TENNIS TOURNAMENTS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16534, 29 December 1927, Page 14

TENNIS TOURNAMENTS

CONCLUDING MATCHES BULL WINS CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES Tile Poverty Bay and East Coast Lawn Tennis Association’s first tournament was concluded on the Gisborne Tennis Club’s courts at Haiti late yesterday afternoon, when four finals, three in the championships and one in the handicap events, were played off in the presence of a fairly large crowd of enthusiastic spectators. The mutches played were all of an excellent standard, and a fitting fii.alo to a wholly successful tournament.

At the conclusion of play in, the last match, the competitors and spectators assembled .on one of the courts, when Iho trophies won during the tournament were presented by the official „ referee, Mr. C. L. Margoliouth. Prior to the presentation, Mr. N. 11. Bull addressed the gathering, congratulating the executive and the officials on the outstanding success of the first open tournament; everyone would agree, he remarked, that it. had been a complete success, and had been enjoyed thoroughly by all participating. Thanks were mainly due to the hard-working honorary secretary, Mr. Graham Mirfield, who had worked like a Trojan throughout the tournament (loud applause), to Messrs. Lange, Woodrow, and Heslop, to all players who had assisted as and to the ladies, who had assisted with the afternoon tea. The association expected to stage further tournaments, and it was hoped that the support extended to the one just concluded would bo continued on future occasions.

“I would like particularly to congratulate Mr. P. Watson, of the Te Hapara Club,” continued Mr. Bull. “He has shown very fine tennis and wonderful promise, and I feel sure that lie lias a great future in tennis.” Before handing over the trophies to the winners and runners-up, Mr. Margoliou.th expressed a hope that the tournament would bo the forerunner of many similar gatherings, and also stressed the great debt that all owed to the secretary, Mr. Mirfield. Mr. Margoliouth then proceeded to present the trophies, cheers being given for each successful competitor as ho or she came forward. The following ate tho concluding results :

CHAMPIONSHIP EVENTS. —Men’s Singles—

N. 11. Bull beat. P. Watson, 3~~6, 6—3, B—6, 6—2. A description of tho play up until the eighth game in the third set in this match, which was regarded as the principal event of tho day, appeared in last evening s issue. Bull won the ninth game, giving him the lead (5 —4). When the score stood at 40—love in the tenth game, things looked black for Watson, but lie won the next three points, and “ deuce ” was called. Then followed a strenuous tussle, which resulted in Watson winning the game and drawing level (5—5). Bull woni the eleventh, giving him the lead again (6 —5). “ Deuce ” was called in the twelfth game, and Watson won the two points, again drawing level (6 —6). Once again Bull drew ahead by winning tho thirteenth. He won the fourteenth also, this giving him the set, arid a lead of two sets in three, the result of the match depending upon the best of five sets.

In-the fourth set Bull won tho first game, Watson the second, Bull the third, and Watson the fourth. From there onwards Watson failed, although he put up a splendid fight, and Bull won tho fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth games, leaving him victorious after ono of the most interesting matches witnessed locally. —Men’s .Doubles —

N. H. Bull and 1 I). E. Chrisp beat El. Cameron and G. Seddon, 6—2, 6—4, 1-6, 6 —3. This match also was closely contested, and provided a fine display of first-class tennis, there being several interesting rallies. The fourth game in the first set was the longest played in the tournament, “ deuce ” being called no fewer than 13 times before a decision was reached. —Ladies’ Doubles — Mrs. Neal and Miss M. Bull beat Misses P. and J. Hopldnson, 7—5, 6—2. Earlier in the day it appeared possible that the Misses Ilopkinson would win this event, and- they gavo their opponents a great battle in the first set, the games alternating to five all. Mrs. Neal and Miss Bull took the next two games, however, and maintained tho pressure in the last set, in which they ran to s—love.5 —love. They lost the sixth and seventh games, but ended the match by winning the eighth. HANDICAP EVENTS. —Combined Doubles— . .

Miss E. Denton (rec. 30) and A. Lange beat Miss Mavis Muir and Shorland (rec. 10), 50—46.

N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIPS. HARD-FOUGHT MATCHES. (Per Press Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, last night,. Tho third days’ play in tho New Zealand tennis championship was full of exciting contests. In the men’s singles, Ollivier beat D. G. France decisively in three sets. After hard five-set matches Bartlect beat Malfroy, Sturt beat Seay,, and Laurcnson beat L. France. In the last-named match the final set ivcnt to 28 games before Laurcnson won. He had lost the first two sets badly. To-morrow Ollivier plays Sturt, and Laurcnson plays Bartlect in the semifinals.

The contestants left to fight out tho ladies’ singles are Miss Spoil's v. Miss MncFarlane, and Mrs Adams v. Miss Ivnight. In the final of the ladles’ doubles, Misses Speirs and Partridge meet Mrs Adams and Miss Tracy.

The elimination of Ollivier and Seay in the men’s doubles caused a surprise, and the next rounds should bo interesting. .--Men’s Singles Championship,

Fourth round: Bartleet beat Malfroy, 2—o, o—B, o—4, o—o, o—2; Ollivier beat Don France, o—4, o—o, 6 —2; Laurcnson beat L. G. France, I—6, 2—6, o—4, 0—4,, 15—13; Sturt boat Seay, B—o, 2—6, 6—4, 3 —6, o—o. Ladies’ Singles.

Third round: Mrs Adams beat Mrs Melody, o—l, 0—0; Miss Speirs beat Miss Tracy, 6—o, 7 —5; Miss Ivnight, beat Miss Wake, I—o, B—4, o—2; Miss MacFarlano beat Miss Pattison, o—2, o—2. Ladies’ Doubles. Fourth round: Misses Speirs and Partridge beat Misses* MacFarlano and Knight,. 5—7, o—2, 7—5; Mrs Adams and Miss,'Tracv beat Misses Wake and Andrew, o—3, 3—o, o—7. Combined Doubles.

Second Round: Miss East and Greenwood beat Miss Pattison and McDougnll, 6—o, 6—2.

Men's Doubles,

Third round: Sturt and Knott boat

Fulton and Boddy, G —4, 4 —o, 6—3, 4—(3 , o—4. New Zealand Plate. Second Round: Knott beat Wallace by default; Pease beat Smithson, 6—3, 7—5, o—3; N. 11. Wilson beat Parker, (3 —3, (i—2, o—4; Walker boat McDougall, 6 —4„ o—3,0 —3, o—o. Third round: Tait boat Munns, 6—2, o—2, o—2;0 —2; Angas beat Barlow, o—3, B—6, o—4. Boys’ Singles Championship. Second round: Cant beat Slade, 6 —o, 0—1; Howe boat Griffiths, o—l,0 —1, o—2; McCaskey boat While, o—l, 0—1; Barnett boat Daly, 6—2, 6—4. Girls’ Singles. Second round: Miss Longmorc boat Miss Blundon, 6—l, 6—l; Miss Dini beat. Miss Blundon,. 6—3, 6—o; Miss Fleming boat Miss Donaldson, 6—4, 6 — 5; Miss Rudkin beat Miss Smithson, 6 —3, 6 —5. FRENCH CHAMPIONS. EN ROUTE TO NEW ZEALAND. (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) MELBOURNE, December 28. The Australian Lawn Tennis Association Ims been advised that the French tennis team sailed from San Francisco by the Makura to-day and should arrive in Wellington on January 16.