WHEN CHAMPION MEETS CHAMPION

NZ Truth, Issue 1203, 20 December 1928, Page 16

WHEN CHAMPION MEETS CHAMPION

Many Old Faces Will Be Missing At Tlie Dominion Tennis Tourney At Auckland Next Week " (From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Tennis Correspondent);

One by one the old stalwarts of Dominion tennis pass on, leaving behind them a train of regrets that those- to whom they have, handed on the torch 7 are neither as numerous nor as aggressive as those with an eye on potential Davis Cup representatives would have them be.

NOTABLE ' absentees : from the Stanley Street tournament this year i are Geoff. Ollivief, now a professional, and; still .the best^ player resident m the Dominion; J. C. Peacock, N.Z. cha*npion 27 years «ago, but recently returned- from, a lengthy trip abroad; the Taranaki battler's, Aiex. Wallace and Cliff. Dickie, one ,6f our greatest doubles combinations; and Warne Pearse, the war-scarred giant ahd notorious punster. Anno Domini, however, . cannot be held responsible for the absence of D. G. France and N. R. Wilson, Wellr ington's first and second strings, "these youthful players are at the very top of their form, and their , enforced absence through business tiei, coupled with Seay's inability to participate on account of illness, robs this year's contest of a great deal of interest. . What will happen, m the absence of Andrews' piercing service, gallant driving, audacious volleying, and excessive enterprise (to ciuote the description of his historic match on the opening day of, .- ,.., when ., he,downed the mighty 1 Hunter; second only to Tilden on the American v rank-ing-list? ,■'•-.. ■ Who s wil}./. emuVate 0 Don; France s, forceful, often brilliant' all-court play; Noel Wilson's fierce serving and smashing, his crisp volleying and delightful early hitting? Who will set the same pace m fiery doubles play that won for Knott and Sturt their 1926 honors? ( This year's adult entries show a falling off, , particularly; m the men's and .ladies' singles, when compared with those of last year. .■'ln. the.' flrst quarter of the men's'

singles, the seeded players, Bartleeti and Angas, should come through, although it is quite on the cards, that Eddie Wright, the North Island' champion, who hails from Te- Aroha, may give the young Cantabrian the game of his life. Although Bartleet is reported to be playing very patchily at present, he should beat Angas, as the latter plays the hard-hitting guileless game on which the Aucklander thrives. Dr. Laurensbn and Lampe are seeded, m the second quarter, although Lampe's form of late hardly justifies his being seeded m preference to Stedman. Malfroy and Sturt occupy the places of destruction on the third quarter, and the former's clever passing shots should cramp the Aucklander's netrushing sufficient to let him through to the quarter final. .' In the fourth quarter Len. France and Dan. Glanville catch the eye and when they clash m the demi-semi, the genial Len. should finish a few lengths m front of Dan. With Bartieef,7Laurensoh, Len. France and Malfroy left m at the death, some old score's will be settled, and "Truth" looks to Lauren- ;; son and Malfroy to emerge for the final duel with honors m favor of Malfroy. A small but representative entry of 28 should produce some strenuous and exciting contests m the ladies' singles. Misses Knight ' and Partridge are, absentees, but all the rest are there. In the first quarter *Miss Marjorie Macfarlane should come through, after gaining a vivid impression of Doris

Howe,'s and Marjory Gibson's improved play en -route. *Mrs. Adams, who has been playing wonderfully well of ■ late, 'will be the second quarter finalist. Two interesting clashes m this <*e'ction will take place when Miss Myers and Marion Macfarlano , meet, and when *Miss Wake. Canterbury's-second string, meets. the winner m the secoml round. . , *Miss May Speirs will be the third quarter finalist, and her opponent will probably be Dulcie Nicholls, who should beat May Andrew in' a hard-hitting match that should be brimful of interest. Iv the third quarter *Miss MaiTracy will meet *Mrs. W. J. Melody, who has a bye, m the third round, and should be the quarter finalist. The quarter flnaliffts. Miss M. Macfarlane, Mrs. Adams, Misses May Speirs and May Tracy should play some .spaikling' tennis. Mrs. Adams should nose m ahead "of the Aucklander, and tlie ' ' chunipion should carry too many guns for Wellington's second string. •The.' l 926' final should be repeated, with the same result. Miss Speirs does not seem to reproduce her best away frpm .home, and Mrs. Adams. should win. . 7. ■.'-■' "'■' - Note 7 * Denotes seeded "player. CO far as Dunedin is concerned at present there is a dearth m sprinters, and the centre authorities are beginning to feel very cold about this branch of the prospective Otago team. A young runner, C. H. Duff, whose father was once very populai* on the track, seems to be the only city lad with much promise.