^—i e1 r ' . v - JohD3 and Miss Kniirbt won by ilPfaii t frnm Griffiths and Miss Griffiths. L--T.-U ,n ;' ••. r ' s " "arlon :%racfar!nne bra k Portfr r,nd Mi=.s Potter. G—3 9—7 h Smyth- and Mi.-,s MnrCormi.-k 'heat X li. KortlPPt and Miss Witherow, β-i 6 l. AC. Johns and Miss NSehnlle beat Lamb c sail ..iiss N.ipicr. o—l>, (i 2. [. ■ Warson Rn <\ Miss Colebrook heat \clorj son r.iid m:.-.5 Wilson. G—B. ij 2. if