LAWN TENNIS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3590, 2 January 1923, Page 42

LAWN TENNIS.

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIPS. TOURNAMENT AT HASTINGS. HASTINGS, December 26. Tho annual New Zealand tennis championship tournament commenced on the Hastings Club's court yesterday. Heavy rain fell on Sunday, but beautiful weather was experienced to-day. The courts were in good condition, but were on the slow side. The entries totalled 235, made up of men’s singles (71), men’s doubles (38), ladies’ singles (36), ladies’ doubles (20), mixed doubles (48), boys’ singles (12), and girls’ singles (10). Much interest was evinced in (he visit of the New South Wales lady players (Mrs Lascelles, and Misses Lance, Gray, and Lloyd). .Several games were played in the preliminary round of the various events and some good contests were witnessed, especially in the ladies’ matches. flic New Zealand Association to-day decided that the match New South Wales v. New Zealand ladies be played at Wellington on January 12 and 13. The visitors will participate in an invitation tournament at Christchurch on January 19 and 20. and will then leave direct for Auckland, where they will play in the Auckland Association’s tournament. Results:— MEN’S SINGLES. First Round. —Kururangi won from Granville by default; Bull beat Martin, 6 —l. 6 —3, 6—l. Second Round. —Peak won from Dickie hy default; Schodick beat Denniston, 3 —6, 6—3, 5—7, 6 —3; Andrews beat Scott, 6 —o, 6 —o, 6—l; Laurenson beat Milburn, 6—o, 1 6—o, 6 —o; Walker beat M‘Dougall, 6 —2, 6 —4, 6 —l; Howe beat Mackersey, 6 —o, 6 —o, 6—l; Robson beat Griffiths, 3—6, o—6,0 —6, 6 —2, 6 —4. 6 —2; France beat Shaw, 6 —2, 6 —l, 6 —2 ; Thompson won from Wilding by default; Swainson beat Harrop, 8-—6, 5 —7, 6 —3, 6—l; Sims beat Young, 6—o, 6 —l, 6 1; Lanipe beat Craigie, 6 —2, 6 —o, 6—4. Third Round.. —Laurenson beat Walker, 6—3, 6—l, 6—l. LADIES’ SINGLES. First Round.—Miss M‘Laren beat Miss Ballantyne, 6 —2. 3—6, 6—4 ; Miss Grey beat Miss Hassall, 6 —o, 6 —o. Second Round.—Miss MacFarlane beat Mrs Brown, 6—o, 6 —2; Miss Z. Wellwood boat Miss Norris, 7 —5, .6 —2 ; Miss Lance beat Miss Howe, 2 —6, 6—o, 6 —o; Mrs Green beat Miss Welsh, 6 —o, 6 —4; Miss Floyd beat 3uss Champion, 6—o, 6—2; Mrs Melody beat Miss Dart, 6 —l, 6—o; Mrs Hodges beat Miss Dallas, 6 —l, 6 —l. MEN’S DOUBLES. First Round. —France and France beat Young and Young, 6—2, 6 —3, B—6:8 —6: Goss and Greenwood beat Oakley and Milburn, 3 —6. 6—3, 6 —4, 7 —5; Pearse and Edmondson beat Clark and Johns, 4—6, B—6,8 —6, I—6, 6—4, 6—o; Richards and Craigie beat Hill’ and Powdrell, B—6. 6 —l, 6—3. Second Round. —Laurenson and Ollivier beat Campbell and Stainton, 6—4, 6—o, 6 —3; Peacock and Sims beat Martin and Welch, 6 —l, 6—o, 6—2; Denton and Field beat Maitland and Cowan, 6—4, 7 —5, 6 —4. lADIES’ DOUBLES. First Round. —Mrs Roldie and Mrs Parkinson beat Mrs M‘Murray and Miss M‘Murray, 6—2, 7—5; Mrs Scott-Watson and Miss JPaxton beat Miss Dallas and Miss Fannin, 6 —l, 7 —5; Misses Craig and Clark beat Misses Beard and Cochrane 6-1, 6—l. Second Round.—Mrs Hodges and Miss MacFarlane beat Mrs Bree and Miss Stevens, 6—3, 6 —4; Mrs Lascelles and Miss Gray beat Miss Ormand and Miss Cato 6—o, 6—4. MIXED DOUBLES. First Round. —Miss Fenwick and Lampe won from Miss Wellwood and Granville by default; Miss Gray and Griffiths beat Miss Hume and Martin, 6 —2, 6 —o. Second Round.—Mrs Peacock and Peacock beat Miss Lee and Melody, 6—l, 6—4; Miss Lloyd and Allison beat Miss Welsh and M‘Dougall, 6 —2, 6—3; Mrs Melody and Wallace beat Mrs Scott-Wat-son and Shaw, 5 —7, 6 —o, 7 —5. December 27. The New Zealand lawn tennis championship tourney was continued on the Hastings oourts to-day in fine but overcast weather and before a large attendance. The day’s play was confined to the eliminating rounds in all the events. It is not expected that any semi-finals will be reached before Friday. In the men’s singles the most prominent players remaining are Dr Laurenson, Aitken, Robson, the France brothers, and Peacock in the first half of the draw, and Ollivier, Greenwood, Sims, Pearse, and Stiff in the second half. In the men’s doubles Dr Laurenson, Ollivier, Allison, Wallace, Peacock, Sims, Quill, Parker, France, France, Pearse, Edmondson, and Still were prominent in the first half of the draw, and Goss, Greenwood, Griffiths, and Robson are the most powerful remaining in the second half. The ladies’ singles and doubles and the mixed doubles are not very far advanced. Die most important match of the day was that between Dr Laurenson and G. Aitken (Christchurch). The pair were very evenly matched, but Aitken was palpably tired in tile last set. Dr Laurenson excelled in backhand and overhand work. The issue was in doubt till the last few games, when Dr Laurenson asserted himself with some beautiful backhand shots and had Aitken at his mercy.