LAWN TENNIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17902, 6 April 1920, Page 2

LAWN TENNIS

EASTER TOOENAMENT CONTINUED. RLA-tf BECOMES MORE INTERESTING. .FINAL STAGES TO-DAY. Tho Otago Lawn Tenuis Association's Easter tournament was ooiitinued at Anderson's Bay yesterday, when the^weather, was ,iino -overhead, but a strong wind interfered considerably with the play. There was a good attendance of spectators durirur tJio •itternoon, and many interesting games were witnessed. The arrangements again worked with tho greatest • smoothness, reflecting much credit upon tho various otticiais of tiio association, and as a result one event was concluded, and the remainder were brougnt within measurable distance of completion. If tho present lino weather continues the tournament will be finished to-day. With the progress of tho various oventa towards 'orapletion the standard of, play improved appreciably during yesterday] and, despite tho adverse conditions, many inter-' eating games were aeon. Ollivier and Bray met in tile third round of the Men's Champion Jiingles, and the set provided two particularly Hue games. The New Zealand champion settled down at onoe, and, driving with a beautilul length on the lorehand, he led s—o, 4—l, and (alter the first deuce game) s—i. In the next game Ollivier served, and Bray passed him nicely on the backhand a couple of times in succession, but deuce was called. From this point a keen struggle was witnessed, the Bcore going back to deuce lour times before Bray eventually took the game, 5 —4-. 'Ihe Otago, player fought hard for the next game, but Ollivier played him out of position, and won from 30—40, taking tho set, 6 In the second set Bray played well at times, but he was no match tor Ollivier, who won with the loss of only one game. Tho game was practically played from the back line.

Probably the best game of the day was provided by tho meeting of Ollivier and Sheppard and Bray and Sinclair in the Men's Champion Doubles. Bray and his partner opened with a lead of 2—o, but the holders, of the championship equalised matters by winning the next two games. Sinolair was playing well overhead, and Bray was driving accurately, while, in addition, their opponents were making a number of mistakes. Bray again led at 4—2, and thereafter the score was called at 4 all, 5 all, and 6 all. Ollivier won the thirteenth game off his own service, and in the last game he and Sheppard outplayed their opponents, winning Bray's service to love. The second set was marked by even play m the opening stages, but Ollivier and aheppard were combining better, and their overhead work was very good. The score was called at 2 all, and, although several of the other games went to deuce, Bray and Sinclair failed to increase their score. In the seventh game Ollivier twice beat Sinclair with glancing volleys to the side line, and he scored the winning ace with a magnificent forehand volley, which he drove low from the. back of the court, and which was quite untouchable. Clark and Meeksecured a hard-earned victory over Black and M'Dougall, after a match which ran into no, fewer than 40 sanies. As showing • how evenly contested the match was, and how oha-ice enters into a game of skill, it may bo mentioned that at one stage in the last set the winners led 5—4 and 40-15, and later on Black and M'Dougall led 7—6 and 40-15. Closely-contested games were also played between Wilkie and Lemon and the Duthie brothers, and between Brown and M'Kerro-v ind DoWe and O'Connell. Tho outstanding game in the Ladies' Championship Singles was that between Miss Cook and Miss Blyth, every stroke being keenly contested and the issue being in doubt to tho last. Both ladies showed splendid form, and in spite of the wind their driving was wonderfully accurate. Miss Cook pj.ayed many difficult short shots over the net, but Miss Blyth's driving, especially on the forehand, was superior both for its length and accuracy. It was a most attractive game to watch, and Miss ,Blyth certainly merited her win, although at the same time it has to be admitted that in the matter of doubtful decisions by the umpire Miss Cook had the worst of the luck. Miss Blyth won the first set 6—4, and opened the second with a lead of 3—2. The games went to 4 all, and then Miss Cook took the lead at 5—4, but Miss Blytn came again, and won -tho next two games and the set, 6 —5. Mre Lemon beat Miss Hislop decisively in two straight sets, and Miss Scott, who has been playing consistently well, has also reached the semi-final round. In the Ladies' Handicap Singles Miss M. M'Adani, who beat Mrs Lemon 9 —6, >and ,Mis 3 M'Laren, who beat Miss Pattison 9—4, have reached tho final. Misses Pattison and Alexander have also got as far as the final of the Ladies' Handicap Doubles. Soma exoallent games were seen in the Mixed Handicap Doubles, not tho least interesting of these being that in which Cowie and Miss Wilson (of Winton) defeated S. N. Brown and Miss Collie, 9-5. Sheppard and Miss Cook also accounted for Harraway and Mifs Campbell by a similar score. Meek and Miss Blyth defeated K. Familton and Miss Balk very decisively, and Dobie and Miss O'Connell, after reaching tho fourth round, had to default. So far Black and Mrs Lindsay are the only pair to reach the semi-final stage in this event. •The Gregory brothers have done wdl to reach tho semi-finals of the Men's Handicap Doubles, and their game against Brown and M'Kerrow should be worth seeing. In the other semi-final Wilkie and Lemon have to meet Marson and Guy, who have been playing very well. Manson, Bray, and E. D. Duthie still remain, in the Men's Handicap Singles. The Men's Handicap Singles, B Grade, was the only' competition to be completed yesterday. 'The winner proved to be J. Swinney. of Cambrian, who was matched against his club-mate, J. Morgan, in the, final, which he won 9—3.' The country players are to be congratulated on their success in this event. It is,a matter for some regret that one or two of tho other finals were not played 'yesterday, both from the °f;^ ew " of the spectatora and the players. The publio was entitled to expect to see the conclusion of some of the events on a day that was a general holiday, and, so far as the players are concerned, some of them may have a very strenuous day if they survive one or two of the remaining matches. flie following are the results of yesterday's play:— MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES. ' Holder: G. Ollivier. Third Round. ■- "' Lemon beat W. E. G.regory, 6-2, 3-6, &- 0 - £ » c , Ollivier beat Bray, 6—4, 6—l. Black beat Taylor, 6—2, 6—o. Fourth Round. E. D. Duthie beat M'Kerrow, 6—l. 6—2. Oilivier beat M'Dougall, 6—o, 6—3. MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES. Holders: Ollivier and Sheppard. ' Second Round. E D and R. S. Duthie beat H. P. Cowie ■and' T. Walker, 6-2, 6-2. ' - • G I Black and S. G-. M'Dougall beat H. R. M'Natty and L. R. M'Donald, 6—o, 6—o d' DoWe and W. O'Connell beat F. Tilley and R. Watson, 8-6, 5-4. . Bray and Sinclair beat Gilmour and Cullender, 6—l, 6—o. R A Wilkie and J- R Lemon beat J. Henderson and A, J. Hamilton, 6—l, 6—l. Third Round. Brown and M'Kerrow beat Dobie and O'Connell, 6-3, -6-& Clark and Meek beat Black and M'Dougall, 5-7, 6-4, 10-8. Ollivier and Sheppard beat Bray and Sinclair, B—6,8 —6, 6 —2. , ' Wilkie and Lemon beat E. D. and R- S. Duthie, 6—4, 6—4. LADLES' CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES. Holder: Miss Campbell. Third Round. Miss Scott beat Miss Watson, 6—l. 6—2. Mrs Lemon beat Miss Hislop, 6—l, 6—l. Miss Blyth beat Miss Cook, 6—4, 6—5. LADIES' HANDICAP SINGLES. Third Round. Miss M'Adam beat Miss Scott, 9—6. Fourth Round. Miss Thomson beat Mrs Martin, S—3. Miss M'Laren beat Miss Pattison, 9—4. Mies Ross beat Mias Fyfe, 9—7. Miss M'Adam beat Mrs I«mon, 9—6. Semd-final. Mies M'l-aren beat Miss Boss, 9—5.Miss M'Adam beat Miss Thomson, 9—l. LADIES' HANDICAP DOUBLES, Second Round. Mioses M'Dougall and Harrop (scr.) beat Miss W. Hislop and Mrs Browning (owe 30) by default. Misses Black and Duthie beat Misses Scott and Balk, 9-6. Misses M'Adam beat Miss Gilmour and Mrs Martin, 9-2. Mies Cook and Mrs Lemon (owe 30 5-6) beat Misses D. Dtrthie and Ross (owe 3-6), 9-7. Third Round. Miss Campbell and' Mrs Frasar beat Misses M'Dougall and Horrop. 9—6. MJBses Blyth and Turner beat Misses Clapperton and Allen by default. Misses Pattison and AlsMadar bait M»se« M'Adam, 9—6.

Semi-iinal. Aliases Pattison and Alexander beat Miss Campbell and Mrs l'Vaeer, 9—6. MIXED HANDICAP DOUBLES. First Round. 11. Wilson and Miss M. Watson (rec. 4-6) beat W. Bray and Mias Hielop (owe 50 4-6) by default. Second Hound. and Miss Burr beat Best and Mrs Eraser, 9 —7. Uobm niid Miss O'Connell beat ■Henderson ami Aliss Alerandor, 9—3. Gilmour luid Miss Ktolt beat Allan and Miss Thomson, 9—B. (Jowie and .'Aiss Wilson bent Brown and Miss Conic, 9—6. Bringans and Miss Barclay teat Wilson and Miss Watson by del'aidt. J. 11. Meek and Miss Blyth (owe 30 1-6) beat J. Mauson and Miss M. Fyfe (owe 3-6), 9-7. Third Round. Sheppard and Miss Cook beat Harraway and Miss OampbeH, 9-o. R. S. Duthie and Miss M'Adam beat ,Q. Stevenson and Mias Dewar, 9—l. Gilmour and Miss Soott beat Bringans and Miss Barclay, 9—l. Dobio and Miss O'Connell beat Cowie and Miss Wilson, 9-4. Black and and Mrs Lindsay beat O Connell and Miss Walsh, 9-6. Meek and Miss Blyth beat K. Fanulton and Miss Balk. 9-3. Clark and Miss Black beat Lees and Miss Burr, 9—B. Fourth Round. Blaok and Mrs Lindsay beat Dobie and Miss O'Connell by default. MEN'S HANDICAP DOUBLES. Thud Round. Brown and M'Kerrow beat Allan and Stevenson, 9—6. , -, , Cowie and Walker beat Gilmour and Callender, 9—3. Clark and Meek beat Taylor and Gale, 9—5. , M'Natty and M'Donald beat Bray P nd Sinclair by default. i Fourth. Round. Brown and M'Kerrow beat Clark and Meek g 7_ Guy and Manson beat Dobio and O'Connell, 9-7. ~,-.- j Wilkie and Lemon teat Cowie and Walker, 9—4. , J. L. and W. E. Gregory beat M Natty and M'Donald, 9—B. MEN'S HANDICAP SINGLES.-A GRADE. Third Round. Manson beat Henderson, 9—4. Bray beat M'Dougall, 9—B. E. D. Duthie beat Walker, 9—3. Taylor beat 'Dobie, 9-0. Semi-iinal. Duthie beat Taylor, 9—2. MEN'S HANDICAP SINGLES.-B GRADE. Fourth Round. Guy beat Balk, 9-7. Swinney Mat Stephens, 9—l. Cowie beat Burk, 9—6. Semi-final. Morgan beat Guy, 9—5. Swinney beat Cowie, 9—2. Final. J. Swinney (rec. 15) beat .T. Morgan (rec. 5-6), 9-3.