LAWN TENNIS.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXI, Issue 9697, 29 December 1924, Page 3

LAWN TENNIS.

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIPS WINNERS STILL WELL CONCEALED.

AUCKLAND, Doc. 27. The New Zealand lawn tennis championships Tver© commenced at the Stanley Street courts to-day. Though the courts had made a good recovery from the rain, they were very heavy when play started and gave a trencher ous looting. Under tho influence of a drying wind, thp surface improved during tho day and the counts were much faster at the end of the day’s play. The afternoon kept fine til! five o’clock, when a heavy shower, which had been threatening for some time, stopped play for the day. The players in the afternoon had a decided advantage over competitors who had played on the wet courts in the morning. A fairly strong cross wind was also against the best of conditions. A large number of matches were played, considering the delays caused by the showers. ■ All the first round matches in the men’s singles were completed. These matches were watched by several hundred interested spectators. The first day’s play did not produce any tennis of a startling .character, and the standard of play, for the most part, was average, while the conditions were against the players, particularly in the morning. Most of the. first round matches were won easily, though there were two or three five set th niggles. In the men’s singles there were no surprise victories. The leading players were not troubled in their preliminary games and, with few exceptions, their best form was not exhibited. Thus the championship winners arc still well concealed as a result of “seeding” system. The more prominent players in the men’s singles had comparatively easy matches and nearly all the contests wove won in three straight sets. The match between H. L. Robson OVuck’and) and T. A. Seay (Canterbury) was placed when the court, was very dead. The Auckland man won a fairly good match hv 7—5, G—4 and 6—l.

Easy wins were secured by two of tho “seeded” men, F. L. Bartlett (Auckland) and A. W. Sms (Vest Coast). The present champion. Sims, lost only one game in his three sets, though his opponent was weak. His second match was also easily won. Grafiiths (Auck’and) and Dick e (Taranaki) had a long and strenuous contest, the feature cf which was the steady driving by botli players. The Aucklander started off well and, in the end. his superior stead.ness p.evailed Quite a good match was that between Olliv’or (-Canterbury) and Doidgo (Auckland). Ollivier’s well disguised placed drives were very effective and contributed largely to Irs win. One of the best matches to watch during the morning was that between Peacock (WcTiv.gtcn) and D. Glanviile (Christchurch). Both men played forceful and clever tennis and used a variety of strokes. Peacock, in particular played an attractive driving game and also covered the net in good style. Glanville made some pretty recoveries, but Peacock was master of the play and showed form of a good all-round character. South (Otago University) had a long struggle with A. C. Johns (Eden and Epsom). 'Considerable interest was taken by the spectators in the appearance of Lowry (Hastings), who appeared in championship tennis for the first time since bis return from England, where be played for Cambridge University. He revealed himself in h:s match against Turner (Eden and Epsom) as a- hard and an accurate hitter and some of bis strokes were splendid.

The courts were very much faster in the afternoon when Wallace (Taranaki) met Entwistle (Auckland). This was a close match, hut Wallace was superior in all round p ay. Entw.sric’s indiscriminate driving got h'm into trouble and he netted or cuted many shots that ho should have returned. Clark (Auckland) made a spirited gain© against, Franc© (Wellington), hut the latter won in-three sets.

/ Melody (Wellington) had a 'five set struggle in defeating Robinson (Parnell). The majority of the matches in theladies’ singles were one sided, and idler© were no results. 'The present champion, Miss M. Syces <v; Christchurch, had a bye. Mrs V. O. Melody (Wellington) beat M ss E. B. Nutting (Taranaki) with the loss of a single game, while Miss Marjorie MaeFarinno (Auckland) had an easy win . Miss J. McLearen (Otago) and Miss N. MaeCormiek (Auckland) also won without difficulty. The present girl champion, Miss D. M. Nicliolls > Auck’and), the ex Wellington player was defeated by Miss E. M. Bal.antvne (Otago), 2 —6 2 —G, while- M-ss N Lloyd (New South Wales) had a romfortablo win against Miss D. M. Pagni, of Auckland. One men’s doubles match was p.aycd. tins resulting in a win for Lampo ■md Wheeler (Wanganui) over Horne and Turner (Auckland). Great interest was taken m the Ir.d'es’ doubles between Mass M. Payton (Auckland) and Miss S. Clark (Hawke’s Bay) and Misses Spoil's and Ferrity (Christchurch). It was a great strugg’e and was won by the forme: pa'in Although they lost the first set they won the second at 12 -6 and the'third at, 6—2. A feature m the game wns M-ss Payton s excc - lent elav, particularly at the not-. P. *

MEN’S SINGLES. (First round). V. R. Johns (Auckland) heat F. M'. Marl; n (Mas tor ton) —6—4 4—6 .g_3 B_4. E I). Andrews (Palmerston North) heat J. H. W. Sheppard (Canterbury) —6—2'6—'t (Shephard retired). G. D. Malice (Wellington) heat O •C. Charters (Whangare:) —6—l G—3 15—3. - , . S. Jackson (Auckland) heat A. Borrows (Canterbury)'-—6—l 2—6 & 3 (Borrows retired). “ •B. M. Old son (Auckland) heat 11. H. Donovan (Wellington)—7—s 6-H 3 6—l. ~ .. L. Bart’ett (Auckland) heat J. Peat (Whangareß6—0 6—l 6—4- " M. A. Fothorir.izhain (Auckland) heat A B. Rehardsen (Auckland) — 5 6—2 6—3 6—4. T. W. Simms (West Coast) heat it. E McGregor (Auckland) —6—o. 6—l 6 _ H. 0. Rowlands (Auckland) Irnat L T Donovan (Wellington)—6—3 6—o

6—l. _ IT. L. Rolison (Auckland) heat &. A. Slay (Canterbury)—7—s 6—4 6—4. W, Smvth (Otago), heat A . w. Johns (A nnklpiidV—6—1 B—68 —6 6—d. W. Wright (Waikato) heat B. S. Waters (Bukekohe) —6—3 6—2 6—2. J. T. La uronson (Matamata) hea t Tj.'-’t, plekmere (Whangarei)—4—6 5—7 6—l 6—2 6—‘3. - M. Gr'fllths (Auckland) heat C. J. 'Dickie (Taranaki) —6—0 9—7 s—(■5 —(■ G—2. r L. G. Knott (Auckland) heat v. Poa-rao (Temukr) —6—4 3—6 6—4 G—W. J. Melody (Wellington) heat S. Robinson (Anck’a.nd) —6—4 9— ll 3 6 6 —4 and B—6. C. 0. Ohidmnrs (Auckland) heat 0. -T. JVuiitri” (Cambridge)—2—6 7—o- - 6—3 12—10. (Second round). G. Olllv'cr . (Canterbury) beat H. D. Oidga (Auckland! —6—2 6—2 7— 5. J. X. O’Leary (Hastings) heat A. K. Turner (Auckland) —6—l 6—o 3—6 6—4.: .

J. C. Peacock (Wellington) beat D. Glanville (Canterbury)—6—3 6 —2 6 1. It. Mcl. Perkins (Wellington) beat O. K. Stevens (Pukekohe) —B—68—6 6—4 7—5. It. L. France (Wel’ington) beat T. E. Clark (Auckland) —6—4 G—3 .0-0. A. G. "Wallace (Taranaki) beat W. H. Bntwistle (Auckland) —7—5 I—6 6—3 10—8. Sims beat Rowlands 6—2 6 —3 6—2. MEN’S DOUBLES. (First round). M. L. Lampe (Wanganui) and A. L. Wheeler (Mar'ton) beat W. A. Horne and A. K. Turner (Auckland) —6—4 6—2 4—-6 6—4. LADIES’ SINGLES. (First round). Miss E. M. Ballantyne (Otago) beat Miss IX M. Nicholis (Auckland) — 6—2 6—2. Mrs IV. J. Melody (Wellington) beat Miss E. B. Nutting (Taranaki) — 6—o 6—l. Miss Marjorie MacFarlane (Auckland) beat Miss E." Miller (Auckland) _6—2 6—l. Miss M. Colebrook (Auckland) beat 'Miss N. F. Crane (Whangarei)—6—2 4—6 6—4. Miss O. McLaren (Otago) bent Miss M. 13. Campbell (Whangkre')—6—2 6—3. Miss N. MacCorrnick (Auckland) beat Miss M. J. Aitken (Aratapu)— 6—o 6—l. Miss Marion MacFarlane (Auckland) beat Miss J. E. Ramsay (Auckland) —6—4 6—3. Miss B. Cotter-ill (Canterbury) beat Miss L. Frankham (Auckland) —6—1 ■6—2. Miss N. L’oyd (N.S.IV.) beat Miss D. M. Pagni (Auckland) —6—l 6 —2. Miss A. M. Arneil (Whangarei) heat Miss M. Whitelaw (Auckland) —6 —l 6—5. LADIES’ DOUBLES. (First round). Miss M. Payton (Auckland) and M ; ss A. Clark (Hawke’s Bay) beat Miss M. Spiers and Miss -J- Ferrier (Canterbury)—9—ll 12—10 6—2. Mrs IV. J. Melody (Wellington) and Miss J. McLaren (Otago) beat Miss M. Major and Miss M. E. Nelson (Auckland) —6—l 6—l. COMBINED DOUBLES. (Second round). V. R. Johns and Miss B. M. Knight (Auckland) beat J. C. Charters and Miss G. Good (Whangarei) — 6—o O— ; l.—P.A.

DAVIS CUP. (Received Dec. 28, 5.5. p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 27. Switzerland has challenged for the Davis Cup in the European zone.— A. and N.Z.C.A.