LAWN TENNIS NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18942, 13 February 1925, Page 13

LAWN TENNIS NOTES.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS. GRIFFITHS' STEADY PLAY. ' COMING COMPETITIONS. With perfect weather, all conditions favourable, and tho contestants fit, tho spectators who attended at Stanley Street on Saturday last to see the finals Of the Auckland championship tournament, expected a. great afternoon's sport, and an enthusiast would bo indeed greedy whose demands were not satisfied. The men's events and the ladies' singles went the full extent before the champions were decided. It was forecasted that great struggles would ensue in the men's-events,, but two matches, in which the winners of tho first two sets were vanquished at the end of tho five-set match, wero hardly anticipated. In the singles, E. L. Bartleet outplayed his opponent, E. W. Griffiths, so completely in the first two sets that there wero few that could, at that stage, forecast what was to happen in tho succeeding tlireo sets. Griffiths was not playing badly in any part of the match; it was simply that his opponent was playing so well that probably no player in New Zealand could have withstood his attack for the first two sets. It was the (ale of tho Bartleet-Ollivier match in the Anthony Wilding Shield contest over again. Never has Bartleet, played with more finish. His strokes—side-line drives, drop volleys, and chop shots in tho midst of a rally—were all beautifully executed, and ho stood two sets in, 6—2, 6—3, at tho adjournment'. Griffiths after this seemed to hit a little harder, but otherwise his gamo showed little alteration. Taking tho first few games, and playing determinedly, ho shook the confidence of his more brilliant opponent, who just failed at the crucial moments. Griffiths, playing better tennis than he has shown yet, drove home every advantage, and finally emerged the winner at B—68 —6 in the fifth set. He is holder of tho Home Gold Cup and owner of its beautiful miniature, which in itself is a trophy probably equal to any in Australia or New Zealand. This is the first time an Aucklander has won this cup, and Griffiths is to be congratulated on his victory. The Doubles Contests. When Griffiths and Briusden, and Bartleet and Bobson, occupying the court for a men's double, tho spectators settle themselves for a brilliant and close contest, and Saturday's match proved no disappointment. Hero again the losers took the first two sets easily, only to lower their colours in the next three. Bartleet and Robson's combination never was as good as their opponents. They remind one. of Tilden and Johnston, both _ individualists, and winning by the brilliance of their strokes rather than by strategy. On the other side. Brinsdcn is probably the best doubles player in Auckland, and although a little weak off the ground, his serving, volleying and smashing are a treat to watch ; and his pleasing personality makes him a favourite with the gallery. Griffiths, who combined well with his partner, played very solidly, and was instrumental in making many of tho openings, from which his brilliant partner scored. It is peculiar that Griffiths is unable to kill a smash. Many opportunities came his way during the day to smash a short lob at the net. He often scored, but it was from a placed shot. The ladies' singles, between Miss Macfarlane and Miss Knight, was a good match to watch, and Miss Macfarlane played tennis up to the standard of previous years. She always does better against hard play, and on Saturday drove from either wing, down the side lines or across court with the greatest accuracy, 'flic games see-sawed in the first set. until four all, when Miss Macfarlane, steadying her game, forced her opponent into errors, and won, 6-—4. In the second the winner started so well that it looked like a hollow victory, but Miss Knight, steadying down, volleying and smashing well, caught and passed her opponent, who, however, proved steadier in the pinches and won a vantage set, and the Sykes Cup. Some of Miss Knight's shots were thrilling, her back-hand smash being perfect, but she risks too much with the side lines in her driving, missing many of her shots by inches. Tiie ladies' doubles was hardly up to standard, and probably had the winners. Misses Clcraston and Knight, been pushed, they would have shown better form. Ihe former has an unorthodox style, but is very sure and her sliced drives and drop volleys are very disconcerting. A word of praise is due to Miss Nicholls for tho cool and plucky way she played. Not yet 18 years of age. her time will come assuredly. Miss Ramsay drove well, but is hardly up to championship form. The combined event was more or less a fiasco. Started in a fading light, with Bartleet tired after two gruelling matches, the winners, Mrs. Scott-Watson and Brinsden, a really good combination, had things their own way. It should have been postponed but was played to enable one of the contestants to leave for the North early in the next week. Fund For Davis Cup Team. The next event to attract attention will be the father and son and veterans doub- ' les tournament at Stanley Street on February 21 and 28. Tho veterans must be 50 years of age and already some of tho old" hands aro practising together and showing some of the younger ones how the game should be played. One up and one back seems the favourite combination. TS)o father and son doubles was a great draw last year and an even bigger entry is anticipated this season. The entries for both these events close on February 18 with Mr. M. Ward, Swanson Street. ■_ The meeting of the Auckland Association was held on Tuesday evening. A sub-committee consisting of Messrs. A. G. Russell, C. C. Chalmers and V. If. Johns was appointed to arrange details for the visit of a B. Grade team to tho Pukekohe. Club and other sub-associa-tions or clubs desiring the visit of a team. Affiliation was granted to the members of the Kaitasa Club. In respect to a notice of motion to come before the New Zealand Association relative to the endeavour to arrange for the regular participation of a New Zealand team in tho Davis Cup contost it was resolved that it bo a recommendation in tho council that a Davis Cup fund be established by inviting subscriptions from tennis players and others throughout ,the Dominion and that the fund so subscribed be'a capital one. PAI'AKURA V. CLEVEDON. ; The following players will represent the Pftpakura Tennis Club in a match against Clovedon to-morrow (A team at Clevedon ! and B team at Papakura):—A Teams 1 S. Wood, V. Elliott, G. Henderson, G. 1 Hutchison, F. Henderson, W. Francis. 1 Mrs. Bilkey, Misses J. Wilson, L. Wilson, E. Hutchison, 0. McLennan, L Hobbs. B team: T. Benjamin, J. O'Neill, D. McLennan, M, Cole, T. Busing, T. McLennan. Misses Arbuckle, A. McLennan, Mrs. Civil, Miss S. Andre, Mack, jr. Walker. Reserve, Miss H. Civil. WEST COAST CHAMPIONS. [BY TELEGRAPH.-—PBE33 ASSOCIATION. ] GP.EYMOUTH. Thursday. The West Coaat tennis championship T? B. Williams (Wellington) <lo- ! foaled. C. Schadiok (Weatport), 6-3. fi—2. Ladies' Sinijloß.—Mrß, P. J. McCarthy i (Grcymoutli), defeated Mr®. Beeves (ReeftonJ. o—3, 3—6, t>—2,

INTER-CLUB COMPETITIONS. TEAMS FOR TOMORROW. The following inter-club matches vrill be played to-morrow under the auspices of the Auckland Tennis Association:—B Grade; Remnejra' v. Dovonport, at Stanley Street; C Grade: Rcmuera v. Aratonga, at Rcrnuera; Y.M.C.A, v. St. Hcliors, at Stanley Street: Eden and Epsom v. Oneliunga. Central, at Stanley Street. The. following are the teams:Ivcimicra B.—M. Sturt H, Doidfie. J. Hunter. 11. 0. Thomson, t'asler. A. W, Chnstmas; Misses J). iNicholls, Pagui, lverr layior. Richardson. _ „ , Remuera ''.— A. W. Lamb, N. Bo\vdpn. V. Wilson .7, K. H. Eiall. M. 11, Yock. M. Shroff; Misses D. Wilson, M. Coleon. A. Sturt, l'\ B. Cos. , . i C.A.- -Lin .es. Woods. E. Kitchener, (captain). P. Keesiii" Teal, A. W» ..Caelcy.: Misses E. Steele. S. Dibble, B. Stoddart. L. Scott. St. Heliers.—-Diamond (captain), Wrathb I], Horepool, Cooper, Mabbett, Ohlson: Misses Hume. Goidsbro,' Mrs. Butler, Miss Potter. . Eden and Epsom.—Coppard, Billing, Ilayr, Martin (captain), Merron, M 8. Campbell. (Emergencies: McGregor, Von Stunner.) Misses if it chines, Q. Rubson. Smeo(on._ TCnott (Emergencies: Misses Arneil and A. Kennedv.i Oneliunga Control.—Sparling, _ Rukutai, Welham, Scott, White, Turei; Misses Glass, Rukutai, Brenan, Mrs. Brenan.