TENNIS

Southland Times, Issue 17230, 28 December 1912, Page 7

TENNIS

UEW ZEALAXD CHAAIPI IXBli 112 S. (Per United Press Association.) XAPfF.It. December 27. This morning line weather attain prevailed fur the tournament at Hastings, and tlie players .and specie I ors were early on the ground. Some line sanies were witnessed, notal>ly that between Swanston and Peacock. Misses Ihirtgill •nd Baird. and Atiss Travers and tlray. In the second round of the men's singles Fisher disposed of I.ampe. U—2. 6—l. 7—7,. and Olivier put I>. K. Dnlhio under for f>—it, G—i, G—2. •Miss Hartgill easily defeated Miss ITIII, and Aliss Travers pat Aliss Van Stavern out of action. The Swanston-Pencoek fight was really Worth going a long way to see. Moth men wore in splendid form, and their back line work and low volleying was at times such as to win loud applause. As the frame progressed Swanston's form Boomed to improve, while Peacock seemed to lose part of his dash. Swanston toolc the third set in brilliant style to 3—2. anil then Peacock got to work again, and look the next set hack G—7.. But it was clear that Swanston's day of ■victory had come, and he took the final *et and the match, G—o, amid loud applause. Great inlorest was taken in the match hetween Ollivier and Fisher. It was thought that upon Auckland form Ollivler would heat Fisher, hut the redoubtable "Dolm" was in form .and lie set out to make tilings uncomfortable for the holder of the X.Z. championship. Ollivier was either mil of form or lie had “gone stale." for lie opened badly. Except for occasional (lashes of brilliant play he was much below the expectations of his friends. Hot there was no disguising the fact that lie knew the game. His placing and driving were at times splendid, but Fisher's play was irresistible. Xo such volleying and half volley work has been seen for a long time. There is little doubt that Fisher on form can hold the championship unless a now Itichinond enters the field. After defeating Peacock Swanston added 11. W. Brown to liis scalps, hut lie took some time to accomplish the victory. atlrt tlie score of G—2. G—2. G— 2 does not properly represent the play. Aliss HartgiMV victory over Aliss • Clark in the third round of the ladies' singles was very attractive. Aliss Hartgill's play shows Unit she is a big factor in Xe.w Zealand tennis, as Aliss Tra. vers lias fallen to Miss Merry, Aliss Hartgill lias a big chance of the championship. Aiiss Travers' fall was most unexpected, hill Aliss Cray played a great game. One of (lie concluding contests of the day was the men's double between Fisher nnd Brown and Peacock and Swanston. At first It looked as if Peacock and Swanston were going to win. Brown was decidedly “off.” and his play was not improved by the apparent displeasure Of his partner; hut tilings mended. Fisher played shot after shot which could lip taken as nothing else than brilliant, and Brown picked up and did good work towards the end. Peacock nnd Swanston played a rattling game, hut Fisher's volleying and half volleying and Brown's recovery ended in the match going to Fisher and Brown. G—7. B—fi! G—2, Results : Radios’ Hmildes Misses Travers and Gray heat Misses Baird and llargill, 2 6. G—3. G—o ; Airs Aladdison and Aliss It. TVellwood heat Ali-ses Bra:Hiwaite and T>. Wellwood. G—2. G—.2. Mens’ .Singles Swanston heat Peacock. 11—■(?. 7 heat I.amble. G —2. G—l. 7.7 : Olivier heat D. K. Dilthio. I! 1. f—2 j Fisher heat Ollivier, G—l. G—l. G—l ; Swanston heat Brown, G—2, G—2. o—2. Undies' Singles, second round Aliss Travers heat Aliss Van Stevern. G—2. G 3 ; Miss Hargill heat Miss Mill. G —o. G —0 : Miss Hargill heat Aliss Clarice. G 4 G—3 ; Aliss Gray beat Aliss Travers. G —n, g—2. Alens’ Singles Fisher 1.-Qal Ollivier, , 6—4. G— 1, G-—l. i ATens’ Doubles Dnthie and luttliie ’ heat Badingtnn and A. O. W’ellwood, .7 i 7. .7—G. G— 3. 3, — G. G—2 ■ Fisher and ' Blown beat Swanston and Peacock, 7—-!•, j 6—2, S—G, G—2. | Combined Doubles Alargolinth and Miss Clark beat 17. Wcllwood and Aliss j D AVellwnod, 6G —3 ; Brown and ; Aiiss Gray beat Peacock and Aliss Simp- ! ton. 6—t, G—2. | The finals will be placed to-morrow. | The Governor was present to-day. SOUTH LAX D • 'HA AMTOXSIII PS. j MAAIILTUX AVIXS KIXGLES. THE TOUBXA.AII7XT COXCUUDK’I). | The Southland Lawn Tennis AssoeiaMon's tournament was concluded yester- j day in excellent weather. The moving 1 cloud hanks caused the light to lluctuato a little, and now and then it was a litile 100 bright, lull on the whole the day was admirably suited for Hie semi-finals and finals or the tournament fixtures. The first match of the day was tho aemi-linal in the -Men's ('ha mpionsli ip Singles in which X Crammond met A. 17. llanaway. The latter appeared to have struck an off day. ami seemed to lie somewhat disturbed in his play. Cramnioi.d won Inc first set. G—2, and Hold the •second set 4-love, when llarraway retired having disagreed with the umpire In- tho matter of who had won the two Initial strokes of the set. The final was played immediately following flic semi-final, and it furnished an interesting though rather one sided j contest. M. S. Hamilton, last year's champion, who is a member of the Kalian.t Club, was called upon to answer the challenge of X. Crammond of the Balmaccwen Club. The first set was the most interesting of the three played, and 1 Crammond won the first game, hut | Hamilton took the second and third I games and lead 3 —I. Crammond won i the next game from Hamilton's service j after a series of good rallies, and Hie score was 2—3, with Hamilton leading. Hamilton took the next game ft—2), but lost the .seventh ( I —3). The eighth game was marked by splendid placing on the part of both players, and it finished s—'.5 —'. with Hamilton leading. The last game of He- set fell to Hamilton, and the set closed G— 3 in favour of Hamilton. I In the seeond set Hamilton continued | to stale off the challenge and won Hie refpiisite number of games outright. Ho | plated a very steady game, and .seemed i to be standing the trial more sathsfae- ! torily than his opponent The set i finished six—love with Hamilton leading. Crammond captured the first gam*- : Of the third set. hut appeared to he fir- I lug. His smashing was sometimes ineffective. and it was mainly by IHs ex- 1 eelient placing that lie won three gam**s ; In this set which finished G—with : Hamilton in tho advantage. This completed the match which was for the best j of five sets, and having won three in j succession Hamilton relnineii tin- title of champion. In accordnm- . with the rules governing the eonte-u he also becomes Hie owner of the Sla/.enger Challenge Cnn which becomes the absolute property of the winner if won twice j succession, The final ol Ibis event which Occupied ; ahum tv ii hour dui 'iig tin afternoon hi-ouT 1 mu sllllle splendid minis, and it eras characterised by a prolonged series of n; selling rallie-i with splendid ail ]■ oi,■; ■ 1 pin, mi hoih sides. I.a oren-on and Ale* **, igad and Craiitliioud and Anderson, aim a I four of Ho* player were mil lo win although Ale! lougall was not semi to tlie same advantage a on Hie previous liny. H - nece-'s;i ry for the win- i 11 rT !'* take Ihe la* -1 of (He sets V.' fill i ad..ini ine game- and sm-. ami li.e elo-e Cm'-ii eeole matters .-ere jpiere-ling. At th" "■ d of the first set i 'ra iiinne: I liel I I|i< f.d ■..•Ullage to the (me o. G — I. and he we- | : neha Ilenged t .rough the .--ee'in I .sot cad Won G- -I. At Illm-S then look a te a. aa I a I'H-r stan.'dig at G— .7 ia fa' ear ■■ f Ale! 'ouga 1.. ;h" halter carried his - to S. and 11. • ■ gam*' lini-lcd wile "*■ '-cures s- ■G. AlrDnigali and Dai ;■* both played Steadily Hiroa;' - fin t l. <■ foil rl hj sad whieii end* d G - I. wHi .Mel lougall I'iidmg. The seme in. He; - '.VIS 2 alh ia no amial was Ihe (ir-d to serve viva th • Hams came out for (he d* eidhi,: game. AlcDmigal'. failed to nluni. 1 1 1 • ■ I,a; ’ landing in the net, ;md_ Ihe ; *.;• *re stood I.7— V. A rally followed. and Dan: ecson mersliot Ills f-tnrn tendering the score :;n—n. From a dil'ieiill sir ihe in the corner MeDoiigall sent Hie *ieai hall about two inches inside the hack Hue nnd Cninnnond failed to ret U l3ll- -17), AnntliCT puzzling shut . from Uani'i; n■■■on beat bis opponents, and I ttifc became 3 0 al 1 , aflei which 1

I i.'i'iimmoml returned widely after ;i rail; I ;rn(l the ||,-|ll wciil (HU making the M'lii'i ilil—Hl. Vantage and ilvihv were called and finally .'Tammomi .i•• 1i \ mred the ihelding- stroke i I <>i. Ale Don ga I l's service enabled ('ran! mend in l;eeii up Ids lead. Aider receiving the first hall lie idaced well ilnwi towards Hie lack line and lead to IT. —ln when lie smashed a hall slnnlly am sen; it into the mo. oringPig the rcni'o In :’(i--in. However he won the nexl stroke, and I lie "atnr closed a it < Tammoml's favour. Tim third Kami also went to Crammond. hut Laurcnsoi made ground on his service which carried him to 40—0. A diflicnlt stroke from Anderson baffled AlcDougall am: the score stood 40—Ik. McDougall wor the next stroke am) .name (1—:;t. With (iatnmonil serving Anderson won Hitdeciding stroke of the lifth "anto with I a beautifully idaced stroke tinder the net from a volley, and the score stood ( ) I t, ■ AlcDougaH's next service was rath'd j erratic, and the game went to Cram- ] tnoad (I—a>. and on the next service j Anderson lost at a vital moment by de- : livcring a double rendering I lie connt I liverinfr a double, rendering the count I ll ll —la. AlcDougall trot the final stroke I ami won the same ( j—A), ami in the hast same Crammond won after a strcmii is;s liattlc wltich culminated witli the • i.scores standin.s - —G in the hitler's I favour, CraiiiiiKiml and Anderson thus won the doubles championship liy three ' sets to two. | —l,tidies' Championship Singles.— -Miss Marsh heat -Mrs Hutchinson It—after a very' i n lerest in;r frame in Hie scnti-linal. ’The final was one of the moat protracted events of the whole i tournament, and it lasted for over two bouts. Tlic 'contestants were Miss M. Mavsii ami Sirs W. I>. Cowie. From the : opening service the match consisted of ; a succession of long and liifrli hack line ■ lobs, mill neither of the [dayers could I set np to the net to do any smashittfr. I Finally -Airs Cowie secured tlic verdict | and the scores for each set were G —l!, ; -j—G, and G—!. j —Ladies' Handicap Singles.— j Miss A. Welsh ( rcc. a—beat Mrs . ! tnteliinsoa (scr.). !) — I Aliss Al. .Marsh tree. A—G) heat .Miss ' t:. Carswell (scr.), i'—.T Tlic final took place early in the afteri noon when Aliss Welsh met Aliss Marsh, j Both, it Mill he noticed, received the : .same handicap anil were therefore on ; even terms. Aliss Welsh who lias proved | to he a player of snm-> distinction, and j has surprised many of the Association ! officials with her consistent and good I play, was soon in the lead and looked ! like winning outright in Hie tenth game wlicn the scores stood S—if in her favour. Ali-s .Marsh, however, led at ;;o—pi, and won the game on a spirited rally in which hack line lobs were the predominating feature, and the score stood S —H, with Miss AVelsh still leading. Aliss Marsh won tlic twelfth game, lint rvas outmanoeuvred in tlic thirteenth when Aliss Welsh's steady play heat her and the event closed with the scores It—i in the latter's favour. A feature of the match Mas A 1 is; ; Welsh’s backhand driving, and this stroke should he very useful to the player if she cultivates il carefully. Her placing also was good, and altogether her play Mas the surprise of th» tournament. fa (lie final the A.isscs Aiarsh (owe I—i;) defeated ‘.Misses KirMan and Welsh (scr.) after a very close game, and the tina! score Mas i) —S. —(.'urn hhied Doubles Handicap.— Cowie ami Airs CoMie (owe 1A) v.mn by default from Henderson and Aliss Aiarsh iscr. t GohPuiilii end Aliss J. Aiarsh (one FI) hem Lindsay and Aliss Drown (lee. IAI, The final furnished a very interesting and exciting con lost between 1). Goldsmith and Aliss .). .Marsh and W. J). Cowie and .Mrs Cowi", which finished with the scores I)—.'! Goldsmith leading. The games moot frmiuenUy brilliant and Goldsmith shone mil above his usual form. ills overhead strokes and net play were \ ery good Pi look upon. During Pie first live or six games the Manners Mere not very hardly pressed, hut win n tlm score stood k—". the losers changed their tactics and Cowie came up to the net, and indulged in some smashing which made it necessary for Aliss Aiarsh to pla\ less of the long lohs upon which .she had depended almost entirely up to this stage All four players were at times good, hut Airs Cowie seemed to he tired out before the maleh had got M'cll under way. Tlic losers rallied well towards the finish, hnl made their attempt too late to alter their position. j .Men's l ambles Handicap.— i Cowie and Tilley (scr.) heat IFmhr- j son ami Goldsmith (owe i’—i;). ;i—(j i In (he final Cowie ami Tilley won ; from Cowie and Hamilton (rcc. lA, I Gi. i II —7. The game was interesting, and I was punca in; ied by a number of spirited j rallies. ; .Men's A. Grade Handicap Singles.— ; •I. Henderson i "'■(■. —G) beat T. I’, j Lanrenson (scr.). G—-G. li. Goldsmith (scr.) beat ||. S., Ilain iI - ] ton ( owe ;; ni, ;i --s, j rin' Final. — G-d-’s! dlli liim I I lender ,on. a -d. ‘ elen's It. Grin 1 " Handicap Sineles. - ! 1111 I I I ee. IA I lira I I'. ||. 111 s| o 111 I owe ! ;; GI. ! in the hr,:' i, !