LAWN TENNIS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 13, 16 January 1926, Page 18

LAWN TENNIS

•V ' HUKA.

DOMINION CHAMPIONS

MISS M. SPETRS BRILLIANT

GREAT VICTORY TO J. C. PEACOCK AND N. WILSON.

Miss M. Speirs showed good form right through the singles at the championship meeting, and regained the honours she lost in 1924. She has more confidence now, and will be less troubled by nerves in the future. She disposed of Miss Travers in the second •round, and Miss Tracy in the third round, by hard driving and good overhead work, but was\fulry extended by Miss Knight (Auckland). The latter is usually a slow starter, and when Miss Speirs took the first set, 6-1, Aueklanders were not uneasy. Miss Knight's net attack in the second set gave her a win 6-3, and the Canterbury player was fully extended in the third set to win, 7-5. Miss Knight required just a shade more pace to have captured that third set. In the final Miss Speirs was too vigorous and too accurate for Mrs. Scott, who had done exceptionally well to beat Miss Lloyd and Miss Macfarlane. The latter was again disappointing, and tried to win her matches from the base-line. She has missed her chances for the last three years by not playing tennis right throughout the year, and also by not rushing the net when her /excellent driving often has her opponent on the defensive. Miss M. Wake was the surprise of the meeting, and has improved greatly of late. She had Miss Knight fully extended, and with more experience might have won. Miss H. Lloyd (Sydney) was short of practice, and could not last against Mrs. Scott's attack. Miss D. Nieholls (Auckland), after winning the first set from Miss M. Ward, 6-2, retired, being troubled with her eyes. Miss Ferrier played a great match against Mrs. Scott, and' was only just beaten 8-6, 7-5. The entries for the ladies' singles was poor, and there should have been double the number. From the form shown generally, it is impossible at present to pick a team worthy of sending to Sydney. Men's Doubles. There were some good clashes in the men's doubles, but Peacock and Wilson stood out head and Bhoulders above any other pair in the upper half, and when they disposed of the France brothers in record time, it was apparent that the event, barring accidents, would be won by them. The accident came along—Wilson getting a very nasty blow in the eye through a fast ball glancing off his racquet. Wilson^slipped as he was about to play the ball, and he was lucky that it was no worse. The accident happened in the very early stages of the first set, and at 'first it appeared that a bad blunder was very nearly made, as i Peacock and Wilson were on the verge of being scratched by those in charge of the match because Wilson was unable to continue play. Fortunately, before the deed was done D. Murray Kean, the manager of the tournament, appeared on the court, quickly sized up the situation, and gave instructions for the announcement that the match would be continued in an hour's time. The announcement gave great satisfaction to the public generally, who were soon interested in the final of the mixed doubles championship, which was staged by the tournament manager. Eule 28 governs the matter, and is perfectly clear to those who hav9 studied their rule book. The rule reads as follows: "Play shall be continuous from thfi first service till the match be concluded, provided that, after the third set, or when women take part, the second set, either player is entitled to a, rest, which shall not exceed three minutes, and provided further that when necessitated by circumstances not within the control of players, the umpire may suspend play for such a period as he may consider necessary." The doctors declared that Wilson would be able to play within an hour, or not at all, and naturally, the accident was not within the control of the injured player, consequently, the umpire had a very valid reason to suspend play for one hour. When the match was resumed Peacock quietly fathered his partner until he found that he was sighting the ball fairly well again, but two sets were lost before Wilson, found his game, and it was masterly tactics by Pea(Jock that the attack was made at the right Hum in the third' and fourth sets, but Wilson was going at top in the fifth set. At the right time Peacock directed Wilson to cut loose fast and hard, and was content to make the openings, and direct the action for a brilliant victory. The colt was playing under the direction of a master-hand, and it was a wonderful exhibition of what can be done by a brilliant young player when he is directed, coached, and controlled by an experienced player like J. C. Peacock. The writer considers that the winning of that doubles final was the finest piece of work achieved by Peacock during the whole of his tennis career. Hubble and Lamb, young players from Auckland, impressed one and all by their vigorous play against the France brothers. The latter pair won 6-1, 10-8, 9-7, but they had a most strenuous time during the second and third sets. Page and his young partner Knott also showed up well, especially so in the match against Haege and Parker. Tho latter pair were the surprise-packet of the event, arid with a little more combination would have beaten Olliviev and Seay-— the scoru speaks for itself —7-9, 0-1, 7-5, 2-G, G-3. Ladies' Doubles. There was only one pair in the ladies' doubles—Mrs. Scott and Miss Speirs—and they never looked like being beaten. Misses Travers and Tracy were easily the best combination in tho upper half, but they had no chance against two players like Mrs. Scott and Miss Speirs, who both rushed the net and took charge. The Wellington pair played one up and the other back, Mias Tracy doing all the act work,, but that style of play

wonld never succeed against two volleyers. | Mixed Doubles. The best pairs in the mixed doubles championship were Miss Speirs and D. France, Miss Marion Macfarlane and Hill, Miss Tracy and Wilson, Mifis Ballantyne and Smyth, and Miss Travers and Haege. The winners —Miss Speirs and France—had nothing to spare against ' Miss Ballsntyne and Smyth, or against Miss Macfarlane and Hill. Miss Tracy and Wilson should have done better, but were not quite 0t their best in the semi-final; possibly they were over-confident and paid the penalty. Miss Travers and Haege with a few more matches together would have been harder to beat; as it was they did well. Miss Speirs by her" win in the combined doubles secured three championships at the meeting, and fully deserved her wins. At the present time she stands out as the best lady player in New Zealand. Miss Spoirs by her triple win has equalled the records put up by Miss B. Gordon in 1888; by Miss K. M. Nunneley in 1839, 1900, 1901, and 1902; by Miss N. Curtis in 1921: and by Miss S. Lance in 1922. Junior Championships. The junior events were notable for the very fine play by Malfroy, Lucas, Browne, M'Donald, Smyth, and M. Ferkins in the boys' event, and by Misses Dulcie Nieholls and Margaret Gibson in the girls' championship. The entries for the girls' event was very poor, and the association should have something to say about it at the next quarterly meeting. The associations must be made to realise that it is their duty to the sport to see that young players are encouraged to enter for the national championships. In some quarters it would almost appear that the adult section of the tennis players are not in favour of encouraging the younger ones to improve—but more about that anon. Taranaki Championships. / The Taranaki championships were played in glorious weather, except on the final day, when heavy rain at 5 p.m. brought a sudden end to play. In the fifth round of the men's championship - singles, Lampe • (Wanganui) beat Griffiths (Auckland), 6-2, 6-4; Haege (Victoria) beat -Brinsden (Auckland), 6-3, 8-6; Bartleet (Auckland) beat Eussell Young (Wellington), 8-6 6-2; and Smyth (Wellington) 'beat Robson (Auckland), 6-3, 6-2. In the semi-finals, Lampe beat Smyth 6-4, 6-3, and Bartleet beat Haege 3-6, 6-3, 8-6. Bartleet and Haege, when setall, had a strenuous fight for the third set. The Aucklander led 5-3, but Haege was still full of fight and won the ninth game. Bartleet, in trying to end the set at 6-4, became a little reckless, and the Victorian quickly seized his opportunity and evened the score at 5-all. He won his service game with splendid "placements, and led 6-5. Bartieet led 40-J.5 in the twelfth game, but Haege battled hard and deuce was called, only to see the Aucklander win the next two points for 6-aIL Bartleet. captured Haege's service by game to love, and led 7-6. The fourteenth game was fought point for point. Bartleet with the service led 40-15, but Haege drew level, only: to see a beautiful drive give Bartleet match, point. Bartleet double-faulted, and Haege, with a clever passing shot, had advantage in, but his opponent passed him for deuce, and his next drive, which was a very hard one with plenty of top, hit the top of the net and rolled over. It was a lucky shot, and Haege ended the match by missing the back line with a fast drive. Bartleet lasted better than the yotmg Victorian, but both players gave a thrilling display of firstclass tennis. In . the final, coolness and skill carried Bartleet to victory against Lampe. The loser fought hard for four sets, and held bis own, capturing the first set 6-2, and the fourth 6-3, while his opponent took the second and third sets at 6-2, 9-7. Lampe led 5-4 in the third set, and had set point once but lost it, and Bartleet wore his opponent down to win 9-7. The Wanganui player was full of fight in the fourth set, and .surprised the gallery, as it was expected that the younger man had worn the Wanganui veteran down. Lampe took the set 6-3. The fifth set saw Bartleet right out "on top, as Lampe had shot his bolt after winning the first game. Bartleet, combining passing shots with perfect drop shots, took the set 6-1, and the match. The semi-final of the doubles resulted as follows:—-Griffiths and Brinsden beat Haege and Atmore (Otaki), 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, and Smyth and Webster beat Lampe ■ and Bartleet, 4-6, 6-4, 6-2. The latter pair were pushed very hard by Hubble and Entwistle in the third round, the score being 7-5, 7-5. O. B. Webster (New Plymouth) and E. W. B. Smyth (Wellington) beat H. Brinsden and E. W. Griffiths (Auckland), 7-9, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 in the finaL lii the third round of the ladies' singles Miss M'Pherson beat Miss Brewster, 6-2, 6-3. In the semi-finals Miss Lloyd (Sydney) beat Miss Earnsay 6-3, 5-6, 6-2, and Miss Eunfile beat Miss M'Pherson 5-6, 6-5, 6-2. The latter player is the Eotorua champion, and her chop shot has a deadly break. Miss Eundle (Now Plymouth) beat Miss Lloyd in the final, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. In the third set the score ran evenly to 4-all, but Miss Eundle won her service at game-30, winning the last two strobes with a service ace and a splendid cross-court drive. Miss Lloyd led 40-30 in the tenth game, but a return drive that just missed the baseline brought the score to deuce, and after deuce had been called again lost the next two points by driving out. The winner placed with great judgment, most of her shots being within a few inches of the side line, and she had Miss Lloyd on the move most of the match, frequently catching her out of position- „ , „. In the ladies' doubles final Misses Lloyd and Brewster beat Mrs. Eobson and Miss Eamsay, 6-4, 4-1 (rain caused abandonment of^further play and the match was awarded to the leading pair).' „ , In the third round of the combined doubles Miss Brewster and H. Brinsden beat Miss Cameron and H. N. Burns, 6-3, 7-5; Miss Lloyd and Webster beat Dr. Atmore and C. Atmore, (i-0, 6-4; Misa Eundle and Lampe beat Miss B. Nutting and I. Grant, ' 8-6, 6-0; and Miss Simpson and Hacgo beat Mrs. Eobson and T. Clarke, 7-5, 7-5. In the semi-finals Miss Brewster and Brinsden beat Miss Eundle and Lampe 6-4, 6-1, and Miss Simpson and Haege beat Miss Lloyd and Webster 6-4, 7-5, 6-3. In the final Miss ' Simpson and Haege beat Miss Brewster and Brinsden, 0-6, 6-4, 6-3.

Miss J. Brownlee (Auckland) beat Miss N. Thorpe (Stratford), 6-2, 6-4, in the final of the gii'ls' championship singles, and P. M'Carthy (Hawera) beat G. M'Hardy (New Plymouth), 6-0, 6-3, in the boys' singles championship fluaL.