LAWN TENNIS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIV, Issue 45, 1 February 1924, Page 3

LAWN TENNIS.

WAIPAWA TOURNAMENT.

YESTERDAY’S PERFORMANCES. (Special to “Tribune.’’) Waipawa, Jan. 31. The Provincial Championships at Waipawa are being continued in fine, dry weather, and there has been no rain since the untimely thunderstom on Monday—a visitation that swept the courts clean and converted the adjoining croquet lawn into a swimming pond. Appearances at noon to-day give the impression that although the sky is overcast the fine weather will hold. Even if it does, however, there may be difficulty in concluding the tournament by its appointed time, to-morrow night. Generally the management appears to have grappled pretty successfully thedifficult problems that confront the organisers of a tennis tournament; but players have been heard to complain that matches hvae not oeen expedited quite as they might have oeen, several who are entered in all events having to wait long periods between matches. The courts are level, and playing very accurately, but recent rains have tended to make tthem a little too green and slow.

Good tennis has been exhibited particularly by the ladies, who in boih singles and doubles have played many hard matches with keen rallies and forceful driving. Although the men’s championship series has not yet advanced very far it seems possible at this stage to forecast that the winner may be either K. Walker (Dannevirke) or S. Powdrell (Wanganui). Powdrell. it will ibe remembered, held the title two years ago. Last season it was wrested from him at Hastings by the present holder, Walker. It would not be surprising if these two meet iu the final at Waipawa. Both are playing well, Powdrell s work being notable for his characteristic strategy and steadiness, while Walker 1 has lost none of the fiery attack and deadly overhead work for which he has been well known in the past. With his partner, M. Cowper. Walker put out from the championship doubles a Hastings pair, Maitland and Curtis. The latter pair, however, refused to submit without a struggle and ran the crack Dannevirke combination to 7—5 in the second set. Maitland was inclined to be overhitting, putting more beyond the back line than is usual with him. Some of his sharply-angled cross court shots, on the contrary, were untakeable. Generally the match, expected to demonstrate bright tennis, was disappointing to the onlookers, whose anticipations of (brilliant rallies were in. the main unfulfilled.

This morning Maitland met and defeated Dr. Short, 6—3, 6 —3. In the first set the games went to 3 all, but with superior tactics and placing Maitland thereafter took command.

J. Hay, of Hastings, meets R. Walker in the second round of the singles championship to-day, and will probably go under. Goring-Johnston, oi Palmerston North, was his victim in the first round. With Hobin

(Napier) Hay has reached the third round of the men’s doubles, in which they next meet the Powdrells (father and son) in what should prove a spectacular and interesting match kter to-day. Hay and Hobin in their second round match beat McKenzie brothers. They played bright tennis throughout and went to the net on all possible occasions. It seems probable that the doubles final will be (between the Powdrell pair and Walker and Gowper. Those two combinations appear to be about the best present at the tournament. Some very fine form, however, has been disclosed by younger players, and possibly comparatively unknown pairs may upset calculations. H. Hassall and Miss R. Dallas, who won their first round match in the combined championships, are both playing good tennis. The best combined double seen so far has been Maitland and Miss Craig, opposed to Walker and Miss A’Deane, a match that resulted in an unexpected victory for the former pair, and should at once place them among the favourites for the title. Maitland was in brilliant form, volleying beautifully from all parts of the court, and he was well supported by his partner. So good was the tennis displayed throughout that the match attracted many witnesses and was regarded throughout with, keen interest. A high, gusty wind was the only disagreeable feature of the afternoon’s tennis at Waipawa yesterday. Other wise conditions were splendid, the et urts playing true, and the atmosphere cool and dry, and the ten courts engaged were kept operating so actively all the afternoon that much of the time lost through earlier delays was overtaken. Nevertheless it is practically

impossible that the matches finish in all sections by Friday night. A circumstance -which will delay many Hastings entrants, and prevent their being present on time when the Hastings tournament begins. From the welter of matches to be played at the outset of such a tournament. however, there are now emerged d> finite indications of who will contest the finals in each group. It appears, f< r instance, that Wilson and Drummond, Walker and Cowper, and the two Powdrells, will be a trio close to the honours in men’s doubles, and of tkv three pairs probably Cowper and Walker are most favoured. Yesterday they displayed in all thcii performances brilliant volleying both aproachinging and at the net, and strengthened the hopes of their supporters. Walker, individually as well as in the combination, was generally the sounder of the pair. Indeed Cowper away from his well-known partner did not often appear at all formidable. As a matter of fact Walker’s singles have been so impressive that he is most fj-neied for the singles championship, and this despite the presence at Waipawa of Wilson, the young and dashing \\ oliington player who beat him in the final at Dannevirke. Playing Hay in the second round of the singles yesterday Walker commenced uncertainly. Hay passed him down the sidelines several times, brilliantly; and Walker began to serve doubles. With Hay leading 2—l it appeared in the early stages that a surprise might result. But the Hastings player failed to sustain the pace. Walker settled down, playing brilliantly back and fore hand, and ran oufc 6—2. He was ar. times lucky, but controlled his shots better in the violent wind, and was as sisted by Hay’s failure at the net. But It was throughout a better contest than the actual scores would indicate.

Wilson, the Wellington pluyer, a seroius contender for championships in both singles and doubles, proved himself popular with the spectators because he is brilliant and spectacular overhead, rarely failing to kill anything in the nature of a short lob absolutely stone dead.

The Powdrell pair seemed up against a remarkably tough proposition in Green and Martin. The latter pair, one of the Dannevirke and the other of Martinborough, took the first set and led 2—o, 3 —l in the second. At that stage Green was playing beautiful tennis, smashing with great severity, and letting nothing pass at the net. But the Powdrells steadied up, the younger one especially playing well, and though they had to fight for every point they finally won the second and third sets, 6—4. S. Powdrell throughout was unimpressive. He lost many chances :it the net, and was not notably suecess|ful with his driving. T. Powdrell. on the other baud, played well ail day. He easily defeated Blundell, 6 —3, 6 —3, in- a later match with T. Wilder was responsible fur some of the brightest teiiiu.s .) et seen iu the tournament. He won the first set, 1 6 —o, a score which, completely fails to indicate the exceptional duration and keenness of the rallies. Wilder was maintaining a beautiful length, and swinging his drives from corner to corner accurately. But Powdrell sent' everything back, half-volleying well utj times, and approached the net at every! opportunity to smash. The second set also w r as his, 6—4, after Wilder had led most of the way, and the match, unoj of the most interesting of the day’stennis, -was vigorously applauded at its' conclusion.

The Hastings pair, Maitland and Curtis, lost their handicap doubles in an extraordinary way. Leading at 59 —57, Maitland serving, the r dropped the match through four consecutive uoubles. cutive doubles.

Many consider Barkman (Wellington) will be dangerous in the men’s singles. He is among the first ten on the Wellington Association ladder, and as such should be well in the running. His tennis, though, is more steady than brilliant, and does not attract popular notice. With Mrs Barkman he yesterday eliminated McKenzie and Miss Kennedy, a very good mixed combination. Miss Kennedy was playing well all day. and is about the most agressive lady player competing. Her volleying and forehand driving to-day aroused much favourable comment. Miss M. Ormond is another young but fast-improying lady. The accuracy and steadiness of her drives was well demonstrated in her match with Miss O. McLeod (Waipawa). Mrs Green (Dannevirke) played fine tennis in beating Miss Carlyon decisively. Though she rarely advanced to the net she drove with delightful precision, and used the side-lines well with speed.v shots. The details results of to-day’s play were as follows;— Men’s Championship Singles.—First round: Wilson beat W. Johnston. 6—4, 7—5; Maitland beat Short. 6—3 6 —3; Cameron won by default: A. Wilder beat Haldane. 6—3. 6—3; J. Blundell beat Ted Ormond. 6—l, 6—2; J. Powdrell beat Gregory. 6—2, 10—8: Drummond beat H. Rathbone, 6—o, 6—l; Lewis a bye; W. McKenzie beat R. Johnstone, 6—2. 6—2; S. Powdrell beat J. Hunter. 6—o, 6—l; F. D. Mackie beat J. Ormond. 6—4. 6—9; Hassall beat L. Limbrick, 6—2. 6—3; Hay beat G. Johnston, o—2. 6—3; R. Cowper beat Morris, o—o.’ 6—3; J. Martin won bv default; E. G. Williams beat Cowan B—6. 6—2; Ballinger beat J. Armstrong 6—3. 6—3; F. Williams beat E. Haldbne. 4—6. 6—4. o—3; W. Tod beat Birth. 6—o, o—o. Second round: Wilson won by default. Third round: Wilson beat Cameron. 6—o,

Men’s Championship Doubles.— Second round: Johnstone Bros, beat Morris and F. Williams, 6—l. o—l ; Drummond and Wilson beat Blundell and Haldane O—l. o—3; A. S. Wilder and E. G. Williams beat Mackie and Ormond. 6—l. 4—o. 6—4; Powdrell and Son beat Green and W. Martin, 6—B. 6—4. 6—3: Walker and M. Cowper beat T. Wilder and Ted Ormond, 6—2. 6—-2. Third round : Drummond and Wilson beat Johnston© Bros.

Ladies’ Championship Singles—-First round: Miss Mcßae beat Mrs Short, 6—2. 6—4; Miss A. Ormond beat Mrs Bruce. 6—o; Miss G. Nelson beat Miss Warren. 6—o. 0—1; Miss M. Kennedy beat Miss S. Williams. 6—o, 6—l; Miss Butterfield beat Miss Crampton, 6—2. 6—o; Miss M. Ormond beat Miss M. Johnston. 6—3; Miss D. Hassall beat Miss Morrison, 6—l, ft—s; Mrs Green beat Miss Grant, 6—4 6—2; Miss O. Carlyon won by default.

Combined Championship Doubles.— First round: F. Mackie, and Mrs Harker beat V. Hobin and Miss Astle. 6—2, 6—4. Second round,: Mr. and Mrs Woods beat Hilton and Miss Limbrick; O. Rathbon© and Miss D. Lindsay beat Gregory and Miss McLeod, 6—3. 6— l; Mr. and Mrs Green beat Ballinger and Miss S. Ormond. 6—l, 6—2; W. Tod and Mrs Bruce beat Fraser and Mrs Fraser, 6—l. 6—3; Maitland and Miss Craig beat K. Walker and Miss A’Deane, 6—4; Mr. and Mrs Martin beat Wilson and Miss Hume. 6—4 3—6. 10—8; Barkman and Mrs Barkman beat Mackie and Mrs Harker 6—l. 6—3; Drummond and Miss Mcßae beat Jull and Miss M. 6—2. 6—o. Third round: Mr. and Mrs Wood beat H. Rathbone and Miss McKenzie. 6—3, 6—5; Drummond and Miss Mcßae beat Hassall and Miss Dallas. 6—l,

6—2: Powdrell and Miss Ormond beat J. Ormond and Miss Hunter, 6—2, Ladies’ Championship Doubles.— First round: Mrs Woods and Miss McBeth beat Mrs D. Fraser and Miss Barker. 6—3. 6—2. Second round : Misses Pickett and B. Limbrick beat Misses Hassall and Armstrong. 6—3, 6—3; Mrs Woods and Miss Mcßeth beat Miss A’Deane and Miss Carlyon. 6—2. 6—l. Third round: Mrs Woods and Miss Mcßeth beat Misses Ormond and Hunter. 6—4. 6—o: Misses Ormond and Craig beat Misses Hobson and Daniel, 6—4, 6—o.

Men’s Handicap Singles (second grade).—First round: W. J. Wood .(25) beat J. Mawson (6). 60—57; Lewis (ow© 5) beat R. B. Johnstone (6), 60— 59; J. Tod (14) beat Oakenful (18),

60—54; J. Hunter (9) beat R. Baker (6) 60—56; D. Lethbridge won by default; Meha (6) beat A. Jull (12), 60—50; Bond (20) beat Birch (5). 60—26; F. Jull (10) beat Amner (17). 60—37; F. Ormond (25) beat Davidson (9), 60—51; Holt (14) beat Smith (ow© 5), 65—42. Men’s Handicap Doubles.—First round: H. Rathbone and Woods (IP

beat Birch and Ballinger (13). 60—53; Drummond and Wilson (owe 15) beat Barkman and J. Martin (owe 12), 75—73; Walker and M. Cowper (owe 20) beat Hunter and Morrah (23), 80—76; Tickner and D. Lethbridge (18) beat Oakenful and F. Ormond (26). 60—49; Armstrong Bros. (12) beat C. Rathbone and F. Lethbridge 60—56. Second round: Armstrong Bros. (12) beat Tickner (18). 60—51. Third round: T. Wilder and Ted Ormond

(12) beat Armstrong Bros. (12). 60—

ijadies’ Handicap Singles.—First round: Mrs Martin and Miss Morrison ayes; Miss Hill (2) beat Mrs Baker 13). 50—48; D. Lindsay (scr) beat Miss Asti© (scr). 50—-28; Miss Will (18) neat Miss Armstrong (5), 50—41. Combined Handicap Doubles.—First round: A. Johnstone and Miss Carlyon (12) beat J. Powdrell and Miss Baker (ow© 5), 65—48; R. Cowper and Miss Grant (3) beat D. Lethbridge and Miss Lethbridg© 60—39; Evans and Mrs Pickett (15) beat Holt and Miss D. Kittow (25), 60—58. Second round: T, Wilder and Miss G. Nelson (14) beat J. Tod and Miss Z. Garry (20). 60— 52; A. S. Wilder and Miss M. Ormond (6) beat Ted Ormond and Mrs Heald (8), 60—49; K. Walker and Miss V. A’Deane (owe 4) beat F. Jull and Miss M. Lindsay (17). 60—47; Curtis and Miss H. Hill (5) beat F. Lethbridge and Miss Mcßeth (8). 60—43. Third round: W. Tod and Mrs Bruce (8) beat Hilton and Miss Limbrick (10). 60—51.