LAWN TENNIS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 80, 28 December 1935, Page 12

LAWN TENNIS

Coombe and D. G. France In Final WELLINGTON TOURNEY Miss Nicholls and Miss Miller Come Through The perfect conditions yesterday enabled good progress to be made in all the events of the Wellington lawn tennis ehtfnipionships and handicaps tournament, and to-day should see their completion. In one semi-final of the mens singles, D. G. France began shakily against E. A. Roussell, winning only one game in the first set and being down 2-4 in the second. Up to this point he was trying to stroke carefully from the backline and not succeeding. It was a type of game that Roussell was very much at home with, and had France persisted with it Roussell would have won in straight sets. But France did not persist with it. He did what every real champion does—he changed a losing game. Instead of trying to hit the ball early with a lifting drive that was all too often finding the net, he took the ball a little later and .stroked straight through, the ball finding its way to the corners with great accuracy, even if without much pace. France followed behind these drives to the net and usually killed Roussell’s lobs or beautifully angled on the volley Roussell's attempts to pass him. It was a France that has not been seen this season. Roussell tried every device he could, but always as long as France kept his length and took the net, he was master of the court. He anticipated Roussell's every move and tricked him into playing for openings that had been left deliberately. After the first ten games or so Roussell was definitely on the defensive. A Battle of Tactics. The other semi-final, between D. Coombe and R. McL. Ferkins, lasted for three hours and ten minutes, Coombe winning in live sets. Spectators,. while they were treated to very little in the way of spectacular tennis, were fortunate in witnessing a great battle of tactics in which Coombe’s strong defence and steadiness won the day, when in actual fact it might have been anybody's game. Coombe’s tactics were to slow up the game and entice Ferkins into forcing the play and by placing to the sidelines to keep Ferkins moving. Thus the rallies were long. Coombe’s tactics were effective to the point that they wore Ferkins down so that in the fifth set Coombe appeared to be the stronger. In the last two sets Ivoth players had their iieriods of going to the net. Many times Coombe was passed, but many times also he got his racket to the ball and cut off Perkins's drive with a stop volley or a volley straight down the nearest line. Both players made considerable use of the lob, and' both niade numerous remarkable recoveries. In moments of crisis Coombe made brilliant passing shots, but in the main he was satisfied to maintain the rally, concentrating on Perkins’s backhand. Also his service was more effective than Perkins’s, particularly in the allimportant fifth set. He scored several aces with it. His angled slow, backhand shot frequently caught Ferkins if he failed to get in close enough to the net. As Ferkins was playing there is no doubt that had Coombe tried to play fast tennis Ferkins would have won. A Promising Junior. Miss .1. Douthett, the Hint Valley junior, who on Thursday had so sensationally defeated Mis Mavis Howe, was by no means disgraced in her match with Miss D. Nicholls. She did not drive so confidently or so successfully against Miss Nicholls as she had done against Miss Howe, or against Miss M. Macassey, but she sent over numerous drives that would have troubled less outstanding players than Miss Nicholls. She played very much better than her three games against Miss Nicholls indicates. She handled many of Miss Nicholls's fast, deep and low’drives, or her chops, well. Miss Nicholls had charge of the court for by far the greatest part of the game, seldom allowing Miss Douthett to get properly set for her drives. But Miss Douthett fought strongly and ran fast for anything she had a reasonable chance of getting Many of her drives, both backhand and forehand, forced Miss Nicholls into errors by the sheer merit of the stroke itself. She did not introduce much defence into her game, realising that she would be able to make no impression on Miss Nicholls by that type of game. There were several deuce games. The match was fought almost entirely from the baseline. A Stubborn Struggle. As expected, the match in the other semi-final between Mrs. N. Dickson and Miss D. Miller (North Otago), proved to be a long-drawn-out and stubbornly-con-tested game. It was essentially a game of steadiness, careful placing, much running. and long rallies. Mrs. Dickson has justly earned a reputation for steadiness, but she was outsteadied by Miss Miller, whose court position behind the middle of the baseline was perfect. If drawn from there she got back again the moment she had played her shot. She refused to let any point go without a fight. That applied to Mrs. Dickson also. But not only did Mrs. Dickson have to run further, she was not quite so fast as Miss .Miller in covering the court. Mrs. Dickson’s cut drive did not have quite sufficient pace for (lie ball to shoot, as it usually docs, and Miss Miller handled it confidently, and kept n deeper length on the whole than Mrs, Dickson. Miss Miller won points with a hard drive to Mrs. Dickson’s forehand corner. Both players, too, concentrated on the other's backhand for several consecutive strokes in the one rally. Many of the games were deuce ones, and Mrs. Dickson many times held the advantage, often missing the sidelines for what might have been winners, by inches.’ It was clear that the only chance of beating Miss Miller was by sending over a drive witli the puce and the placement that would make it impossible for her to reach the ball. That was something Mrs. Dickson found herself unable to do. , Men's Doubles. Two things contributed to the defeat of D. Coombe and J. Charters by D. G. France and N. Smith in one semi-finals doubles. First, Coombe and Charters did not combine at all well, Charters being inclined to try and take too much on his own shoulders, often to take a ball he ought to have left to Coombe. Second, the steady way that Smith stood up to an incessant bombardment and kept on putting the ball back with excellent lobs, to make the opening for France to make the kill or win by an angled volley. Smith was also steady with his low volleys. Coombe and Charters had made up their minds to avoid France and concentrate on Smith. France on his part, deliberately left yards of court open for the opposition to attack. But always they refused. Charters served better than Coombe did, but both were uncertain with their overhead. Smith had no overhead at all, in the sense that one understands an overhead in first-class tennis. But he knows that full well, and so was content to play the ball carefully buck. Charters missed many drives down the side-lines by inches only, but the lack of combination gave France opportunities to smash at their feet or between them. France made numerous mistakes, because, in view of Smith's limitations, it would have been foolish for him to defend. He had to try for the point whenever he was able to get his racket ou the ball. _ Thus spectators got glimpses of France in his best form, even if they marvelled at some of his mistakes. E. Pearce’s Great Game. G. A. and E. A. Pearce beat Roussell and Ferkins in the other semi-final because, in the last three sets, E. Pearce played one of the finest games of his

career. G. A. Pearce with his severe first service could always be relied upon to be steady, but E. A. Pearce is inclined to be uneven. He started seratchily, netting the drives, volleys, and smashes that were flowing from the rackets of both Roussell aud Ferkins. But as the match advanced E. A. Pearce got better until in the final set he was going great guns, doing much execution in volleying, smashing, aud serving. Also his return of service was sound. He was well -backed up by the serving, volleying, and smashing of G. A Pearce The pair crowded in ou the net aud Ferkins and Roussell were unable to drive tbcin back lor long. Also the Pearces lobbed well when the occasion demanded. Neither Ferkins nor Roussell got going in his best form, being inconsistent in .volleying and smashing, and often short in lobbing. The winners played with better combination and were 100 to \liss D. Nicholls and Mrs. Dickson were too strong in all departments for Mrs. Latham and Miss M. Macassey, missing very little and finding many openings in their opponents’ court. There were good rallies at times, but at no stage were the winners pressed. Mrs. Melody and Mrs. D. G. I lanu. started very well against Miss Miller and Miss M 'Howe, but the steadiness ami placements of Miss Miller, ami the driving and volleying of Miss Howe uici powered them. Miss Miller from the backline made the openings tor Miss Howl to make the winners, placing the ball bo tween Mrs. Melody and Mrs. I'rance frequently. But Mrs. Melody and Mrs. France played with great determination. Mixed Doubles. E. A. Roussell aud Mrs. R. I’. Adams had a very close call against A. D. Latham and Mrs. Latham m the mixed doubles, actually having match poiut against them in the third set. Mrs. Latham and Latham played with fine understanding, but their lobs were not always deep enough at the critical stages. Both drove well and frequently tricked the opposition. Mrs. Adams was remarkably safe at the backline, and while she made a number of winning smashes she also put many into the net or over the backline which ought to have been winners. Roussell played steadily aud succeeded in smashing at Latham s feet when Latham was standing at half court. Latham dug some of these up brilliantly, but he ought not to have been in the position necessitating such m stroke. Mrs. Latham was strong in her driving, but was often caught with lobs just beyond the SC A. iC L.'France and Mrs. Dickson had to fight into the dark to beat G. A. Pearce and Miss D. Miller narrowly after the opposition had a match point in the third set France showed that his old-time cunning and skill have not entirely deserted him, as he played his cut drives, volleyed, smashed, served with placement, or played bis dropshots. Mrs. Dickson gave him strong support, handling Pearces fast service confidently, and volleying and lobbing well. Had Pearce been as consistent. in taking advantage of the openings‘made for him by the remarkable steadiness of Miss Miller, who did not miss very much, he and she would probably have won. But. he missed on critical smashes and volleys. But it was a close game with all four playing good tennis. Results are as follow: —■ A Grade Championships MEN'S SINGLES. Semi-finals: D. G. France beat E. A. Roussell, 1-0. 6-1. 0-4, 7-5; D. Coombe beat R. McL. Ferkins, 5-7, 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, S O. MEN’S DOUBLES. Semi-finals: D. G. France and N. Smith beat D. Coombe and J. Charters, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4. 6-2; G. A. and E. A. Pearce beat R. McL. Forking and E. A. Roussell, 2-0, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4. WOMEN'S SINGLES. Semi-finals: Miss D. Nicholls beat Miss J. Douthett. 6-2, 6-1; Miss D. Miller beat Mrs. N. Dickson, 6-3, 6-4. WOMEN'S DOUBLES. First round: Mrs. A. D. Latham and Miss M. Macassey beat Misses S. M. Dale and J. Douthett, 6-1. 6-2. Semi-finals: Miss D. Nicholls and Mrs. N. Dickson beat Mrs. A. D. Latham and Miss JI. Maeassey, 6-2, 6-1; Misses D. Miller and M. Howe bent Mesdames D. G. France and W. J. Melody, 6-4, 6-0. MIXED DOUBLES. Second round: D. Coombe and Miss D. Nicholls beat K. W. Dyer and Miss Macassey 6-2 6-0' E. A. Roussell and Mrs. R. P Adams beat A. D. Latham and Mrs. Latham, 6-4,’ 3-6, 8-6; D. G. France and Mrs D. G France beat L. O. Evans and Miss M. Whisker. 6-3, 6-2: B. McCarthy and Miss J. Douthett beat Barry and Miss R. Barry, 6-4, 6-0. Third round: B. McCarthy and Miss J. Douthett won from D. G. France and Mrs. D G France, a walk-over; D. Coombe and Miss D. Nicholls beat Ferkins and Miss Small, 6-2. 6-1; A. L. France and Mrs. N. Dickson beat G. A. Pearce nnd Miss D. Miller, 5-7, 6-3, 7-a. B Grade Championships MEN’S SINGLES. Second round: A. Lower beat B. II- Winchester. 6-3, 6-1; K. A. Longmore beat J. S Withers, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4; J. Vaughan beat C. Langdon, 6-3, 6-4; L. O. Evans beat D. IL Dyer, 6-2. 6-4; U. P. Calcinai beat H. W. Curtis, 6-3, 3-6, 9-7; A. N. Tosswill beat H. Sissons, 6-0, 6-3. Third round: Lawer beat Longmore, 6-1, 5- 6-2; Jarman beat Wilson, 5-6, 6-1, 6-2. MEN’S DOUBLES. Second round: Vaughan and Winchester beat EUas and Dickson, 6-0, 6-3; Jarman and Toswill beat Slvyer aud Plank, 5-6, 6- 6-0. , _ Senii-flnals: Evans and Kidyard beat Vaughan and Winchester. 4-6, 6-5, 6-3; Jarnmn and Tosswill beat Lawer and Lawton, 6-3, 6-4. WOMEN’S SINGLES. Second round: Miss Z. Castle beat Miss E. McLean. 6-2. 3-6, 7-5. Semi-final: Miss Z. Castle beat Miss JI. Akel. 6-5, 5-6, 6-4. WOMEN'S DOUBLES. Semi-final: Misses Jack and Mac Lean beat Misses Berry and Bedford, 6-3, 6-1. MIXED DOUBLES. Second round: Langdon and Miss L. Akel beat Wogan and Miss Gerard, 5-6, 6-2, 6-1; Curtis and Mrs. Curl is, beat Withers and Miss Edwards. 6-3. 6-3; Boniface and Miss Barry beat Sandford and Miss Edwards, 2- 6-0, 6-3; Plank and Miss Mac Lean beat Slvyer and Miss Jack, 6-0, 6-2. JUNIOR BOYS’ SINGLES. Semi-finals: F. 11. Renouf beat K. A. Longmore, 9-7; S. Painter beat E. Boniface, 9-3. JUNIOR GIRLS' SINGLES. Semi-finals: Miss S. JI. Dale beat Miss Jack, 9-4; Miss J. Douthett beat Miss Forrester, 9-5. Handicap Events MEN'S SINGLES, Second round: T. N. Gordon (4-6) beat 11. G. B. Newton (owe 2-6), 6-1, 6-1; A. N. Tosswill (owe 3-6) beat C. Langdon (2-6), 6-4, 6-2; A. Wilson (15) beat W. E. Jarman (owe 3-6), 6-0, by default. Third round: T. N. Gordon (4-6) beat A. N. Tosswill (owe 3-6), 6-4, Tosswill retired; Wiggins beat Brower by default; IT. S. Gordon (15) beat L. O. Evans (owe 3- 6-4, 1-6, 6-5. Semi-final: D. Wiggins (ser.) beat T. N. Gordon (4-6). 6-4, 6-3, MEN'S DOUBLES. Third round: Calcinai and Langdon (owe 2- beat Boniface and Painter (owe 5-6), 6-5. 6-2; Robb and Wilson (15) beat Cachemaille and Fernandez. (2-6>. 6-2, 6-3; Evans and Ridyard (scr.) beat Gordon and Gordon (4-6). 6-5, 6-4: Jarman and Tosswill (owe 15) beat Plank nnd Slvyer (owe 3-6). 6-2. 6-3. Semi-final: Robb and Wilson beat Calcinai and Langdon. 6-4, 6-3. WOMEN’S SINGLES. Second round: Miss D. llaslen (owe 15, 3- beat Miss Z. Castle (owe 15). 6-2, 6-1; Miss McWhlnne • beat Miss JI. Warsaw by default. Semi-final: Jlrs. Curtis (15) beat Miss JlcWhinney (15), 5-6, 6-3, 6-5. WOMEN’S DOUBLES. First round: Misses L. and JI. Akel (owe 15) beat Mrs. C. H. Dunn aud Miss JI. Cootes (owe 1-6), 9-5. Semi-final: Misses Akel beat Misses M. and Z. Castle. 9-4. MIXED DOUBLES. First round: Newton and Miss Jlasleu (owe 2-6) beat Dunn and Mrs. Dunn (1-6). 9-S. Second round: Robb and Miss. Patrick (owe 4-6) beat Boniface and Miss Berry (owe 15), SI-0; Fernandez and Misb Phillips (3-6) beat Polntou and Miss Longmore (owe 15. 2-6), 9-8; Langdon and Miss L. Akel (scr.) beat Tonks and Miss For-

rester (owe 2-6), 9-5; Livingstone and Miss . Dale (owe 30) beat Wogan and Miss Gerard (scr.), 9-4. , Third round: Robb and Miss latriek (owe 4-6) boat Manoy nnd Miss Jack (owe 2-6), 9-3; Livingstone and Miss Dale (owe 30) beat Plank and Miss Mac Lean (owe 4-6), 9-5. TO-DAY’S DRAW 10 a.m.—Combined Championship Doubles: Roussell and Mrs. Adams v. Charters and Jliss Howe. 10.30 a.ni.—A. L. France and Mrs. N. Dickson v. D. C. Coombe and Miss D. Nicholls. J2. McCarthy and Doiilliett v. winner of Roussell and Mrs. Adams v. Charters and Miss Howe. 1 p.m.—Final Men's Singles Championship- D G. J'rance v. D. C. Coombe. Filial Women's Singles Championship: Miss D. Nicholls v. Miss 11. Miller. ;l p.m.— Final Girls' Singles: Miss S. M. Dale v Miss J. Douthett. Final Boys Singles: S. Painter v. H- F. Renouf. .'1.45 p.m.—Final Men's Cliampionslnii Doubles: D. G. France anil N. Smith v. (I. \ Pearce and E. A. Pearce. Final Women's Championship Doubles: Miss D. Nicholls and Mrs. N. Dickson v. Miss D. Miller and Miss JI. Howe. 5 p.m.—Final Mixed Chauipionslup Doubles. NORTH ISLAND TITLES Semi-final Stage Reached Du min ion Special Service. Wanganui, December 27. The cluse of the third day's play in the .North Island tennis championships being held at Wanganui, advanced all the championship sections to the semi-final stage. The tournament will conclude to-morrow. The finalists in the men's championship singles will be the winner of the N. G. Sturt and L. W. Udy match, and N. Bedford. The Beverley sisters appear in the women’s final. The Dickie brothers, from Waverley, defeated Stur.t and Lampe, to meet the wißiier of 11. Cox aud Udy and the Robertson brothers in the final of the men's championship doubles, while the women’s doubles final is between Misses Beverley and -Mrs. U. Smith and Miss T. Greaves. The combined doubles championship rests between Sturt and Miss N. Beverley aud Bedford and Miss Ramsay. Glorious tennis weather again prevailed for the continuation of the tournament. In several matches high-class play was reached. The surprise defeat of the tournament was the downfall of Sturt and Lampe. Compared -with outside lorm the Wanganui women showed a noticeable lack of initiative in their play, which was mostly of the stereotyped detensive variety. This made the matches dull and slow until the semi-finals were reached of the women’s championship singles, A better standard of tournament play was shown in the match between Miss M. Beverley and Miss J. IL Ramsay, which was the best game of the Aiy. Miss Beverley showed remarkable ability in retrieving apparently hopeless positions with counteracting winning placements. Miss T. Greaves, ranking fifth in Wanganui, failed to impress against Miss A. Beverley, whose superior knowledge ot stroking court craft won her a comparatively easy game. Miss Greaves made her strokes too late, allowing , her opponent ample time to regain position. The game which was followed closeiy was that between N. Bedford, Wellington, and D. I. Robertson, Palmerston North. Bedford, who appears not to have struck form yet, was fully, extended. Both played a good length and used the sidelines throughout, Robertson’s placements in particular keeping. Bedford quiet. .Long rallies were frequent, but the Wellington player too often poked his returns into the net. Bedford took the first set comfortably, but slumped in the second, being outplayed iu short exchanges, and holding the lead 4-1. In the third set Robertson seemed certain to win. Bedford. however, found holes in the opposition's play, taking the next, four games, three of which reached deuce. Scores were level at G-all and 7-all, Bedford dropping two points only to win 9-7. Lengthy rallies made the Udy-btrom-bom game a long.one, the former being more steady, picking shotf? off which to score winners. Sturt comfortably bent Lampe in two sets, Sturt playing forceful drives with apparent ease. The men's championship doubles provided a sparkling match between Sturt and Lampe and the Dickie brothers, who beat the more experienced pair in an often brilliant exhibition, the result of which was not expected. All four players started off rather erratically, Sturt and Lampe held a 4-2 lead in the iii'st set, and ran out the winners 6-3. Crisp volleying, in which E. Dickie, a left-handed pin ver, was conspicuous, gave the boys a 3-2'lead after being love-two in the second set. Sturt and Lampe were not bustling themselves to draw level at 4-all. Mainly through decisive net shots and easy tosses being smashed outside the Dickies took the second set. off Sturt’s service, 6-1. The final set was the brightest of the day, each game except the third, which the Dickies won to love, giving fullest expression to quick decision and angled volleys and clipping cross-court drives, but somewhat paradoxically very weak smashing on Sturt’s part. ' Sturt and Lumpe led at 5-3, when spectacular play by the Dickies which left the opponents in .shade won them the next four games in succession. Sturt and Lampe held a match point when A. Dickie put up a sittc’.'. Both rushed it, collided, and lost the point, the ball dribbling into the, net Again holding the deciding point Sturt mulled a weak return from E. Dickie and from then on the older pair seemed co scratch for every poiut. Results were: — MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES. Third round: L. W. Udy heat A. Dickie, 6-3, 6-1; C. H. Strombom beat W. R. Hooper, 6-1, 6-1; N. Bedford beat G. Carver, 6-4, 6-3; E. Dickie beat N. B. Barkman, 6-4, 6-2. Fourth round: Sturt bent Lampe, b-0, 6-2; D. I. Robertson beat K. E. Cavaye. 6-2. 6-0: Udy beat Strombom, 6-1, 6-3; Bedford beat Dickie, 6-2, 6-1. Semi-finals: Bedford beat D. I. Robertson, 6-3, 3-6, 9-7. WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES Semi-finals: Miss IM. Beverley beat Miss .T. E. Ramsay, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3; Miss N. Beverley beat Miss T. Greaves, 6-3, 6-1. MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES. Third round: Robertson Brothers bent Strombom and Bennett, 6-0, 6-4; Sturt and Lampe beat Livingston and Jenkinson, 6-2, 6-2; Diekie Brothers beat McCarthy Brothers, 6-1. 6-4. Sem'i-flnal: Dickie Brothers beat Sturt and Lampe, 3-6, 6-4, 7-5. WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES. Semi-final: Mrs. C. Smith, and Miss T. Greaves beat Misses B. Griffiths and P. Wylds, 6-3, 6-0. COMBI NED CH AM PION SHI P DOUBLES. Second round; Hay-Campbell and Miss Mary Purcell heal Smaller and Mrs. Evans, 6-4, 6-4 ; Udy and Mrs. Smith bent Wylds and Miss Dickie, 6-4, 6-0; D. I. Robertson and Miss Cox beat Wright aud Mrs. Wright, 6-3, 6-1. Third round : Sturt aud Miss N. Beverley beat Strombom aud Miss Wylds, 6-2, 6-2; Cox aud Miss Greaves beat A. Hooper and Miss M. Beverley, 6-2, 9-7; Bedford and Miss Ramsay heal Robertson aud Miss Cox, 6-1, 2-6, 6-1. Semi-finals: Sturt and Miss N. Beverley beat Cox and Miss Greaves, 6-1, 12-10 ; Bedford and Miss Ramsay beat Robertson and Miss Cox, 6-4, 2-6. 6-1. WATSON SHIELD MATCH Wellington Team Defeats Auckland The annual contest for the Watson Challenge Shield, played for by the Catholic Tennis Associations of Auckland and Wellington, was held under ideal playing conditions at St. Joseph's courts, Wellington, on Boxing Day. The Auckland Catholic Association were the holders of the trophy, but this year Wellington

regained the shield by a decisive win of 21 sets to one. The Wellington players ou Ibe whole were too strong both in the singles and doubles matches. The play generally was of a high standard, and though Auckland were successful in securing only one set, some of the games, in the mixed doubles especially, were closely contested. During their stay in Wellington the Auckland touring team are the guests of the Wellington Catholic Lawn Tennis Association, and a dinner in their honour is being held this evening. Results are as follow (Wellington players first.) : — Men's Singles.—R. Boyes beat J. Reardon, 7-5, 6-2: G. Jones beat K. Brennan, 6-2, 6-0; J. Hatcliard beat J. Molloy, 6-1, 6-4: .1. Crimmin beat A. Hoy, 6-4, G-2; I’. Gould bent A. Wilson, G-l, 6-2; B. Leydon beat G. Mueller, 7-5, 6-3. Women's Singles.—Miss JI. Duggan beat Miss A. Fox. 6-1. 6-1: Miss E. Griffin beat Miss It. JleGee. 6-0. 6-1: Miss M. Kershaw boat .Miss J. Howard. 6-3, 6-3; Miss V. Boss beat Miss W. Toye, 6-1. 6-3; Miss JI. O'Connor boat Jllss K. Collins. 6-1. 6-0: Miss G. JleDavitt won by default. Meii's Doubles.—Jones and Leydon beat Molloy anil Reardon. 6-1, 6-1; HatclFard anil Crimmin beat Brennan and Hoy, 6-1, 6-2; Boyes and Gould beat Wilson aud Mueller, 6-0, 6-4. Women's Doubles. —Misses Duggan am. Kershaw beat Misses Fox and McGee. 6-3, 8-6; Misses Griffin and Ross beat Misses Howard and Toye, 6-2. 6-1; Misses MeDavitt and O'Connor beat Jlisses Collins and O'Hagan, 6-2. 7-5. Jtixed Doubles.—Jones anil Jltss Griffin beat Brennan and Jllss Fox, 10-8, 6-1; Boves and Miss Ross beat Reardon and .Miss McGee, 6-1. 6-1; Hatcliard and Jllss Kershaw beat -Molloy and Jllss Toye, 6-1, (5--J; Leydon and Jllss Duggan beat. Hoy and Miss Howard. 6-2. 6-3; Crimmin and Miss McDavitt beat. Wilsou and Miss Collins. 6-2 6-4: Gould and Jliss O’Connor beat Mueller and Miss O’Hagan, 6-2, 5-7. 6-3. MARTINBOROUGH GAMES Yesterday’s Championship Play Dominion Special Service. Mastcrton, December 27. Ideal weather prevailed for the opening of the Martinborough Lawn Tennis Club's annual championship and handicap tournament, which was continued roxday. The entries totalled about 580, being some 50 more than last' year. The club's eight courts are in splendid condition and playing very well, and excellent progress was made with the matches in the various sections'. Among the competitors are players from Palmerston North, Pahiatua, Hutt Valley, Wellington and all parts of the Wairarapa, and many excellent, games have been witnessed. Such good progress has been made in many of the sections that the quarter-finals wore reached at the conclusion of to-day's play, but no games* of major importance have yet been decided. One of the best, if not the best, men's championship single of the day was the game between 8. G. Wyatt (Mastcrton) and T. Evans (Martinborough), played right at the end of to-day’s programme. Wyatt was unable to find his length in the first set, which Evans found little difficulty in taking 6-1. Evans kept up a stream of steady well-played drives which had his opponent worried, and at the same time kept Wyatt, away from the net. Once into the net Wyatt was master of the match, but Evans did remarkably well in keeping him at lhe backline. Wyatt improved in the second set and his greater accuracy in placing the ball allowed him to fake it 6-1. The last set way keenly fought every inch of the way. but both players were rather tired and the final games lacked the vim of the first two seis. Keeping up beautiful length, both with forehand and backhand drives, aud at the same time running into the net and giving an excellent display of well-placed volleying. Wyatt gained the upper hand to carry the set 6-1. but in reality the players were much more evenly matched than the score indicates. Following are the‘results of championship matches: — MEN'jS SINGLES. First round: JI. Hobson beat W. A. Cumming, 5-7, 6-2. 6-4; P. Hawkswortli beat R.. Pearce, 6-1, 6-0; W. Collins beat French, 8-6, 3-6, 7-5; Dr. H. JI. O'Connor beat L. Trotman, 6-4, 6-4; E. Bidwill beat A. Riddiford, 6-2, 6-3; G. Sievers beat Dr. Webb, 6-2, 6-3; JI. J. McLeod beat PMartin, 6-3, 6-2; 0. Grant beat 11. Rankin, 6-2, 6-3; J. JlcKelvle beat K. McLeod, 6-2, 6- Evans beat Hogg. 6-4. 6-3: Fisher* beat Lawrence, 4-6, 6-0, 6-2; Harding beat Kershaw, 6-2. 4-6. 8-6; Payton beat Gair, 7- 1-6, 6-3; S. G, Wyatt beat A. JI. Sanson, 6-1, 6-2. Second round Gosnell beat C. Ward. 6-2. 6-0;. H. V. Howe beat Crawford. 643. 4-6. 6-3; V. Bull beat J. W. Tate, 6-0, 6-3: N. V. Edwards beat. N. Adcock. 6-3, 6-2; G. McLeod beat C. Smith. 6-1, 6-3; Hawks worth beat O'Connor, 6-0, 6-2; D. Ward beat Grant. S-G, 61; JI. McLeod beat Sievers, 3-6, 6-2, 6-4: Richards beat McKelvio, 6-0, 6-3; Simpson beat Purvis, by default; Keedwell beat Webster. 6-3, 6-3; Watt beat Payton, 7-5, 10-S; Todd beat W. Collins, 6-3, 6-2; Hobson beat Cumming, 6-1, 6-1; W.vatt beat Evans, 1-6, 6-1. 6-1. Quarter finals: Simpson beat Bull, 6-3, G-l; Edwards beat Todd, 6-0, 6-0. LADIES’ SINGLES. First round: Miss P. Howat beat Jliss S. Sievers, 1-6, 6-2, 6-3; Jliss F, Collier beat Miss R. Riddiford, 6-0, 0-1; Jllss D. Jloncrieff beat Jliss Page, 6-0, 6-0; Jliss D. Haggitt beat Jliss N. Bouzaid. 6-4, 6-3; Miss JI. Young beat Miss J. Beale, 6-4, 6-3; Jliss J. Betts beat Jliss B. Sutherland. 6-1, 6-2; Miss Graham beat Miss P. Riddiford, 6-0, 6-0; Jliss N, Balfour beat Jliss B. Kebbell. 6-3, 6-1; Jliss .G. Millar beat Jliss D. Bolton, 6-1, 6-1; Jliss J. Daniell beat Jllss P. Sutherland, 6-4, 6-1; Jliss Ward beat Jliss E. Prior, 6-0, 6-2; Jliss Alison Pragnell bent Miss J. Sutherland. 6-1, 6-1; Miss I. Shell beat Jliss B. Baird, 6-1, 6-1; Miss I. Wakcley beat Jliss B. McLeod, 6-.1. 6-1; Jliss JI. Pearce beat Jlrs. Cotterci. 5-7, 6-4, 6-2. Second round: Jliss Haggitt beat Jliss D. Jloncrieff, 3-6, (1-4, 6-0; Jliss Pragnell beat Jliss Collier, 6-1, 6-1; Jliss Shell beat .Miss J. Daniell, 6-3, 6-2. .MEN'S DOUBLES. First Round.—Gosnell and Wheeler beat Webb aud .McKelvie. 6 0, 6-3; A. R. Todd and Crawford beat Bull aud Dawson, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2; C. Ward and Rankin beat Jlauusell and Tate, 6-3, 6-0; Cumming and J. Fisher beat P. Beale and R. .McLeod, 6-0, 6-2; Hobson and Webster beat J. Payton aud G. Sievers, 6-2, 6-2; G. Grant and Gair beat JI. JleLeod aud P. Ward, 6-3, 6-3; O’Connor and Trotman beat Cottcrel and W. Jlartin, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1; C. Walt and W. Hogg beat E. Bidwill and C. Smith, 6-0, 0-3; F. Harding aud Lawrence beat Kershaw and Wall, 6-1, 6-3. Second Round. —Howe and Richards beat D. Pearce and J. Bidwill, 6-0, 6-2; Keedwell and Evans beat Riddiford and Riddiford, 6-1, 6-0; Hobson and Webster beat C. Ward and Rankin, 7-5 6-2; D. Ward and Edwards beat Harding and Lawrence, .6-0, 6-1; Hawkswortli and Wyatt beat Grant and M. Gair, G-l, 6-1; Gosnell and Wheeler beat Watt and Hogg, 6-2, 6-3; Cumming and Fisher beat Todd and Crawford, 6-2, 6-3; Simpson and McLeod beat O’Connor mid Trounan, 6-3, 6-1. LADIES' DOUBLES. First Round.—. Misses P. Sutherland and J. Sievers beat Jlisses ,T. mid E. Matthews. G-l, 6-2; Misses L. Collins and JI. Ward beat Jlisses .1. and B. Sutherland, 6-1, 6-2; Misses Carrick and B. Major beat Jlisses W. Martin and A. Webb, 6-2, 6-1; Misses G. Miller and A, Pragnell beat Misses M. Bouzaid and N. Balfour, 6-3, 6-4; Jlisses Moiicrleff mid B. Roydbouse beat. Misses D. Bolton and B. Sutherland, 6 : 1. 6-4. Second Round.—Misses Shell aud 1. Wakeley beat Jlisses Collier and Pain, 6-2, 6-0; Jlisses Mary Evans mid J. Beale beat Misses B. McLeod and W. McKay, 6-1, 6-1; Misses D. Haggitt and N. Graham beat Jlrs, J. Dawson and Jliss M. Young, 6-1, 6-2; .Misses M. Pearce ami B. Baird beat Misses ,1. and B. Sutherland, G-2 6-2- Jlisses I. Slieil and I. Wakeley beat .Misses F. Collier aud .M. Pain, 6-2. 6-0; Jlisses Carrick mid B. Major beat Jlisses J. Daniell and R. Nolan, 7-5, 1-6, 6-2; Jlisses Monerieff and Roydliousc beat Jlisses Collins and Ward, 6-4, 6-1. Quarter-finals.—Misses Wakeley and Slieil beat Jlisses .Mary Evans and Beale, 6-0, 6-3; Jlisses Graham and Haggitt beat Carrick and Major, 6-2, 6-3. COMBINED DOUBLES. First Round.—Miss J. Betts and Rankin beat Miss N. Jlartin and O. Jlartin, G-2, 6-0; Miss Graham and Keedwell beat Jliss J. Daniell and Hogg. 6-2, G-2; Miss Young and Bull beat Jliss E, Matthews and Smith. 6-4, 6-2; Jliss Bolton and Howe beat Miss P. Riddiford mid A. Riddiford. 6-0, 2-6. 6-O. Second Round.—Miss Shell and Edwards beat Miss Wakely mid G. JleLeod, G-2. 6-1: .Miss Haggitt and Gosnell beat Jliss Page mid Crawford, G-2, 6-O; Jliss Graliaui and Keedwell beat Miss Pain and Simpson. 6-1, 6-O; Miss P. Betts aud Seivers beat Jliss A. Webb and Webb, G-2, 6-2.

EXHIBITION GAMES McGrath and Moon at Dunedin By Telegraph—Press Association. Dunedin, December 26. High-class tennis was provided at the Logan Park courts this afternoon, when the visiting Australian players. V. McGrath and E. F. Moon, were playing against K. Bryan. E. G. Buddy. J. Rawlinson (Otago), and R. W. McCallum (Southland). The best exhibition of the day was the singles match, of the best of .17 games between the two visitors, who gave a delightful display of accurate and easy stroking. McGrath, with his famous double-handed backhand much in evidence, was too good for the tall Queenslander, winning 9-2. Nevertheless Moon showed himself Io be a player of a class seldom seen in Dunedin. In the matches against local players the Australians were vastly superior, their accurate placements and excellent length, and lhe severity of their strokes making their opponents play on the defensive throughout. Bryan pqj up a creditable performance against McGrath. showing line anticipation, but lie lacked experience and finish. There was a good attendance. Light rain fell at intervals. but did not interfere with the play. Results;— McGrath beat Bryan. 6-2. 6-3; Moon heat McCallum. 6-2, G-G: McGrath beat Moon. 9-2; Moon and Boffily beat McGrath and Rawlinson. 4-6. 7-5. 6-0. MARLBOROUGH TITLES By Telegraph—Press Association. Blenheim. December 27. Iu the Marlborough tenuis champiottshi|i tournament, the singles finals resulted as follow :— Men’s singles: A. C. Coull defeated E. B. W. Smyth, 4-6, 6-3, 9-7. Women’s singles: Miss D, Wood beat i Miss L. Robinson, 6-1, 6-1.