LAWN TENNIS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17146, 31 December 1929, Page 12

LAWN TENNIS

CHRISTMAS TOUENEY P. WATSON SINGLES CHAMPION GREAT TH&SLfi WITH N. 'H. BULL. Outstanding among the matches played yesterday in the championship tournament conducted by the Poverty Hay and Last Coast Lawn Tennis Association was the final of the men's singles division, in which P. Watsqn heat N. 11. Bull after a sterling display. The winner of this year's match first won the championship last year, but did not meet X. H. Hull on Unit occasion, the latter being absent from the district. Much interest centred cm their meeting in this year'; tournament, naturally, for Bull has been recognised for several years as the logieal leader in any ranking list of local players, whereas Watson's progress during tho past, two years lias been ver\ fast. In yesterday's match it looked as though Hull would bo disposed of ii. three .straight sets, the match being live sets advantage. Watson played a very strong game, and used his strong 'backband to great effect, placing his shots with a nicety well beyond that attain able by the average, tournament player whose backhand is usually purely defensive. After taking two sets, however, the younger player lost a little of hit pace, and bis opponent began to take hold of the match, gradually .asserting his strategical superiority and after a long struggle getting to level terms at the close of the fourth set, the position then being two sets all. A renewal ot his earlier forcefulness carried Watson to the front again, however, and he rar

out, the winner by taking the last and deciding set 6—2. MANY FINE RALLIES. Some remarkable rallies were witnessed during the fourth and fifth sets, the backline play of both men being steady and controlled, while each had intervals of superiority in play close to the net. Bull frequently had his op ponent worried by a series of volleys which drove Watson back and led him from sido to'side of the court, but though his placements on the whole were very accurate, he threw away several excellent chances of kills through overeagerness, smashing into the net on three consecutive occasions. He thus lost some of the effect of his good middlecourt work. Watson was more consistent throughout, and though lit suffered a temporary let-down half-way through the match, he recovered well. Against a more experienced and very wily opponent, lie gave every indication of developing into a class by himself, si far as local competition goes. . At the close of the day's play trophicwon during the tournament were pre sented by Mr. N. IT. Bull, as president of the district association. This funetio- 1 gave him an opportunity of expressing his appreciation of the excellent game played by the singles champion, an opportunity of which he made the most. Mr. Bull also expressed appreciation ol the way the players had assisted the officials by taking their calls promptly. and thanked the Whataupoko club, on behalf of the association, for the use ol the courts. The latter were in excellent playing order, ho commented, and were a 'credit to the club committee and the groundsman. Mr. Bull also gave his personal thanks to the officers who had conducted the tournament with such success.

Details of matches concluded during the late afternoon were as under: MEM'S CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES Final: P. Watson beat N. H. Bull, 6—3, 7—5, 5—7, 4—6, 6—2. After the first three sets, Watson led by two sets to one. in the fourth, Bull took the first game, and then had to concede four before ha could secure another. He then went straight through to set, taking five games in a row with a great swing and winning the set 6—4. The finalists now had t.wo sets apiece, and the progress of the last set was watched with keen interest by the gallery. Bull took the first game, hut though be showed good judgment iin his overhead play especially, Watson carried game after game, mainly by his forceful back-hand work and steady volleying. Watson went to 3—l, and then Bull took his second game, after which Watson won three more in, succession, his greater fitness being obtvious as the set progressed. Some thrilling rallies were witnessed, as the older player- sought by exploiting his experience to match his opponent's vigor and enterprise. Some excellent volleying exchanges kept tlm interest at a high pitch, and while Bull had the better of these on the whole, he could never bo said !o have overshadowed Watson in any department of the game. The younger player won the final set 6—2, the scores for the match being, 6 —3, 7„_5 > 5_7 ) 4~6, 6—2. COMBINED CHAMPIONSHIP DOUPLEB Third round : 1). E. Chrisp and Mrs. Chrisp bent Martin and Mrs. Heed, 5—3, 6—4. COMBINED HANDICAP DOUBLES Semi-final: G. Gurran and Miss C. Wilson (r. 10) beat Stovell and Miss Coop (r. 15), 50—48. Final: Gurran and Miss Wilson beat Hums and Miss Blair (scr.), 50—48. This section final was productive of most interesting play, the winners securing an early lead and then settling down to hold it against the strong rallies of their opponents. The later stages oil the match saw Burns and Miss Blair gradually reducing their disadvantage, and eventually Giirran and Miss Wilson ran out the winners by two. points only. 1 TO-DAY'S MATCHES

In anticipation of a trio of keen matches jn the finals of the .ladies' championship singles, the men's championship doubles, and the combined championship doubles, tennis enthusiasts attended tin good numbers at the Whataupoko courts this morning. The combined doubles match did not eventuate, owing to prior engagements of some of the players in the men's doubles and ladies' singles, but the latter two matches were fall of interest.

MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES

Playing iivo sets advantage, the men's doubles finalists, N. H. Bull and G. H. Seddon, and P. Watson and I). E. Chrisp provided the public with a good exhibition. Though Seddon was erratic in the early stages, he settled down later, and vvitft Bull playing a solid game, they overcame a disadvantage of two games, and went on to win game for game. Watson and Chrisp were leading 6—5, but lost tho noixt, *4>d the games progressed to 7—all, B—all, 9—all and 10—all, Seddon winning his service, despite the lass of the first three points, to make the score 10—all. Watson got the next game on bis service, and led 11— 10, but Bull squared matters again, winning his own service in turn. The next two games were taken by tho servers, and after an hour and a quarters' play tho score stood 12 —all in the first set, with the prospect of a struggle lasting most of tho day. Winning off their opponents' service for the first time in the course of the Set, Bull and Seddon matle jfc 13k—J2,

and the 26th gamo of the set saw its conclusion, Bull winning the service after a series of deuces. The set had lasted an hour and a half, and must have made a heavy physical demand on the players. Opening the second set, Watson ami Chrisp got three games in a row, nil being deuce games. Then Bull and Seddon got their first, of the set, but lost the next, Watsuii and Chrisp leading 4—l after the fifth game of the set. They lost the next, 'but went, on to win two more in succession, winning a short set 6—2. LADIES CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES Final: Miss Philp (Queensland) heal Mrs. 1). ]•;. Chrisp, 7—:"., (!—L In the final of the ladies' championship singles this morning Miss Philp (Queensland) took the first set from Mrs. I). 10. Chrisp after the hitter had reached match point at f> I and 4(1 love in the tenth game. The set went to 7—5, Miss Philp making sound use of her backhand, and offering a steady barrrcr to Mrs. Chrisp's aggressive forehand work. The Australian lady's play to the back line was extremely accurate, and she seldom failed for want of strength in her drives. The players took alternate games on their services throughout the fiijst eight games of the second set, some long rallies taking place. Miss I'hilp had the advantage all the way, and after making it fi—--1 on her service, won Airs. Chrisp's after a long-drawn game. The winning shot was a .short back-hand to middle court which caught Mrs. Chrisp out of position after a dillicult return froin her hack line. Miss Philp thus won the ladies' .singles championship, 7—5, (i—l, in straight sets.

AUCKLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, last night. The following results have been reached in the Auckland provincial lawn tennis championships:— Men's singles.—ln the final Barlleel, beat Morrison 4—6", 6— 2, 7—5, 10—8. Ladies' singles. —In the final, Mrs Melody beat Miss Knight 6 — 2, 4. —(>, 10—8.' Ladies' doubles.—Final: Misses Knight and Whitelaw beat Mesdames Melody and Arncil, 6—4, 6—2. SOUTHLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS (Pur Press Association.) INVEECABGILL, last night. The Southland Tennis Association's Christmas tournament was concluded to-day. The following are the championship winners. Men's singles.—H. K. Sumpter. Men's doubles. —H. K. Sumpter and Q. Sumpter. Ladies' singles.—" Mrs W. Scott (Tinuuu)-. Girls' junior.—Miss J. Harvey. Boys' junior.—W. Strang.