TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Evening Star, Issue 18158, 26 December 1922, Page 8

TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

TO-DAY’S ENCOUNTERS AT HASTINGS. [Special to the ‘ St AH.’] HASTINGS, December 26. A cloudy day, with fitful bursts of sunshine, rendered the opening of the tennis a warm and oppressive occasion. Hastings is tlio Mecca of tenuis players, and the [residents have been subjected to an invasion of players and visitors over a thousand strong, while flannels 'are the predominating apparel in town. Punctually to time the' championship was well under way. The most interesting feature was the game fight of Miss Howe against Miss (Lancc (New South Wales). Starting oil somewhat nervously, the Wellington girl struck form, and completely outplayed 'Mbs Lance, after losing the first game to •love. Tho set included; many lightning placements by tho New Zealand gin chainpion of the last three years, and only occasionally was the New South Wales lady able completely to outplay her opponent and 1 score with her slow, deliberate placemen is. Mies Lanco had a, little hard hick, and the game suffered in consequence; but there were many inspiring rallies. Miss Howe especially taking risks and shaving the side and back lines. Miss Lanco then struck form, and her mental and physical stamina enabled her to give a display of dazzling skill. Miss Howo often beat herself by hitting too hard, and lost the set, 6-0; while Miss Lance, finishing strongly, with many finely-executed shots, won tho set and the match again, 6-0. CHivier and Lauienson played themselves into form against a weaker combination, covering their court well and l playing near tho net together most of the time. They won their three straight sets.

(1 oss and Greenwood, the present holders,. were surprised at the undaunted! game of two comparatively unknown players, the pair holding a set each in a stubbornly-contested battle. Peacock and Sims had things all their own wav, winning the first set to love. Mrs Scott Watson and Miss Payton won their first set easily, but extremely hard inditing was seen all the way along tho second. Tho Auckland .fair finally won out by finished tennis at 7-5. Mrs Lascelles and Miss Gray (N.S.M.j were putting in some great team work, and two straight sets were enough for them to completely outclass Misses Ormond! and Catto, who did well to get 6 games. " Schadick v. Denniston was an Homeric five-set contest, which went the lull distance. It was the first game on the courts, and took two hours, Scho-dick finally winning out, 6-5. In tho deciding fifth sets the winner’s play was pretty, but the shots were lacking in sting, several rallies being painfully drawn out. Peacock and Sims easily won out, while Franco and Franco followed suit; but Greenwood and Goss lost tho first set, and 1 the present holders needed all their tactical and strategical skill to oOfcat the two colts in the next three sets. SOME DETAILS. HASTINGS, December 26. There were 257 entries—Men’s Singles 71, Mens Doubles 58, Ladies’ Doubles 20, Combined Doubles 48, Boys’ Singles 12, Girls’ Singles 10. Miss A. Howe, who took the girls championship last year, made her first appearance in the Ladies’ Singles this year against Miss S. Lance, of New South Wales, and she played in good form, winning the first set. Miss Lance, however, won the two remaining sets to love, but the score did not by any means indicate the closeness of the contest. Details: MEN’S SINGLES (best of five sets). —First Round.— J. C. Peacock won from C. J. Dickie by default. T. Kururangi won from I. F. Glanvillc by default, N. H. Bull beat W. G. Martin, 6-1, 6-3, Url.

MEN’S DOUBLES (best of five sets). —First Round.— Franco and France beat Young and Young, 6-2, 6-3, 8-6. J. T. Laurenson and G, Ollivier beat A. Campbell and J. Stainton, 6-4, 6-0, 6-3. LADIES’ SINGLES (best of three sets), —First Round. — Miss S. Lance (N.S.W.) beat Miss A. Howe (Wellington), 2-6, 6-0, 6-0. Miss N. Lloyd beat Miss D. N. Champion, 6-0, 6-2. LADIES’ DOUBLES (best of three sets). —First Round.— Mrs Scott Watson and Miss Paynton beat Miss K. Dallas and Miss N. Fannin, 6-1, 7-5. Mrs Lascelles and Miss A. Gray beat blisses Ormond and Cato, 6-2, 6-4.