LAWN TENNIS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 80, 28 December 1929, Page 13

LAWN TENNIS

AUCKLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS BARTLEET HARD PRESSED BY PICKMERE A. STEDMAN DEFEATED BY . MORRISON. Dominion Special Service. Auckland, December 27. The Auckland tennis championships commenced on Boxing Day in dull weather on courts that were in splendid order, although slow after a week s showery weather. Excellent entries have been received and include E. L. Bartleet and Miss Marjorie Macfarlane. Dominion and Auckland singles champions, who are defending their titles; Alan Stedman, the promising local colt who recently defeated Bartleet for the top rung ol tie Auckland ladder; Miss J. Ramsay, who last week pushed Miss Mnciiu’hine to 10—8, 4 —(l, 3 —G, in a similar contest; Morrison, N. G. Sturt. Charters, Griffiths, Miss B. Knight, fit and well again lifter a year's spell, and Mrs. IV. J. Melody (Kelburn). who, with Mrs. Arneil (Whnngarei), holds the doubles championship. Heavy rain caused the abandonment of play at 4 p.m. on the first day. and when the second day's play commenced at 10.30 a.in. in showery weather the courts were very greasy, nlaking the use of socks, nets. etc., a necessity. Bartleet Hard Pressed. Bartleet, whose form is not impressive, was hard pressed to defeat Pickinere, (he North Auckland veteran, 6—2, 6—2, 4—6 ; 6—4, after the loser, a wonderful close-up volleyer. had a good lead of 4 —2 in the fourth set. Sturt, showing some of his old form, easily defeated the persistent Entwistle (•—q, G —3, 6 —2 to enter the quarterfinal. Morrison Defeats Stedman. Morrison, the Eden arid Epsoin champion. whose awkward style belies _ his sterling play, sensationally Stedman ill straight sets, 7 —5, 9—7, 6—l, after a match that was brimful of excitement all the. way. The colt, whose backhand has improved wonderfully, attacked hard from the outset, persistently aiming at the sidelines, but the tricky wind tfnd insecure foothold caused many of his cannoli-ball deliveries to go astray, and the lengthy Morrison, whose retrieving powers are abnormal, kept returning everything down centre court just behind the service line until he wore the colt out. Morrison next meets Sturt in the quarter-final. Griffiths Goes Under. Charters, the North Auckland colt and an ex-Wellington primary schools’ champion, played brilliantly to enter the quar-ter-final after defeating the vbteran Griffiths 5—7, 6—3, 6 —l, 6—4 in a hardfought match. The Ladies’ Singles. ■ In the ladies’ singles the quarter-final-ists arc Mrs. Melody, who defeated Mrs. Napier 6—3, 6—l, and Miss Newton 6—2, 6—2; Miss Ramsay, who defeated Mrs. Arneil 6—o, 6—2, Miss Whitelaw G—o, 6 —2, and Miss Potter 6—l, 6—3 ; Miss (Marjorie Maefarlanc, who defeated Miss M. Miller 6—2, 6—4, and Miss Ruth Taylor (national junior champion) 6—3, 6—o; and Miss Beryl Knight, who should meet Miss Marjorie Macfarlane in the quarter-final to-day. In the ladies’ doubles Mesdames Arneil and Melody meet MiSs Rainsay and Mrs. Napier in the quarter-final top half, whilst the conquerors of the Macfarlane sisters, Misses Knight und Whitelaw, meet the Miller sisters in tho lower half. In the men’s doubles Johns and Morrison. Chisholm and Entwistle, Griffiths and T. Clark, and Bartleet and Watkins should reach the quarter-finals, though North and Nicholson might upset things. The mixed doubles commence to-mor-row, and the holders. Morrison and Miss Ramsay, shoult be fully extended by Stedman and Mrs. Melody.

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