LAWN TENNIS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume III, Issue 11, 24 December 1912, Page 2

LAWN TENNIS.

ENGLISH TEAM v. NEW ZEALAND. SECOND DAY'S PLAY. SOME FIRST’ ( LASS TENNIS. Auckland, Dee. 23. The test matches between the New Zealand and English Davis Cup winners were continued this uternocn in the presence of a large crowd of spectators. The courts were in goed order and some firstclass piny was witnessed. Ncw Zealand shewed up much bottc-r than on the previous day, winning two matches and closely contesting the others. THE SINGLES. The first match, between. Swan-stc-n and Beamish, was a good contest, gaining the honour of taking the first set against the Englishmen. The first set went Jo Beamish, 6—J. Swanston gaining tlie second, 6 —L ewidg cliieiiv to his good service, and Beamish the third, 6—l. Ollivier was in great form in his match with Loire, bis service being almost unplayable, while his ground and overhead work were first-clans. He easily annexed the first set 6—3. taking three love games. His short lobs had Lowe thinking hard. lie showed great judgment in placing his strokes in tho earlier part-- o c ■T.o second set, which was move :•!: sely contostid. and tho tme 1 e -.•r.n to 3 all; but. Olliv.'or t><ok the next three games, winning the set 3—3, and the match. Dixon, tho English captain, proved altogether too good H:- Peacock. The latter put up a good fight for th? first set and won four games to Dixon’s two. Th;' Englishman, hr-wever. won the next four and annexed th r set, 6-----!. In the second set Dixon gave a taste cf his tree form and won, 6—o. Peacock gaining only a single ace, Parke was in good form against Fisher, whom he defeated, 6 —2. 3—2, although Fisher put up a much better fight than the score would indicate. Parke placed his balls with great precision, and was particularly brilliant in his driving. THE DOUBLE,'!.

The doubles match between Lowe and Beamish and Fisher and 0.1-livier livier was the best of the afternoon. Fisher in particular playing fine tennis. His overhead smashing and volleying was a feature of the con-1 tost. He .received little help from the Canterbury man until near the end, when Ollivier recovered his usual form and the pair then went out. The New Zealanders had much the best of the first sei( which they won, 6—4, but the Englishmen equalised the scores by taking the next, 6—4. The third set provided a great contest, and sixteen games to be played before the New Zealanders finally got to 9 —7, taking the set and the match, a great drive by Fisher proving the winning stroke. The Wellington man played .vitli great dash and accuracy throughout. The light was failing when Swanston and Peacock lock the court against Parks and Dixon, but some fine tennis, nevertheless, resulted. The Englishmen took the first tame, but the second ran to deuce no less than eight times before tho Now Zealanders won from Dixon’s service. The set ultimately went to *he Davis Cup champions, 6 —4. The Wellington men started off with great vim in the second, win ning the first three games, the Englishmen gaining only o»e ace I' three games. Swanston and Pea cock, by accurate play, took the score to--2,5 —2, but the Englishmen then played up> to their best form and won the next five games, taking the set, 7 —5, and the match: CHAMPTCNSHIP MEETING AT HASTINGS. Preparations for the Now Zealand and Australasian tennis championships. which .'ire to lie played at Hastinvs, are nr.w well in lir.nd. and the booking of scats has been vm.-y l-isk. The New Zealand championships ecmincnee on Boxing Dry and conr:m.o until Hi? 23th instant. The Australasian championships commence on Mcndciy, 30th instant, and continue until NewYear’s Day.