TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 17979, 3 January 1922, Page 3

TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS.

MEN'S SINGLES FINAL. f WIN FOR DR. LAURENSON. J C THK COMBINED DOUBLES. J t DEFEAT OF ACCfvLAN'DFHS. j [bt TCLF.'jnxrn - rr.E.-s Assort*™*.] ' CHKISTCUt'RCH. Mond»? e Overcast weather prevailed for the last day of t ho New Zealand Lawn Tennis j Championship iTKctinc. Th# final? of the two remaining matches were played. and , resulted as fo'.'ows: - - Combined Doubles Championship —Miss i ' N* E. Curtis iWellinjton) and 0 Ollivier ' (Canterbury) heat Mrs. Marshall and E. L. Bartlcot (Auckland). 6—l, 2-6, 7—5. Men's Singles Championship.—Dr. J. T. , Laurenson (Auckland) boat K. L. Bart- i leet 6—2, b —4, 6—4. ( Ladies' Singles.—Mus K. K Curtis j (Wellington) heat Miss Marjorie Mac'ar lane (Auckland), 6—3, 6—4. i Men's Doubles.—\Y. Giss and P. Green. < wood (Canterbury) beat 11. L. Robson and • L. Bartleet (Auckland, t>—l 6—4, 4— 0, j | 2-6, 6-4. The New Zealand Lawn Tennis Associa- j t-ion banner for the association scoring the greatest number of points at the tournament was won by Wellington, tho points scored be\n„' Wellington Canterbury 6J, Waikato 5. Although Auckland scored i>o paints, all tho ninners-up in the five championship events were Auckland players, a very meritorious performance, i As an exhibition gamo the comhtnod ; double final was one of tho best of tho j scries. Last year's champions, Miss OurI tis and Ollivier, played together and 1 ! formed a combination which on paper I seemed well nigh invincible. Bartleot and ! Mrs. Marshall, however, put up a gallant j showing, and the other two only won bv a very narrow margin, Very pretty tennis was played throughout, and the result showed how close the contest was. Ollivier played a rather inconsistent game, and lost m&ny easy strokes through carelessness. 11.8 serving, however, was fine, and his second ball was almost as good as hjs first. Ho played some brilliant oross-court shots, but- tho gener.il standard of his play was much below his usual, Bartlect play:d brilliantly, and seemed to tako considerably more caro in his earlier sets than was his custom. His play was the beat, in tho match. A Lucky Win. Tho policy o[ both sides appeared to bo to luro their opponents to the net, and then get past them by lobbing or cross shots. This was right into tho hands of Bartlcet who played those balls much better than he did the long shots. Mrs. Marshall played a clover net game at times, but it was in her backhand strokes that sho excelled. She and Bartleet hud an excellent working arrangement and very seldom wero caught napping by strokes (Jown tho centre line. On tho other hand Ollivier and Miss Curtis wero left standing quite a number of times. Miss Curtis played a hard and fast game from tho bark lino chiefly, and she also played well from tho net". 01 livier howov er did most of the work. Altogether Ollivier and Miss Curtis had a remarkable run of luck, winning the match, for the honours easily wont, to Bartlcet and Mrs, Marshall. Best Game of Series. In winning the singles championship in three straight sets, none of which ran to advantage, Dr. Laurenson played the best game of the scries. He was altogether too ' safo for Bartlcet, and made no bad orrors, while Bartlcet was so manifestly w«ik on the backhand that whenever ho was forced into playing it was taking a risk, and usually he ran round and made a forehand thot of it. Ko attempted to attack Dr. Lnurenson's forehand, which is reputedly weak, but opinions will have to be reversed on this point as Dr. Laurenson hit hard on both hands. In his match with Ollivier yesterday ho was obliged to work hard to manoeuvre his man into lobbing, but he had loss difficulty with Bartleet, who was loas inclined to lob, and drove hard when Laurenson rushed in. Laurenson's backhand against Bartleet was perfect, and he made no errors, sometimes using it to'press down the side lino — a rather difficult shot, He stood up to Bartleet's fast servicc, which was only aee-1 twico in the tn.ieh. The real strength of his game, however", was in pcrfect longth and placement. Uncanny Accuracy. Bartlcet played a brilliant game at times and some of his cross court forehand drives wero perfectly executed, while lie passed his man occasionally with lightning shots. However he ocrala find no weak spot in his opponent whose uncanny accuracy and marvellous recoveries of all kinds of forlorn hopes must have had a depressing effect. Laurenson won the toss, and served and won his service throughout tho set in which Bartleot lost on service in the fourth and eighth games, the 6et going 6—2. In tho fiith game Laurenson recovered what seemed a hopeless shot on the backhand. Laurenson served fust in the second set, and led at 2—o, and then went back to 2—2. He then ran easily to 5--3, Bartleet- making many errors, but he lost on his service in the ninth game, only to tako a love game and the set with a perfect forehand drive. In tlie third set both men lost on their first two services, but Laurenson took tho fifth with the loss of only one ace. TheJi Bartleet rallied, realising that tho most critical stugo of the match had arrived. He led at 30 all, but the score went to 30-40 against him. Then deuce was called nine times, Bartleot being advantage out only once. Finally Laurenson put a ball over the line after a long rally, and the score was 3 all. Serving in the seventh game, he lost only one ace. Bartleet ran to 40-15 in the next game, but Laurenson crept up to deuce with a smash and got the advantage. Bartleet recovered with a service ace, and then throw Laurenson so far out of the court for the return of service that ho was in a hopeless position, and the games wero 4 sll. Laurenson won the ninth game, in which the only ace he lost was an out. At 30-15 Bartleet missed an easy smash that bad a b ; g influence on the game, Bartleet served in the Jast game, but lost tho first ace in a fine rally at the net. He netted twice and then passed Laurenson with a beauty, making the score 30-40. Laurenson esmo in again against a fast drive on his forehand, 'and just popped it over, a trifle luckily, winning the game, set, and match. Hiss Macfarlane's Defeat. Miss Curtis retained her singles championship title. She owed her win to enterprise U the ret, and obviously she # is the only lady who has a safe volleying and overhead equipment. She did not win too comfortably, but she kept great length. The first six games of the first set were evenly contested. They were characterised by good net Bhots by Miss Curtis and strong side line drives by Miss Macfarlane. Hie score was 3 all, but Miss Curtis, playing strongly, won the next three fames and tho set. Miss Macfarlane won tho first two games of the second set. Miss Curtis won the third game, lost the fourth, but by taking the fifth and sixth equalised the Scores, 3 all. Sho took the next two games, but lost the ninth to love, making the score f—4, Miss Macfarlane made a gallant attempt to equalise, hut the next game and the set went to Miss Curtis. In the men's doub'es the first gams was won by Goss off his serve to iove. The other three players each took their service, and 2 all was called. The lobbing of Goss and Greenwood was verv effective at this period. Goss and Bartleet each took love ganv'3 off their serves, the seventh game went to Goss and Greenwood. Robson, who was serving well, equalised nutters, 4 aIL

jr«ifir*l?hip by Dos? and safe play by Greenwood gavo the Canterbury men the next t*o games and the set,, Tho four men won their wfvfrcHt in Ui© fint eight '>f the fecoiid vi. and Greenwood won tho next, two and tho set. With two sr(« ii- th» local player* seemed safe. An change over tho game, however, and Bartlcet, volleying and placing accurately, b*it*n <n dominate tho position. They «o'> 'h» set, 6—2 The local uyin started diHstrnuslv i the fourth set, Insin; the firs!; ihme to lovo, ,jiid the fourth to IS r,-, w Bartleet l-hr-3 won then serv».« ard score was 6--1 Event t ally fUhon and Bartleet wot, the set, t> -1' With two sets all, th«> chjn. «•* -»f R.-h----soi! and Bs,rtle*t *ero mou fjroiir'-H Goss and Greenwood won !>><• ti-*:. t < . games of the fifth sot. but R.,b«-n .«;■! Bartleet equalised. They took the rvu game to 10% o. and the next to 1:>. and seemed to have the match in hand 4--? Then Goss Ton h\« fcirire, and Hsrti.«»t Inst his reprice, making the scorn 4 »i' Principally through Goss' plav the C.vi tcrbury pair won the r.'it game, and the Kvro was 5—4. Goes boat N th hn »-p ponents with a centre court shot C.rN-" wood lobbed beautifully, and a lucky one over the net increased the Irad 4 the 1-antcrbury tti p n. Robson served i double and the game, set, and match went Greenwood ur.d Goss The match waj productive nf jparklin? net. play and scientific lobbing. Bartleet was tired a'ter playng in the fire oth«r finals, but his aisplav was a g.md nne Goss and Greenwood won >n t.vtiTt I hey seemed to have the benefit of a scheme of action which iuM. p;;| ed t-hem tli rou i;h. THE WILDING SHIELD CAN'TFJiITKY'S STRONG LEAP [BY TfXKCIRAPn.—PRKSS ASSOCIATION' 1 CHRTSTCFICRCH. Monday Iho contest for tho \A tiding Tenni* Memorial Shield between Auckland ,md Canterbury commenced today in tine weather. Tho conUest consists o" eighi singles and (our doubles. Half of each were played today, when Canterbury won fivo matcher, out of six. In the singles tliero was a very rlnfe match between Ureenwcxxi and Hurtleet Greenwood played better than ho did in the championship tournament, vhilo Hart leet, thougii obviously rather tired after his strenuous week, was in good fornv Greenwood won the first »L 'I'he second sot was ch:uracteri.«ed by excellent tentiM Four-all was called. Tho ninth game v\as marked by great rallies. Greenwood won it, and led 5—4. Bartleet had to wm tho nest game or loso tho match, and lie opened with a great smash. This game and tho noctt two and tho set went to the Aucklander, 7—5. In the third set Bait loot led at 5—4, and amid great excitement Greenwood equalised m the next game. It was now anybody's match. Bartleet and Greenwood each won their servioo until il-all was reached. Each tinio tho scoro was cvwied it was Bart Icct's turn to serve, and Greenwood wiu thus in a bad position. Great passing shots and good volleying by each player wero marked features of thoso games. The twenty-third game of the third set saw Bartleet go to 40-lovo on his Fervico. Ho lost the next two points, but won the next, and tho scoro was 1.2—11. Greenwood began with a dotiblo, and tho scoro was 30-40 when a great rally ensued. Greenwood just missed a difficult half-vollnv, and tho gamo and eei. went to Bartleet, 13 ~l'l. Aitken and Clark played a steadygame, and took few risks. Both volleyed noil and lobbod offoctivcly on occasions. Clark took tho first set and Aitken tho remaining two, Ollivier gavo a great exhibition against Rc.bson, whom ho defeated in straight sets. Ollivier volloved and played wi'h considerable skill and negotiated Robson's lightning deliveries with a good deal of success. He drovo hard on occasions, ran into the net, and met Robson's returns with well placed volleys, Robson played • well, but could make no impression on bis opponent. He mado the mistake of playing too much to Ollivier's forehand. A concentrated attack on his backhand would probably have been nioro effective. Goss hud no difficulty in defeating Griffiths, who was handicapped by lameness, and could not inovo about tho court quickly enough lo cope with tho excellent shots Goss played. In tho doubles between Aitken and Goss and Clark arid Griffiths, tho first game went to four-all. Aitken won his norvico for the first timo in the set. Clark got to 40—15 on his serve, hut two doubles brought deuce, and the gamo. and set eventually went to tho Canterbury pair. In tho second set tho local men played well together, and easily disposed of their opponents. Clark's first service was good, out doubles wore frequent. Griffiths played well considering his handicap of lameness. Details of the play are as follows: — Singles.—E. L. Bartlect (Auckland) defeated P. G. Greonwood (Canterbury), I—6, 7—5, IT -11; C. G. Aitken (Canterbury) defeated T. Clark (Auckland), 5-7, 6—l; G. Ollivier (Canterbury) defeated H. L. Robson (Auckland), 6—o, 6—3; W. Goss (Canterbury) defeated E. W. Griffiths (Auckland), 6—l, 7—5. Doubles. —Greenwood and Ollivier (Canterbury) defeated Bartlect and Robson (Auckland), &—3, 3—6, 6—4; Aitken and Goss (Canterbury) defeated Griffiths and Clark (Auckland), 6—4, 6—l.