LAWN TENNIS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19818, 4 January 1930, Page 14

LAWN TENNIS.

TOURNAMENT AT TIJVIARU. YESTERDAY'S PLAY. (special to the mess.) TIMARU, January 3. The South Canterbury lennis Association's tournament was continued in glorious weather on the Timaru courts to-day. The weather was very hot, but in spite of this the players put up interesting and, at times, brilliant tennis in the semi-iinals and finals of the various events. fheTe was a record attendance during the afternoon. To-day two or three sets of exhibition matches will be played in which Geoff. Ollivier, seven times singles champion of New Zealand, will take part. \V. G. Robertson and Miss M. Gibson will contest the honours with Dr. W. K. Fea and Miss D. Hart in the championship mixed doubles to-morrow afternoon, and Miss E. Melvm (scr) will meet Miss Sheriff (owe 15 1-6) in the final of the ladies' singles handicap. After outclassing his opponent in the first two sets, \V. G. Robertson suffered a reversal of form, probably as a result of fatigue from too much tennis, and was beaten by S. G. McDougall in the final of the men's singles championship. The score was 3-6, 3-G, 6-2, 6-0, 7-5. The Otago man's ability to raise his game at the critical moment was the contributing factor to victory, and he is to be congratula.ed on his splendid performance in the face of overwhelming odds. The match produced one of the most thrilling finals in the history of the tournament. In the men's singles championship A. C. Barr, of Springston, comfortably defeated Dr. W. R. Fea in sequence sets 6-4, 6-0. The Doctor has played many better games, and it is probable that he suffered from a reaction after the strenuous doubles encounter of the previous evening. .Barr, however, must be given credit for a meritorious display. His courtcraft was sound, and his clever placements won him many important points. Perhaps the outstanding feature of his play was the faculty with which ho landed balls in the half-court. He was able to return acutely-angled shots straight down the lines, often for winners. In the semi-final round against S. G. McDougall, the Springston man looked like repeating his Fea performance, but the Otago man played Barr with deep drives to the corners, closing in for the kill. Barr surprised the gallery by taking the first set t'l-.'i, but thereafter he was never in the hunt, McDougall winning the two remaining sets tor the loss of two games. The largest gallery of the tournament assembled for the final between Robertson and McDougall, which began at 2.15. The first two games each went to deuce, the score being called at 1-ail. Then Robertson made a break, fast driving on both forehand and backhand taking him to 4-1. So far the young Timaru player had controlled the rallies, McDougall being very erratic oft' the ground. Faced with the loss of the set, McDougall forced the pace, playing deep to his opponent's forehand, and 3-4 was called. Robertson then took the next game to 15 for a 5-3 lead.

The ninth game was a long one, and Robertson had two set points before he was able to break through 6-4. The second set was begun with new balls. A brilliant backhand passing shot across the court and a well-placed smash gave the first game to Robertson, who was now playing fine tennis. He .won the next two games without much opposition 3-0. In the next game Robertson hit three successive winners for 40 love, but McDougall, fighting grimly, won two remarkable recoveries and took the game with a fine passing shot down the Timaru player's forehand line. The next game was Robertson's, McDougall being completely beaten by two terrific forehand drives which left the Otago man standing. Playing beautiful tennis, Robertson was now hitting McDougall off the court. He quickly ran to a 5-2 lead, and at this stage McDougall made a stand, taking the eighth game by driving short to Robertson's forehand serving. In the next game the Timaru player went all out for the set, which he woh 6-3. In the third set McDougall went early to the lead, and Robertson, who was showing tiie effects of a strenuous tournament, let the set go rather than tire himself out in an attempt to retrieve his position. McDougaJ did not improve his play in this set, but he was the acme of steadiness, aiid he ran out at 6-2.

In the fourth session it was thought the youthful Timaruvian would make the play, but seemingly he was more fatigued than was apparent* for McDougall simjjiy walked away with six games in succession. The Otago crack continued his victory march in the fifth period, and had Robertson 3 love in quick time. With the shadow of defeat looming near Robertson played determinedly and took three games to even the scores. Then McDougall went to 5-3 and had two match points. On both these occasions Robertson saved the situation by fast driving. First he aced his return of service in the right court and then he scored a perfect passing shot across court on the backhand when McDougall rushed the net on a fast drive to the backhand corner. Robertson took this game and the next off his service. Excitement was at fever heat when five all was called. The Otago player, using a high-bounding service, went to 30 love with two placements from the net, and Robertson outed a couple of easy shots for the game, and McDougall led 6-5. Serving to the forehand corner Robertson threw McDougall out of position and volleyed the return for a winner for the first point of the game. A cleverly placed drive by McDougall evened at 15 all, and Robertson aced his service for 30-15. McDougall then sent up two weak tosses, but Robertson's safety tactics lost him the opportunity for a 40-30. Then Robertson astounded the gallery by aceing his service, a terrific delivery to the backhand completely beating McDougall. This was his last effort, and two placements gave the game and set and the match to McDougall in a memorable final. Wallace Robertson entered the final by defeating G. Sumpter, the latter retiring after dropping the first set. It was a wise move, for Robertson on his play in the first set looked a winner all the way, and continuation would only have fatigued both players. Sparkling tennis was seen in the semifinal of the men's doubles championship, when the holders of the title, N. S. Cramond and G. R. Innes-Jones, were defeated after two hard-fought sets by W. G. Robertson and G. Sumpter. The score was 9-7, 6-4. In the first set there were some brilliant exchanges, with all four men at close quarters, but Robertson and Sumjiter had the edge on their opponents, who did not produce quite the same standard of play as in their match the previous evening against S. G. McDougall and Dr. W. R. Fea. Robertson carried the burden of the attack, Sumpter for the most part being content to play for safety. His overhead, however, was weak for a player of his calibre. The other three men all smashed hard to the openings. Cramond and Innes-Jones had a set point at 7-6 in the first set, but they could not break through, and Robertson and Sumpter ran out at 9-7. Cramond played some very difficult shots, and n?issed some easy ones, while his partner served and volleyed to good effect, and made numerous fine open ings off the ground. In the second set Robertson and Sumpter held the lead at 4-3, but their opponents levelled the scores, and had 40-15 for the next game, but Robertson and fcjumpter captured the next for the set and the match. In the third round of the women's singles championship Miss R. Rolleston decisively defeated the Christchurch girl, Miss H. G. Jones 9-4. The game saw numerous exciting driving rallies, but Miss Jones could not strike a length, whereas Miss Rolleston played accurately to both corners, and thoroughly deserved her victory. The meeting of the two Christchurch players, Miss M. Sherris and Miss N. Smithson, was expected to be a keen encounter, but there was only one player from start to finish, Miss Sherris being too severe for her opponent in all departments of the game. Several games went to deuce, but Miss Sherris always had command of the game points, and she allowed Miss Smithson but one game. Misses M. Gibson and D. Hart had a narrow ecape against the Christchurch combination, Miss N. Reed and Miss M. Sherris. At one stage it appeared as though the Timaru pair would be defeated, but their clever net work carried them through a period of crisis, and they took the set and the match at 9-7. A feature of the game was the solid play of Miss Reed, who frequently

. j the Timaru girls in trouble with her heavilv chopped shots on the forehand. ?r;« Sherris was brilliant both at the net, fnrt ou the baseline, but to win matches in doubles both players must be at the net, and fhil wis really the deciding factor in the lame In the sem! ' filial Misses Gibson and Hart'plaved well lo defeat Misses R. Pearse and N i'oultney, the score beiiift 9-7. As ulual Miss Pearse's service was troubletome' but once the return was made theTim am girls dominated the net. Kesult,": — MKN'S SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP. Third Hound. \ C. Barr beat Dr. \V. K. Fea, 6-4, 6 0. 1 ' Semi-finals. W. Robertson beat G. Sumpter 6-3 /....fired ). _ S. U- McOougall beat Earr, 3-6, 6-2, 6-0, Final, Mcl'oiigall beat Robertson, 3-15, 3-6, 6-2, G-u, 7-5. women's singles championship. Third Round. Miss R. '.Rolleston beat Miss H. G. Jones, 9-4 Miss M. Sherris beat Miss N. Smithson, 9 " 1 - • « i Senii-nnals. jliss M. (Jibson beat Miss R. Rolleston, 9-?,. Miss M. Sherris beat Miss J. Brewer, 9-0. Final. Miss Gibson defeated Miss Sherris, 6-3, 6-4. MEN'S DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP. Third Round. C. S. Hammond and K. Oxford beat D. S. Mcfjeod and D. AV. Meldrum, 6-1, 6-2. Semi-finals. W. G. Robertson and G. Sumpter beat N. S. Cramond and G. R. Innes-Jones, 3-7, 6-4. AVarne Pearse and J. T. McKay beat Hammond and Oxford 6-8, 8-6, 6-1. Final. Robertson and Sumpter beat Pearse and McKay, 4-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-0. WOMEN'S DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP. ■Second Round. Misses Mahonev and Melvin beat Mrs Bannerman and Miss R. Rolleston, 9-5. Misses Gibson and Hart beat Misses Sherris and Reed, 9-7. Semi-finals. Misses Gibson and Hart beat Misses Pearse and Poultney, 9-7. Mesdames AV. Ij. Long and D. Borrie beat Misses N. Mahoney and E. Melvin, 9-4. Final. Misses M. Gibson and Miss IX Hart beat Mesdames AV. L. Long and D. Borrie, 6-4, 4-6. 8-6. COMBINED DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP. Third Round. A\ T alker and Miss Reed beat Cramond and Miss Eraser, 9-6. Semi-final. 'Robertson and Miss Gibson beat Sharpe and Miss Cowie, 9-3. Dr. W. R. Fea. and Miss IK Hart beat AV. P. AValker and Miss Reed, 9-5. MEN'S SINGLES HANDICAP. Semi-final. L. Campbell (ree. 2-6) beat I. AValton (rec. 1-6), 9 8. A. C. Barr (owe 15) beat K. Walton (owe 2-6), 9-4. Final, Barr beat Campbell, 9-8. WOMEN'S SINGLES HANDICAP. Third Round. Miss K. Melvin (scr) beat Miss N. Reed (owe 2-6) by default. Miss A. Sheriff (owe 15 1-6) beat Miss P. Dwan (rec. 4-6), 9-5. Miss E. Melvin (scr) beat Miss 11. Jones (owo 15 3-0), 9-2. JIEN'S DOUBLES HANDICAP. Semi-final. McLeod and Meldrum (owe 2-6) beat Mercer and Schmidt (owe 4-6), 9-5. Final. McKinnon and Collins (owe 15 3-6) beat McLeod and Meldrum (owe 2-6), 9-8. WOMEN'S DOUBLES HANDICAP. Semi-final. Misses Mahoney and E. Melvin beat Misses N. Reed and M. Sherris (owe 4-6), 9-0. COMBINED DOUBLES HANDICAP. Third Round. I;. L. McLeod and Miss E. Melvin (scr) beat J. Smart and Miss N. Poultney (owe 2-6), 9-3. Semi-final. McLeod and Miss Melvin beat Walker and Miss Reed (owe 4-6). by default. Meldrum and Miss M. Mahoney (rec. 2-6) beat J. Allpcrt and Miss McDonald (ree. 3-6), 9-2. Finnl. McLeod find Miss Melvin beat Jleldrurn and Miss Mahoney, 9-4. NORTH ISLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS. SOUTHERNERS PROMINENT. (SPECIAL TO THE PRESS.) AVANGANUI, January 3. The North Island lawn tennis championships were continued to-day in brilliant weather. In the men's singles, Angas (South Island champion), who has played his way into the final with a succession of two-set victories, met the local champion, M. L. Lampe, whom he disposed of 6-4, 6*l. Arigas, in all departments of ti.e game, was superior. His back-hand drives were always accurate, and were sent across with a dangerous cut. He smashed from all parts of the court. Lampe also was strong in his overhe-ad work, but he fell away in the second set, not having had enough tennis this season to enable him to play without tiring. Angas, in play and stamina, demonstrates that he is a player easily capable of winning a New Zealand championship. In the afternoon Angas defeated the AA'hangarei player Charters 6-0, 6-.'i. As the score indicates, Angas was an easy winner but it was only his greater accuracy that stood to him. Charters was putting many shots over the side-lines, but he scored frequently with crisp cross-court drives to Angas's forehand. The other North Island men's singles finalist is Malfroy, of AVellington. who, in the demi-semi-finals defeated Noel Wilson, of AVellington, 6-0, 6-2. Wilson did not seem to be at home in his play. In the semi-finals Malfroy met Khodes-Williams, of Christchurch, and the pair indulged in n gruelling contest. Malfroy took the first set easily at 6-1, but Rhodes-Williams got right on to his drive in the second set and took it 6-1. Khodes-AVilliams was getting beautiful length. In the last set Malfroy was a treat to watch with his pretty angle shots and volleying from close to the net. Malfroy's serve with a break to the back-hand also proved troublesome to Rhodes-Williams.

The women's singles championship is at the semi-final stage, the four players left in being Mrs Melody and Mrs Adams (both exNew Zealand champions). Miss Myers, of Wanganni, who is fourth on the New Zealand ranking list, and Miss Nieholls, of Auckland, who is also among the Dominion's best. Mrs Melody is playing splendid tennis and is fresh from victories at Auckland, where she annexed the Auckland championship, and beat players who in turn had beaten the New Zealand champion. Angas and Lampe meet Stedman and Charters in the semi-final of tho men's doubles, and the winners will meet Malfroy and Wilson in the final, best of five sets. Unless the unexpected happens Angas and Lamp® will go on to the finals by defeating Stedman and Charters. Charters was beaten very simply by Angas, and Angas and Lampe as a pair are easily equal to Stedman and Charters in team work. The final should provide a great contest. Three pairs dominate the field left in the combined championship. They are Wilson and Mrs Melody, Lampe and Miss Myers, Stedman and Mrs Adams. Details are as follows: MEN'S SINGLES. Fourth Round. Lampe beat Cox 6-2, 6-3. Charters beat Boardman 4-6, 6-3, 6-0. Fifth Round. Malfroy beat Wilson 6-0, 6-2. Rhodes-Williams beat Barkman 6-1, 6-0. Angas beat Lampe 6-4, 6-1. Charters beat Stedman 6-1, 2-6, 6-4. Semi-finals. Malfroy beat Rhodes-Williams 6-1, 4-6, 6-3. Angas beat Charters 6-0, 6-3. WOMEN'S SINGLES. Fourth Round. Mrs Adams beat Miss Whyte G-2, 8-6. Miss Myers beat Mrs Smith 6-4, 3-6, G-4. Mrs Melody beat Miss Frankham 6-1, 6-0. Miss Nieholls beat Miss Purcell 6-1,. 7-5. MEN'S DOUBLES. Third Round. Malfroy and Wilson beat 'Meuli and Perkins 6-0, 6-2. Powdrell and Powdrell beat Melody and Entwistle 6-4, 6-4. Nicholson and Hubble beat Miller and Lucas 3-6, 6-3, 8-6. Peaso and McCarthy beat Brown and Robertson 6-1, 6-4. Stedman and Charters beat Henricks and Bradley 6-4. 6-2. Hay-Campbell and Beattie beat Amner and Marciiant 6-1, 2-6, 6-4. Fourth Round. Malfroy and Wilson bent Powdrell and Powdrell 6-0, 6-0. Nicholson and Hubble beat Cox and Vdy 5-7, 6-4, 6-3. WOMEN'S DOUBLES. Third Round. Mrs Adams and Miss Nieholls beat Mrs Richardson and Miss Pease 6-2, 6-2. Mrs Smith and Miss Purcell beat Miss Ramsay and Miss Hoban 6-1, 6-1. Mrs Melody and Miss Myers beat Mrs Marshall and Miss Card 6-2, 6-4. Miss Preedy and Miss Whyte beat Miss Potter and Frangham 7-5, 6-4. COMBINED DOUBLES. Third Round. Stedman and Mrs Adams beat Hounsell and Miss Marshall 6-0, 6-3. Rhodes-Williams and Miss Nieholls beat Purcell and Miss Purcell 8-6, 6-1. Earle and Miss Ramsay beat Pease and Miss Lowrie 6-3, 6-4. Wilson and Mrs Melody beat Barkman and Mrs Barkman 6-0, 6-1. Lampe and Miss Myers beat Shaw and Miss Latham 7-5, 12-10. Dymond and Miss Scott beat A. Powdrell and Miss Whyt® 6-4-

ELLESMERE V. MALVERN. A representative match between teams representing the Ellesmere and Malvern Lawn Tesinis Sub-Associations was played on Thursday on the Leeston courts. The Ellesmere team was victorious by a margin of eight sets. The following were the scojos, Ellesmere players being mentioned first:— Women's Doubles—Misses Gwatkin and Free 9, Mrs Norton and Miss Wright 8; Misses Wright and McLaughlin 8, Mrs Q. Wright and Miss Townshend 9; Misses Dunlop and Forster 3, Misses Oliver and Begg 9: Mrs Lill and Miss Dyce 9, Misses McKay and Roper 3. Men's Doubles—Free and Leahy 9, Reid and Bringans 2; Macpherson and Williamson 9, A. and D. McCurdy 8; Owers and Wraight 0, Turner and Alford 5; Duff and Fisse 6, (j. Wright and Patterson 9. Women's Singles—Miss Gwatkin 9, Mrs Norton 3; Miss Wright 8, Miss Wright 9; Miss Free 0. Mrs Q. Wright 1 ; Miss McLaughlin 9, Miss Townshend 6; Miss Dunlop 9, Miss Oliver 4; Mrs Lill 5, Miss Begg 9; Miss Dyce 9, Miss McKay 8; Miss Forster 6, Miss Roper 9. Men's Singles—Free 5. R. Reid 9; G. Leahy 9, Bringans 5; K. W. Macpherson 9, D. McCurdy 5: F. E. Owers 9, A. McCurdy 5 W. J. Wraight 9, Turner 5: Duff 9, Alford 6; Williamson 9, Patterson 2; Fisse 4, Wright 9. Combined Doubles—Free and Miss Free 8, Reid and Mrs Norton 9: Leahy and Miss Gwatkin 9, Bringans and Miss Wright 5; Macpherson and Miss Forster 9, A. McCurdy and Mrs Wright 4; F. E. Owers and Miss McLaughlfn 6. D. McCurdy and Miss Townshend 9: W. J. Wraight and Miss Dunlop 9, Turner :tnd Miss Beger 8; Duff and Miss Wrisrbt 9. Alford and Miss Oliver 3; J. Williamson and Miss Dyce 9, Patterson and Miss McKay 7; Fisse and Mrs Lill 9, Wright and Miss Roper 8. Totals —-Ellesmere. 21 sets, 257 games; Malvern, 13 sets, 201 games.