TENNIS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 29 December 1927, Page 9

TENNIS.

DOMINION TOURNEY. FURTHER RESULTS. (BY TELEGRAPH-PRESS ASSOCIATION.) CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 29. The New Zealand tennis championships were continued in hot weather. The courts were very fast. Results were as under: — COMBINED DOUBLES. First round: Miss Andrew and Seay beat Miss Dallas and Hay 6—2, 6 1; Miss Myers and Lampo beat Miss Wake andi Walker, 6—l, 4—6, B—6.8 —6. Second round: Miss Tracy and Wilson beat Miss Ramsay and Pearse, 6 —l, 6 —3. BOYS’ SINGLES. Semi-finals: Howe beat McCasey 6 3—6, 6—3; Barnett beat Cant 6—l, 6—2. GIRLS' SINGLES. Semi-finals: Miss Fleming beat Miss Longinore 6—l, 6 —4; Miss Dini heat Miss Rudkin 5—6, 6—5, 7 —5. NEW ZEALAND PLATE. Third round: Ba-gge beat Prebble 2—6, 3—6, 6—l, 7—5, 6—2; Sheppard beat Robinson 6—4, 3—6, 3 —6, 6—4, 6—2. Fourth round: Angus beat Tait 6—3, G —3, 6 —o. COMBINED DOUBLES. Second round: Miss Andrew and Seay beat Mrs Melody and Melody 6 —2, I—6, 6—3. LADIES' SINGLES. Semi-finals: Miss Speirs beat Miss Macfarlane, 6 —3, 11—13, 7—5. MEN’S DOUBLES. Third round: Malfroy and Larnpe beat France and France 2—6, 6—3, 7 6—o. NOTES ON THE PLAY. CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 29. In the ladies’ semi-finals, Mrs Adams and Miss Knight began slowly. With the games two-three against her, Miss Knight came to the net successfully three times in succession and evened the scores. Mrs Adams’ driving lacked its usual length, but she put on the pace and won her service by a lead of 4—3. Then Miss Knight lost her accuracy. Mrs Adams attacked vigorously at the opening of the second sot and won the first game by clean smashing from the fore court. Mrs Adams took the next by severe drives to the side lines, slightly cut. Miss Knight could not hold the service in the third- game, but she won the fourth by stinging returns to the corners; two all. Four all was called later. Miss Knight disconcerted her opponent by anticipation at the net and angled shots to the vacant corner. Mrs Adams was slow at getting back in position, and Miss Knight won the set, G —4. Miss Knight led 3—l in the third set and from then on Mrs Adams never looked like winning. She lacked vigour and Miss Knight won the set G—l and the match. It had ibeen played in intense heat the finish was tame.

Miss 1 Speirs, playing Miss- Macfarlanc, was clearly superior in the first set, which she took G—3. Tfiiere were mainly good hard driving rallies, but Miss Speirs had more pace; also she was quicker to rush to the net and more effective with finishing shots. Miss Macfarlane, though often defending, sent in many beautiful sidte liners and won applause for her pluck. Beautiful tennis marked the second set. Miss Macfarlane played better than in the first set, repeatedly outwitting Miss Speirs. Her returns off almost impossible shots were wonderful. The Auckland girl ran to a lead of 3 —-1, but could not hold it owing to Miss Speirs clapping on the pace and v-olley-irig for winners across court. Miss Macfarlane, serving, lost the sixth game to love, and Miss Speirs also took the seventh. Miss Macfarlane next won a love game on service. They were four all. In the ninth game Miss Spears led 40-love and won it from 40/15 to a lead of five games to four. This was the critical stage for Miss MacFarlane. She served hard with the wind and evened to five games all by fine play, and tsen captured Miss Speirs’ service and was a game ahead. She lost the twelfth to love by driving out. Six all, then seven all was called and eight all. It was a -hard tussle, with Miss Macfarlane lasting better, but Miss Speirs steadied up and won. the next two games to a lead of 10 —9. Miss Macfarlane served and was down 15/30. There was a critical stage again, but she ivon the game by accurate driving; ten all. Miss' Speirs led 11/10 only to lose the twenty-second game. It was Miss Macfarlane’s turn next. She led 12/11 and 40/30 on her own service, and -then ran in. Miss Speirs drove out and Miss Macfarlane got the set 13 —11, with one set to go. The last set between Miss Speirs and Miss Macfarlane was exciting. Miss Speirs, refreshed by a spell, soon drew into a lead of four games to two, and almost made it 5—2, but Miss Macfarlane found lier length and direction again and won three games on end to a lead of 5—4. The rallies were fast. Miss Speirs rattled on more pace and led six games to five, 40-love. The last -ball of the match she drove straight down the line and won the game, set and match, 6—3, 11—13, 7 —5.

HAWEEA TOURNEY.

The Hiaweri'a Tennis tourney was continued this morning in dull weather. Tire final of tire men’® handicap singles A. grade. Wais played* and the semi-final of the combined handicap* doubles. The finals of the combined championship doubles iand the combined handicap singles have yet to be played. Results were as follow : Mien’s Singles (A. Grade) Handicap. Final: McF'arlane (8) beat O. Collins (4) 70—65. Combined Doubles Semi-final: O. Collins and Mrs Collins (10) beat Pease and Mass Nutting (5) 60—50.