LAWN TENNIS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 89, 13 January 1928, Page 6

LAWN TENNIS

MANAWATU TOURNAMENT MISS B. KNIGHT BEATS MISS CALVER MISSES NICHOLLS AND KNIGHT WIN THE DOUBLES Dominion Special Service. Palmerston North, January 12. Fine but breezy weather prevailed for the concluding day of the Manawatu Lawn Tennis Association’s first annual championships, with which was combined the Palmerston North Club’s twenty-fifth annual championship and handicap tournament. The latter’s courts, on which the tournament games were played, have stood up to the continuous play very well, but are beginning to lose their trueness. The wind, too, marred play to a certain extent. This morning the other semi-final ot the ladies’ singles was decided, Miss Calver defeating Miss Nicholls, 7—5, 5—7, 6—4. Miss Calver showed fine judgment in her shots, getting a fine length to her driving, especially in the second and third sets. Miss Nicholls was content to rely upon placements, and but few of her drives had much power behind them. Miss Nicholls led, 4—2, in the first set, but the Wanganui lady took the following three games, and in turn led, 5— 4, going on to take the set, 7—5. Miss Calver also had a lieu on the second when she led, 5—2. Miss Nicholls, however, refused to let up, and after making up her deficiency went ahead and snatched the set, "7—5 Both ladies won their own services iu the deciding set till the ninth game. Miss Calver broke through Miss Nicholl’s service and capped her effort with her service in the next. In the final between Mrs. B. Knight and Miss Calver, the contestants commenced carefully, Miss Knight leading, 3—l, which she increased to 4—l bv taking the following game off her own service. Miss Calver retaliated with a love game, and followed by annexing three more games in succession, leading 5—4. Her advantage, however, was shortlived, Miss Knight evening up at 5 all, and by capturing the next led 6—5. Miss Calver evened at 6 all, the odd game then fluctuating till the 21st, which was won by Miss Knight off her own service, and by winning the next off her opponent’s service she took the set 1210. The ladies were content to play for safety rather than for winning shots, and did not come to the net except when drawn in. Miss Knight’s courtcraft was superior to Miss Calver’s, but the latter was remarkably accurate with her side-line drives. The second set was but a replica of the first. Each ladv won her own service to the 11th game, after which Miss Knight broke through the Wanganui fadv’s service for game, thus winning the’ second set 6—4, and the championship. Both ladies appeared to be footfaulting frequently, but were not pulled up by "the line judge. Ladies’ Doubles. Iu the final of the ladies’ doubles, Misses Knight and Nicholls adopted aggressive tactics against Misses Myers and Calvert, which won them the game. Keeping the ball away from Miss Calver at the net they persistently drove to Miss Myers, running her out of position to make the winning shot. Miss Myers stood up to the work well, her driving being much faster and more reliable than the other ladies. Had she been able to come up to the net with her partner they might have done better, but she was not given any opportunity to do so Miss Nicholls showed a vast improvement in form on her morning’s game with Miss Calver, getting more direction in her drives and overhead work. Miss Knight, however. looked as if she was beginning to feel the strain of too much tourney play- . . Mis« Mvers had first service, winning the game with the loss of two points. Miss Nicholls evened up, but Miss Caller’s service resulted in their regaining the lead Miss Knight also won her service. 2 all. Misses Knight and Nicholls took the next two games, and after losing the seventh, led 5—3, and were at set point 15—40 on Miss Calver’s service, when Miss Knight hit two balls out. Miss Myers emulated Miss Knight after the deuce, giving her the set, 6—3. Misses. Knight and Nicholls won the first two games in the second set, mainly as a result of netted shots by Miss Calver. Miss Knight was at this stage getting some fine overhead work in at the net, and after being down 15—40 she won the third game off her partner’s service. Good serving by Miss Calver enabled her to take the next game. Miss Knight went off considerably in her net play, the Wanganui pair drawing level at 3-all after being down o—3. Miss Nicholls, however, regained the lead and went on to take the next two games and the set 6—3. In the latter stages of the game Misses Myers and Calver speeded up their returns considerably, but sent many out of the court. Mixed Doubles. Lampe and Miss Myers were not fully extended in the final of the mixed doubles, Lampe’s brilliant overhead work winning the day. He hit numerous smashes out of court when facing the sun, but made up for these on the other side of the court. His combination with Miss Myers was another factor which materially assisted the Wanganui pair. Griffiths and Miss Haggitt brought off some fine shots on occasions, but were in the main overshadowed by their opponents After the second game, when the score stood one-all, Lampe, through good smashing and able backing by his partner, took the next three games. Griffiths broke through Lampe’s second service and won the next off his own service. Miss Haggitt was unable to return Miss Mvers’s service in the following game, which went to the Wanganui pair. Lampe won the next game by his overhead work, and the set 6—3. From one-all in the second set, Lampe jumped to s—l bv takinc four games in a row before Griffiths won Miss Mvers’s service game after two deuces. In the eighth game Lampe smashed a return, to take the championship, 6—3. 6—2. Handicap Matches. Some good matches were seen in the finals of file handicap events, Stedman being successful in the final of the men's handicap singles, defeating Paul, of Wellington, after a fine driviim exhibition, 60—41. O’Brien and O’Brien Wellington, defeated another scratch pair in' Paul and Christie, in the men’s doubles final, while Misses Knight and Nicholls found their handicap too great in the ladies’ doubles, going under, 50— 70 Stedman and Miss Matheson (6) bad a keen tussle with Hooper and Dr Witherow (5) in the mixed doubles final before the Palmerston pair won, 60—58. Detailed results:— CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS I Ladies’ Stogies. Semi-finals: Miss Calver defeated Miss D. Nicholls, 7—5, 5—7, 6—4.

Final: Miss B. Knight defeated Miss Calver, 12—10, 7—5. Ladies’ Doubles. Semi-finals. Misses Myers and Calver defeated Mrs. Hetley, and Miss Clark, 6—3, 6—3. Filial: Misses Knight and Nicholls defeated Misses Myers and Calver, 6—3, 6—3. Mixed Doubles. Semi-finals: Lampe and Miss Myers defeated Christie and Miss Calver, 6—2, 6—3; Lampe and Miss Myers defeated Griffiths and Miss D. Ilaggitt, 6—3, 6—2. HANDICAP EVENTS Meu’s Singles. Third round; Stedman (ser.) defeated Hooper (5), 60—40. Semi-finals: Stedman (scr.) defeated B. R. O’Brien (5), 60—49; Paul (5) defeated Hills (12), 60—58. Final: Stedman (scr.) defeated Paul (5) 60—4-4. . Men’s Doubles. Third round: Paul and Christie (scr.) defeated Louisson and Boddy (12), 61—59. Semi-finals; Paul and Christie won by default from Powdrell and Barknian; O’Brien and O’Brien (scr.) defeated McDonald and Hooper (owe 8), 68—54. Final: O’Brien and O’Brien (scr.) defeated Paul and Christie (scr.), 60—56 Ladies’ Doubles. Third round: Miss Sloman and Mrs. Scott-Watson (scr.) defeated Misses McFarlane and McCarty (20), 50—43. Serm-final: Misses Nicholls and Knight (owe 20) defeated Miss Sloman and Mrs Scott-Watson (scr.), 70—58; Misses Matheson and Stevens (12) defeated Misses Whyte and Cameron (scr.), 50—42. Final: Misses Matheson and Stevens (12) defeated Misses Knight and Nicholls (owe 20), 70—50 Mixed Doubles. Third round: Griffiths and Miss D. Haggitt (owe 5) defeated Swanger and Miss Woodward (12), 65—54 ; Paul and Miss S. Preedy (10) defeated McDonald and Miss S. Watson (5), 60 —31; Smith and Mrs. Hetley (scr.) defeated Robertson and Miss Sim (14), 60—50; Stedman and Miss Matheson (6) defeated Malfroy and Miss M, Preedy (owe 10), 70—52. Fourth round: Hooper and Dr. Witherow (5) defeated Marshall and Mrs. Scott-Watson (owe 3), 63—58; Griffiths and Miss D Haggitt (owe 5) defeated Hoben and Miss Astle (5), 03—53; Paul and Miss S Preedy (10) defeated Barling and Miss Hollier (25), 60—56; Stedman and Miss Matheson (6) defeated Smith and Dlrs. Hetley (scr.), 60—28. Semi-finals: Hooper and Dr. Witherow (5) defeated Griffiths and Miss D. Haggitt (owe 5), 65—53; Paul and Miss S Preedy (10) defeated Stedman and Miss Matheson (6), 60—42. Final: Hooper and Dr. Witherow (5) ,defeated Paul and Miss S. Preedy, 60 58.