CHAMPIONSHIP LAWN TENNIS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 82, 31 December 1928, Page 11

CHAMPIONSHIP LAWN TENNIS

DOMINION TOURNAMENT CONTINUED SATISFACTORY progress on SATURDAY PLAY IN THE SINGLES AND DOUBLES (By Telegraph.—From “Forehand.”) Auckland, December 29. Three inches of rain throughout yesterday and all through the night did not make things at all promising for play in the New Zealand tennis championships at Auckland to-day. But the Stanley Street courts dry quickly, and while the air was very humid, the courts were such that play was commenced at eleven o’clock. Good progress was made with the boys’ and girls’ events.

C. E. W. Macintosh, of England, big and powerfully built, who yet moves lightly and with great quickness, and has represented his country in. the winter ■mow sports and the long jump at the Jlympie Games, has a terrific service, a powerful smash and a good drive, both forehand and backhand. Unfortunately he serves too many double faults to compensate for the aces he secures, and he chops when he should drive and drives when the chop would help him. Thus it was that against A. L. France on a heavy court he as often beat himself as he was beaten by France. Both jlayed in spiked shoes, and yet did not secure a firm foothold. France practised his drop shots without much success, the ball hitting the band and falling back. Short lobs Macintosh killed with great accuracy. So long as he took them carefully Macintosh had little difficulty with France’s deep cuts. His placing was good, but too often he was without judgment in his drives. His final point of the game was a double fault, r Skimming Drives. N. G. Sturt kept hig feet, well against M. M. Morrison, and though both played fine skimming drives down the line, Sturt was the more consistent. It would not have required very much to sway the balance. Neither player went to the net. L. T. Pickmere, who played Laurenson's backhand and came to the net at all times, was hopelessly outclassed by Laurenson's steadiness and headwork, being passed or lobbed almost at will. Laureuson is going to be a hard man to beat. The match between C. Malfroy and E. W. Griffiths was an interesting one of hard driving and fine placements crosscourt to the corners, and straight down the side lines. With both the court and balls heavy, Malfroy found himself able to hit very hard, yet keep within the /court. He was more consistently accur®ate than Griffiths. Each made the other do considerable running along baseline, and frequently caught the other on the wrong foot. As the match progressed Malfroy took the net more often on deep drives to Griffiths’s backhand. Griffiths, too, served too many double faults. To win the second set Griffiths played much more quietly to catch Malfroy at his feet. He lobbed a lot, and well. Sound Volleying by Lampe. M. L. Lampe found R. E. Taylor much easier than he found Nicholson, and simply pulverised Taylor about the court with sound, volleying and smashing. Taylor was given no quarter. Lampe directed greatest attention to Taylor’s backhand. W. J. Melody played very well against W. H. Entwistle, under adverse conditions. But the slippery court and heavy balls did not suit his energetic, bustling style of play, and Entwistle too frequently got him at his feet near the service ' line, and. Melody would net easy smashes. Melody gave his best display in the second set. A. C. Stedman did great execution with his corner-to-corner driving, and his smashing and volleying, when he went in after playing to Turner’s back-hand. Lowry is playing much more steadily, and his deep driving was far too superior for Hayr, who made the mistake of coming in just to the service line. where he was invariably passed. J. A. F. Watson got up everything H. V. Howe placed, while he himself ran Howe all over the court. The Ladies’ Games. Miss Marjorie Macfarlane was right on her game against Miss D. Howe. She hit everything with full strength backhand and forehand. Miss Howe played well in the second set. The game was played from the back-line, the seventy of Miss Macfarlane being the determining factor. Fine Placements to the Line. Miss Gibson, with fine placements to the side-lines, quite outclassed Miss M. Eliot. The heavy courts are suiting Mrs. R. P. Adams, and with quiet placements until such time as she was given a chance to play her forehand crosscourt drive to her opponent’s backhand, she ran Miss O. J. Taylor all about the countryside. i One of the best games of the day was

Easy Shots Netted.

that between Miss M. Wake and Miss -<M. Myers. It was an aggressive war on both sides from the start. Miss Wake had the better placements; but Miss Myers ran like a deer after everything, and frequently astonished Miss Wake with what she got back. There was no net play. The match was all backline play, and hard — driving, and very accurate at that. It — was the speed of Miss Myers's play that did much to upset Miss Wake. Neither player" had stroke weaknesses. It was a question of compelling the other into error. Sound, Heady Game. Miss M. Speirs, with all court play, no very severe opposition rom Mrs. Shroff (nee Miss M. Coleirook). Miss Speirs drove backhand and orehand, and volleyed, smashed, and served with abandon. Miss D. Nicholls played a sound, heady rarne to defeat Miss M. Andrew. Miss Nicholls got splendid angle shots, and nade Miss Andrew run herself right out >f position. Miss Andrew was scarcely illowed to play a shot except on the move, ind her accuracy suffered in consequence. Miss M. Tracy encountered unexpected zipposition in the second set from Mrs. ■ Hobson, who plays an attractive back■ourt game. Although netting many of aer drives, Miss Tracy showed signs of -oming back to her best form. She would » \lrive deep to the backhand, and take the let. From there, she made few mistakes. Iler most serious mistakes were in netting on the forehand from back court. Mrs. W. J. Melody met in Miss A. I. Litten a player, who, like herself, uses the cut stroke, but Miss Litten could not deal with the depth and severity of Mrs. Melody, who is playing in good form. PLAY IN THE DOUBLES The men’s and ladies’ doubles were also played to-day, and some very interesting games were witnessed, chief among which was that-between Laurenson and Bartleet against Griffiths and Macintosh. The title-holders were . hardpressed by the latter pair. Griffiths s lobbing and Macintosh's driving and serving, plus both their lobbing, causing Bartleet and Laurenson to net frequently. Bartleet and Laurenson ultimately won by driving to the feet of the man coming iu. Bartleet’s service also gave a lot of trouble, Laurenson played his usual heady game, but lie did not • trouble the opposition so much as Bartleet did. It was touch and go that il did not go to five sets.

Sturt and Malfroy, although they had an easy pair to play in S. Lamb and W. H. Horne, did not seem to be going too strongly as a combination. France and Angas had no trouble against Watkins and Lucas, and present indications nre that they will go a long way. France’s heady play and Angus's energy ami devastating net play are working great execution. France makes the openings and Angas puts the finishing touches. A scratch pair, D. G. Glanville and J. W. Lowry, to whom had been conceded the distinction of being seeded, found the better combination of G. Martin and W. H. Entwistle, the net play of the latter especially, nearly too much for them. Only good lobbing, backed up by excellent driving by both and ? fine smashing by Lowry, carried them through. TEe>r match against W. Blakey and W. H. Simons was a massacre.

M. L. Lampe and T. Rhodes Williams were often at fault against the left-hand-er, S. J. Robinson, and C. U. Chalmers, through the tendency of Williams to hang back. Lampe would lob and take the net, expecting Williams to be in close attendance, but too often he was not. Williams drove well and placed accurately, but found too many shots at his feet difficult. Lampe, too. plainly worried by the absence of his partner, netted many easy shots in trying to force them. The lobbing of both was good, but their opponents were very quick in getting back and played steadily. Lampe and Williams won many points through driving down mid-court. W. J. Melody was in his element of sheer joyousness as with C. E. Partridge he flew about the court trying to intercept Bartleet’s drives and kill Laurenson’s lobs. The pair made some good volleys, but the pace was too hot. They were run about more than enough by the time the war ended. F R. Chisholm and J. H. V ntson gave J. C. Charters and A. C. Stedman quite a scare. The accuracy of the former pair’s volleying and lobbing in the third set after they had lost the first two sets put Stedman right off his game and nearly caused the match to go to five sets. Stedman and Charters drove far too much and also smashed too much straight down the court. These shots were invariably lobbed back. Thoie was very little headwork about Stedman and Charters’s play. The losers employed the better tactics, but lacked consistency. RESULTS IN DETAIL By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, December 29. Detailed results of the matches are as follow:— MEN . S SIJt GLF.S.

Second round: P. To H. .Tones (Maori) beat R. J. Carter (Auckland). 6—o, 6—o. 0o- n Q. Sturt (Auckland) beat M. M. Morrison (Auckland). 6-2, J—f’’ N. Lowry (Hawke's Bay) beat K. Hay (Auckland). 6—2, B—o. 6—3:11 • H- nt ' wlstle (Auckland) beat W. J. Melody (Wellington). o—l. 2—o. 6—2, o—3: A. . L. France (Wellington) beat C. E. M. Macintosh (Auckland), 6—3. 6—2. 6—3: LA. F. Watson (Otago) beat H. V. Howe (Wellington). C —o. fl—l. 6—l: J. L. Gjfl-"!:? (Auckland) won from E. W. M right (Thames Valley) by default: J. T. Lauronson (Waikato) boat L. T. Pickmcre (Whangarel). 6-2, 6-0. 6-0: M. L. Lampe (V angannl) beat R. E. Taylor Auckland), q_l 6—o; 6—l G. Martin (Auckland) bent V. R. Johns (Auckland). 6—4, Johns retired owing to a sprained ankle: A. C. Stedman (Auckland) heat A. K. Turner (Auckland). 6_2 f 3, 6—4; C. E. Malfroy (Wellington") beat E. W. Griffiths (Auckland), 6—4, 6—l, 3—6, 6—3. LADIES’ SINGLES. Second round: Miss Marjorie MacFarlane (Auckland) beat Miss D. Howe (Wellington), 6—3. 6—4; Miss M. Speirs (Canterbury) beat Mrs. M. Shroff (Auckland), 6—3, 6-1; Mis:; D. M. Nicholls (Wellington) beat Miss M. Andrew (Canterbury), 6—3, 6—2; Miss M. Gibson (South Canterbury) beat Miss M. Eliot (South Canterbury) beat Miss M. Eliot (S. Canterbury). 6—l, 6—o; Miss M. Myers (Wanganui) beat Miss M. Wake (Canterbury), 7—5, 6—4; Mrs. R. P. Adams (Wellington) beat Miss O. J. Taylor (Auckland), 6—l, f—4; Mrs. W. J. Melody (Wellington) beat Miss A. I. Litten (Auckland). 6—2. f—l: Miss M. Tracy (Wellington) beat Mrs. D. M. Robson (Auckland). 6—3. B—6.8 —6. MEN'S DOUBLES. First round: W. G. Watkins and F. W. Lucas (Auckland) beat S. C. Thorne (Whangarei) and R. McL. Ferkius (Wellington). 6—3. 6—3. 6—4; A. K. Turner and E. H. Turner (Auckland) won from A. W. Smithson (Canterbury) and R. V. Bundle 'Wellington), by default; E. L. Bartleet (Auckland) and J. T. Laurenson (Waikato) beat W. J. Melody and C. E. Partridge (Wellington), 6—l, 6—4, 6—3; ' V. R. Johns and A. E. McKeown (Auckland) beat H. V. Howe and R. P. Adams (Wellington), 7—5, 6-4, 6—2; M. L. Lampe (Wanganui) and T. Rhodes-Wil-liams (Wellington) beat S. J. Robinson and C. C. Chalmers (Auckland). 6—4, 6—3, 6—B, 7—o. Second round: A. L. France (Wellington) and C. Angus (Canterbury) beat W. G. Watkins and F. W, Lucas (Auckland), 6—2, 6—l. 6—2; N. G. Sturt (Auckland) and C. E. Malfroy (Wellington) beat S. Lamb and W. A. Horne (Auckland). 6—2, 6-2. 6—3; J. C. Charters (Whangarei) and A. C. Stedman (Auckland) beat F. R. Chisholm (Auckland) and J. A. F. Watson (Otago), 6—4, 6—2, 5—7, 6—3; P. Te H. •Jones and J. D, Jones (Maori) won from A. S. Gray and E. W. Wright (Thames Valley) b.v default; A. K. and E. 11. Turner (Auckland) beat V. R. Johns and A, E. McKeown (Auckland). B—6, 7—5, 2—6, 6—2; E. L. Bartleet (Auckland) and .1. T. Laurenson (Waikato) beat E. W. Griffiths and C. E. W. Macintosh (Auckland). 6—3, 6-4, 3—6, 7—5; D. F, Glanville (Canterbury) and J. N. Lowry (Hawke's Bay) beat W. Blakey and TV. IL Simons (Auckland), 6—l, 6—6, 6—U. Third round: Sturt and Malfroy beat Joues and Jones, 6—2, 6—6, 6—3. LADIES' DOUBLES. First round: Mrs. A. Arneil (Whangarei) and Miss J. E. Ramsay (Auckland) beat Misses M. Potter and K. Knott (Auckland), 2—6, 6—l, 6—l; Misses 51. Andrew (South Canterbury) and M. Gibson (South Canterbury) beat Mrs. P. Te 11. Jones and Miss P. Rukutal (Maori), 6—2. 6—2; Mrs. W. J. Melody (Wellington) and Miss M. Myers (Wanganui) beat Misses A. I. Litten and O. J. Taylor (Auckland), 6—6, 6—2; Mrs. R. P. Adams and Miss M. Tracey (Wellington) beat Misses T. D. Newton (Maori) and R. Taylor (Auckland). 6—l, 6—2. Second round: Misses Marjorie and Marlon Macfarlane (Auckland) beat Scott-Wat-son and Shroff (Auckland)), 6—3, 6 4. COMBINED DOUBLES. . Miss M. Speirs and C. Angas (Canterbury) beat Mrs. A. Arneil and L. T. Pickmore (Whangarei). 6—l, 7—5; Miss .1. E. Ramsay and M. Morrison (Auckland) beat Miss M. Gibson (South Canterbury) and T. Rhodes-Williams (Wellington), 6—2, 6—4. BOYS’ JUNIOR SINGLES. First round: E. P. Drew (Otago) boat I. £l. Wilson (Auckland), 6—l, 6—o; W.

Fisher (Auckland) beat D. Howe (Wellington) 5—G, 6 —2. 7—5: H. A. Barnett (Canterbury) beat K. S. Milne (Auckland), (J—l, G—3* B. G. Thomson (Auckland) beat A. D. Long (Wellington), 6—l, 6—l; W. G. Robertson (South Canterbury) beat K. K. Lees (Auckland), o—s. <s—s; S. R. Walton (Auckland) beat F. B. Court (North Otago) 6—4, s—o, 7—5; .1. S. Wilson (Auckland) beat J. H. G. Cooke (Auckland), 0-3, 6 5; K. A. Roussell (Wellington) beat D. E Scott (Auckland). 6 —o, 6—3; M. Ferkins (Wellington) beat A. L. Morpeth (Auckland) 6—l. 6—l: W. 11. McDonald (Auckland) beat A. G. Clow (Waikato), 6—4, s—C l( g—l; R. Newman (Nelson) beat W. B. Sutherland (Auckland), 4—6. 6—l. 6—3. Second round: S. R. Walton (Auckland) beat IV. Fisher (Auckland). 6—o, 6—5. GIRLS’ JUNIOR SINGLES. First round: Miss Stedman (Auckland) boat Miss M. Ryan (Auckland), 6—l. 6—l; Miss I’ Conway (Auckland) beat Miss G. Blackman (Auckland), 6—o. 6—o: Miss M. Hooton (Auckland) beat Miss B. Buddle (Auckland), f—4. 6—5: Miss I. Nixon (Auckland) beat Miss G. Gardner (Auckland). 6 —3. 4—6. 6—4. Second round: Miss M. Hall (Auckland) boat Miss L. Adams (Auckland). 6—3, 6—3; Miss M. Elint (South Canterbury) beat Miss M. Colson (Auckland), 6—2. 6—l; Miss M. Howe (Wellington) beat Miss J. Chambers (Auckland), 6—2, 4 —6, 6 —l. MARTINBOROUGH TOURNEY CONCLUSION OF PLAY Dominion Special Service. Masterton, December 29. For the third day of the Martinborough tennis tournament the weather was fine, and an early start was made with play. The enforced delay at the beginning of tlie tournament, however, did not allow of nianv of the games being concluded at the end of the day, and several of the finals and semi-finals had to be left over till the next morning. The standard of tennis shown to-day was excellent. Mrs. Penlington came out victorious in the ladies’ championshp singles, and France and Donovan won the men's championship doubles. Results are as follow:—

LADIES' CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES.

Second round: Miss Card beat Miss Tulloch. 9—2; Miss Willis beat Miss B. McLeod by default. Third round: Miss Brady beat Miss Card, 9—l; Mrs. Campbell beat Mrs. Groves. 9—5: Miss Welch beat -Miss Willis, 9—5: Mrs. Penlington beat Miss Muriel Cameron, 9—2. Semi-finals: Mrs. Campbell beat Miss Bradv, 9—2; Mrs. Penlington beat Miss Welch, 9—7. Final: Mrs. Penlington beat Mrs. Campbell, 6—2, 6—2. MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES. Second round: France and Donovan beat Webb and Berney. 9—o. Third round: Swinburne and Penlington beat F. Martin and Maitland, 9—o; France and Donovan beat Forbes and Lezard, 9—2; Howden and O'Hara beat Brand and Hollings by default; Martin and Bull beat Goodin and Candy, 9—4. Semi-finals: France and Donovan beat Howden and O’Hara Smith bj’ default; Martin and Bull beat Swinburne and Penlington by default. ' Final: France and Donovan beat Martin and Bull. 6—4. 6—l. MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES. Third round: Donovan beat F. W. Martin, 9—3: Forbes beat Tolhurst, 9—5; Lezard beat Swinburne, 9—4; Cameron beat O’Hara Smith by default; Hollings beat Bull, 9—3;; Keedwell beat Goodin, 9—3. Fourth round: Lezard beat Cameron by default; France beat Keedwell, 9—5; Bull beat Hollings. I)—5; Donovan beat Forbes. 9—o. Semi-finals: France beat Bull, 9—3; Lezard beat Donovan, 9—B. Final; France beat Lezard, 6—2, 6 —2. LADIES’ CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES. Second round: Mrs. Campbell and Mrs. Penlington beat Misses Willis and Cameron, g—i), 6—o; Mrs. Brown and Miss Martin beat Misses Webb and Ross, 9—5; Misses Card and Cameron beat Mrs. Balfour and Miss Reid, 9—3. Semi-final: Mesdames Campbell and Penlington beat Mrs. Brown and Miss Martin, o—o.0 —0. MIXED CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES.

Second round: Miss Willis and Martin beat Miss Vile and Ward, 9 —5; Miss I’renderville and Cameron beat Mrs. Cameron and Boyds, 9—B; Mrs. Campbell and Donovan beat Miss N. .Martin and Webb, 9—2. Third round: Mrs. Brown and Hay beat Mrs. Maitland and Maitland, ■ 9—7; Miss Card and Lezard beat Miss McAllum and Roach, o—l, 6—4; Miss Willis and Martin beat Miss Prendeville and Cameron, fr—4; Mrs. Campbell and Donovan beat Miss Barry and Howden, 9—5; Mrs. Groves and Forbes beat Miss Reid and Swinburne, g (I Fourth round: Mrs. Penlington and Hollings beat Miss Willis and Martin, 9 4. France and Miss Brady beat Miss Card and Lezard, 9—3; Mrs. Groves and lorbcs beat Mrs. Brown and Hay, 9—2; Miss Martin and Webb beat Mrs. Campbell and Donovan, 9—B. LADIES’ HANDICAP SINGLES. Second round: Miss Fuller (35) beat Miss McAllum (10), 50—12; Miss V ebb (25) beat Miss Swainson (IS), 00—47; Miss Halliday (25) beat Miss Tullock (12), oil—--43; Miss Vile (10) beat Mrs. brown (10), 52—50; Miss Muriel Cameron (3) beat Miss Barry (15), 50—31; Miss Welch (3) beat Mrs. Balfour (12), 53—51. Third round: Miss Webb (2o) beat Miss Fuller (35), 50—44; Mrs. Groves (5) beat Miss Halliday (25), 50—46; Miss Muriel Cameron (3) beat Miss Mie (10), uO—H, Miss Welch (3) beat Miss Brady owe 10). Semi-finals: Miss Webb (2u) bea Mrs. Groves (5), 50 -43; Miss M eleh (3) beat Miss Muriel Cameron (3), 59—31. Final: Miss Welch (3) beat Miss Webb /o-n nA 42 MEN’S HANDICAP SINGLES.

Second round: Tucker (30) beat Cameron, GO—44; Forbes (3) beat Brown (25), 60— 49; Reid (15) beat Watt (5), 50—32; Howden (8) beat C. Cameron (35). 50—41; Candy (17) beat Penllngton (12), 50—49; Roach 35) beat Cliff-Hume C3O), Evans 18) beat G. McLeod (14). 50—45; Donovan (owe 10) beat Milson (35). 50 —46; Major (15) beat Webb (18) by default. Third round: Forbes (3) beat Tucker (30). 56—40; Howden (8) beat Reid (10), 50—28; Evans (35) beat Roach (18) by default; Miles (18) boat Page (20), 50-3.); Lczard (7) beat Tolhurst (10), 50—33; Malor beat Swinburne by default; Candy (Ip beat Matthews (20), 50—40: F. W. Martin (scr) beat Donovan (owe 10), by default. Fourth round: Major beat Miles by default; Evans (18) beat Candy (17), 5(4—43; Lczard (7) beat F. W. Martin (scr.), by default; Forbes (3) beat Howden (8), 50— 38 v Semi-final: Major (15) beat Lezard (7), by default; Forbes (3) beat M. Evans (18), 50 —44. Final: Forbes (3) beat Major (15), 60— 49.

LADIES ’HANDICAP DOUBLES. Second round: Misses Fuller and McKay (35) beat Mrs. Groves and Mrs. Maitland (3), 51—12; Misses Vile and A. Mcleod won by default: Misses Brady and ■Welch (owe 4) bent Misses D. McLeod and J. Swainson, 50—36. Third round: Mrs. Balfour and Mrs. Reid (15) beat Misses Vile and A. McLeod (15), 50 —42; Misses Card and Muriel Cameron (scr.), beat Misses Fuller and McKay (35). 50—10; Mrs. Campbell and Mrs. Penlington (owe 8) beat Misses McAllum and Mary Cameron, 50 —35. Semi-final: Misses Card and Muriel Cameron (ser.) beat Mrs. Balfour and Miss Reid 50—41; Misses Brady and Welch (owe 4) beat Mrs. Campbell and Penlington. MEN’S HANDICAP DOUBLES. First round: Howden and O’Hafa Smith (S) beat McLeod and Furkett (19), G 0—3.3. Second round:: Forbes and Lezard (5) beat Martin and Maitland (scr.). 50—43; Keedwell and Balfour (12) beat Guy and McLeod (16), 50—34; Howden and O'Hara Smith (8) beat Warren and Berry (5) by Third round: Evans and Miles (18) beat Watt and Reid (10), 50—37; Donovan and France (owe 20) beat Hay and Brown (15), 50—35; Evans and Miles heat Hornabrook and Barry, 50—16; Forbes and Lezard (5) beat Keedwell and Balfour (12). 50—43; Goodin and Candy beat Howden and O’Hara Smith by default: Matthews and Hodgkins beat Donovan and France by default. Semi-finals: Matthews and Hodgkins beat Evans and Miles by default: Forbes and Lezard (5) beat Goodin and Candy (15) 50—40. Final: Forbes and Lezard (5) _ beat Matthews and Hodgkins (18), 60—52. MIXED HANDICAP DOUBLES. Second round: Mrs. Penlington and Hollings (owe 5) beat Miss Muriel Cameron and Reid (6). 50—38: Shapcott and Goodin (17) beat Miss Carey and Matthews (28). bv default: Miss Ross and I’age (23) beat Miss Halliday and Bunny, 50—41; Miss M. Martin and Bull (3) beat Miss McAllum and'Roach (9), by default; Mrs. Brown and Brown (8) beat Mrs. Groves and Forbes (4). 6(1—54; Miss Welch and Rosser (9) beat Miss Mary Cameron and Ward: Miss Pemberton and Hay (16) beat Miss Webb and Sutherland (23), 50—41: Miss Card and Lezard (6) beat Miss Vile and Ward. 50 —27. Third round: Miss Barry and Howden (12) beat Mrs. Balfour and Keedwell (11). 50—46: Mrs. Shapcott and Goodin (17) beat Miss Ross and Page (23), 50—46; Miss Swainson and M. McLeod (17) beat Mrs. B’own and Brown (18). GO—sB: Miss Fuller and Tucker (35) beat Miss McKay and Davys (30) by default: Miss Card and Lezard (6) beat Miss Pemberton and Hay (16) 50—38: Miss Welch and Rosser (9) beat Miss Penlington and Hollings (owe 3). 50—48; Miss Martin and Bull beat Miss D. McLeod and J. McLeod by default ; Miss Reid and Swinburne (15) beat Miss Evans and Evans <l7). 50—30.

Fourth round: Miss Martin and Bull (3) beat Stlss Barry and Howden (12). 50—42: Miss Reid and Swinburne (15) beat Miss Fuller and Tucker (35). 50—38. Semi-finals:: Miss Reid and Swinburne (15) beat Mrs. Shefieott and Goodin (13), 50—45: Mrs. Shapcott and Goodin (17) boat Miss Swainson and M. McLeod (17). 50—40. SPIKED SHOES FOR PLAYERS SHOULD THEY BE ALLOWED? Dominion Special Service.

Auckland, December 30.

With the courts greasy and treacherous for the opening of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis championships, the old controversy has cropped up: “Should players be allowed to wear spiked shoes?” Mr. D. Murray Kean, secretary of the New Zealand Association, said there is a clause in the New Zealand rule book, which says players in wet weather may wear spikes, if permission is obtained from the tournament committee. Players at Stanley’ Street were allowed to use sprigh-like running shoes, but only Malfroy took the opportunity. At the present time, most of the [flayers are using nets over their shoes, but these rip the surface of the courts very badly, and even with this provision skids are frequent. Some of the competitors pulled big woollen socks over their shoes, but when these got damp they were by no means non-skid. Mr. Kean said he would far sooner see players using spikes, than nets. He maintains that spikes do less damage to the courts than cumbersome nets, which are made of string, and often badly knotted. He says that spikes slightly over a quarter of an inch in length would be excellent “There is no reason at all why players should not use spikes when the courts are in their present condition, but 1 would certainly not allow spikes in fine weather,” said Mr. Kean. CHRISTCHURCH CHRISTMAS TOURNEY. (By Telegraph.—Press Association.) Christchurch, December 29. In the men’s doubles (open) of the Christmas tennis tournament A. B. Loughnan and B. B. Loughnan beat \\ .8. Somerville and R. H. Tait, 11—13, 6—-4, 6 —2. In the ladies’ doubles Misses B. Gould and J. Gellett beat Misses N. Reed and G. M. Loney, G—l, G —o. Other finals will be played on Monday. Ayres’ Championship Stitchless Tennis Ball—the official ball of the Wellington Lawn Tennis Association —has been selected by eleven principal New Zealand associations for their championships tournaments this season.— Aclvt.

All of the World’s Tennis Champions and leading players consistently use Spalding Tennis Balls. Spalding Balls are British made. Stitcliless, plugless, and of precisely accurate weight and bounce. —Advt.

To smash, you need a strong, per-fectly-balanced racquet; follow the lead of thirty-six per cent, of last year’s Wimbledon entrants—use a Slazenger. Slazenger Balls, too, are preferred by the champions.—Advt.