FINE TENNIS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 155, 29 December 1925, Page 5

FINE TENNIS

PROGRESS OF TOURNEY

SOME GOOD EXHIBITIONS

(EI TELEORAPB —PRESS ASSOCIATION.)

CHRIST CHURCH, 28th Dec.

Tho New, Zealand tennis championships were continued to-day in perfect weather with a nor'-west wind that proved troublesome to some players. The third round of the men's singles was concluded, leaving Ollivier, Bartleot, Parker, A. L. France, D. G. France, Wallace, Peacock, and Seay to play off in that order. The most notable casualty of the day was Smyth, who was simply worn down by J. B. Parker (brother of H. A. Parker),' who owed his win to absolute physical fitness and ability to return the ball from almost any position. This match lasted live sets and finished after 7.30 p.m. Smyth in the fourth set had a lead of 4-3, and was 30-15 in that game and the next, but was never within an actual point of winning.

Of tne other matches Peacock's defeat of Mape wafc a fine exhibition, while Bartleet'3 speetf againat Aitken was an eyeopener. Haefre, the Victorian, according to expectations, was a bit too young, and easily disconcerted by the steady game of Len France, but nevertheless pulled off some brilliant recoveries.

Four splendid matches arc assured for to-morrow, and in the top half some of Uio local experts think that Bartleet has a greater hope of boating Ollivier than ever bofore. This conclusion is based' partly on th'o devastating service'with which ho took tho last three sets against Aitken, of Canterbury, but, on. the other hand, Aitken is only sixth man for Canterbury. Ollivier, however, went seratchily against Ferkins, lately schoolboy champion, and tomorrow's meeting with Bartleet will test his fitness. Parker played such good tennis against S,rnylh that he must bo given a chancn against A. h. France. In the lower half IJ. 0. France should beat Wallace, while on form Seay'ought to defeat Peacock although Peacock has found the courts so truo that ho can play right i.p to tho ball with attacking half volleys, and considers that he is playing 25 per cent, above his usual game. Seay, on >ho other hand, had his eye in sufficiently to lose only one game in three sets againat a very solid opponent in Sheppard. The ladies' singles was notable for two recoveries by Mrs. Scott, who lost the first set against Miss Lloyd (New South Wales), while Miss Knight did tho same thing against Miss Wake. Misa Knight's stroke production was far more correct than her opponent's, while Mrs. Scott played for safety against Miss Lloyd, and won on superior stamina. Mrs. Scott, who is in the semi-final, plays the winner of the Misses Ma'rjorie Macfarlane-Ballanty.no match, while Miss Knight, in the other semi-final, plays the winner of the match between Misses Speirs and Tracy.. In tho men's doubles there were no •surprises, unless, it. was the defeat of Larnpe and Wheeler by ■ah average Canterbury rJair, Patterson' and Tait. At the end of the third round Teacock and Wilson play Jackson and Turner, France and Franco play Griffiths and Johns, Ollivier. and Seay play Patersorl and 'Tait, and Page and KrmU play Ilaege and "Parker. Ollivier and Seay are almost certain finalists in the lower half, while a fine semi-final seems likely between the France brothers and Peacock and Wilson. REVIEW OF THE DAY. Taking a brief review of tho day's play, Peacock had no difficulty in beating Lampe, who frequently' drove out, being unable to deal successfully with an awkward service. There were several fine rallies, and both made excursions to the net, but generally Peacock emerged Ihe victor. Lon Franco boat Haege on accuracy and placing. Haege's smashing was wonderful at times, but he 'went to pieces against a persistently heavily chopped attack and a very active opponent. Aitken's length baffled Bartleet in :he first set, in which he could not find the lines, and often over-drove, but Barfleet's service in subsequent sets was quite the most brilliant seen at the tournament, ,md although his backhand was indifferent and Aitken exploited it as far as he coujd, thero was nothing in the match after -he first set The most interesting doubles was the meeting of Ollivier and Seay and Smyth andT'ulton. Ji: the first set Ollivier was playing beautifully. Although Ollivier and Seay led, 4-1, Smyth and Fulton drew up to 5-all. Th^n Ollivier and Seay won the next two games. The second set wis closely contested. Ollivier and Seay went off well again, but Smyth and Fulton took the lead, 3-2. Ollivier and Seay took the nest three games, but lost another, before finishing 04. Ollivier was driving well in the last set and another feature of this game was the splendid work by Fulton at the net. When the; score was 4-3 in his favour Ollivier went down on his service, 0-40, but eventually won out. The last game was taken off Smyth's service fairly easily. In the later stages Ollivier brought off nice drives, and his lob volleys from the net were very disconcerting. There was a long struggle in the match, Wallace and Dickie v. Borrows and Field, which resulted in favour of Wallace and Dickie, 4-6, 4 6, 64, 6-2, 8-6. When the sets were two all the""games were 5-1, and 30-0 in favour of Borrows and Field, but steady play pulled out Wallace and Dickie. In the two middle sets they played very aggressive tennis. It was their old game, and they came up to the net. Wallace, especially, was brilliant. Dickie wal safe,.but not nearly so good overhead. Griffith! and Johns beat Aitken and Wilding in .straight sets, 64, 64, 6-2. The ■winners played the steadier. Their volleying and placing were superior. Aitken and Wilding gave a few flashes of brilliancy, but Wilding was inclined to be weak overhead. A MARATHON MATCH. The Marathon effort of the morning w.is the match between Pearse and Scott: and A. B. and B. B. Loughnan, which occupied three and a quarter hours. The final scores in favour of Pearse and Scott were 13-11, 9-7, 6-8, 4-6, 6-3. Pearse and Scott had the match point in the third set at 7-5, but lost it after five sets. Tjowry and Hill conquered Allison and Shepiiard. It was a very good exhibition. Hill and Lowry had the advantage in the Hcrvic-c. Allison and Sheppard lobbed beautifully, both for defence and attack, but volleying and serving overcame them. Goss and Greenwood went down to Page and Knott, whose score was 64, 6-2, 6-2.' The winners were superior at the net. All round they played an excellent game. In the match in which France and France defeated ' Hubble and Lamb the play was of a straggling nature. A. L. France was off form, and Lamb served ■well and was good overhear). In the ladies' double*. Misses Travcrs and Tracy (Wellington) reached the semi-final with the loss of only two pinifis against thn Otago pair, "'Misses Ballantyne and Romans, whereas Misses Knight and Nicholls had to fight hard after the losr or the first set to beat Misses Cato and Cotterill, a stylish volleying pair, who would have won if they had not tired. In the lower half, the Misses Macfarlane (Auckland) had hard work to beat a moderate Canterbury pair in the second round, and they were not favourites when they took the field later in the day against Miss Speirs and Mrs. Scott, but they concentrated the attack on Mrs. Scott and actually recovered from 24 to lead 54. Miss Speirs got the next giimc on her service, and the Southern pair, lobbing judiciously, nosed out. 7-5. In the second set Miss Marjorie Macfarlane served first and won the first game, but Miss Speirs and Mrs. Scott got the neit three. It was Sail, but Miss Marion Macfarlane lost on her service aftrr deu<fr had been called fivt limit, lad the nut two gtmci

were won with the loss of only one pont.

The combiued doubles has not progressed very far, and a couple of first round matches are still to play. In the boys' singles the surprise of the day was the defeat of Max Ferkina by Browne, a Christchurch Boys' High School youth, who recently won the in-ter-secondary schools' handicap tournament. ,• DETAILS OF THE PLAY. Meu's Singles. Third Round.—J. C. Peacock best M. Lampe, fi-3, <V 2, C-3; A. Seay beat W. Sheppard, 6-0, fi-0, fi-l; E. L. Bartleet beat G. G. Aitken, 5-7. SI, (!•<>, 0-4; G. Ollivier beat R. McL. Fcrkins, fi-3, (1-3, 0-2; Wallace bi!at Wheeler, •l-C, 9-7, C-4, 6-1 ; L. France beat Haece, 0-4, fi-0, fi-4; Hon. France beat B. B. Loushnan, (i-3. 2-6, 6-2, G-2; Parker beat E. B. W. Smyth, 2-6, 6-4, 8-10, 7-5, 6-1. Ladies' Singles. Second Round.—Miss N. Lloyd beat Mrs. B. W. Reeves, 0-4. C-l; Miss F. M. Ballantyue heat Miss A. O. N. Reed, 6-3, 6-2; Miss M. Wake beat Miss V. Dement, 6-4, 6-3; Miss 11. Speirs beat Miss E. Travers, 6-3, <H>; Miss M. Tracy beat Miss J. E. Ramsay, 6-1, 6-2; Miss Marjorie Macfarlane beat Mies M. Ward, 6-1, C-4. Third Round.—Mi«s Knight beat Miss Wake, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5; Mrs. Scott beat Miss Lloyd, 3-6, C-3, 0.2. Men's Doubles. Second Round.—S. E. Jackson and A. K. Turner beat E. Gore and F. Nixon, «-3, 6-4, 6-4; P. Haege and J. B. Parker beat B. H. Orbell and G. Innes Jones, 6-1, 6-3, 6-4: France and France beat V. H. Hubble and S. Lamb, 0-1. 10-8, 9-7; Peacock and Wilson beat Pcirse and Scott, f,-2. 6-3. 6-3; Griffiths and Johns beat Walker and Johnston. 6-4, 6-4, 6-4; Ollivipr and Seay beat Hill and Lowry, C-0, 6.2. 8-6; Patterson and Taile beat Lampe and Wheeler. 4-6, 6-1, 6-S. 6-3, 6-4; Page and Knott beat Wallace and Dickie, 6-2, 6-3, C-3. Ladies' Doubles. Second Round.—Misses Marion am] Marjorie Macfarlane beat Misses Fcrrier and L Sounders, 9-7. 6-1; Misses B. Knight and D. Nicholls beat Misses M. Cato and B. Cotterill. 3 6. 0-1. 6-3; Mrsfes K. Tmvers and M. Tracy beat Misses E. Ballantync and I. Romans, fi-l, C-l. S?mi-fmal.— Miss Speirs and Mrs. Scott beat Misses Macfarlane, 7-5. 6-3. Mixed Doubles. Miss M. Smec and C. Angas beat Miss T. Romans and Fulton, f,-0, 4-6. 6-2; Miss E. K. Ballantyuc and E. L. Smyth beat Mrs. P. Sharpe and A. Borrows, 7-6. 6-2; Miss E. Huchanan an,) W. fioss beat Miss M. Saundcrs and L. G. Knott, 8-li, 6-4. 61; Mrs. Reeves and A. B. Lmighnan beat Miss Cato and Aitken, »-6, 6-1, 8-6; Miss Marjorie Maefarlano and Ixiwry bc*t Miss Ward and Ford, 6-2, fi-4 • Miss Marion Macfarlane and Hill beat Mrs Page and Browning. 6-4. 3-6. 6-2. Second Round.—Miss Saundcrs and Somcrville beat Miss Smee and Angas, 3-6, 6-4, 6-0. Girl&' Singles. HSs'Mr™*™" I**1** Gibson bCifc Ruth