TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Evening Star, Issue 18160, 28 December 1922, Page 8

TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

THE HASTINGS TOURNEY. SOME EXCITING GAMES DESCRIBED. [Special to the ' Star.’] HASTINGS, December 27. The second day of the championships opened with a pall of grey clouds covering the sky, thrugh which the muggy heat made the players very fatigued. Extremely hard fighting all the way marked the match between Salmond and, Aitken. Salmond, although badly beaten on the games, often gave a glimpse of brilliance, but is now past his best day. Aitken was playing very well, especially on the backhand. Ollivier was playing very indifferently, this morning. In the first set against Bray, the ex-Otago champion held him all the way by his well-known steadiness, and Ollivier could only win out 7-5. ’ln the second set Ollivier struck form, and took the set to love, when Bray retired. Miss Lance and Sims were not in their best form against Powdrell and Miss Ringland. Powdrell w r as . playing well, but his lady partner was somewhat wild, the pair being unable to extend the formidable combination against them. Warne Pearso and Mrs Goldie died fighting gamely all the way, and simple refused to let Allison and Miss Lloyd gel going. _ Mrs Goldie was playing fairly well, while Pearse dashed about the court 1 like a youth, bringing off some phenomenal shots. Allison and Miss Lloyd left him well alone when he was at the net and played hard to Mrs Goldie. ■ They wore too hot, and won out in two straight sets.

Peacock was playing well against Waddington. Although not extended, the veteran covered the court quickly, Ids shots having plenty of sting behind' them. i Miss Payton had a hard tussle to finally triumph over Miss Cato. The local girl played great tennis, taking the first set comparatively easily. A neck-and-neck race ensued for the second set, Miss Payton making the back line her centre of operations. Three all. four all, five all was called before the Auckland lady evened the sets at 7-5. Miss Cato now seemed (o tire, and the Auckland lady ran up 5-0. The Hastings girl rallied somewhat and took tho next three games before Miss Payton could triumph. Aitken was 100 steady for Melody, who only got. one game in three sets. The Wellington man found that to beat Aitken he had to go for his shots, but they were always a trifle strong. There were several prolonged rallies and many deuce games. Aitken is playing, well. Lauronson, tho present holder, is in the third round, and was resting in mufti this morning.

The New South Wales ladies' team (Misses Lance, Lloyd, Gray, and Mrs Lancelles) are triumphing all along the line, and will go far in the tournament. Bull and Miss Kennedy frightened Miss Gray and Griffiths. Bull was playing brilliantly, and took the first set '7-5. Miss Kennedy was a trifle' erratic, her lobs being very short, while her net play was not nearly forcible enough. The Newt South Wales lady and the Auckland man soon found the weak spot of the Gisborne combination and left Bull a. spectator, raining shots like hail on Miss Kennedy, and winning out (lie next two sets.

Mrs Lascellcs, another of the New South Wales team, and her partner. Parker, were all out to beat Guff and Mrs Maitland. Mrs Lascellcs made hard work of it in the first sot. winning out after a battle royal—7-5, 6-4.

Bray, the ex-champion of Otago, defeated Quill in three straight sots. The winner hit harder than usual and played an all-round game, while Quill has lost some of his one-time steadiness.

The weeding-out process continued, and as the various championships thinned out interest increased and the matches became more fiercely contested. The closest battle to date was that between Franco Brothers and Cowpcr and Walker in the doubles. The game was characterised by hard hitting throughout and terrific smashing. Gowper was the most erratic of the quartet, but Walker and he forced the France Brothers to 7-5, 7-5, when a terrific Marathon ensued for the third, and France and France finally won out 13-11.

Salmond and Swanson’s scalps fell to Laurenson and Ullivier in the first game. The two champions slid- faster placements through the Wellington pair, the game going at a fast pace. Laurenson brought off some brilliant volleys, and the pair never looked like losing a set.

G. G. Aitken, tins Christchurch veteran, gavs Laurenson_ the hardest match to dale. Aitken’s play is best characterised as steady, while Laurenson, although quieter in service and forehand, had powerful backhand strokes, and volleying is his most deadly feature. The present holder led 2-1, but Aitken gained a lead 3-2, when Laurenson again came into ihe lead at 4-3, winning the first set 6-4. Tlie champion was off his deadly smash, and in the second set bungled several comparatively easy placements when he hail made a commanding position. Several of the umpire’s (H. Q. Thompson) decisions had been very donbtful, and perlufbed Laurenson, so that line umpires were established. Aitken took the first game in the second set of! Laurenson’s service, and the second after treble deuce. Laurenson then gained the next three games with the loss of five strokes, when Aitken rallied again, and, playing the side lines with wonderful precision, scored with several fast placements past Laurenson’s backhand, evening the sets. A ncck-and-ne.ck battle ensued for tiie third set, and Aitken held La-ur-enson until 5 all, when the Matamata doctor won out 7-5. This had been the deciding set, and Laurenson took the next set and the match comparatively easily at 6-2.

Rain began to fall just after three o’clock, but held off until 4.30, when it glow gradually worse and the light became very poor. L. France and Miss Howe took the first set easily from Oakley and Mrs Hotley, but a Marathon ensued for the second set, both pairs playing well. The redoubtable Wellington pair played on until five balls were discolored and the light was l)ecoming*"bad, while the grass was slippery. They finally won a hard-fought set, 11-9. Misses Fenwicke and Knight went under to Misses M'Laren and Welsh. The first-named pair could obviously have done better, but did not play well together. They let play deteriorate to a stonewalling competition of pre-Lenglen type, and paid the penalty uy prolonged rallies, losing the game‘by failing to play their customary game. The boys’ and girls’ championships started to'-day, when some good form was shown. Andrews, a boy wonder from Palmerston North, was the pick of the lads, and Miss Hart (Otago) scorned Hie best of the girls. The following details were not in time for yesterday’s issue: — ’ MEN’S SINGLES. —First Round.— Wallace beat Clark, 3-6, 6-0, 4-6, 6-4, 11-9 Field beat Richards, 6-1, 6-3, 6-1. Cuff beat Miller, 6-0, 6-1, 6-2. Denton beat Kururangi, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1. LADIES’ SINGLES. —First Round.— Miss M'Murrav beat Mias Lindsay, 4-6, 61, 6-1. - —Third Round.— Miss Hodges beat Miss Beard, 6-0, 6-1. MEN’S DOUBLES. —Second Bound. — Page and Moir beat Gerrard and Kururangi, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2. Swainson and Salmond beat Fenwick and Fenwick, 6-3, 6-2, 6-3. Powdrell and Lamps boat Howe and Smyth, 3-5, 6-1, 6-2, 6-2. Goss and Greenwood beat Richards and Craigie, 6-1, 6-2, 6-5. France and France heat Walker arid Couper, 7-5, 7-5, 7-5, 13-11. —Third Round. — Peacock and Sims beat Quill and Parker, 6-0,, 6-2, 7-5.

. Dr Laurenson and Ollivier beat Salmond and Swainson, 6-2, 6-3, 6-0. LADIES’ DOUBLES.. —First Round.— Misses M'Laren and Welsh beat Misses Fenwick and Knight, 10-8, 7-5. Mrs Peacock and Miss Travers won by default from Mrs Martin and Miss Hume. —Sbcond Round.— Mrs Hetley and Miss Clark beat Mrs Maddison and Miss Z. Wellwood, 6-3, 8-6, Mrs Watson and Miss Payton beat Misses Champion and Grant, 5-2, 4-6, 6-1. Misses Lance and Lloyd beat Mrs Peacock and Miss Travers, 6-3, 6-4. COMBINED DOUBLES. —Second Round.— Miss Sinclair and Thompson beat Miss Clark and Stainton, 6-1, 6-4. Miss Macfarlane and Robson beat Miss Stevens and Miller,. 6-2, 6-1. Miss Ballantyne and Smith' beat Miss E, Armstrong and Armstrong, 6-1, 6-0. —Third RoundMiss Lloyd and Allison beat Mrs Goldie and Pearse, 6-4, 6-2. BOYS’ JUNIOR SINGLES. • -First Round.— Knott beat Ritchie, 6-0, 6-0, 6-2.