CHAMPIONSHIP TENNIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21067, 29 December 1931, Page 10

CHAMPIONSHIP TENNIS.

AUCKLAND TITLES SOUGHT. RESULTS OF OPENING DAY. SOME INTERESTING MATCHES. The Auckland lawn tennis championship tournament was commenced at the Stanley Street courts yesterday under good weather conditions, the first rounds of both ladies' and men's singles being concluded with few surprises. In the men's singles J. Harrison proved the judgment of Ihe seeding con'imittee wrong by defeating J. 0 Charters in an even contest. Harrison went to the net consistently throughout, and his long reach enabled him to pull down many lobs and reach attempted passing shots thai would have beaten a shorter player. J. T. Laurenson, the title holder, was in danger of losing the second set against llayr, who led, 5—4, and, with a set point in his favour, went to the net to finish off, only to be passed across court by a well-played backhand return. Laurenson was again in complete command in the third set, llayr making altogether too many errors to have anv hope of success against Laurcnson's steady play. K. L. Bartlcet was forced to plav good tenuis against Watkins, who fought every iiuh of the way against the ex-champion and, when in position at the net, was very difficult to dislodge. In the fourth set Watkins tired somewhat, and Bartleet won with something to spare Miss Marion Macfarlane excelled herself in the early stages of the first set against Miss Kniglu. Sho lod 6—5 and netted a low volley for love—so, through having too long a grip on her racquet. i\Jiss Knmht saved the game and went on to wiu'the set at B—6. In the second Miss Knight was not threatened. Miss L. Robcrton .was 100 severe off the ground and kept too good a length for Mis. Wren. Miss Ruth Taylor put up a line fight against Miss Potter, the issue being in doubt until the last stroke had been finished. Of the two she had the better stroke production, but in the end the Parnell player's steadiness prevailed. Mrs. Napier played attractively to defeat Mrs. •Russell, and Miss Ramsay's chops were too consistent for Miss Eccles, who, bow ever, never gave up hope. The doubles matches went in accordance with established form, although N. G. Stint and E. W. Griffiths struck stein, and possibly unexpected, opposition from Ohlson and Milne, and were carried to four closely-contested sets before they finally got home. The losers both played very well, and deserved every point they won. V. R. Johns and 11. -0. Thompson gained a tactical and well-merited win over Lamb and Boardman, whose endeavours to drive straight through the opposition met with little success. Johns return of service was very effective, and time, and again he scored placements off Bo'ar'clman's 'rather weak second delivery. Following are the results:— MEN'S SINGLES.—A GRADE. First Hound.—C. 'Partridge beat E. 11. Turner, G —3, G —2, 8—0; N. G. Sturt beat K. G. Boardman, 6 —o, G—l, G—2: S. Lamb beat T. J. Gould. o—*t, G 3. G 3; A S. Milne beat F. AY. Martin, 6—3. G—l. C, —0- E. L. Bartlcet beat W. G. Watkins. 4—g. G—o. ' (i—l. G—2: H. C. Rowlands beat-A. E. McKeown, 6—4, G—o, 62; \. R. Johns beat H. O. Thomson, B—fi. 6—l, 6—4- A. K. Turner beat O. F. Bushill, 3_G,. 6—o, 6—l. 6-1; S. '<L Robinson beat O. Martin. 6 —3, G—l, B—6; J. T. Laurenson beat Iv. llayr. 62. 9—7, 6—l; J. i. Harrison bent J. C. Charters. 6—4, 3—6. 6—4; M. Ald red beat W. J. Melody, 6-3! 6-3, 6-1; T. E. Potter bent- J. C. Andrews," 11—0, 6—4, 6—3; M. M. Mornson beat R. Taylor, G—l, 7—5, 6—o; A. Porter beat M. T. Wilson, 6—4, a 6—3, 0-3; E. W. Griffiths beat it. J. Fhelan, G —3, B—6,8 —6, MEN'S 1 SINGLES.—B GRADE. First Round.—C. B. Chalmers beat Lewis, G— 2 0— 2; A. E. Bockeit heat P. Coiitts. G_o! G—o- S. C. Thome beat 11. Major. (j 4' 6—2; A. Davis beat R. Wharfe, 6—l, 6—4*: H. ' Curtis beat R. S. Harrowell, g 2* (; l- (>. C. Smith beat W. A. G rattan, 6—4, S— G; W. S. Spence beat D G. Cuniming, 6-2, 6-3; S. Handyside beat J. Roach, 2-6, 6-2, 6-4; R. G. Teal beat D. M. Wallace, 6—l. 6—4; !•. Forrest beat R. 11. Potter. 10—8, «»—0; J. Vickerman beat L. Willianisdn, o—4. 5 7, 6—3- W. Roberts beat W. J. Herbert, 6—i. 5_V 6—2- G. Hobbs meat A. Hooker. 6—2. e_-l- w. F. Porter beat R. D. Brown. (5_2. J X—6. B—6; J. V. Macky beat (r. C. Latta, 6—3, 6 -2; Stevens beat L. Marchant, 6—l, 5—7, 6—4. MEN'S DOUBLES. First Round.—Turner and Turner beat Teal and Davis, -6--2, 6-1, G-0; Rowlands and Morrison beat Gould and Aldred, b—2, e_l tj—a- Smith and Chalmers beat Melody end' F. W. Martin, 6—2. G—l. 6—2; G. Martin and Part-ridge beat R. Potter and Coutts. 3—6, 6—o. 6-3. 6—l; Johns and Thomson beat Boardman and Lamb, (> *2. •j, o g, 6—l; Sturt and Grifiiths beat 01 ten and Milne, 7—5, 4—6, 6—l, o—7; Bockett and Herbert beat Brown and Watkins, 7-5, 1 -6, 2—6. 6-1. 7—5; Wilson and Wilson beat Thome and Taylor. 7—5, *6— 3, 6 i; Roberts and Hobbs beat Williamson a,'id Gi'altan. B—6,8 —6, 6—3. 6 2; A. C. Johns and Hayr beat Phelan and VV. F. Porter, 6-1. 6-0, 6-2; P. and J. 1. Harrison beat A. Porter and J. C. Andrews, 6-4. 6-3. I—6. 6--2: Potter aijd McKeown beat Macky and Brown, 6—'-, 4—6, 9-7, 4—6, 6—4.

' LADIES' SINGLES. First Hound.—Miss B. Knight beat Miss M Marfarlane, B—G, G—l: Miss L. Roberton beat Mrs. Wren, 6—l. 0-1 : Miss M. J. Mncfarlane beat Miss P. Tlnstreton-Smith, i;_. 0 0—1; Miss J. E. Ramsay bent Miss D. M Eccles, 6—2. 6—3: Miss Napier beat Mrs. M. • Russell. f.—o. o—3; Miss Potter beat Miss it. Taylor. 6—3. 4—o. 6—4: Mrs. W. J. Melody beat Miss B. Griffiths. 6—3, LADIES' DOUBLES. First Round.—Misses Macfarlane beat Mrs. Shroff and Miss Smith, 6—l. 6—2; Mesdames Russell and Wren beat Misses Jj n Roche and Hooper. G—l, 6—o; Misses Knight and Whitcluw beat Mrs. Robson and Miss Griffiths, 7—5. 7—5. COMBINED DOUBLES. First Round. —Mies Macfarlane and Stmt beat Mrs. Wren and A. Porter, 6-0. 6—l; Miss B. Knight ami V. R. Johns beat Mr. and Mrs. Melody. 6 —2, 8 -6; Miss I?. Taylor and J. C. Charters beat Miss Hooper and TI. O Thomson, 6—l. 6—2; Miss Marion Macfarlane and Partridge beat Miss r,a. Roche and A. S. C. Brown, 6—2, t i;, i;—2; Miss Roberton and S. Lamb beat Miss B. Cook and E. Turner, 6—2, 6—4; Miss Eccles and S. C'. Thorne beat Mrs.' Robson and E. Ohlson, 6—B, 6—4. BOYS' JUNIOR SINGLES. First Round.—J. Roach beat A. J. Davis, 6—l. 4 - -6, - 6—4; T. 11. Wilson beat J. Lewis. 2—6, 6 3. 6-2; S. S. Handyside bent b. A. Peak. 6—4. 6—2; J. B. Stevens beat R. F. Whnrfe. 7-5. 4-6, 6-3; D. G. Gumming beat M.' P. Thomson, 4—6, r, i, r,—4: J. D. Vickerman bent C. Wood, C, t (', 0; G. W. Kirkbrido beat G. S. Griffiths, 6- 1, 6—l; R. S. llarrowell beat G Duncan, 3 6, 6-2. 7—5; .T. S. Wilson I,rat It. C,. Park, 6—2. I 1-0; 1). M. Wallace beat J. W. Low, 10-8, 7—5: R. S. Milne beat L George, 6—l, 6—2. GIRLS' JUNIOR SINGLES. F'irst Round .--Miss J. Bishop benf Miss M. Ilooton. 6-3. 8 6; Miss G. Gardner beat Miss A. Crangc. ('.— 4. G- 1; Miss li. Tavlor beat Miss J. Chambers, 4 —6, 6—2, 6 2. PROGRAMME FOR, TODAY. The second round of the men's A and B grade singles and the ladies' singles will lie played to-day. Following is the draw and tiie times the players will be required:— a.m. Miss P. Miller v. Mis '' Hooper, Chalmers v. Teal, Bnekeft v. Maeky, Thorne v. Stevens Davis v. Curtis. Smith v. Forrest, Vickerman v. Spence. Roberts v. JLobbs, 11 audyside v. \V. F. Porter. I)..*?:» a.m. Koacli v. T. 11. Wilson, Stevens v. Gumming, Walton v. Woollams, Kirkbride v. llarrowell, Wallace v. Wilson, Carnachan v. Court, Chalmers v. Dance, Mips Smith and Marchant v. Miss Vnilo and M ajor. 10.15 a.m.— E. W. (Iriffiths v. A. K. Turner, Lawronson v. Pin t ridge, Morrison v. Porter, St ii rt v. Potter, S. Lamb v. R. S. Milne, Miss Jeffries v. Miss B. Stedinnu, Miss K. Milne v. Miss N. Anderson, Miss B. Griffiths v. Miss Drake, Miss B. Cook v. Miss V. Grange. 11 a.m.—E. L. Bartlect v, S. J. Robinsou, Rowlands v. Johns, Harrison v. Aldred, Miss Knight v. Miss Rubertoil. Mrs. Melody v. Miss Potter, Miss Ramsay v. Mrs. Napier, Miss Macfarlane v. winner of Misa Miller v. Miss Hooper. 12 Noon. —All players required.