TENNIS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXIX, Issue 10959, 27 December 1911, Page 1

TENNIS.

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIPS.

(Per Press Association.) Christcliurch, December 26. By 110011 the drizzle bad cleared off and tlie temperature became warmer. In the afternoon the sun. shone out and 5 under tho influence of the better conditions the courts improved; there was a very big increase in the attendance, and by the time tho "star" item came on —namely, the match between Beals Wright and 31'Laughlin . (the Americans) and Rice and Heathy (the Aus--tralians)—there Was a - large gathering present. In the Men's Singles Kidston, who came over as a practice member of- the Australian team, met W. Pearse. TJjfi first set was won by Eidston after an even go, and he took the next two sets easily. The Australian's accuracy and placing were too much for the Temuka player, who was handicapped through playing without spikes to his shoes. A very even und interesting struggle was witnessed between F. S. Wilding and A. S. C. Brown. Wilding won the three sets straight, hut the second set went to 9 —7 before he secured it. Wilding seemed to be more affected by the slippery state of the court than tho Auckland player. In the second round Peacock met F. S. Wilding and won three sets straight. Wilding played" well in the second set, but Peacock's driving powers and fast serving were too much for the young Christcliurch . player. . , The only match played in the Ladies' Singles in the morning was that between Miss K. Travers, the present champion, and Hiss L. van Stavern. Miss Travers plays a fast and forcing game, her driving being especially good, and she won fairly easily. The only other noteworthy " -r>ture in the Ladies' Singles was tho !Vfc that Miss I'. A. Stewart, the Australian champion, easily defeated Miss H. M. Cottun. of Christcliurch, who found the pace .set too fast. In the Meri's Doubles Wertheim, of Victoria, and Kidston played .an interesting match against Bonnington and- Sheppard. Kidston as usual played accurately and cleverly, but Wertheim was erratic and appeared to go right off his game for a while, so that a lot of his strokes found the net. However he recovered and played well towards the finish. His remarkable reach enabled him to put in some fine overhead work and he was j good on the smash. Bonnington and Sheppard both played a capital game, Sheppard's serving-and volleying being noticeable good, while Bonnington's netplay was also excellent. Brookes and Dnnlop simply did what they liked with Lampe and .Billows, and the Australians hardly got what might- be called a.practice game.- Lampe got in a few good shots, but- Billows was rather conscious of the inequality of the sides. Although beaten, in the* next round by the same' pair of champions and by the same margin as Lampe and Billows, A. Brown and. Morpeth put up a much better fight and got in some good forceful drives. Excitement- ran high when Wright and M'Lauglilin aiul Rice and Heath appeared on the courts and the spectators were hoping for ;i fine exhibition. They were not disappointed, a brilliant struggle boinir witnessed! Long and hot rallies were frequent and were greeted with yells of delight. Wright played his usual safe g:nne and displayed great generalship in working until he got an opponent out of position so .as to place the ball where no ' opponent was. M'Laughlin put great

force into liis smashes and drives, but was again erratic. His smash to the side of the court was a feature of ins play. Heath played a brilliant game. I his volleying and cross-court drives being notable features of his work. Rice * placing and net work were also splendid; The Australians played a beautiful partnership and it_is safe to eav that nothing approaching this exhibition of play has been seen in New Zealand before, the sustained brilliance of the rallies ■ close to the net being altogether memorable. In the first set the. score was 5 all, and then the Australians won the next two games and thus secured the set. In the second set

Wright and M'Laughlin were 4 —l, but the Australians pulled up'to 5 all; then a game went to the Americans 6—a.

and one to the Australians, 6 —6. Tl next two went to the Americans and gave them the second set B—6. In the third set the Americans got to 4—J. but this time the Australians could not pull up their leeway and the set went to the Americans 6—3. In the fourth set the Australians also failed to make up lost ground, and after the Americans had got to 4 —"t, the Australians could only win one game and the Americans took the set 6—3 and the match. In the Ladies' Doubles Misses Baird and K. M. Nunneley had an easy'win. against Mrs Berry and Miss Timms. The winners had too many powerful strokes for their opponetns, Miss Nunneley's fast service and cross-court drive being beyond their ability to reply to. Results are: MEN'S SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP.

(Best of five sets, advantage sets.) Present champion: J. C. Peacock (Wellington). First Round. Kidston. beat W. Pearse, 7 —5, 6—o, 6—2; P. S. Wilding beat A. S. O. Brown, 6—3, 9—7, 6 —4. Second Round. —J. C. Peacock beat F. S. Wilding, 6—2, 7—5, 6—3; H.< Morpeth beat M. L. Lampe, 7 —5, 6—3, 6—2. LADIES' SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP. (Best of ; three sets, advantage sets.) Present champion: Miss Eva Travers (Wellington). , First Round —Miss E. Travers beat Miss L. van Stnvern, 6—2, 6 —l; Miss L. Williams walked over from Miss G. W. Greenfield; Miss it. M. Nunneley walked over from Miss D. Bedford; Miss E-. Goodman beat Miss E. Miles, 6 —l, 6 —l. Second Round —Miss A. Gray beat Miss L. Turton, 6 —o, o—3.0 —3. Third Round—Miss P. A. Stewart beat Miss H. M."Cotton, 6—o, 6 —l.

\jj YS DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP. (Best of five sets, advantage sets.) present champions: F. M. B. Fisher nml J. C. Peacock (Wellington). Fn-st Round—Cox and Aitken beat Davov and Ross, 6—3, C —-2, 6—2; (jmli and H. Brown beat Wilson and J e 6—3, 6—4, 6—2. Second Round —Wertheiin and Kidston heat Bonnington and Sheppard, (; —j. B—6,8 —6, 6 —l; Fisher and Peacock wnlked over from Nicholson and Webster: A. Brown and Morpeth beat Sands "i 111[ Berry, 6 —3, 6 —4, 6 —3: Brookes Miid Dunloy beat Lampe and Billows, (j._o 6 —0," 6—l; Borrows and O'Hara. Wood beat Cox and Aitken, 6 —3, 7 —5, v—fj 36 —3; G. Ollivier and Jennings beat Quill and H. Brown, 6 —3,

6—3. 7—5. Tlnrd Bound —Brookes and Dunlop limit H. Brown and Morpeth, 6 —o, 6—(), 6 —l. Beals Wright ;TYid M'Laughlin beat Rice and Heath, 5 —7, B—6,8 —6, 6—3, 6 3. LADIES' DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP.

(Best of three sets, advantage sets.) Present champions: Misses Eva Travers (Wellington) and R. W ell wood (Hawko's. Bay). First Round—Miss E. -S. Williams and Hnrtgill beat Misses Scott and Sutton, 6 —l, 6—4: Misses Baird and Iv. N. Nunneley beat Mrs Berry and Miss Timms, 6 —o, 6 —l; Misses Travers and Gray beat Mrs Rose and Miss van Stavern, 6—4, 6 —3; Mesclames Chisiiiill and Lord beat Misses Cotton and Turton, 6—l, 6—4.. COMBINED DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP. (Best of three sets, advantage sets.) Present champions: Miss R. 'Wellwood (Hawko's Bay) and H. A. Parker (New South Wales). First Round —Sheppard and Miss Goodman beat Aitken and Mfi% Molesworth, 6—l, 2—6, 6—3; Ross and Miss Stavem walked over from Heath and Miss Campbell; Peacock and Miss Simpson beat Pearse and Miss Hay, 4 —6, 6—3, 6 —2. , T . Second Round —Peacock and Miss Simpson beat Sheppard and Miss Goodman, 6 —3, 2- —6, 6—2.