EXHIBITION TENNIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19148, 14 October 1925, Page 14

EXHIBITION TENNIS.

PLAY BY AUSTRALIANS. GLIMPSES OF COOD FORM. LOCAL MEN SHOW PROMISE. Exhibition lawn tennis matches were played yesterday m Auckland by O. L. Patterson and J. B. Hawkes, members of the Australian Davis Cup team, and by local players. The afternoon matches were played before a good attendance at the Stanley Street courts. The Australians, owing 15, boat Griffiths and Brinsden in a doubles match, and Hawkes beat Patterson, 6—4, 6—4. The court had not fully recovered from the wet weather and was inclined to be slow and somewhat dead. The doubles match opened quietly. None of the players opened out, as the Australians ware short of practice and the Auckland men lacked confidence. Tho visitors took the first three games, winning the first set 6—-2 and the second set 6—l. A bright rally came early in the second set, with pretty low volleying. The Aucklanders were more imposing in the third set and carried the score to six games all. The Australians won the set, B—6. Glimpses of true form were shown by each player. Hawkes served well, putting a lot of play on to the ball, and his volleying was nicely placed. Patterson scarcely used his fast delivery, but took advantage of the court to cut many shots heavily. The Auckland pair were, of course, outclassed, but both scored at times with nice placements. The .Australians, whose combination was without fault, generally worked play to put their opponents badly out of position. Good Play by Hawkes. Tho Australians seemed more confident? in their singles match. Patterson put j more pace on his serve, and though he j played some nice drives, seemed to prefer | to score from cut shots rather than from | pace. Hawkes' win was well deserved on | the play. He played with much greater freedom, and more like true form. He drove Patterson's bounding serve and volleyed cleverly. He played consistently to Patterson's backhand and scored thereby. Patterson rallied at times to show good strokes, but lost many backhand shots. On the other hand, he often worked play to take, command of the court, though Hawkes scored in reply with fine recoveries. Further matches were played in the evening at the Clive Road courts, Mount Eden. In these games the Aucklanders showed great form and played much finer tennis than they have on occasions at championship meetings. The Australians, however, showed only Hashes of their brilliancy. The best tennis of the evening was in the match between Patterson and Hawkes and Bartleet and Robson. The Australians won after a good struggle, 6—4, 4 —6, 9—7. Some characteristic rallies occurred during the game, and all four players participated in some lively volleying exchanges. The Australians appeared tired and did not show marked superiority. The local pair, on the other hand, played right up to form and were always dangerous. Both served excellently and made short work of overhead stuff. Robson also scored with nice passing shots. Patterson was the stronger of the Australians, serving with greater vigour than in the afternoon. Hawkes, while showing up well in team work, did not reproduce his form of the afternoon. Griffiths Defeats Hawkes. The result of the singles match between Hawkes and Griffiths, won by the latter, 6—2. 6—3, came as a surprise, especially after Hawkes' win over Patterson in the afternoon. The Australian, however, aid not seem at home on the court and his play lacked the confidence shown earlier in "the day. Griffiths was right on his game and "played like a winner throughout. He broke through Hawkes' twisting service and produced some fine cross-court drives. His serving was also good. Hawkes, whose hand was bandaged, was disappointing and seemed often to misjudge the ball. Patterson beat Bartleet, 4—6, 6—4, 6—4. Both men plaved attractive tennis, but there were few" long rallies. Bartleet. wes serving particularly well and appeared little inferior' to Patterson in this respect. He won many points by aces, while Patterson in his turn also put over some untouchable serves. .\s a matter of fact, the serving was the feature of the match. Patterson was uncomfortable at the beginning of the match, and ap: pea red puzzled' by the bound of tho ball and hit several balls on the wood. Bartleet plaved confidently and made an excellent showing against his opponent, jtis vollevmu was generally accurate. Patterson varied his ' shots " and certainly showed superiority, although his win was I fry no means an easy one.