LAWN TENNIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 26, 1 February 1926, Page 9

LAWN TENNIS.

AUCKLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS.

SMYTH TAKES HORNE CUP.

MISS MACFARLAXE YVTXS AGAIN.

Four finals in the Auckland provincial lawn tennis championships were played at the Stanley Street courts on Saturday, when a large gallery of spectators evinced a lively interest in the contests for the Home and sykes

cups. The Home Gold Cup. a handsome trophy, valued at £200, was won by Dr. E. B. W. Smyth, of Wellington, who beat H. L. Robson, the usually versatile Aueklander at his own game —a chop drive varied occasionally by good plain driving. The 1925 champion, E. \V. Griffiths, was beaten yesterday by Eobson in the semi-final.

For the third year in succession. Miss Marjorie Maefarlane secured the Sykes Cup. In two hard-fought advantage sets she fought every inch of the way against Miss Beryl Knight, and the issue was in doubt till the two final games of the second set. in which Miss Knight made too many mistakes, and was outmanoeuvred by the wily tournament veteran.

Smyth and his Wanganui partner. Lampe, had a great fight against Bartleet and Eobson in the final of the doubles, which went ? to five sets, the Auckland pair leading* two sets to one. and two-love at one stage. The visitors secured the championship, 7—•>. 4 —o, 2 —G, o—3.0 —3. t>—l, by superior court-craft.

Miss Knight (who won the doubles in 1024 with Miss Lloyd, and in 1925 with Miss Houston) took the ladies doubles o—4.0 —4. G—4. with Miss Colebrook, defeating Misses Marjorie and Marion Macfarlanc, after a game that was in no way spectacular. The combined doubles final, in which Brinsden and Mrs. Scott-Watson will meet Robson and Miss Marjorie Maefarlane. will be played some time this week. The president of the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association (Mr. E. \Y. Griffiths) congratulated the winners in a happy speech and presentel the trophies. He mentioned that it was the first time the Home Cup had been won by a visitor. Beaten at His Own Game. It was not a brilliant match for f he final of a provincial championship, but there was enough in the game to keep a large gallery of spectators interested, when Smyth, the Wellington champion, took the Home Cup away from Auckland for a year by beating Robson. Smyth adopted the Robson tactics of heavily slicing all balls, and it was only when the pair began to drive that any really bright play was seen. The V\ ellingtonian beat Robson at his own game. Miss Macfarlane's Final Fight. A base-line duel, with both players placing accurately in the corners, delighted onlookers when Miss Marjorie Macfarlane met Miss Knight in the final of the ladies' singles. Miss Macfarlane was the more enterprising of the pair, and her victory 9 —7. 7 —5, was thoroughly well deserved, but Miss Knight fought lier every inch of the way. Tutors "Win the Doubles. It took five sets to decide that Smyth and Lampe were too good for Bartleet and Robson in the final of the men's doubles championship. It was a good match all the way through, and at times the four played 'brilliant tennis. Many spectacular rallies at the net were seen and there was some great driving from the back of the court. All the players were deadly overhead and occasionally they showed some pretty ground strokes. Defeat of Macfarlane Sisters. Lack of volleying ability lost the Mioses Macfarlane their two sets in the semi-final of the ladies" doubles against Misses Knight and Cole-brook. The younger Miss Macfarlane was weak on service returns, but she made some careful placements in driving to the corners. Her sister played a good base-; line game, but was repeatedly passed in the corners by Miss Knight, whose back-hand work was good. Miss Colebrook distinguished herself at the net, where she was very sure, but her lobbing to the back of the court waa not always accurate. Ground shots frequently lost points for the Macfarlanes. who. however, went after everything. A Quick Victory. Using his chop-stroke to great advan. tage, Robson played brilliantly in the semi-final of the mixed doubles, while Miss Marjorie Macfarlane was very steady, and showed commendable discretion in her choke of balls. Although A. C. Johns was well on his game, and went after everything, he found the opposition too strong, and his young partner. Miss Dulcie Nicholls. junior national champion, was obviously nonplussed by Robson's chopped returns.

Results: — Men's Singles. FINAL,. E. P.. TV. Stnj-th (Wellington) boat H. L. Eobson (Auckland), T—s. 7 —3. 6—-. Men's Doubles. SEMI-FINAL. Smyth (Wellington) ana Lamps iWansa- | nui> beat Griffiths and Brinsden i Auckland i. —1. 6—4. 6—3. FINAL. Smyth (Wellington) and Lamp" (Wanzanui). beat Bartleet and Robson (Auckland), 7 —5. 4 —6. 2—6, C—3. o — l. ■"* Ladies' Singles. FINAL. Miss Marjorie Macfarlane beat Miss IWyl I Knight, o—7. 7—5. I . I Ladies' Doubles. i final. ; Misses Knishr and Colehrook Wat MNw>« j Marjorie and Marion M.~.i-f.ir!ani». ■'•— 4. ' 13—4. j Mixed Doubles. fourth ROUND. Robson and Mis? Marjorie Marfarlaiie ! I heat Watson and Miss Colebrook. <> -. ; a 1 I ""I, 4 ' ,- Johns and Miss P. NMi"ll.« bear K. ; B. W. Smyth and Miss Ma <ormi<k. ii— -'. 11—9 PEMIFI.VAL. SEMI-FINAL. Brinsden and Mrs. S.-ort Watson heat V. K. Johns and .Miss B. Knight, . — — , j S«>mi-final. —Robson and Miss Marjorie , I Macfarlane heat A. C. Johns an.! Miss j Dulcie Nicholls, 6— — i. .