TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Evening Star, Issue 18161, 29 December 1922, Page 6

TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

TO-DAY'S TDAYI {Tbr United Press Association.] HASTINGS, December 29. The tennis championship tournament was continued to-day in- fine but dull weather. The semi-finals in all events arc being played) tounorrow. To-day’s results ! MEN’S I SINGLES. —Fourth Round. — Page beat Greenwood, .7-5, 3-6. 6-4, 6-2. Sims beat Lampe, 6-4, 6-2, 6-2. Young beat Thompson, 6-3, 6-3, 6-1, MEN’S DOUBLES. —Third' Round.— France and Franco beat Pc arse and Edmondson, 6-2, 6-2, 6-4. LADIES’ DOUBLES. —Third Round.— Misses Lance and Lloyd beat Misses M‘Laron and Welch, 6-4, 6-1. Mrs Scott Watson and l Miss Payton beat Misses Williams -and Howe, 7-9, 6-4, 6-1. COMBINED DOUBLES. —Third Round. — Mre Green and Walker beat Miss Fenwick and Lamp©, 6-4, 6-1. Mrs Hodges and Goss beat Miss Knight and Johns, 6-5, 6-4. Miss Lance and Sims beat Alias Cato and Cowper, 6-3, 6-2. —Fourth Round.— Miss MacFarlane and Robson beat Mrs Lascdles and Parker, 8-6, 4-6, 64. BOYS’ JUNIOR SINGLES. -Semi-final. — Andrews boat Ores,swell, 6-0, 6-2. Rhodes Williams beat Smith, 6-4, 6-5. GIRLS’ JUNIOR SINGLES. —Second Round.— Miss East beat Miss Dallas, 6-3, 6-3. —Semi-final. — Miss Hart beat Mies Bennett, 6-1, 6-4. NOTES ON THE PLAY. (Special to the ‘ Star.'] HASTINGS, December 29. The tennis championships are now entering the semi-finals, and as far as possible only finals will be left for to-morrow. Today is very cloudy audl overcast, making conditions pleasant, although rain may fall at any moment. The most remarkable feature of the morning round was the sterling performance o! Mrs Scott Watson in defeating Miss .Lloyd. The temperament of the Auckland lady enabled her to play her customary good game, and she was right at the top of her form. Miss Lloyd was playing _ well also, but the New South Wales girl was oS her demon first service. The game was characterised by long and inspiriting back-line play, Mrs Scott Watson keeping a wonderful length throughout. There was very little net play, but Mrs Scott Watson produced beautiful backhand shots, and her all-round play enabled her to win the first set 6-5 and to get to 3-0 in the second. Miss Lloyd then came with a dash, and took the next four games; but Mrs Scott Watson ran to set and match after a fast, exciting game. Laurenson was too strong for Robson, and won out in three straight sets, although the Auckland man ran him to 7-5 in the first set. Laurenson came to the net_ more, while Robson’s volleying was indifferent. Both, made some marvellous shots from lobs to the back lino by running, back and pulling the ball back overhead, After the first set the Auckland man faded away, and the present champion predominated, the play. Olhvier was too good for Page in three straight sets. Ollivier came to the net more / and played his opponent out of position, and the Auckland man was not in condition to last a gruelling match. Ollivier kept a-good length, and his second service is easily one of the most consistent ini tbo tournament. Gosa and Greenwood got a big fright against Powdrell and Lampe, Tho present champions are not playing eo well this season, Goss 'being erratic, Tho veterans were forced to 7-5 in the second set, after losing tho first 2-6. They won out easily in the third set, but a long .deuce set marked the fourth, Goss and Greenwood finally winning out 10-8. Mrs Lascdles and Miss Gray outshone Mesdames Melody and Green in two straight sets, Mra Melody was slicing everything, while Mrs Green drove hard and fast to tho back lino, but on tho play they could not hope to extend the consistent New South Wales ladies. Peacock fell before France, after a five setter in which uninspiring back-line play predominated. Wellingtons youthful No. 2 was consistency itself, and. while Peacock had the better shots their execution was not so good. France was chopping everything, and Peacock found some difficulty in getting them up, netting many returns, France was consistency itself, and after losing the first set 2-6, he took the next two sets (after a hard fight) 7-5, 6-4. Peacock evened the sots by winning the fourth 6-2, but in the deciding set Franco ran away, 6-1. Both players scored with several placements, and Peacock, while coming to tho net more often, bungled the volley. Griffiths and Miss Gray had a hard tussle to triumph over Walker and Miss Green. The lady had some beautiful forehand drives, while Griffiths's overhead work at the net was very fine. Walker was erratic, but brought off some phenomenal shots. The score—6-4, 3-6. 5-2—was about .the relative merits of the pairs. Miss Gray’s placement lobs wore a deciding factor in a spectacular fight. MEETING OF DELEGATES. ALLOCATING FUTURE CRAMPIONSHH‘S. [Per United Press Association.] HASTINGS, December 29.

An informal meeting of tennis delegates passed resolutions recommending the Management Committee to alter the rules to enable a general meeting to bo held during the progress of each annual tournament, and that the annual championships should bo held alternately in the North and the South Island.