LAWN TENNIS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 24, 28 December 1925, Page 5

LAWN TENNIS

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIPS PLAY ON OPENING DAY. (Per Press Association.') CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 27. . Tho New Zealand Lawn Tennis Championships commenced on Saturday morning on the United Club’s courts, fifteen of which were in use. The weather was brilliantly clear after the Christmas rain, and the lawns true and hard. A light nor’-wester did not develop sufficiently to interfere with play, but the day was oppressively hot and this probably accounted for the fact that play generally was a little below expectations. NOTABLE DEFEATS. The first two rounds of the men’s championship singles were completed, leaving sixteen men in. Tho two surprises of tho meeting were the defeat of Page, formerly of Auckland, by Aitkon, Canterbury’s sixth man, and the defoat of Noel Wilson, Wellington’s first man, by E. B. W. Smyth, who has practised mostly on hard courts at Dunedin. The Auckland champion, E. Griffiths, went down to Wallace, while Lowry appeared to great disadvantage against Peacock, who forced him into constant errors. There were no other notable casualties, except Greenwood, Canterbury’s third man, who was completely nonplussed by Lon Franco’s heavily chopped game. Ollivier, who has been regarded as an uncertainty, lost only two games against Knott, of Auckland. Bartleet and Seay had easy passages. Haege, tho Victorian, did not have a real tryout, although he revealed a fine forehand drive, a decisive smash and a quickly flicked back-hand, a little bit unreliable.

NOTES ON THE PLAY. On the day’s play the most impressive form was shown by Smyth, but taking tho play all round, there was nothing to suggest that Ollivier should not hold tho championship. There were many interesting games. Both Wallace and Hale seemed to be off form at the start of their match, which was won by AVallace. Both occasionally got brilliant shots, and at other times missed easy ones. The first set was a very long one, the first game going to deuce seven times before it was won by Wallace who eventually took the set 10—8. As the gain© proceeded the Taranaki man’s play improved, and the second and third sets went to him easily. Driving from the baseline was a characteristic of the match between Aitkon and Page. Tho latter seemed to be troubled by tho bounce of_ the ball, but he got in some splendid drives and brilliant back-hand shots. Aitken, who showed better timing, made some great recoveries and repeatedly found tho line with a tremendous forehand drive, which pulled him through. The Victorian, P. Haege, won from Scott, of Timaru, who retired after the third set. Features of the winner’s play were his forehand driving and smashing. Scott lost tho first set 6—3, won the second set 7 —5, but lost the third 6—l, and then withdrew as ho had been suffering from an injured shoulder. D. France and D. C. Johnston, a j’oung Timaru boy, gave an exhibition of hard driving and hitting. Tho first two sets woro very evenly contested, Franco showing a little more finish. Tho third set saw Franco playing well and he went out the winner in threo straight sets, taking tho third to love. A fine exhibition was provided between Parker and Walker, In the second round at times both men played brilliantly. In the long run, Parker proved steadier, his placing was hotter, and he scored with splendid drives down the line. Walker made a good showing in the second sot, but ho went down badly in the third.

Wilding was defeated by Wheeler (Wanganui) in three sets. The match provided some good rallies, but a number of games went to Wheeler rather easily. lie scored with passing Bhots and kept a good length. His service was good, and ho also gained points by going in to the net. Aitkon fought a steady baseline contest with Warne Pearce, winning on his superior playing. Further evidence of Smyth’s standard as a player was seen in his defeat of Wilson, Wellington’s first man. He was the steadier and played more brilliantly. He lobbed very judiciously on occasions, when Wilson came in. Both men played good tennis. In the second set, Smyth went off and lost it, but won the third and fourth 6 —-1, 6 — l. Seay accounted for Patterson, the Canterbury hard court champion, 6 —l, 6 —3, 7 —5. At first Patterson was right off, but he improved in the second set, and was brilliant in the third. Seay just managed to win the third. LADIES’ MATCHES. In the ladies’ championship the biggest surprise of the meeting was provided by the defeat of Miss Molly Cato, Hawke’s Bay, by an almost unknown suburban player, Miss Reed, who Bimply has a heavy forehand chop and nothing else. Miss Wake’s defeat of Miss Marion MacFarlane was not unexpected, as she is a very cool player. Miss Speirs lost only one game in her singles, and three games altogether during the day, including two ladies’ doubles.

Mrs Scott (nee Miss McLaren, mixed doubles champion with E. D. Andrews, of Palmerston North), on the other hand, had hard work beating Miss Ferrier, Canterbury’s fifth lady. In the ladies’ doubles championship the Canterbury pair, Misses Wake and Buchanan, took the first set against the Misses MacFarlane, but the Aucklanders then out-drove them.

Misses Ballantyne and Romans' were not impressive against a good average Canterbury pair, but won 12 —10, 3 —6, 7 —5. It appears as if the best match in this event will be the semi-final between Misses MacFarlane and Mrs Scott and Miss Speirs, while the other finalists will probably bo the Misses Travers and Tracy, of Wellington. Details of the play are as follow: MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES.

First round: E. B. Smyth beat L. J. Hill, 6—l, 6—o, 6—o; I. A. Seay beat F. O. Schmidt, 6—l, 6—l, 6 —2; T. W. Patterson beat E. H. Orbell, 6—o, 6 —2, 6—4; J. C. Peacock beat C. Angas, 6 —2, 6 —3, 6 —l; D. G. France beat D. C. Johnston, 7 —6, 6 4, 6—o ; F. S. Wilding beat H. F. Turner 6—3, 6—o, 6—4; N. R. C. Wilson beat E. G. Burn, 7 —5, 6—l, 6—2; J. N. Lowry beat A. B. Loughnan, 6—2, 2—6, 6—3, 6—4; A. Wheeler beat A. L. Wood 6—2. 6—4. 6—3; E. Griffiths beat S. W. Field, 6—3, 8- —6, 6 —4; G. G. Aitken beat V. E. Page, 6—4, 3 —6, 6—3, 7—o ; Warne Pearce beat A. H. McDonald, 6 —2, 6—3, 6 4; T. N. Johnston beat R. T. Colthart, 6—2, 6—2, 6—4; E. L. Bartleet beat R. If. Tawhiri, junr, 6—l. 6 —2, 6—2; R. McL. Ferkins beat J. G. Deninston, 6-—l, 6—l, 6—2; J. B. Parker beat R. Browning, 6 —2, 6 —2, 6—3; W. S. Somerville beat E. D. Gore, 6—2, 6 2, 6—o; K. J. Walker beat S. Lamb, 6 —o, 6—7, 6—3, 6 —l; P. Haege beat W. A. Scott, 6—3, 6—7, 6—l (Scott retired); R. H. Donovan beat Moore, 6 —l, B—6,8 —6, 6—4; L. G. Knott beat R. A. Row, 9—7, 6—o, 6—2; S. E. Jack-

son beat N. Matson, 6—2, 6—2, 6—2; P- G. Greenwood beat Nixon, 3 —6, 6~~3, 6—4, 6—2; B. B. Loughnan beat V. W. Hubble, 6—4, 4—6, 2—6, 6—l, ® 1» A. C. Johns beat S. D. Denton, 6—4, I—6, 6—3, 6—4; C. J. Dickie beat J. C. Cullman, 6—o, 7—5, 6—l; A. L. France beat R. H. Tait, 6—3, 6 —3, 6—2; M. L. Lampe beat H. Ford, 6—2, 6—l, 6—3; A. G. AVallace beat F. B. Hale, 10—8, 6—l, 6—l. Second round: Sheppard beat Cotterill by default; Parker beat AA r alker, 6 —2, 7—5, 6—o; Seay beat Patterson, 6—l, 6 —3, 7 —5; Bartleet beat Somerville, 6 —4, 6—4, 6 —2; AA’lieeler beat AA’ilding, 6—4, 6—4, 6—l; Ollivier boat Knott, 6 —o, 6—4, 6—2; Aitken beat Pearce, 6—3, 6—3, 6—3; Ferkins beat Jackson, 7—5, 6—2, 6—3; Lampe beat Johns, 6—2, 6—3, 6 —2; Peacock beat Lowry, 6—3, 6—4, 6—4; AA’allaco beat Griffiths, 7—5, 6—2, 7—9, 7—5; Loughnan beat Dickie, 7 —5, 6—l, 6 3; D. France beat Donovan, 4—6, 6 4, 6-—3, 6—4; Haege beat T. Johnston, 6—2, 6—l, 6—4; L. France beat Greenwood, 6 —l, 6 —2, 6—3; Smyth beat AARlson, 6 —l, 6—l, 6—l. LADIES’ CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES

First round: Miss M. Speirs beat Miss I. Romans 6—l, 6—o; Miss AA'ake beat Miss Marion Macfarlano 6—3, 4—6, 6—2; Miss E. Travers beat Miss M. Smee 6—l, 6—l; Miss M. AVard beat Miss D. Nicholls 2—6, 3—l; Miss Nieholls retired; Miss E. M. Ballantyne beat B. Cotterill 6—l, 6—4; Miss J. E. Ramsay beat Miss M. Gibson 5—7, 6—l, 6—2; Miss M. Tracy beat Mrs Sharpe 6 —l, 6—o; Miss A. G. N. Reed beat Miss M. Cato B—6, 4—-6, 6—4; Miss Marjorio Macfarlane beat Miss Williams by default. Second round: Miss Knight beat Miss M. Saunders by’ default; Miss Scott beat Y. Ferrier B—6, 7—5.

MEN CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES. First round :—France and France beat Row and Barlow 6—l, 6—3, 6 3; V. N. Hubble and S. Lamb beat R. Browning and F. B. Hale 6—-2, 4 —6, 6—o, B—6; Lampo and AVheeler beat Burn and AVood 6—l, 6—2, 6 2; Patterson and Tait beat Tawhiri and Tawhiri 6—o, 6 —2, 6—2; Jackson and Turner beat Somerville and Somerville 9—7, 6—3, 6—4; Gore and Nixon beat Angas and Skellerup 7—5, 2—6, 2—6, B—6, 6—3. LADIES’ CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES.

First round: Miss B. Knight and D. Nicholls heat Misses R. Turner and B. MacDonald 6—o, 6—l; Misses Y. V. Ferrier and L. N. Saunders bent Misses J. E. Ramsay and A. G. N. Reed 7—5, I—6, 6—-3; Misses Marjorie Macfarlane and Marrion Macfarlane beat Misses AA’ake and Buchanan 2—6, 6—3, 6—3; Misses Cato and Cotterill beat Misses Wright and Ward 7—5, 6—3 ; Misses Ballantyne and Romans heat Mesdames Pago and Sharpe 12—10, 3—6, 7—5; Mrs AV. A. Scott and Miss M. Speirs beat Misses F. Dement and L. Leggo 6—2, 6—o.

Second round: Mrs Scott and Miss Speirs beat Airs AVake and Miss Bowron 6—o, 6—l. COMBINED CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES.

First round: Haege and Miss Travers beat Shand and .Miss Gook 6—2, 6—l.

The Palmerston North Lawn Tennis Club has decided to protest to tho New Zealand Appeal Council against the playing of the AVellington provincial championships on hard courts.