BRILLIANT TENNIS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 3 January 1928, Page 2

BRILLIANT TENNIS.

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIPS. OLLIVIER MEN’S CHAMPION. i MISS SPEIRS BEATS MISS KNIGHT (by telegraph, press association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Jan. 2. ’ The New Zealand tennis championships concluded to-day in perfect wea- . ther at Wilding Park, Christchurch. The title holders for the year are: Men’s Singles. —G. Ollivier (CanteiMen’s Doubles. —E. L. Bartleet (Auckland) and J. T. Laurenson (WaiKato). _ _ Cadies’ Singles.—Mess M. Speirs (Canterbury). , Ladies’ Doubles. —Mrs. Adams and Miss Tracy (Wellington). Combined Doubles.—Miss Tracy and X. R. Wilson (Wellington). Boys’ Singles.—H. A. Barnett (Canterbury). . _ T , l Girls’ Singles. —Miss N. Fleming (Otago). New Zealand Plate. —C. Angas (Canterbury). Canterbury, therefore, secured the Anthony Wilding Cup with seven points, Wellington having four points, Auckland one, Otago one, Waikato one. MEN’S SINGLES. In the men's singles match the first set went to Ollivier without much .ditiieuity at (j—l. in the second game oi tlie set Bartleet was forced out of position twice, and was then beaten bysweet cross-court volleys. Tne second set saw Bartleet strike a better lengtn, but he was still being worked out of court, and Ollivier iiau aim completely baffled with delicate drop volleys. By these means Ollivier too a tlie second and third games. Bartleet took the fourth. jfinaJly. bartleet secured tne game and set witn a slow drag shot to Oifivier’s feet us lie was coming in, (j—4. In the tiurd set Bartleet’s play was inaccurate, several times smashing into the net. He was unable to keep up the pressure, and Ollivier won the set, b —J. Tlie fourth set was spectacular with rallies. In the fourth Bartleet twice led 4U —lb. in attempting to clinch cue game, lie lost tne next three points to “van out.” The Aucklander pressed naru, and fortunes fluctuated lo deuce, van in, deuce, van out, deuce, van out, deuce, and van out, tue game lie lost tlie next three being two all. Ollivier served, and tv as van out tnree times before capturing the next game. Bartleet was playing well, and winning tne ninth game witn a net cord shot that did not bounce, he won tlie fourth set at 6—J. With the set two all, Bartleet served, and lost from 30 —40. Ollivier made the second game his to love. For tne time being, anyway, he had full control again, and Bartleet was defending. Bartleet came to light, and with tne aid of a net cord snot and low skimming drive lie secured the third game in the fourth game. Oinvier was serving with a lot of cut. He won it, and red 3 —l. Bartleet nad to go Hard now. He took it from 40 —30, when Ollivier lobbed out. As ’ tne Aucklander rushed the net Ollivier served and was down 30—40. ’ Then Bartleet netted the drive, and I sent one out. Ollivier won the next point on brilliant placement, and the games were 4—2 m Ollivier’s favour, bartleet outplayed' his opponent, and made sure oi tne seventh with a crisp volley. Ollivier served, and could not get a point. At four all excitement j was fiigii. 1 Bartleet stepped into the ninth game ' with vigour, and took the game, when j Ollivier netted Bartleet, 5 —4. Ollivier D served and lost the first point on Bart--5 xeefc’s cross court drive. Then it was ' 15 ail, 30 —15, 40 —15, and the game 1 went to Ollivier with sweet placements. * The games were five all. Bartleet 3 served, and got three points early, but 1 then drove out. Forty-fifteen was " called; then 40—30; then deuce'; van t in to Bartleet. The game went to 3 Bartleet with a smash, and the Auck--3 lander led 6 —5. Ollivier served in the [ twelfth game, and led 30—15, 40 —15, o—3o.0 —30. A high drive by Ollivier went ‘ out, and deuce was called, but the ' Canterbury maji took the game by [ forcing Bartleet into errors. Six all. Bartleet served, and was down love 30, but got to 40 —30; tlien deuce, van in, deuce, van in, deuce, van out, game to Ollivier with side line drive, and at van in in the thirteenth game Bart- ; ieet slipped and appeared to st-raia 1 himself. Ollivier served and doublefaulted twice, and was down 15—40, tnen 30 —40; game to Bartleet through Ollivier driving out. At seven all Bartleet seemed the. more exhausted of the two, but he stuck to it, though slower on his feet. Ollivier, however won the game, and led B—7. On his service Oliiver led 15 love, 30 love, and 40 love. Bartleet drove out, and 01livier won the game, 9—7,- and the match, after a tremendous fight, amid rounds of applause. MEN’S DOUBLES. The final of the men’s doubles saw Knott and Sturt playing with great dash and initiative. They won the first set at o—3.0 —3. ’ In the later stages of the match over-anxiety spoiled tneir combination. Laurenson and Bartleet were very steady. In the second set, the third game saw Knott playing outstandingly well. His net work excelled anything seen previously. However, a. sequence of errors on the part oi his partner saw the other pair win faily easily at G —3. The first game of the third set- was notable for low backhand volleys’ by Laurenson.

Knott’s service was hot .and not a point was scored off it in the eighth game. Knott and Sturt won the set at 6 2. The fourth set found Laurenson’s net work improved out of sight, tricking his opponents time and again, and with a lead of 5-love, he was * largely instrumental in their winning the set 6—o.

Bartleet’is service opened the fifth set. Tie lost it quickly. There were lew rallies now, and all four went lor the winners. Sturt’s ,service failed him lor the: third time in succession, but the revenged himself the next game on Laurenson’is service, securing a lead of two games to one. Knott was next to drop the sendee, and games were 2-all. A stiff battle for the next game saw Bartleet hitting winners and lobbing with great accuracy. Ho and his partner Jed i;—p. Sturt served magnificently in the sixth game, and almost broke the spell against him, but the luck went the

other Tray. Bartleet and Lauren son led four to two. La ure ns on’s service added another game from 40-15. Now Knott served, and the tide turned for a time. He won the game, and the older pair were hut two games ahead. With Bartleet serving, Knott and Sturm' did not secure a point, and the set went to Bartleet and Laurenson, and with it the march and title. THE COMBINED FINAL.

The first six games of the combined final were characterised by perfect and effortless smashing and control at the net oil the part of Wlilson. Miss Tracy was playing a very dogged game. The eighth game saw ah amazing volleying rally between L, France and Miss Tracy in which the honours were all with Miss Tracey. Despite good work at the net by France' Mrs. Adams lost her service and the sot. Wilson, dropped his service at the opening of the third, set, and was down 3—4, Miss Tracy tiring a little, while Wilson went off a shade. France was o—4 and 30-15, but lost the advantage as Wilson came right back on his game, and his partner fought doggedly to win the set back. LADUthO’ blNbLlib. The final of the ladies’ singles between Mass fepeirs and Miss Knight did not lend atseh to. description. Miss apeirs dominated tiie play, having a. counter to every piece'oi eourtcrait by her opponent, .'mere were not many oriiliont shots by Miss fepeirs, who volleyed and smashed rarely, but just enough to show how an artist can do it. Miss Speirs attacked Miss Knight s forehand persistently, only slutting the attack when the backhand court invited a clean winner. Miss Spetirs lost the second game in the first set, and in the second set sue lost- the first game and fifth. NEW ZEALAND PLATE FINAL. In the New Zealand Plate final, Angus ran oAvay with the first set, Wilson seeming unable io get into his .stride, but at the opening of the second set lie pluyed conndently, and went to .a 5—4 lead, only to tne overhauled by’ Angas, who took the set at •; —5. The march showed some splendid clean hitting, Jbotu boys delighting the crowd with pretty ground strokes, bur Wilson was always erratic, and -Angus, maintaining his steadiness, took the third set at 6—A, and with it the match. The results are as follow :

Men’s singles final. —(I. Olliver beat S. L. Bartleet, 6—l, 4—6, 6—3, 3—6, 9—7.

Men’s doubles, final.—E. L. Bartleet and J. T. Laurenson beat L. N. Knott and N. G. Sturt 3—6, 6—3, 2 —6, 6—U, 6—3.

Ladies’ singles, final.—Miss M. Speirs beat Miss B. Knight, 6—l, 6— 2. Combined doubles, final, —Miss Tracy and N. B. Wilson beat Mrs. Adams and L. France, 6—2, 5—6, 7—5. New Zealand Plate, fourth round.— Walker beat Sheppard 6—3, 4—6, 6—4, 9—7. Semi-finals. —Wilson beat Bagge, 6—2, 6—2, 7—5; Angus' beat Walker, 6—2, 6—2, 6—l. Fiual.—rO. Angus beat N. 11. Wilson, 6—o, 7—5, 6—4. NORTH TABANAKI TOURNEY. MANY CHAMPION'S COMPETING The annual tennis tourney opened this morning in New Plymouth, and will this year be one of tlie mast interesting yet held by that, association because/in addition to the best of Taranaki players, Bartleet, the runner-up for the New Zealand men’s championship, Lumps (Wanganui), N. C. R. Wilson (Wellington), Griffiths (Auckland), Wallace and Dickie (Waverley), J. B. Parker (Wellington), will be present and competing. Amongst the ladies, which will be a very' strong section, will be Mesdamcs Melody Wellington) and Scott-Watson (Auckland) and Misses Myers (Wanganui), Tracy' (Wellington), Ramsay (Auckland), Barltrop (Feilding), Calver (Wanganui), and Bundle and Brewster (New Plymouth). Prominent pairs in the ladies ’ doubles are Miss Tracy and Mrs Melody', Misses Myers and Calver, Misses Ramsay and Brewster, and Mrs Scott-Watson and Miss .Slornan.

The combined' doubles competitions include Wilson and Hiss Tracy the New Zealand champions), Melody' and Mrs Mclady, Webster and Mrs Seott-Wat-son, Lainpe and Miss Myers, and Wallace and Miss Brewster.

Competitors in the boys in the boys’ singles are Drew (last year’s champion at New Plymouth), McCarthy (who won at Hawera last week), Mitchell Hawke’s Bay champion last year), A. Dickie and S. White. The competitors in the girls’ singles include Misses Nutting and Cave. Leading men’s pairs will be Griffiths and Bartleet (Auckland), Lampe and Parker, Wallace and Dickie, Webster and Richards, Meuli and Hay-Campbell, Mitchell and- Sellar, G. Powdrell and W. Melody. Among the singles competitors will be Miss E. Buist, Miss M. Nutting, Mis s D. Hawken, Miss M. 'Cave and Messrs Wills (2), iSheild '2 (Patea), J. J. McCarthy, C. O. Edmunds, A. Dickie, L. Des Eorges and R. Julian.