CHAMPIONSHIP TENNIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19833, 31 December 1927, Page 11

CHAMPIONSHIP TENNIS.

IjITTLE may yesterday.

THE COMBINED DOUBLES.

[ ,TITLE-HOLDERS DEFEATED.

| MATCH ON HEAVY COURT-

JBT TELEGRAPH,— PRESS ASSOCIATION. H CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. Owing to the heavy rain there was little play to-day in the New Zealand Jawn tennis championships. Matches did not begin until after three o'clock, when .the combined doubles were advanced to .the semi-finals. As the result Mrs. £dams and Len France .will meet Miss Tracy and Wilson in the final. It should J>e an interesting match. To-day's surprise was the defeat of the ••title-holders, Miss Speirs and D. G. France, by Mrs. Adams and L. Franca in two sets. Tho court was heavy and the ladies played in stockinged foot. Franco dominated the play. Hi;s .brother was unsteady all through, and •was frequently passed at the net. All the finals will be played to-morrow. .Ollivier and Bartleet meeting at two g'clock. Results:— COMBINED DOUBLES. 'l.'ird Round.—Miss Speirs and D franco beat Miss Myers and Lampel tr 4 ' Adams L. France be*: Misd Macfarlane and Sturt, 6—l, 6 —2 Semi-final-Miss Tracy and Wilson Mat Miss Andrew and Seay, 'l—6, 6 -2, > Mrs. Adams and L. France beat Miss Speirs and D. G. France, 6—3, NEW ZEALAND PLATE. Second Round..—Lamps won from JBoddy by default. Third Round—Bagge won from Pearse by default; Walker beat Lampe, I—6, 6 2, 6—3, 6—3; Wilson beat Knott, 68,0 2, 10—8, 6—2. Bagge and Angas have both advanced to the semi-finals. NOTES ON THE PLAY. MIXED DOUBLES SEMI-FINALS

[BY TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRISTCHURCH, Friday.

In the semi-finals of the combined doubles Miss Tracy and [Wilson defeated Miss Andrew and Seay after losing the first set. The Wellington pair did not get going at the start. Miss Andrew drove splendidly and made numerous openings for her partner. Wilson came to light in the second set and scored numerous points by clean overhead work and interceptions. Miss Tracy lobbed successfully. Seay was caught out of position repeatedly. The sanifi thing happened in tho final set, although there were many bright rallies in. spite of the heavy court. In the other semi-final, Mrs. Adams and L. France led 3—2 in the first set against Miss Speirs and D. France. Then Don France lost his service, but Mrs. Adams followed by losing her service. In •volleying duels, Len France outplayed Don France and captured the set at 6—3. 'Again in the second set Mrs. Adams and partner led 2—l. The Wellington lady was driving across the court with great pace and precision. At three all Miss Speirs serving and the score 15—40, the position was critical for the title-holders. The game went to Len France, who led 4—3. Next Mrs. Adams won her serve to love and the Wellington pair were ahead 5—3. Don France lost his service weak play from 30 —40 and the set went to Mrs. Adams and Len France at 6 —3 and with it the match. It was the unsteadiness of Don France that lost ♦he match. Both ladies showed excellent form. A L. France ard Mrs. Adams (Wellington) were too solid for N. G. Sturt «nd Miss M. Macfarlane (Auckland) in ihe third round of the combined doubles and they won in straight sets, 6—l, 6—2. Combination was the deciding factor in the match and the Aucklanders were vulnerable down the centre-line, in marked contrast to France and Mrs. Adams, who covered the court splendidly. Miss Macfarlane was troubled bv the ht;avy nature of the turf as a of the rain and she appeared to be timing her drives too late. Sturt was spasmodically btilJiant, but was frequently caugut cnt'of position. , Concentrating on his opponent s weak backhand, N R. C. Wilson (Wellington) defeated L. G. Knott Auckland) in four gets, 6-8, 6-2, 10-6. 6- 2, in the third round of the New Zealand plate. The tennis was nothing to write home about, both players falling down on the easiest of shots. Knott was the steadier of the two, but his weak backhand never gave him a chance and his weak returns on this wing gave Wilson openings at the net The Well i net on man was very erratic and he lost manv important points through missing easy shots.

WILDING MEMORIAL SHIELD.

AUCKLAND V. WELLINGTON

[BST TELEGRAPH. —PKESS ASSOCIATION.] CHRIST CHURCH, Friday.

Wellington, which holds the Anthony Wilding Memorial Shield, will seek to retain this trophy of Dominion tennis supremacy on Monday and Tuesday, Auckland Gtog the challenger. The teams w.ll bo L- Bartleet -4 W Sims K. G. Sturt and L. G. Knott. The teams in the doubles will be Bartleet and Sim 3 and Sturt and Knott. Wellington. —A. L. France (captain). C. E. Malfroy, D- G. France and N li. C- Wilson. The teams iri the doubles will be A. L. France and Wilson and D. U. France and Malfroy.

PLAY AT ROTORUA.

LADIES' SINGLES FINAL.

SUCCESS OF MISS PAYTON.

[BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] ROTORUA. Friday.

The Rotorua tennis tournament, was Continued in fine, weather, and should conclude to-morrow. . , • In tho final o£ the ladies championship Singles, Miss Payton beat Miss Wilson, 2—-6, 6—3, 6—2. . In the final of the men s championship doubles, Stedman and Stedman beat Ewnnefaerd and Smith, 6—o, 6—4.

Other results are Men's Handicap Doubles.—Brown and Elliot beat Alison and Walker, 10—8; Horton and Morpeth beat Robinson and Bichardson, 11—8- ' Combined Handicap Doubles.—Mrs. Aujiion and Alison beat Mrs. Craig and Craig, II -6; Miss Matheson and Steadman beat lliss 'Waters and Richardson, 11—10. Ladies' Handicap Doubles. —Misses i'ayton and Richardson beat Misses Asser and Wilson, 6—3, 3—6, 6—2; rs> fTonks and Miss Richardson beat Misses pMellsop and Burnsido, 9—6. Men s Haudicap Singles.—Morgan beat Richardson, 11—5; Morgan beat Morj,eth) 11—10; Elliot beat Kitchener, 31—3; Elliot beat Tonson, 11—'5. Co£nbine<i Championship Doubles.— Mrs. Brown and Brown beat Miss Steadinan and Stedman, 4 ~ 6 '^r s \^~ 2 ' i s , s ■Asser and Bowden bent Miss Manson and Robertson, 6-4, 6-0: Miss Wilson and Horton beat Miss Asser and Bowden ; , 6 —a, *> 5 6—o. „ Udiea*' Handicap. Singles.—Finals Miss beat JMiss Higginson, 6—3, 6—3.