TENNIS

Southland Times, Issue 17231, 30 December 1912, Page 7

TENNIS

THE N.2. CHAMPIONSHIPS. tION. F. M. B. FISHER BEATEN. .(Par United Press Association). NAPIER, December 28. Splendid weather again prevailed for the New Zealand tennis championship on the Hastings courts. The attendance of the public was again large, and the play was followed with the keenest Interest. The programme consisted of the semi-finals and finals, and there were some exhibitions of fine tennis. The day held surprises in store. The first came with the final of the ladies’ singles championship. Miss Gray and Miss Hartgill had a great "go” for the championship. A great deal of attention was given to this game, and it was a question of strong odds in favour of Miss Hartgill. Her play throughout the tournament was such as to make her a big favourite, but Miss Gray surprised her friends. Miss Hartgill drove with a strength and vigour which is characteristic of her style, but Miss Gray sent everything back. Mias Hartgill •ent real hot stuff over the net, hut the Auckland representative sent it all hack with heart-breaking precision. Hot stuff, slack stuff, or soft stuff —-it all went back. Miss Hartgill was brilliant. Mis;. Gray displayed no brilliance. except that site met ail her opponent's brilliancy by calm, accurate return shots. Miss Hartgill is used to winning her games by brilliant, crushing shots, while Miss Gray is it plodder of the ploddlost, and even the skill of the young Dannevirko player had to give way before her persistent returns. The first game went to Miss Gray. 6—2. The

splendid powerful driving of Miss Hartgill won her the next sot, G—4. In the third set Miss Gray got two in. and then the score was evened up. The games were made three all. and finally went from I—3, 5—3, 6—3, in favour of Miss Gray. The new champion was heartily applauded. The second surprise came in the men's ■ingles, when Swanston downed Fisher handsomely amidst wild applause. Fisher was the player of outstanding merit In the tournament. Except for the occasional missing of easy shots his play was splendid, and ids volleying and half-volleying something to sit up and write home about. Therefore, lie was a hot favourite for the championship, although it was recognised that In Swanston he had a tough proposition, but form must tell in the end. A Cabinet Minister cannot keep fit like the man who devotes himself to consistent training, and "Dahn’’ was played to a standstill. He quickly ran the score 2—l In the first set, and then Swanston started to come at him, putting in brilliant side line shots, but faulty in length, and as a result Fisher carried to 4 —2, and by a charming exhibition of volleying won the sot 6 —2. Fisher took the first game in the next sot easily. The next went to Swanston, who was driving with rare length. Fisher did tine placing and cross-court volleying. This order of play practically held until the end of the set, which Fisher again annexed. In the third sot Fisher began to show’ signs of the wear and tear of the tournament. Swanston was as fresh as a daisy, and drove with confidence and precision. Fisher played many magnificent shots, but lie began to lose hla distance, and the set went to Swanston. From then on Fisher w’ns a beaten man. Swanston's long drives kept him moving, and he could hardly crawl by the time the final was over, while Swanston could have played another rubber with comfort. The winner was cheered and carried .shoulder high Irom the grounds.

In the combined doubles, tiie semi-final between Olllvier anti Miss Hartgill and Brown and Miss Gray was very attractive. Miss Hartgill's play was again splendid, and her strong fore-hand driving had excellent length. Ollivier’s play had not improved on yesterday, and he did not appear to be up to his past form. Brown improved on yesterday, and put in a vigorous fighting game. His over-head work ahd driving were good, but his serve erratic. Miss Gray was out-classed by her opponent, but several of her drives wore loudly applauded. At one s'tage of the game Brown and Miss Gray looked winners, hut Miss Hartgill’s splendid driving told Its tale. The final double between Fisher and Brown ami Ollivler and Goss for the championship was watched by a largo number of people, and fit times there was much cheering and applause. Olli■vier and Goss proved vlctoriou-. but the battle was a good one. Fisher again played a good game, and his volleying and half-volleying was exceptionally fine, but Brown was weak in combination. He put ills heart into the game and made many brilliant shots, but his work was erratic. lie put a lot of stuff Into the net and over the border, and his service was faulty. Brown is always popular with the spectators, but it is plain enough that he does not play ns well in double harness as he does In a single. The veteran Goss played his game with hardly a fault. His support of ex-champion Ollivler was capital, and he proved the wisdom of avoiding mistakes. Me is a player like Silas Gray, who believes in getting his ball back all tiie time. All the* same ho can serve out hot stuff when tiie occasion demands. Ollivier played a good game, and many of his shots wore so convincing that no attempt was made to return them. The first set went easily to Ollivier and Goss. Although there was some good play on the other side the score ended 6—:j. The second set started very evenly, and eventually reached 2—l against Fisher. Tiie record then rose to t—l in favour of Ollivier. Fisher and Brown won the next game, but in the following Brown served two double faults, and Ollivier and Gosh scored a love game in the second set. Fisher and Brown started off in a way that meant a win. and they carried the score to 2—.1, hvit Brown was erratic in his play. Notwithstanding the fact that Olllvier put out several .-lints, he and his partner annexed another game and finally the score rose to .7 nil. (1— 7>—3, in favour of Ollivier ami C,e-m. The match ended, 6—tj suits : Men's singles—Swanston beat Brown, 6—2, ft—2, 6—2: Swanston beat Fisher. Ladies' singles—Miss Gray beat .Miss Travers. G—o. G-—2.: Mis-* Hartgill beat Miss (.'lark, (i—!. G—: Miss Gray bent I Miss Baird, G— 1. G— t: Miss Cray befit | Miss Hartglll. 2—G, G—l. ft— Combined doubles— Ollivier and Miss : Hartglll beat Brown ami Miss Cray, G 2, o—7: Fisher and -Miss Travers lic it Mar- i golionth and Miss Clarke, G—2. G .'I. I The final will he played to-morrow, \ SOUTH CA.VT Id rtf! FI! V CHAMPION- i SHIPS. ASHBURTON, December •j l -. The Ashburton Lawn Tennis clubs annual tournament, which was cum- 1 menced on Boxing Day morning, was "onciuded success fully late this afternoon. There were 2nn entries, and play throughout was interesting. The weather on Thursday and Friday was ideal for tennis, but to-day the semi-finals and finals were fought out under fatiguing conditions with a nor-wesl gale blowing and a scorching sun. the temperature in the shade at 2 o’clock being SO degrees. Th-3 result of the final games are as follows; Men’s Singles f South Canterbury Championship)—P. Greenwood (Cnited Club, Christchurch) beat W. Pearce (Tomuka), I—G. “—a. 11 — •Men's Doubles (South Canterbury Championships)— Greenwood and WhiteParsons (Christoiliirch ) heat Pearce an 1 , McCaskill (Teinnka i. 7—7, G— 1. Ladies’ Singles (Smith Canterbury Championships) Miss H. M. Cotton fUnited, Christchurch) bent Miss 17. Scott (Kanglora). G—2, 7—5. Men’s Singles Handicap (First Grade) i —R. A. Wilkie beat C. If. Amos, !i—;•!. . Men's Singles Handicap (Second Grille)—T. M. Raines beat (.'. S. Harper. o—2. Ladies' Singles Handicap—Miss H. M. Cotton beat Miss •). Campbell. !• 11. .Men’s Doubles Handicap—Bra.'- and Wilkie beat Cuff and Hobbs. o—-I. Ladies' Doubles Handicap .Misses Campbell and Black (Dunedin) l.eai Misses Miles and Blnxain (Timnrui. !l • -N Combined Handicap Sheph m'd ami Miss Forth wick beat Bray and Ali dsflai'k, !>—7.