LAWN TENNIS

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 71, 24 March 1920, Page 11

LAWN TENNIS

ENGLISH VISITORS IN DUNEDIN

OLLIVIER DEFEATS BEAMISH.

(II TELEdItAPH.—I'KESS ASSQCTATION.)

DUNEDIN, 23rd March.

A lawn tennis match played on a special court at Carisbrook to-day between Beamish, and Lowe and an Otago team, supplementedl by Ollivier (New Zealand champion), provided one of the finest exhibitions of the game'ever seen locally v The weather was fine, overhead, but a cold south-west wind made matters decidedly unpleasant for the large attendance of spectators, and in the early part of the afternoon had a disconcerting effect upon the play. Lowe, on account of an injury received in Christchurch, only played in the doubles, Beamish playing in both singles. Results are as follow: —

Singles.—Ollivier beat Beamish, 6-3, .6-4. Beamish beat A. S. Gray, 4-6, 6-3, 6-1. i 1 Doubles.—Beamish and Lowe beat Ollivier and S. N. Brown, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-3. .

The match between Ollivier and Beamish was closely contested, but the former always-held the upper hand hi steadiness of, driving and accuracy of placing, although his ground strokes lacked something of Beamish's pace. In the first set Beamish led 2-0, but Ollivier took the next three game 3in succession.: In the sixth game Beamish served well, and won from 40-30, but Ollivier followed by winning his own service .and taking the lead 4-3. In the eighth' game Beamish went to the net, but Ollivier passed him with beautiful side-line' shots, and won from 40-30. Ollivier won hi 3 service, and took the set at 6-3. The opening game of the second set started in a similar fashion. Beamish winning the first two games. Ollivier evened, but Beamish made the score 3-2 in his favour. The only deuce game.-.of the match followed, it being,won by Ollivier, who also topk the next two, and led 5-3. Beamish won the ninth game, but Ollivier captured the next, and the match off liis own service.

Beamish did not appear to be fully extended in the singles game with- Gray, a young player full of promise, but lacking experience in big tennis. "At one stage of the first set the Englishman led 4-1,- but Gray won the next five games and the set. Thesecond set was marked by good driving by both players, neither-going to the net. The second set went 3 all, but thereafter Gray did not win a game. The third set was won rather easily by Beamish, although Gray beat him several times with fine passing shots.

The doubles game really provided the treat of the afternoon. The hopes of local enthusiasts ran high when Ollivier and Brown took the first set 6-1. Lowe's leg- appeared to be giving him trouble, both in. reaching the net and in going back fop lobs. ■ . The second set provided a sterling exhibition, Ollivier driving and volleying beautifully, #hile^Brown beat the Englishmen time and again at the net. Every game was keenly fought, and the score.-went's all, when the visitors won the last two games with the loss of only one strqke in' each. In the next set Beamish arid- Low,e led 3-1, 4-1, and 5-2, at which point a fame, to each side ended the set. The last set was evenly contested, but. Lowe's driving showed an improvement, arid, Beamish making few mistakes, ,the scora was called at 3-2, 4-2, 4-3, and finally 6^5. Tho visitors . leave Dunedia fdr the North by the first express to-morrow.