NOTES ON THE PLAY

Evening Star, Issue 20993, 6 January 1932, Page 4

NOTES ON THE PLAY

[Br Recorder.] Weather conditions were far from ideal on Monday, when it was hoped to conclude the tournament. Rain caused a stoppage of play about midday. However, the tournament was continued yesterday afternoon, and the finals of the ladies’ handicap singles and men’s handicap doubles were played, and the final has now been reached in all other events. These finals will be played at Logan Park on Saturday afternoon, starting at 1.30. MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES. Pearce and Pollock had a hard match against Webling and Chisinau in the semi-final, the latter pair putting up an excellent fight against their hard-hit-ting opponents. Webling was driving and volleying exceptionally well, while his partner played a very steady game. Pearce’s overhead stroking was very good, and there were many bright interchanges of shots with all players close into the net. It was rather a pity that Webling and Chisinau did not take the second sot, for this would have made the whole match more interesting. After winning the first three games Pollock and Pearce slackened off, and their opponents took the next to even the score. In the seventh game on Pollock’s serve he had a 40-15 lead, but two well-placed drives and a good smash by Webling saw Roslyn within a point of gaining a lead, and it was not till several deuces had been called that Pollock won his service. The Roslyn pair evened the score in the next game, only to lose the set at 6-4. The second set was practically a repetition of the first, there being very little between the two pairs. Unfortunately rain interrupted play in the other semi-final between Black and M'Dougall and DrMoody and Falconer, the former having the first set in 6-0. In the second set, which was played yesterday, Moody and Falconer made a much better showing than they did in the first, the game being really much closer than the score (6-2) indicates, six of the eight games going to deuce, while in the fifth there were nine deuces. M'Dougall and Black both gave good exhibitions, Black’s volleying being particularly good. Their opponents played well, but were too hasty in their strokes. LADIES’ CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES. A Marathon match was played in the semi-finals of this event between Miss Pattison and Miss White and Miss Calver and Miss Hislop. After winning the first set fairly comfortably and having a 5-2 lead in the second, it looked as if Miss Pattison and Miss White would take the match in straight sets. Misses Calver and Hislop, however, put up a great fight, amt after evenning the score managed to gain an 8-7 lead; but it was not till 12-10 that they managed to even the match. In this set Miss Calver’s volleying and smashing were the outstanding features, and she received good support from her partner. Miss Pattison’s drive was frequently finding the net, but her partner’s shots were sufficiently steady to win at crucial points. _ Miss Pattison made fewer mistakes in the final set, and the excellent combination and understanding between her and Miss White won them the match. In the other semi-final Miss Partridge and Miss Fleming proved much too strong for their youthful opponents, .Miss Fraser ami Miss Somerville, winning 6-1, 6-2. Miss Fraser has a powerful forehand drive, while her partner’s lobbing was very good; but they were at times completely outplayed by their opponents’ net play tactics.

MIXED DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP. Some of the best matches of the tournament were seen in this event. The final, to be played between Pollock and Miss Pattison and Black and Miss Partridge, gives promise of a very interesting match. The best third round match was seen between Dr Moody and Miss Calver and M'Dougall and Miss Fleming. _ It was a thrilling and brilliant match, in which fortune favoured first one side and then the other. Moody played tennis of a high class, and he was given great support by his partner, who exchanged drives and volleys with M'Dougall on even terms. Actually both ladies voleyed and smashed with very near the severity and accuracy of men, and each in turn drew applause for brilliant recoveries. Miss Fleming, however, had several bad patches, and missed a number of easy shots at critical stages of the game. ’M'Dougall played a masterly game, keeping the ball away from Moody and angling for chances to cut off Muss Calver’s returns. In the semi-final Moody and Miss Calver showed the effect of their previous strenuous match, and went down to Black and Miss Partridge, 6-3, 8-6. Neither Moody nor Miss Calver showed as good form as they did against M'Dougall and Miss Fleming. In this match the outstanding features were Black’s wonderfully accurate volleying and Miss Partridge’s accurate net play and overhead stroking. The last match of the day was the other semi-final between Pollock and Miss Pattison and Pearce and Miss White, the former pair gaining the victory after a strenuous two-set match. All four played good tennis, Miss Pattison’s driving being exceptionally good.