TENNIS TOURNAMENT.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10435, 5 January 1927, Page 5

TENNIS TOURNAMENT.

RAIN HAMPERS PLAY MEN’S DOUELES DECIDED. The New Year tournament of the Pahiatua Lawn Tennis Club was continued yesterday but a heavy downpour of rain just after lunch caused a cessation of play and as a consequence many of the competitions were still undecided at the end of the day’s play. The final of the men’s championship doubles provided an excellent contest, resulting in a well-merited win l'or F. Mackie and Bolton, of "Woodville, over H. I>. McConaehie and S. M. 'Wilson, the scores being 6 —5, 2—6, 7—5. There was quite a large gallery of spectators for this encounter which appeared anyone’s game till late in the third set. Steadiness gave Mackie and Bolton the first set, the other pair being uncertain in their net work. They struck their best form in the second set, however, ancT won out comfortably at 6 —2, making the sets one nil. When the third set was entered upon it could be seen Mackie and Bolton were making •every post a winning post. Bolton was steadiness itself and Mackie’s strong service and deadly overhead work was showing to full advantage. Four love the score read in favour of the Woodville combination, when at last McConaehie and Wilson got into their stride again, the former’s effortless drives sorely testing his opponents. Up to now the overhead work of this pair had lacked punch but a sudden all-round improvement in their play enabled them to take five games on end and lead in the final set 6 —5. That was the finish of their effort however as Mackie and Bolton, with their backs to the wall, drew level and went on to end the issue at 7—5.

Some good tennis was provided in the third round of the men’s championship singles when McConaehie, of Feilding, and Mackie met. McConachie is a very graceful player with a go d stroke equipment but Mackie has a fierce service and smash and is a fighter every hit the way. Me•Conaclue drove with telling effect to take the first set 6—5 but Mackie was undaunted and captured the next 6 —2, and repeated" the performance in the last set, deciding the issue. Further details of the various events are given below: MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES. Final: F. Mackie and J. C. Bolton (Woodville) beat H. D. Mc■Conachie (Feilding) and S. M. Wilson (Pahiatua), 6 —5, 2—6, 7—5. MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES Third round: H. "Ward beat F. Cormaek, 5—6, 6 —4, 6 —2 ; Mackie beat McConaehie, 5 —6, 6 —2, 6 —2. Semi-finals: N. Groves heat Ward, 6 —3, 6 —3 ; F. Mackie beat Cowper, 6 —o, 6—3. LADIES’ CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES. Fourth round: Miss Card heat. Mrs Cowper, 12 —10. Semi-final: Mrs Groves beat Miss Cornelius, 9 —2; Miss Card beat Miss Wickens, 9 —3. COMBINED CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES.

Third round: Groves and Mrs Groves beat C'rinps and Miss Reese, 9—5.

Fourth round : Tvlee and Miss Rutherford heat Wells and Mrs Wells by default ; Mackie and Mrs Clarke beat O’Sullivan and Miss Arrow, 9—yO; Cowper and Mrs Cowper heat Gregorie and Miss Cornelius, 9—3. MEN’S HANDICAP SINGLES. Fourth round: B. Page beat O’Sullivan, 60—50; McConaehie beat Gregorie, 60 —52 ; Bolton beat F, Mackie by default. T ifth round: Coombe beat Irving, 60 —40; B. Page beat Dr Mitford by default; Davis beat Cripp.s, 60 —53; McConac-hie beat Bolton, 64 —62. Semi-final: Coombe beat B Page, 60 —31 ; McConaehie beat Davis, 60 —56. LADIES’ HANDICAP SINGLES. Third round: Miss Card beat Miss Thompson, 50 —34. Fourth round: Miss Wickens beat Miss Junker, 50 —36; Miss Sliekleton beat Miss Raleigh by default; M s Cowper beat Mrs Clark, 50 —46; Miss Card beat Miss Arrow, 50 —33. Semi-finals: Miss Wickens beat Miss Shekleton, 50 —38. LADIES’ HANDICAP DOUBLES. Semi-finals: Misses Card and Wickens beat Mrs Groves and Mrs Clark ; Airs Cowper and Miss Elakiston beat Alisses Arrow and Irving. -MEN’S HANDICAP DOUBLES. •Semi-finals: Wilson and MeConachie beat Nicholson and Herbert by default; Alaekie and Bolton boat .Aladdever and Girdwood by default; P. Ward and Sutherland beat Page and Page, 62—60. COMBINED handicap doubles Ihird round: Aladdever and Aliss Russell beat 15. Page and Mrs Blakiston, 50—28; Alaekie and Mrs dark beat O’Sullivan and Aliss Arrow, SO—43 ; D. Coombe and Airs Coombe beat Gregorie and Aliss Cbrnelius, 60—46; H. Ward and Miss Norman beat A. AY. Page and Miss Boyd by default ; Sutherland and Aliss \\ ialiens beat Grant and Airs Cowper by default; Sutherland and Aliss Nelson beat Lowes and Aliss "White by default. fourth round: Mackie and Airs dark beat Aladdever and Aliss Russell, 51 —49; Coombe and Mrs Coombe beat H. Ward and Miss Norman, 50—48,; Sutherland and Aliss Wickens beat Sutherland and Aliss No) son. Semi-final: Coombe and Mrs ■Coombe beat Sutherland and Aliss Wickens, 50 —46.