ATHLETIC SPORTS. LAWN TENNIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 21069, 31 December 1931, Page 5

ATHLETIC SPORTS.

LAWN TENNIS.

AUCKLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS. BARTLEET IN GOOD FORM. SINGLES SEMI-FINALS TO-DAY. The Auckland Lawn Tennis Association's championships wore continued at the Stanley Street, courts yesterday in fine weather. There was a good attendance of spectators. As a result of the clav's play in the men's singles speculation is still rife and splendid matches should bo seen to-day when tho semifinals will bo decided. Laurenson, tho title-holder, was definitely fighting hard against Harrison yesterday, but the spur of a semi-final or final rnay serve to whip up his energies. Morrison played well against Turner, but tho general opinion appears to be that lie will havo to improve to hold the exchampion to-day. Miss Macfarla.no will bo opposed by Mrs. Napier and Miss B. Knight by Mrs. Melody in tile ladies' singles to-day. Both matches should provide bright tennis. Bartlect played beautifully controlled tennis against Rowlands and in tho first set kept his opponent 011 tho run to win six games in a row. Rowlands took the first game in the second set, but his lead was short-lived, as Bartlect went to the net to score with well-placed volleys. In tho third set Rowlands scored tho first two games, but.Bartlect. again outplayed him and ran out at 6 —3. Four Long Sets. Turner gave a splendid display of tennis in forcing Morrison to fight for his life through four long well-contested sots. In the first set lie had better control than Morrison and won at 6 —3. Turner continued his good run in tho second set and went to 2—o, scoring frequently with drives into tho forecourt, which just caught the sidelines. Morrison, however, steadied and won at 6—3. Turner, fighting hard, went to 5—4 and then 6—5 in the third set by tho aid of somo clever lobbing. Morrison, however, was not to be denied and eventually won at B—6. Turner lost somo of his accuracy in the fourth set, which Morrison won at 6—4. N. Ct. Sfurt kept ahead of. R. S. Milne in three attractively played sets. Milne lacked the conrol of his more experienced opponent, but has 110 reason to feel displeased with the result. All three sets were close .in the initial stages, but Sturt seemed ablo to raise the. standard of his game when the chance of clinching the set camc. J. Harrison played splendidly against Laurenson, and, by means of a volleying attack based on good length drives, forced the champion to light for his life. r Jhe Royal Oak player took tho first two sets and was within measurable distance of the third when ho led at 4—l. Laurenson played steadily to take the next three sets, Harrison losing his length and tiring. Unenterprising Match. Mrs. Napier and Miss Ramsay were defeated by Miss Eccles and Miss Potter in a rather unenterprising match. In fact, tho losers wero the more venturesome, but allowed themselves to be driven from tho net by making a few errors. Laurenson and Bartlect had a margin of superiority over Turner and Turner and won in straight sets, the middle one only being close. V. R. Johns and ThomEoii put up a good fight against Rowlands and Morrison in a well-played four-set match. One of the best doubles of the tournament to date was played between Wilson and Wilson and Sturt.and Griffiths. In the first set the Remuera pair gained an early lead, which they held. In tho second Wilson and Wilson smashed better and won at 6 —2. Sturt and Griffiths combined more effectively in "the third set, in which the brothers did not get a game. Tho Remuera combination maintained their ascendancy in the next set, and, although tho Wilson brothers fought hard tliev could make 110 impression 011 their experienced opponents. Charters and Miss Ruth Taylor gained a meritorious win over A. 0. Johns and Miss Miller. Miss Taylor's effective backhand shots wero a feature of the match. Griffiths "and Miss Griffiths did well to dispose of a seeded pair in Lamb and Miss Roberton. Sturt and Miss Marjorie Macfarlane reached tho semi-final round with a straight set won over Robinson and Mrs. Russell. Following are the results: — MEN'S SINGLES.—A GRADE. Third Round.—Laurenson beat Harrison, 5_7, 5—7, G—4, o—3. G—3; Sturt beat Milne, (,—2f G—3, 0—1; Bartleet bent Rowlands, (j—o, o—3, 6 —3; Morrison beat Turner, 3—C, G-—3, B—G, G—3. MEN'S DOUBLES. Third Round.—Laurenson and Bartleet beat Turner and Turner, (s—l, B—o, G—3: Rowlands and Morrison beat Johns and Thomson, G—3, 4—o, (s—l, o—3; Johns and Hayr beat Marchant and Major, ('—2, G —3. 0—1; Sturt and Griffiths beat Wilson and Wilson, G—3, 3—G, G—o, G—l. LADIES' DOUBLES. Second Round.—Misses Macfarlane beat Mrs. Russell and Mrs. Wren, o—2, o—3; Misses Knisht and Whitelaw beat Misses Roberto)! and Taylor, o—2, 4—o, (r—l; Misses Potter and Eccles beat Mrs. Isapier and Miss Ramsay, G —3, O—G,0 —G, 6—3. COMBINED DOUBLES. Second Round.—Mrs. Russell and Robinson beat Mis 3K. Milne and F. . Martin, 6—3. 0— V , , ~, . Third Round.—Miss Taylor and Charters beat Miss Miller and A. C. Johns. 2—o, 7 5 > g—4; Miss Griffiths and Griffiths beat Missj Roberton and Lamb, 2—o, o—4. 7--o; Miss Marjorie Macfarlane and Sturt boat Mrs. Russell and Robinson, G—3, G—4. MEN'S SINGLES.—B GRADE. Third Round.—Chalmers heat Bockett, r, 4, 7—5: Stevens beat Curtis, o—3,0 —3, o—B, G—l; G. C. Smith beat Spence, o—3, (5 —2; Ilobbs beat Handyside, G —3, o—4. BOYS' JUNIOR SINGLES. Third Round.—Milne beat T. H. Wilson, p, 2 fi —2; Chalmers beat Stevens, in— 8, ,0,-3; Walton beat Ilarrowell, G—l, 0— l'; J. S. "Wilson beat Court, 6—l, G—3. GIRLS' JUNIOR SINGLES. Second Round.—Miss Gardner beat Miss Milne, 7—5, s—-7, o—l. BOYS' JUNIOR DOUBLES. Second Round.—Walton and Chalmers beat Wilson and Carnnchan, 7—5, 11- 0; Wood and Lewis beat George and Sutherland. 7—5, o—7. GIRLS' JUNIOR DOUBLES. First Round.— Mi uses Stedman and Colson beat Misses Morton and Cooke, G—l, Second Round.—Misses B. Taylor and B. (irifliths beat Misses U. and A. Grange, (j—3, jG — 1 • JUNIOR COMBINED DOUBLES. First Round. —Miss Cooke and It. S. Milue beat Miss G. Gardner and C. Wood. p,.-.o fi—;j; Miss B. Griffiths and .i. b. Wilson beat Mihs Taylor and It. S. liftrrowel I o—2, 7—5; Miss K. Milne and S. R. Walton beat. Miss Bishop and Duncan, 6—G, G— t. .PROGRAMME FOR TO-DAY. Following are the matches for to-day;— •>3O a.lll. —Milne v. Chalmers, Walton v. Wilson, Miss Grifliths v. Miss Bishop. 10 a.m. —Smith v. IJobbs. Turner and Miss Whitelaw v. Hoardman and Miss Potter. 10.15 a.m.— Laurenson v. Sturt. Miss Macfarlane v. Mrs. Napier. 11 a.lll —Chalmers v. Stevens. Miss 1!. Taylor v. Miss Gardner, Mrs. Melody v. Miss Knight, J. S. Wilson and Milne v. Wood and Lewis. 12.15 p.m.—Bartleet v. Morrison. 1.30 p.m.—Misses Macfurlano v. Mrs. Melody and Miss Miller. 2 p.m.—Misses Knight and Whitelaw v. Misses Potter and Eccles. 2.15 p.m.—Johns and llarper v. <1 ninths and Sturt, Stevens and Wharfo v. Walton and Chalmers. J. S. Wilson and Miss Griffiths v. Walton and Miss Milne. 4 p.m.—Bartleet and Laurenson v. Morrison and Rowlands, Milne and Miss ( ooke v. T. If. Wilson und Miss Cnlson, Griffiths and M ins Griffiths v. winners of Turner and Miss Whitchiw v. Boardnian and Miss Potter. Miß3 Macfarlane and Sturt v. Mias R. Taylor and Charters.