LAWN TENNIS

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11409, 4 January 1923, Page 8

LAWN TENNIS

HAWKE'S TOURNEY MATCH BETWEEN MISS HOWE AND MISS WEt/LWOOD. N.Z. LADIES’ TEAM SELECTED. ■ 1 ' (By Telegraph.—Special to "Times,") NAPIER, January 3Yesterday’s heavy rain made the Hastings Club’s courts very heavy for play to-day, and from the spectators viewpoint play was rather d#U, in fact, the whole tournament following on the more important gathering has lost some of its interest for both players and public. AN INTERESTING.MATCH. The most interesting matoh of the morning eventuated when Miss Howe (Wellington) met Miss Wellwood (Hastings) in a' einghs championship.' Miss Howe, last year, was the schoolgirl champion of New Zealand, and in the New Zealand championships, last -week, won a set from Miss Lance, the Australian, • who subsequently won the championship. ‘ Miss Wellwood, las; year, was a member of the New Zealand ladies' team which played in Sydney. Miss Wellwood won the first set, 7—5, after many long rallies, and Miss Howe won the second, 6—3. She hit nearly everything back with admirable steadiness and serenity, while Miss Wellwood, by forcing her shots, found the net very frequently. In the decisive set Miss WellWood,'playing accurately- and, scoring by short angle drives, led by 4 games to 1, then her play lapsed and Miss Howe, as steady as ever, won four games on end and led, 5—4. Miss Wellwood’s overhead shots lacked sting and placement, and Miss Howe lobbed her returns and drove her opponent out of position, wining her service, which was more severe than Miss Howe’s. Miss Wellwood drew level again, but lost her service. The game to love and the final to 15, being oufc-manoeu-ved. ANOTHER SURPRISE WIN. Another surprise was the defeat during the afternoon of Miss MacParlane and Hobson, runners-up for the New Zealand oombined championship, I>y Miss Clark and Milburn, a Napier pair. Both tbe Aucklanders played muoh below form. While Milburn was brilliant in all overhead) shots and got over wonderful half volleys, while his partner was very steady. The first set, which was a fairly even one, ended 7—5, but the second ended 6—l. BOYS’ CHAMPIONSHIP. The boys* championship was won by L. G. Knott, of Auckland, from D. Ritchie, of Hastings. In two sets the standard of play was very high indeed Knott has a splendid stylo and showed proficiency in nearly every . shot, but lost many points in his anxiety to score "aces." He was beaten by Andrews in the New Zealand championship. Tho New South Wales ladies, so far. have, won all their games easily.