TENNIS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 30 December 1925, Page 9

TENNIS.

N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIPS. RESULTS OF THIS MORNING’S PLAY. (BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION.) CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 30. Semi-finals and finals were reached in tlie New Zealand tennis championships to-day. The weather was very hot, with a rising nor’-wester, which promised to be enervating and would possibly interfere with play. The first match finished was tlie girls’ junior final, in which Dulcie Nicholls, holder for two years, befit Margaret Gibson, of Timaru. The Auckland girl lost) her lead at 4—3 in the first set, but by court craft and drawing her opponent in and out, managed to win the first by a narrow margin. Then she settled down to win the next by 6—l.

Malfroy won the. boys’ championship easily enough, but Lucas fought hard and took the second set. It was extraordinarily good tennis and showed the value of the AVellington coaching system. Results were as follows: Girls’ singles final —Dulcie Nicholls beat Margaret Gibson 6 —5, 6 0. Boys’ singles final—Malfroy beat Lucas 6—3, 4—6, 6 —2. Ladies’ singles Semi-final: Mrs Scott heat Marjorie Macfarlane 4 6, 6—l, 6—3. Ladies’ semi-final.—Miss Spears beat Miss Knight 6 —l, 3—6. 7 5. Men’s Doub’es, semi-final. —Cl liver and Seay beat Hodge and Parker 7—9, 6 —l, 7 —5, 2 — : 6, 6—3.

HAWERA TOURNEY. TWO FINALS REACHED. BOYS’ CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES. J.. PEASE. Tlie play at the tennis tournament was continued during this afternoon, and many interesting contest®. were witnessed. The boys’ champion singles went to a Hawera lad, J. Pease. The competition in most other grades was very keen. BOYS’ CHAMPINSHIP SINGLES. Final—J. Pease beat A. Dickie, 6—2, 6—2. The winner played very confidently. He gave a good display and proved too strong for his diminutive opponent, who, however, fought a plucky, determined game. It was a match in which much interest was taken. MEN’S (CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES. Semi-final —Powdrell and Powdrell beat Tulcere and Jones 6 —l, 4—6, 6 —3. This was a great contest, in which clever strategy had to be used in most cases to secure the winning shot. The exhibition of lobbing was really remarkable and the smashing on occasions and forceful driving were also features'of the match. Some excellent recoveries were made off shots that appeared almost impossible to return. It was a long and gruelling struggle. MEN’S CHAMPION SINGLES. Semi-final —L. Berg won from Tukere bv default. The latter injured his ankle and was unable to continue play. It- was unfortunate because he had been playing consistently brilliant tennis and would have stood a good chance of success. Final—S. Powdrell (Wanganui) beat Berg (Stratford) 6 —l, 6 —3, 6 1. MEN’S HANDICAP SINGLES A Grade. Third round —P. H. Jones (5) won from E. Hunter by default; C. Collins (10) beat L. Torrens (17) 70—62, Semi-final —S. Powdrell (scr) beat G. Wills (12) 70—64. LADIES’ HANDICAP DOUBLES. Third round —Me® dames Hetet and Jones (7) beat Misses Powdrell 1 and Carncross (7), 60 —46. (Semi-final —Misses E. Nutting and Pease (scr) beat Mesdamcs Berg and Weston (5) 60—52. COMBINED HANDICAP DOUBLES. Third round Mrs P... H. Jones and M R. Jones (7) beat Mrs Campbell and C. Collins (9) 60—58; Miss Powdrell and Powdrell heat Miss Wills and R. Wills by default; Mrs Heald and G \ "Wills (10) beat Mrs Hetet and Jones (10) 60 —42. _ Fourth round! —Mrs Heald and G. Wills (10) won from Miss Carncross and H. Wills by default.’ . Semi-final—Mrs Heald and G. Wills (10) beat Miss E. Nutting and Grant. (5) 60—37.