LAWN TENNIS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20291, 27 December 1927, Page 13

LAWN TENNIS.

CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING. FAST AND EXCITING PLAY. (Pee Unitu Peess Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, December 26. The Now Zealand Lawn Tennis Championships began at Wilding Park to-day in glorious weather on courts that were in perfect condition. The attendance during the afternoon was large, and the spectators saw many close and exciting matches. Virtually all the best Dominion players were competing. Two rounds of the Men’s Singles were played. The first round provided no surprise, though J. C. Peacock had a close call against S. W. Field, only winning after five sets. The second round saw several surprises, including the defeats of Noel Wilson by N. G. Sturt, of Auckland; of G. Aitken by A. L. Wood, and of J. H. Parker by T. W. Patterson. Well-known players who have advancgd to the third round include L. France, D. G. (France, G. Ollivier, E. L. Bartleet, J. Laurenson, C. Maifroy, and J. C. Peacock. The general view is that if Ollivier can hold his present form there is no one in the tournament to beat him. In the first round he met E. G. Boddy. The match went to three sets, and was over in 15 minutes. Boddy was allowed a gam e a set. He made some good returns of hard-driven balls. Ollivier next met and defeated the veteran, J. H. Peacock. The competition was carried to five sets in the first round by S. W. Field, Canterbury, and again to five sets in the second round by L. G. Knott, of Auckland. Peacock was suffering from cramp in the right hand, which made his journey doubly difficult. All of the Ladies’ Singles in the first round were played. Mrs Melody, Misses Spiers, Tracy, Macfariane (Auckland), Pattison (Otago), Mrs Adams (present champion), Misses Wake and Knight scored good wins. The victor in this event is hard to pick, and the rest ot the rounds should be exciting. NOTES ON THE PLAY. Noel Wilson started badly against Lampe, lacking his usual vigour. The first set went to Lampe, who played cleverly, at 6—3. From this stage, however, Wilson began to gain touch, but the second set was grimly fought. Wilson won it, 6—4. He dominated the third set, and was just superior enough in the fourth to take it, 6—4, Knott, of Auckland, was too good for Denton. His sweeping forehand drive earned him ace after ace. Ollivier, in top form, gave Boddy no chance. His driving and placing were superb. One of the best matches of the morning was that between the Auckland champion, E. L. Bartleet, and P. G. Greenwood, of Canterbury. Bal'tleet started in great style, going for everything. His magnificent service gave him many points, and his driving on both wings was clean and severe. Greenwood was outplayed in the first set, losing 6—2. After getting a 3—2 lead in the second set, Bartleet fell into errors. Greenwood struck his length, and captured four games in a row. In the fourth set Greenwood made many remarkable recoveries, but could not quite hold his opponent. Bartleet captured it 6 —4, and was again outstanding in the fourth set. He won it 6—2 and the match. A five-set struggle between N. Barlow and T. W. Patterson, the South Island champion, wag fast and interesting all the way. Barlow began at a great pace to capture the first set to love. He also got the third set, hut Patterson wore him down by unfailing accuracy in the fourth and fifth sets. Don France outclassed Hale. He varied his game in delightful stylestroking beautifully and punching his shots on both backhand and forehand, W. R. Robinson, the New Zealand University champion, provided unexpected opposition in his match with Camille Maifroy, of Wellington, who had to show his best form to win, after having dropped the first set. The score was 4—6, 6—4, 6—3, Angas carried too many guns for Crawshaw, another young Canterbury player. His opponent was repeatedly left standing. Wilding and Laurenson did not provide an exciting contest. Both seemed out of form and were mostly content to stay on the base line. Laurenson dropped the first set, but then took charge to win the next three. A. L. Franc© took first and third sets, 6—l from Tait. The second was closely fcugkt, going to France at B—6. Peacock and Field had five sets of 55 games before the decision went to Peacock. . , Surprises came early in the second round of the Men’s Singles. Sturt put Noel Wilson out in four sets, but for the most part Wilson beat himself. He made mistakes innumerable. Sturt’s serving and driving were, nevertheless, fast and accurate. A. Wood, by cramming on the pace, beat the veteran George Aitken in three straight sets. The stands were packed to see Angas and Seay In action. Angas began wiia rrreat vigour and accuracy, taking the first set with the loss of only one game. Seay, who had been erratic, steadied in the second to win at 6 —3. Angas again had everything his own way in the ihira set Seay could hardly do anything right. Ho tightened up in the fourth, which was marked by many beautiful driving rallies and brilliant volleyings. Seay won at 6—4. Angas led 4—S, 5 4, 6—5, and 7—6 in the last set, but Seay stuck to him, and won 9—7. Ollivier, L. France, D. France, Browning, Bartleet, Laurenson, and B. Lough nan all advanced into the third round without difficulty. Another result that caused some surprise was Patterson’s defeat of Parker, of Wellington. Patterson, as usual, was extremely reliable, while Parker Kept hitting hard, even when he should have been defending. Exhilarating tennis was witnessed when Maifroy and Walker met. Both went for virtually every shot, and Maifroy only won by greater headiness and coolness. Peacock showed in and out form against Knott, netting many easy shots, but the fifth set saw him clearly superior. In the first round of the Ladies’ Singles Mrs Adams, the present champion, was steady and confident against Miss Sowden, and her swift forehand worked exceptionally. Miss Spiers hit everything her own way against Mrs Campbell, whom she beat with the loss of but three games. Miss Tracy likewise dominated the game against Miss Rankin, hitting cleanly. The form of Miss MacFarlane was closely watched, but Mrs Buchanan was unable to extend her. Miss Pattison, top Otago lady, unexpected! v lost the first set at 3—6 to Miss Reid, of Christchurch, who cuts beavily, but she found her pace and length later, winning the second and third sets without the loss of a game. Two other good wins in tin’s event were those of Miss Partridge over Miss Ward, and of oMiss Wake over Mrs Penlington. Both winners lost the first set. The following are the scores: MEN'S SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP. First Round. G. Ollivier beat E. G. Boddv, 6—l, 6-1, 6—l. R. Perkins boat T. A. Fleming, 6—2, 6 6—4. A. B. Loughnan beat W. J. Dive, 6—o, 6—o, 6—o. S. G, M'Dougall beat Purrhell, 6 —3, I 6—o, 6—2, D G. Franc, beat F. R. Hale, 6 —l, 6-2, 6—2. •I. G. Cullman beat A. O. Coull, 6—3, 7 7—5. X. R. Wilson beat M. L. Lampe, 3—6, 6-4, 6—l, 6—4. N. Stuart beat E. L. Prebble, 6—2, 6 — o, 6—2.,

I. Seay beat O. F. Penlington, 6—o, 6-2, 6-0. C. Angus beat J. R. Crawshaw, 6—o, 6-3, 6—o. L. G. Knott beat S. D. Denton, 6—3, 6—3, 6—l. A. G. Wallace beat S. G. Searle, 6—l, 6—2, 7-5. C. G. Maifroy beat W. R. Robinson, 6—6, 6—4, 6—3, 6—2. K. J. Walker beat H .Tillman, 6—l, 6—o, 6—l. G. E. Sumpter beat J. Johnston, 7—6, 1 — 6, 6 — 5, 6—6. T. W. Patterson beat M. Barlow, o—6, 6—3, 2—6, 6—2, 6—2. J. R. Parker beat E. H. Orbell, 7—5, 11 —9, 6—l. E L. Bartleet beat P. G. Greenwood, 6—2, 3—6, 6-4, 6—2. D. Purvis beat W. Gerard, 6—o, 6—3, 6 —2. 6. Dawson beat A. Smithson, 4—5, 6 —l, 6—l, 2—u, 6—o. R. Browning beat A. Steeds, 6—l, 6—2, 6—l. W. Hay beat N. Munns, 4—6, 6—2, 6- 6-2. J. C. Peacock beat S. W. Field, 6—4, 7- 5, 3—6, 5—7, 7—6. W. J. Melody beat M. Denton, 6—4, 5- 2—6, 6—l, 6—l. H. W. Ogier beat W. Pearae, 6—2, 6- 6-4. E. G. Bevin beat K. O. Stephens, 6—2, 6-4, 6—3. B. B. Loughnan beat R. J. Bagge, 6—4, 6—2, 6—l. A. L. France beat B. H. Tait, 6r-l, 8- 6—l. A L. Wood beat W. Morrison, 6—3, 9— ll, 6—2, 6—2. G. G. Aitken beat M. Moore, 6—2, 6—4, B—6. J. H. Sheppard beat W. Sommerville, 6—l, 6—l, 6—l. J. T. Laurenson beat F. S. Wilding, 2 6—4, 6—2, 7—5. Second Round. Stuart beat Wilson, 7 —5, 3 —6, 6—3, 6-4. A. B. Loughnan beat M'Dougall, 4—6, 6—2, 6—5, 6—4. Wood beat Aitken, 6 —l, 6—4, 6—4. L. France beat Sumpter, 6—4, 6—4, 6-2. D. France beat Cullman, 6—l, 6—l, 6—l. Ollivier beat Ferkins> 6—l, 6 —l, 6—2. Seay beat Angus, I—6, 6—3, o—6, 6 — 4, 9 — 7, Patterson beat Parker, 6— 2, 7 —5, 6—B, 6-4. Browning beat Hay, 6—o, 6—3, 6—4. Dawson beat Purves, 4—6, 6 —4, 6—l, 6-3. B. Loughnan beat Burn, 6—l, 6—4, 6-6. Bartleet beat Wallace, 6—3, 6—4, 7—5. Laurenson beat Sheppard, 6 —o, 6—3, 6-2. Maifroy beat Walker, 6 —2, B—6, 6—B, 6—3. Melody beat Ogier, 4—6, 2—6, 6—4, 6—o, 6 —2. Peacock beat Knott, 6—4, 4—6, 6—4, 2—6, 6—2. MEN’S DOUBLES. First Round. Gerald and Barlow beat Dive end Stephens, 6 —l, 6—o, 6—4. Fulton and Boddy beat Purcheil and Prebble, 6—2, 6—l, 7—5. France and France beat Hale and Johnston, 6—3, 6—2. COMBINED DOUBLES. First Bound. Bagge and Miss Jones beat Fleming and Mrs Fleming, 6—l, 3—6, 6—5. Mrs Adams and A. L. Franco beat Miss Smithson and A. Smithson, 6—o, 6-0. LADIES’ SINGLES. First Round. Miss Speirs beat Mrs Campbell, 6—l, 6—2. Miss Ramsay beat Miss MacDonald, 6-3, 6-». , „ Miss Tracy beat Miss Rankin, s—o, 6—l. Miss Myers beat Miss Cotterill, 6—-2, 6—l. Miss M, J. Macfariane beat Mra Buchanan, 6—l, 6—2. " Miss G. Rankin beat Miss Thwaitee, I — 6, 6 — 3, 6 — 2. Miss Pattison beat Miss Head 3 —o, 6—o, 6—3. Mrs Adams beat Miss Sowden 6—4, 6-—2. _ Miss Hoare beat Miss Nichols 3 —6, 63, 7—5. Mrs Melody beat Mrs Andrew 6—4, 6—l. Miss East beat Miss Turner 6—o, 6—2. Miss Jones beat Mrs Reeves by default. Miss Partridge beat Miss M. Ward 7 7—3, 7—2. Miss Watte beat Mrs Penlington 4—6, 6 4, 6—l- - Dallas beat Miss D. Scott 6—4, I—6, 6—o. Miss Knight beat Miss K. Scott by default. LADIES DOUBHBS. First Round. Mrs Buchanan and Miss Cotterill beat Misses Turner and Hoare 3—6, 6—l, 6"—4. Mrs Adams and Miss Tracey beat Mra Reeves and Miss Gould by default. Misses Pattison and Sowden beat Mrs Fleming and Mrs Crawsbaw &—3, 6—2. Second Round. Misses Watte and Andrew beat Mrs Melody and Miss if am say 3—6, 6—4, 7 Misses Speirs and Partridge beat Misses Nichols and MacDonald 6—3, 6—2. Misses M. MacFarlane and Knight beat Mrs Pritchett and Miss Saunders 6—l, 6 —l* __ Misses East and Myers beat Mrs van Asch and Miss Johnston 6—l, 6—l Misses E. Johnston and D. Scott beat Mrs Campbell and Mrs Penlington 3—6, 7 —5, 7—5. „ , , Misses Rankin beat Misses Reed and Thwaites 6—2, 2—6, 11—9.