CHAMPIONSHIP TENNIS

Hawera Star, Volume L, 10 January 1931, Page 3

CHAMPIONSHIP TENNIS

NORTH ISLAND TOURNEY

WILSON BEATS STEDMAN. { SURPRISE IN MEN’S SINGLES. The North Island tennis championj ships wore continued at. New Plymoiuii . yesterday, with the courts in good eon- ; dition. Late in the afternoon rain bold ; lip play for a spell, but excellent pro- . gross was made. ; In tin* men’s singles Wilson brought : off a great surprise in defeating Stedman, the national champion, 6—4, 4 —6, 6 —o, after a most exciting game, in ■ which the spectators were on their toes the whole time. Earlier in the day Wilson brilliantly defeated Rhodes Williams, 6—3, B—ii, showing all-round form which augured well for liis success against any opponent. if only he could maintain it. Rhodes Williams strove hard to put Wilson off' liis usual game by varying his play. lull, the Wellington player was nor. to be denied and won out in straight sets. Wilson and Stedman started off in I heir semi-final in dashing style, and the champion quickly ran to a 3—l lead, his peerless forehand drive functioning splendidly.

The fourth game was hotly contested, and during one warm rally Stedman ; slipped and fell heavily. Wilson ulti- ! I mutely evened at 2 all, and by serving ’ in hurricane fashion and mixing up ■ fast drives with heavy chops ultimate-] . ly won the set at 6—L I [ Following the same tactics he led | again at 2—o, but the champion, put- , • ting forth every effort, drove like a demon to either corner and evened at 2 all. He continued to force the pace, and though Wilson strove all he knew and retrieved almost impossible balls time after time, ran out a good winner at 6 —4, to make it set. all. At the same time it was noticeable toward the end of the set that Wilson’s mixed game was slowing down the champion considerably. In the third set Wilson set up a brisk | offensive, and Stedman seemed to lose confidence. The ball was keeping very low on the slow court, and Stedman commenced to piay too carefully, with the result that he lost all length ,thus enabling Wilson to dominate the game ! and run out a good winner at 6—o. :

BARTLEET BEATS CHAPTERS. Another splendid early game was witnessed when Bartleet 'played Charters. The ex-champion won the first set at 6 —3, his driving on both wings and volleying to the forehand sideline being brilliant. He continued to force the pace in the second set, which was very tame and consisted mostly of outed returns which narrowly missed the side lines. Charters won at 6 —2. The .third set was a long struggle', Bartleet going for everything on the attach, and quickly ran to a 4—l lead, when his condition gave out. Charters brilliantly won the sixth game with two great passing shots, only to see Bartleet win the seventh to love with four untaken hie services. Charters then made a great attempt to save the day. chasing everything and forcing Bartleet into errors. He evened at 5 all and then went on to win Bartleet’s service to lead 6—o after deuce had twice been called. Bartleet twice, saved this game, once with- a service ace, and later with a marvellous passing shot from a seemingly hopeless position. Trailing 5 —G, Bartleet, though distressed, kept on forcing the pace, and keeping Charters on the run captured tlie latter’s service at 6 all. From then onward Bartleet led by the odd game until he ran out a good winner and a weary one at 10—8. EXCITING NET PLAY. lien France, playing in his old-time form, beat Charlie \\ eibster 6 —4 after a dashing game in which, some 1 exciting net play was witnessed. "Webster drove in hurricane fashion, hut France’s well-placed drop shots and heavily-sliced volleys proved his undoing. The match between Leu France and llartlept in the quarter-final was full of incident. .Bartleet won the first set 6 —l, but only after chasing France with heavily-chopped balls and shrewd-ly-placed! volleys all over the court, lie continued to. lead at 2—l in the second «et, at which stage lie was show- : nig signs of distress. lie, however, . managed to l win bis service to 30 to •■;ead 3—l. .France commenced to serve, tlie first point being won by Bartleet, who staggered as he went for the shot. Bartleet showed signs of sickness and offered to 'default, but France sportingly refused, and within three ■ minutes the game was resumed, France , being I—3 and love 15. The seventh I game was a., great tussle, deuce being called three times before [Franco. won his service to lead at 4—3. The eighth game was won by Bartleet after deuce had been called. France lost several points by trying to angle bis returns of services too acutely. The score was 4-all. in the ninth game Bart/ieet led 40—30 on his own service, and had match point, hut France, showing marvellous agility, deuced with a brilliant side-line passer and his opponent again faltering equalised at 5-all. France was about to serve when Bartleet suffered another bout of sickness, but lie returned to the fray. France served and Bartleet returned. France making no effort to return again. This happened lour times. hi tin* twelfth game the same thing happened, and Bartleet won file set and match at 6-—I. 7—5. leaving quite a nice point in tlie ethics of the game yet to be solved. In tlu> men's doubles Wilson and Stedinan overwhelmed Lnnipe and Charters, who were blown out at 6 —2. 6 —4, after a great exhibition of cyclonic hitting. In the women’s singles Mrs. Smith, suffering a reaction after her brilliant victories yesterday, was overwhelmed by Miss Kniglit. 6 —3, 6 —l. after loading 3 —l in the lirst set. The loser started brilliantly, but faded right away, her form being much below that of yesterday.

In the other seini-linal Miss Jean Ward, of -Stratford. a well-known junior champion, hit like one possessed to run Mrs. Melody 6—2. 6 —4. The loser actually led at 4 —2 in the second

lseL, scorin'' nniny brilliant placements, I hut Mrs. .Melody., with her back to the wall, cleverly mixed her game and, volleying and placing well, ran out a f winner at 6—2, 6 —i. TEAM WORK TRIUMPHS. In the hardest hitting women’s game in the tournament, in the women’s doubles, the Auckland champions, Misses Knight and Whitelaw. al'ier vanquishing Miss Ramsay and .Mrs. Smith o—t in the third set. went on to score a splendid win over Miss Mael'nrlano and Mrs. Melody in Ihe semi-liual. It was a* triumph of teamwork. Ihe winners combining splendidly. The losers won the lirsl set at 6—l and led 2—o. In the second the Auckland pair t hen asserted I hemselves and won eight games in a row, to lead 2—o. In the third set the losers pulled up to 2—3, only to see the next three games go to Misses Knight and Whitelaw after deuce had been called in each case. Miss Knight then lost her service. The ninth game and the match was ultimately won by Auckland after Miss Macfarlane led 40 —30 on her own service. The honours of the match went to Miss Whitelaw, who played magnificently and was ably backed up by her partner. The losers did not combine too well at any stage of the game. The final will be fought out between Misses Knight and Whitelaw and the New Plymouth pair. Mi sses Bundle and Taylor, who defeated the youthful Wanganui pair. Misses Pownall and Ziesler, 6 —2. 6—3. in the other quarter final. In the mixed doubles Wilson and Mrs. Melody defeated Clive Johns and Miss Knight, 6—l, B—6, after an exciting game, and entered the final by defeating Griffiths and Miss B. Grif-j fiths, 6—l, 6 —o. The latter pair entered the semi-final by defeating Dyer and Miss 8. Preedy at 9 —7 in the third sot of a long and interesting contest. Bartleet and Miss Macfarlane entered the final after defeating Hubble and Miss Taylor, B—6, 6 —3, and Lampe and Mrs. .Smith 6—3, 6—4, the latter game being played in the rain. Additional results are: CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS.

.M EN F SINGLES. ■Semi-finals.—N. R. C. Wilson boat A. IC. Stedman, 6—4, 4 —<>, 6—o; E. L. I Bartleet beat L. France. 6—l. 7—5. ! LADIES’ SINGLES. | Semi-finals. —Arts W. J. Melody beat Aliss J. Ward, 6—2, 6—4; Miss B. AT. j Knight beat Mrs C. Smith, (i —3, (i—l. j ATEN’S DOUBLES. Semi-final. —A. C. Stedman and N. R. 0. Wilson beat AT. L. Lampe and .T. G. Charters. 6—2, 6—l. LADIES’ DOUBLES. ! Semi-finals. —Aliases Bundle and Taylor beat Alisses Pownall and Zeisler, [ 6—2, 6—3; Alisses Whitelaw and Knight beat Airs W. J. Melody and Aliss Alacfarbtne, 4—6, 6—2, 6—3. COAIBINED DOUBLES. Semi-finals.-—-N. R. C. Wilson and Airs Alelodv beat E. W. Griffiths and Aliss B. Griffiths, 6—2, 6—o; E. L. Bartleet and Aliss Alacfarlane beat M. L. Lampe and Art's C. Smith, 6 —2, 6 —4. BOAbS’ SINGLES. Second round.—R. W. AVilson beat L. G. Therkleson, 6—5, 6—l. Semi-final.—N. Davys beat D. A. Smith, o'— j. o—s. GIRLS’ SINGLES.

Second round.—Miss Betty Griffiths teat Miss Broome, 6 —o, o—l. Semi-final. —Miss Graham heat Miss Hammond, (i—o, n—o. HANDICAP MATCHES. MEIN'S SINGLES. First round.—V. N. Hubble (ser) boat r. W. Armitage (ree. .13), (if)—s4. Second round.—L. Berg (owe 3) beat I. -Taeka (ree. 20), (if)—4s; A. Dickie ree. 12) beat A. .1. Christie (ree. 0), if)—43; 1,. H. Marchant won from It. r. Piekwell by default; K. P. Tompkins von from E. France by default; A. K. rurner (owe 4) beat N. Daves (owe 5), >o—49; V. N. Hubble (scr) beat E. iriffiths (ree. 15), GO—39; D. C. Coontbe scr) beat E. M. King (ree. 22), 60—49. Third round.— L. H. Marehant (ree. 0) beat E. Ogier (ree. 12), GO —53; A. \. Turner (owe 4) beat .T. Shaw (owe i), GO—36; K. W. Dwyer (ree. 12) beat P. Tompkins (ree. 14), GO—sß; E. serg (owe 3) beat H. B. Hardy (rec. ;). 60—55; V. N. Hubble (scr) beat D. ’. Coore.be (scr), 60 : —58; A. Dickie rec. 12) beat T. A. Macallan (rec. 16), 10—51. ' Fourth round.—A. Dickie (ree. 12) •eat K. W. Dyer (rec. 12), GO—s6; I>. Yrkins (scr) beat 11. L. Marclmnt (rec. (i), 60—50. LADIES’ SINGLES. First round. —Miss J. Ward (owe 5) ica't Miss M. Proedy (owe 5), 50—46. Second round.—Miss Betty Griffiths owe 3) boa t Miss Firth (rec. 10), 0 —44; Miss J. Coleman (rec. 25) beat ,liss (). Zeisler (rec. 25), 50—47; Miss t. Graham (ree. 15) beat Miss F. Best rec. 5), 50 —46; Miss E. Pepper (scr) icat Miss P. Pownall (rec. 12), 50: —41; .liss O. J. Taylor (owe 10) beat Miss . Ward (owe 5), 50—40. Third round.—Miss Pepper (scr) beat diss Coleman (rec. 25), 50 —37; Miss !. Preedv (owe 3) beat Miss Card (owe ), 50—36.

MEN’S DOUBLES. First Found. —E. M. King and J. S. • Daniels (rec. '2l) beat ‘G. P. Todd and ■ R. G. McKenzie (rec. 19), 60—18; E. Ogier and L. 11. 'Marchant (rec. 17) beat T. W. Arinitage and A. J. Christie (ree. 17), 60—56; AV. .7. Alellody and R. A. Court (owe 5) beat Paterson and Strom bom (rec. 5), 60—55. Second Round.—G. F. Atniore and K. : Ferkins (rec. 5) beat N. Hay-Campbell ’ and X. G>. Meuli (rec. 5), 60 —30); E. Ogier and L. 'IT. Marchant (rec. 17) beat Rogers and Davies (rec. 25), 60 — 5.1; J. S l . 'Daniels and E. M. .King (rec. 21) beat F. F. 'Ealfe and P. Ralt'e (rec, ; 15), 60—45. 1 Third Pound.—T. Rhodes-Williams and D. France (owe 20) beat E. Ogier and L. 11. Marchant (rec. 17), 60—54. LADIES’ DOUBLES. First Round.—Misses A. Graham and O. Kean (ree. 12) beat Aliases B. and B. Griffiths !(owe 3), 50 —37; Misses Todd and Card (rec. 2) be«.t Misses Mathieson and Maker (rec. 20), 50— 3‘6; Misses O'. <T. Taylor and J. AVard (owe 5; beat Misses Duncan and Best (rec. 3), 55—53. .'Second Round.—Misses R. Card and 1 S. Todd (rec. 2) beat Aliases Shaw and j Dell (rec. 15), 50 —+1; 'Aliases Allen and Brodie (rec. 18) beat Alias Hall I and Mrs L. S. Berg (rec. 5), 50—44; I Aliases Gay ton and Pepper (rec. 5) beat i Alisses Firth, and Aslin (rec. IS). 50— , 43. Semi-final. —Misses Todd and Card 1 (rec. 2) beat Alisses Allen and Brodie (rec. IS), 50—43.