TENNIS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 30 December 1927, Page 3

TENNIS.

DOMINION TOURNEY

GAMES IN HOT WEATHER SOMEI SPLENDID CONTESTS. (by association.) OHIUSTOHUBCH, Dec. 29. The hottest weather yet prevailed for the fourth day of the New Zealand tennis championships and several competitors, in the morning particularly, showed signs of exhaustion,. Both semi-finals in the ladies’ singles were kneely fought and full of excitement. Miss Knight, of Auckland, surprised nearly everyone by defeating last year A champion, Mrs Adams, of Wellington, taking the third set by six games to- one. She volleyed and smashed her way to victory and will meet Miss Speirs to-morrow in the final.

The other semi-final between Miss Speirs and Mis® Marjorie McFarlane was remarkable for the gruelling second sec of 24 games that was won by Miss MaoFarlane. Miss Speirs seemed to be run off her feet. However, her former 'brilliancy was in evidence in the final set, and though down once 4—5, she won 7—5 by delightful driving and captured the match. Miss 1 MacFarlane put up a splendid fight. She never gave up hope and was only aoed by shots that hit the chalk.

_ Mrs Adam® and Miss Tracy (Wellington) won the final of the ladies’ doubles championship, beating Misses Speirs and Partridge, who retired in the second set owing to Speirs’ bad health.

The' best of the men’s singles semifinals was that in which G. Ollivier beat N. G. Sturt 6—4, 6—3, 6—2. It was fast and spectacular tennis all through, with Sturt ever trying to attack and frequently succeeding Ollivier had to play at top to win. Laurenson wag weak and unenterprising against Bartleet, wild won 6—2, B—6, 4—l (Laurenson retired). Four Aucklanders will contest the final of the men’s doubles ohampionshipship, Knott and Sturt versus Bartleeb and Laurenson. The result will depend a great deal on Laurenson’s condition. Both pairs had to. battle through five-set matches in the semifinal® to-day. The new title holder in the boys’ championship singles is H. A. Barnett, who learned tennis in Canterbury but has lately ibeen resident in the. Chatham Islands. He ivas a football, cricket, tennis and fives champion while a scholar at the Anglican Cathe dral Grammar School in Christchurch.

Miss Nancy Fleming (Otago) won the girls’ championship singles. She has a good, free style.

BARTLEET DEFEATS LAURENSON

In tlie men’s singles semi-finals against Bartleet, Laurenson, as usual, I Kigali badly, mkising the lines by beet. He lost the first lour games, won the fifth and lost the sixth on his own service. Bartleet was driving with great .speed and accuracy and Lauren son's famous backhand wa s not in the picture. Bartleet secured the set 6—2. Laurcnson had simply been defending. The strong north-west wind spoiled the tennis to some extent, carrying many balls out. Bartleet still made fewer errors and led 3—2 in the second set, then 4 —2 and 5 —2. He was far superior. Laurenson took the eighth game and the ninth by reducing his percentage of errors. Bartleet now led 5—4. Laurenson won his service, making; the score 5 all, but it was poor tennis. Bartleet took the set at B—6. The third set saw Laurenson retire when the games were 4—l against him. He had shown poor form and .seldom attacked. His efforts to retrieve ail kinds of bails simplv exhausted him.

In the other semi-final, Ollivier found Sturt a harder proposition than Don France was on Thursday. After taking the first two games he was closely pressed to a lead of /> —4- Sturt’s fast .spinning; service won the Aucklander several clean'aces and at other times his concealed forehand drive feift Ollivier waiting on the wrong side of the court. It was a change for Ollivier to he outgeneral led. The Canterbury man, however, won the set 6—4. The second set produced more .Spectacular tennis. Ollivier went off with a 2—'love lead. Sturt won the third gamp by fast serving and driving and almost the fourth with Ollivier down 30—40, but he tried for too much, pace, and soon three games behind. Ollivier served .in the sixth game, double faulting twice and lost it. Sturt- made a great effort and won his service and was 4—3, hut one game behind. He could not keep it ur>, and Ollivier gained the svet -at 6—3 after many bright rallies. In the third set Ollivier was seldom able' to take things easily, though he won eventually 6 —2. Sturt relied on speed and again scored many clean points. The only difference between this and the nroviorws sets was that he drove more out when going foir winners. He nutup «. remarknhloi fight, the best to date against Ollivier at this tournament. MISS SI’EJIIS EXHAUSTED. Mrs Adams and Miss Tracy arc the new holders of the ladies’ doub'es championship. Miies Speirs and [Miss Hartridge retired in the second owing to Miss Speirs-’ exhausted state as the result of hard singles in the morning. The Canterbury pair made a poo-r ©bowing, had little combination and no snap. Mrs Adams was in fine form. In the semi-final of the men’s doubles Bartleet and Laurenson took the match against Peacock and 'Wilson after five sets that were enlivened by bright voi-ey-ing ralliras, though Bartleet was the oiilv player of the four to show consistent form right through. He missed very few and served magnificently. In fact his good pay carried Lauremson through at critical times. Peacock was effective near the net, but Wilson grew erratic towards the end. He. ©mashed out repeatedly, and the last .set went to the Auckland players 6 —2. They deserved the victory.

Bown one set- to two against Ivnott and: Sturt (Auckland), Lampei and Mali'l'oy showed splendid form in the third .set. and led by five games to two. Ma.lf.rov’s smashing from close in was a feature. Sometimes he sent the ball hurtling over the/ stands. Knott and Sturt- were .inclined lo be erratic. They worried over foozled shots and that made matters worse. Lamps suid Malfroy dropped another game*, but hold the set at 6—3. The last set was the fiercest yet, smashes and hard drives predominating. Sturt lost the first game on his Then Malfroy served and won to love. The third game went to the Auckland pair. It was now a tost to see if Lampe could win his service and secure the useful lead of 3—l. He led 40—15 and 40 — 30 and secured the game by a smash to fiie base-line. Sturt served ©pendidly, and Lnmpe’s lead was l-educe-d to 3—2. Malfroy lost his service and the games were even. Knott collected two beautiful service aces and this helped to put the Aucklanders ahead. for the first time this set by four games to three. The eighth game went against Lampe and Malfroy- Sturt next had to serve,

and made full use of it, winning from 40 —15 .and taking the 6 et and the match. It was a first-class display. On his form to-day, Sturt is one of the Dominion’s most promising players.

Additional scores were : LADIES’ SINGLES. Semi-final. —Miss Knight beat Mrs. Adams, 3 —o, 6 —4, 6 —l. MEN’S SINGLES. Semi-final. —Bartleet beat Laurenson, 6 —2, B—G,8 —G, 4 —l (Laurenson retired) ; Ollivier beat Sturt, G —4, G —3, G —2. MEN’S DOUBLES. Semi-final. —Bartleet and Laurenson beat Peacock and Wilson, 5 —7. 6 —3, 6 —l, o—6, 6 — 2; Sturt and Knott beat Lainpe and Malfroy, 6 —4, 2 —6, B—4,8 —4, 3 —-6, 6 —3. LADIES’ DOUBLES. Final. —Mrs. Adams and Miss Tracy beat Misses Speirs and Partridge, 6—4, 2—l (Misses Speirs and Partridge retired). COMBINED DOUBLES. Second round.—Mrs. Adams and L. France beat Miss Ward and Angus, G —l, 6—l; Miss Macfarlane and Sturt beat Miss Johnston and Browning, 3 —4, 7 — 5; Miss iMeyers and Lampe beat Miss Partridge and Patterson, L2—lo, 6—2. Third round. —Miss Andrew and Seay beat Miss East and Greenwood, .j—3, 6 —3; Miss Tracy and Wilson beat Miss Knight and Knott, B—6,8 —6, 6—l. BOYS’ CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES. Final. —H. A. Barnet (Canterbury) •beat R. A. Rowe (Wellington), 5—6, j—l, 6—4. URLS’ CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES. Final. —Miss Fleming (Otago) beat Miss Dini (Canterbury), G —3, 6 —4.

NEW ZEALAND PLATE. Third round. —Hay beat Field 6—4, lo—B (Field retired); Pearse beat Moore by default. A REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENT. NAPIER, Dec. 29. The achievement of T. R. Williams .it the. Hastings tennis tournament which concluded to-day was rather remarkable. He won the men’s championship singles, and, with a partner, J. Scott (Wellington), the championship doubles and handicap doubles. iVilliams also won the combined championship and handicap doubles, with Miss Nancy Howell (Napier). For want of time he defaulted in the ‘landicap singles. Miss Howell, besides two doubles victories with Williams, Avon the ladies’ championship and handicap doubles with Miss Oimond (Napier). The ladies’ singles final Avas won by Miss Ormond.

HAWERA TOURNEY COMPLETED.

CHAMPIONSHIP AND HANDICAP RESULTS.

The finals of the combined doubles and handicap events in the Hawera tourney were completed yesterday afternoon. The results were as follows:

Combined doubles championship.— Final: G. Wills and Miss Wills beat H. Wills and Mrs Wills 6—o, B—6. Combined doubles handicap.—Final: Morrison and Miss Cooper beat C. Collins and Mrs Collins 60—45.