LAWN TENNIS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 27, 31 December 1925, Page 3

LAWN TENNIS

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIPS. FINALS AND SEMI-FINALS. Per Press Association. CHRISTCHURCH, Dec. 30. The Netv Zealand tennis championships were continued to-day in very hot weather, with an enervating nor’-west wind, which interfered with the accuracy of tho players to some extent, and was responsible for great exhaustion among the ladies in the semi-final of the singles. Tho heat also had a marked effect on the men’s semi-final of the singles. JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS. The earliest events of the day were the finals of the junior championships. Miss Nicholls, of Auckland, and formerly of Wellington, -who has held the championship for. the past two years had an unaccountable lapse from her usual form in the middle of the first set against Miss Margaret Gibson, a Timaru girl. Miss Gibson’s game was a mere dogged series of returns, whereas Miss Nicholls drovo from corner to corner and mixed her length and pace successfully'. The holder led 5—4, after being down 3—4, but tho scores were level at 5—5, and she rail out a narrow winner. After that, she did not lose a game, and her game was a remarkably sound driving exhibition. Tho boys’ final did not attract as big a number of spectators as the standard of play warranted. Malfrov, playing a little more confidently than Lucas, forced the play and went after every shot, keeping Lucas defending on the base line, to win the set (5—3. Malfroy led 2 —o in the second set, but Lucas, by steady play and hard driving, evened up with the games, three all. The smashing and volleying of both players were marked by accuracy and finish. Lucas led 5—3 after eight games, many of Malfroy’s shots having ’ gone wide. Lucas throw the next game away, serving three double faults, but his court craft won the gamo and set for him after sonic very fine placing. The third set saw neither player using the lines to good advantage, but every point was keen’ contested. Malfroy rose to great form in the eighth game, outgeneraling Lucas in the rallies. LADIES’ SEMI-FINALS. The first set in the semi-finals between Miss Scott and Miss Marjorie MacFarlane, was characterised by long rallies from the base line, both keeping a good length and placing with accuracy. They seldom went up, and the rallies were generally ended by one falling into error. The score went to four all with Mrs Scott serving and then Miss MacFarlane got the set at 6—4.

Miss MacFarlane led 2—l in the second set, but Mrs Seott got in some great drives and took her opponent’s service, levelling the score. Off Mrs Scott’s service Miss MacFarlane led 3—2, driving coolly from the base lino to the corners. Very steady play on tho part of Mrs Seott enabled her to draw level. Good exchanges in tho seventh gamo were notablo for placings by Mi’s Scott, but a couple of weak returns lost her tho game. After a very long rally, Miss MacFarlane. mado every attempt to return a drive and the scores wore, again equal, four all. There was little variety from the driving game and the difference between the players was slight. Errors by Miss MacFarlane enabled Mrs Seott to lead 5—4 through judicious volleying. Mrs Scott took Miss MaeFarlane’s servico to 15—40, Und Miss MacFarlane lost the point through driving out. The second set thus went to Mrs Scott 6 —4.

Mrs Scott served in the deciding set and Miss MacFarlane pulled her in with short stuff, and either passed her or forced her into errors. A net cord cost Miss MacFarlane the next game, in which she was still trying short stuff, but netted twice. She was remarkably good on backhand and sideline passing shots, which she employed successfully for two of Mrs Scott’s excursions to the net. At the third deuce, Miss MacFarlane got a savage smash on a short-bounced ball, but smashed the next out, and netted after a long rally, giving Mrs Scott the odd game at 2—l. Coining in on Miss MacFarlane’s weakening drives against tho wind, Mrs Scott scored three “kills” in the next game. She was content to wait in long driving rallies for a favourable opening for a hard forehand drive, and she wore Miss MacFarlanc down, leading 4—l. Five times in the next game Miss MacFariane was advantage out. She held on grimly, but was beaten with a hard drive to her backhand, and Mrs Seott, with an unbeatable lead, put more fire into her drives,, but .tired and filially drove out. At the change of ends, Miss MacFarlane had wind and sun against her, but she led 30—0, only to lose a volleying duel. Mi's Scott cut off a hard drive at the net and the score was 30 all, but then she drove two out and the score was 5—3. Mistakes of over-hitting with the wind saw Mrs Scott 15—40 on her service, but she got to the match point, only to drive out. She regained the lead with a smash and need her next service with a fine length on the backhand.

In tho match between Miss Speirs and Miss Knight, of Auckland, Miss Speirs out-played her opponent at all points in tiic first set, winning G—l; but in the second set she went to pieces, missing a lot of easy stuff and being forced into errors against Miss Knight’s net attack. Miss Ivnight won 6—3.

Miss Speirs led 3—l and 4—2 in the final set, but she had steadied down appreciably. Miss Knight kept cool and crept up to 3—5 by clever placements. Miss Speir’s . serving forced her into errors and to love 40, only getting one ace. At the change of ends, Miss Knight had to serve and ran to 30 love, but put a couple out and had a hard drive dead on her backhand. Miss Speirs lost the match point by lurching into a forehand drive and lost the next two points and game. Miss Speirs won a love game game on her service and was 40—15 in the next game. She played the rally carefully and Miss Knight drove out. Miss Speirs won 6—l, 3—6, 7—5.

MEN’S SEMI-FINALS. In tho first men’s semi-final in the morning D. France defeated Peacock, 5—7, 6—4, 7—5, G—4, the players giving a good exhibition of tennis. It was a fine effort by Peacock after yesterday’s hard game. France played with vim. The games went to five all in the first set, and Peacock got an easy one off his service, putting him in the lead, Franco opened his service by double-faulting, and eventually stood 15—40. At 30—40 he drove out, giving the gamo and set to Peacock, 7—5. In the second set Peacock came in to the net. to win the first game. France drovo hard on the forehand and across court from the backhand

with gxid length, but lie was. outmanoeuvred in the noxt Wo games and Peacock led 3 —o. France won the next gamo through passing Peacock with a good drive down the line. A win on service, and Peacock led 4 —l. France won tho next four games, crisp driving being his strong point. With ft good length, lie was keeping Peacock on the back line.' France served, with tile score s—-4,5 —-4, and at 40 —30 Peacock netted a return and the second set went to France, G—4. Tho third set saw the score go to threo all, the games being keenly fought. Franco got some _great returns and frequently outwitted Peacock’s attempts to finish off with volleys. Tile games went to four all and Peacock took * the ninth on his service. Franco won his service, scoring points by returning neat backhand shots.—five all. France’s shots across the court had tho effect of leaving Peacock out of position. France led 6 —5, and went to 40—15 on his service. After a great rally, in which thero was some splendid driving, Franco netted, but Peacock failed to return at 40 —30 and the game went to Franco and the third set to that player, 7—5. France took the first game in the fourth set off Peacock’s service, and with good drives, well placed, ran to four—love. Peacock took the fifth game, and then France went to s—l,5 —1, winning easily on his service. Peacock won his last sorvice, a neat return leaving France standing. Peacock got some low drives, which were hard to return. France, on his own service, went down to love —40. He pulled it up to 30—40, but failed to get the point. Peacock, playing with . great judgment, took the next, and the scores were 5—4 in favour of France, who served. With Franco at match point Peacock put ono into the net, and Franco won the set 6 —4 and the match. Following are additional results : MEN’S SINGLES. Semi-finals: C. Ollivier (Canterbury) beat Len Franco (Wellington), 3—6, 6—2, o—3, 6 —2; Don France (Canterbury) beat J. C. Peacock (Wellington), o — 7, o—4, 7 — 5, o—4.0 —4. MEN’S DOUBLES. Semi-final: Peacock and Wilson (Wellington) beat D. France (Canterbury) and L. Franco (Wellington),, o—3, 6—l, 6—3. LADIES’ DOUBLES.. Final: Miss Speirs (Canterbury) and Mrs Scott (South Canterbury) beat Misses Travers and Tracy (Wellington), 6—4, 6—2. MIXED DOUBLES. Fourth round: Miss Speirs and D. France beat Miss Saunders and Somerville, o—4, o—4; Miss Ballantyne and Smyth beat Miss Travers and Haege, 6 —2, 3 —o, o—4;0 —4; Miss Marion Macfarlane and Hill beat Miss INlarjorie Macfarlane and Lowry, o—4, o—4;0 —4; Miss Tracy and AVilson beat Mrs Scott and Pearse, 6 —o, 6 —4.