LAWN TENNIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18244, 10 November 1922, Page 6

LAWN TENNIS.

Great interest is being taken in the function to be held at Stanley Street lawns tomorrow, when the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association will open its new courts. Ine opening ceremony will be performed by tho Mayor, Mr. J. H. Gunson, at 3 p.m. Play, however, will be permitted at an earlier hour to enable members and visitors to enjoy a good afternoon's tennis- It is pioposed to play a series of exhibition matches on the first four courts after the formal opening, the other five being available for the visitors. Play will be limited to one set, and a member, of, tho committee wi be in charge of tho boa::d. Players arc requested to make up their set and apply for a court. The membership of the club formed for play during the week is not yet full, but it is expected that once the lawns are opened there will be a large influx of members. It is not the intention of the committee to overcrowd the lawns, nor to allow privileges to visitors bejond the usual club custom, so that members of affiliated clubs who desire evening practice on good lawns within a few minutes of the city would be wise to make cariy application. Bright sunslrne ushered in the openins of the season on Saturday; and tho many clubs around Auckland were kept busy, play being indulged in until dark. The lawns at the various oluln are in good condition this year, as the result of ample funds resulting from the successful past season. An announcement important to Now Zealanders is made through the cablegrams this wck. from which it is learnt that a definite move is being made to divide the nations competing for the Davis Cup into territories, permitting of matches being played among groups'.of, countries contiguous to one another, tho winner then journeying to the holder's country, where the finals will be played- With New Zealand entering as a new nation, this arrangement would be welcomed, as it saves the expenditure necessary to send teams on long journeys, and places the shorter .trip within the finances of the smaller natfohs. The draw for inter-club matches is now complete, and th© sub-committee is to be congratulated on the Arrangement, which works out that Stanley Street courts will accommodate all the A grade, nnd all save six of the B grade, nnd. a'l with the exception of the C jrrade. After December 9 nnd February 3. all mntr-hes in the B apd C grades respectively will be playpd there, thus freeing iht> club courts f<r ordinory clnb matches. The following is the dr»w for the first round tn-hor" not stir-'lated thA ma+'hes are to be nlnved oi the first-rimod chib's court") : — November J«.—A Gr-'d". at Stan'oy Ptre»t: R-emuera v. Eden a.nd Ep«om. B Gi-ad»: P*.oatoe*oe v. Onehnnra. C Grade: Nor*h™t* v. PapaWto". Nt ch'b court". H Grade: ■R/»»nn«>rft v. N"vfhrotc. Fden p-nd Epsom v. Y.M.C.A. C Grade: Mount Albert v. New Lynn. St. Heliers v. Onehunga.

N.S.W. CHAMPIONSHIPS. In view of the win of Mrs. Utz at the New South Wales championships, it will be intorestinp to see whether any changes will be made in the personnel of the ladies' team for New Zealand. The following is an account of these championships culled' from the Sydney Referee:— The final day's play was favoured with fine, though slightly warm, weather, and the galleries at both ends were filled with a fashionable crowd. They were rewarded by a fine series of matches, amongst which undoubtedly the best were seen in the special singles. In the semi final, Horace Rice beat Kirkpatrick in the best contest of the tournament. In the first set Rico played very well indeed. In the second he seemed to tire, and Kirkpatrick, seemingly standing better ,tho intense heat of nearly 100 in the shade, appeared to have the match in hand. In the third set Rico came back strongly, and when he led at 4-1 and 40-15 on his own service, the match, seemed all over. Jnat then he broke two strings in his racket, and this affected his game._ Kirkpatrick also spurted finely, and ran into a winning position at 5-4 and 0-30 in his favour against the service. Faced with almost certain' defeat. Rice suddenly found his best game, went for winners every stroke, and never after that gave Kirkpatrick a chance to win the match. Apart from his fine pull-up. Rice showed to great advantage in the way he used the strong westerly. He made his passing strokes with just the right amount of allowance for the wind to blow tne ball into court, choosing the weather eido nearly always for this reason. It is a point in tactics that if often missed. Rice won, 6-4, 2—6, 7—5. Rice and Olemenger. In the final of the men's singles championohip Rice met Clemenger. Rice commenced with the service.. Each won his first two service games. Rice waa troubling Clemenger with his curly service, which the latter netted. After 2-all Clemenger forged ahead. Rice was right out of touch. Ho could get no length on hiß drives, and gave Clemenger several easy chances, J. he latter scored with several fine forehand drives to the off. which won clean. After leading 4 2, Clemenger was beaten in the next game by Rice's service; but then he won the next two games for .the first set. He won the> first game of the next set, when Rice suddenly found his gamo. He commenced to get length on his drives and to direct them to Clemenger s back-hand. The latter missed these strokes frequently, and Rice won the next six games for tho second set In tho third set Rice was playing finely, though never at his best; while Clemenger commenced, while trying to get out of. the doldrums, to miss his forehand drives by over-hitting. Rice then attacked his forehand bo as to open up his backhand, and at the last went to the net whenever he got a good length ball to the backhand. He thus got to 5—2 and then led at 40—15. Two match points. Here Clemenger spurted finely arid drew 14vel ' Against the Becond match point the longest and beat rally of the/' match'. occurred.: For several strokes each was chasing all over his' court, playing every variety of stroke. At last-Clem-enger got Rice right outside the left sideline, and then poked the ball to thrx opposite side. The crowd cheered his fine save, ajter he had seemed quite "beaten in this rally. Not to be denied. Rico gained another 'vantage, when Clcmonger took the net at all risks. Coming in a bit late on a drive to Rica's backhand, the latter judged the wind "iiicely for a drive down Clemenger's backhand, which got the ball clear of him, and Rice had won at 5—6, P, —l, 6—2. This score accurately represents tho play in each set. Mrs. Utz Triumphs. There followed on the next court a fine match between Mrs. Utz and Miss D. Akhurst in the ladies' singles Following on her defeat of Miss Lance in tho singles. Miss' Watson had beaten Mrs. Lascelles, ' only to go down to the deadly safety and improved attack of Miss Akhurst, for' four years the schoolgirl champion. Mrs. Utz , had beaten Miss St George comfortably. Good as she has become, Miss Akhurst could not cope with the tevere forehand drives, nicely-judged backhand chops, strong service, and great generalship of Mrs. Utz The latter led ull through to win at 6—4. 6—3. The loser showed great improvement. She has abandoned her excessive safety, and now raakes many fine winning strokes. Mrs. Utz then went on to play the best giune of the four in the e«srxii-£jaal oi' tho

mixed doubles. Partnered by- Kirkpatrick. they defeated N. Pe.ach,,and Mrs. ;Lww«.Uea easily at 6—3, 8~4. The latter pair led at 4-2 In the second set. but were then. halted by Mrs. Utz's deadly tossing over Mrs. Lascelles' head when .against Poach b services or drives. Compelling Peach to cross over to recovor these tosses, Mrs. Utz then sent'her next stroke for « a clean ace every time to Peach's forehant corner. The lady controlled most oj tne play, though Kirkpatrick played very well Peach was again in poor form. Mrs. bascelles* backhand stroke is the most stylish in the State, and might well serve aB a 'model for the men. With a backhand of eimilar method.'J. O. Anderson or Gerald Patterson would be almost unbeatable, even by Tilden' or Johnston Mixed Doubles. The mixed doubles championship resulted in a close match between Frank Pnch—Miss Lanco and H. W. Kirkpatrick—Mrs. Utz Both pairs had shown fine form in tha previous rounds, nnd it was difficult to pro diet the result. The closeness of the play bo'o this out. for Pench and Miss Lance only won after a close match at 6—4, I—6, B—B. after the others had led at 4—2 in the third set Ladies' Doubles. The ladies' doubles championship was won by Misses Lance and St. George—tho only championn to hold their title. Miss Lnnce thus won two championships. Miss St. Georgo played splendidly in all hor events.