LAWN TENNIS

Taranaki Daily News, 27 December 1923, Page 3

LAWN TENNIS

DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIPS. THE FIRST DAY'S PLAY. THE DETAILED RESULTS. By Telegraph.—Pvess Association. Christchurch, Last Night. There was bright sunshine with a strong southerly breeze when the first round of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association's championship meeting opened this morning. Heavy rain overnight had deadened the courts somewhat, but owing to the previous dry conditions this was more beneficial than otherwise, as the courts had had rather too much “sting” in them. Results:— MEN’S SINGLES. (Best of five sets—holder, G. Ollivier, Canterbury.) First round.—V. E. Page (Auckland) beat G. Tolhurst (Thorndon) 6—o, 6—o, 6—o; E. D. Andrews (Wellington) beat G. F. Penllngton 6—2, 6 —o, 6 —l; A. C. Thompson (Gisborne) beat D. F. Glanville (Canterbury) by default; J. B. Parker (Wellington) beat V. H. Thwaites (Wellington) 6—l, 6—l, 6—o; M L. Lampe (Wanganui) beat M. G. Moore (Canterbury) 6—o, 6—l, 6—2: W. A. Bray (Otago) beat N. Miller (Mastertcn) 6—3, 6—2, 6—o; D. G. France (Wellington) beat T. R. Quill (Canterbury) 6—3, 6—l. 6 —3; A. B. Loughnan (Canterbury) beat W. W. Melody (Wellington) 6—3, 6—4, 7—5: R. A. Guy (Otago) beat R. V. Bundle (Wellington) 6—l, 6—ll. 6—l ; R. R. T. Young (Wellington) beat >W. S. Somerville (Canterbury) 7 —5, 6—3, 6—2; E. W. Griffiths (Auckland) beat R. Browning (Centerbury) 6—3, 7—5, B—68 —6 : J.

W. H. Shepherd (Canterbury) beat L. J. Edmondson (Wellington) 12—10, 6—l, 6 —4; S. G. McDougall (Otago) beat F. H. Nixon (Canterbury) 3—6, 6—4, 6—3, 6 —2; C. J. Dickie (Taranaki) beat H. N. Burns (Carterton) 6—4, 4—6, 7—5, 6—3; I. A. Seay (Carterbury) beat G Clark (Otago) 5—7, 6—3, C—4, 6— : 3 ; S. W. Field (Canterbury) beat V. Crammod (Timaru) 2—6, 6- 0, 7—9, 6—2, 6—2. Second round.—H. L. Mitchell (Wellington) beat C. S. Renl'.ngton (Canterbury) 6—3, 2—6, 6—3, 7—5; T. Clark Auckland) beat T N. D. Johnston (Canterbury) 6—o, 6—l, 6—3: W. -Pearse (Tiniuni) beat S. D. Denton (Canterbury) 6—l, 3—6, 6—3, 6—4; H. L. Robson (Auckland) beat W. R. Robinson (Canterbury) 6—2, 3—6, 6—o, 6 —3; F. B. Hale (Canterbury) beat D. M. Paterson (South Canterbury) 7—5, 6—B, 6—4, 6—3 ; A. C. Thomson (Hawke’s Bay) beat C. F. Shadick (Westport) 6—2, 6—3, 6—l : J. G. Denniston (Canterbury) beat M. C. Gibb (Wellington) 4__6, 7—5, 6—l, 6—4.

LABIES’ SINGLES. (Best of three sets —holder, Miss Lance, New South Wales ) First round.—Miss M. Spiers (Canterbury) beat Miss G. C. Wilcox (Canterbury) 6—l, 6—o: Miss A. Howe (Wellington) beat Miss D. L. Willis (Canterbury) 6—2, 6—o; Mrs. W. J. Melody (Wellington) beat Mrs. G. F. Penlington (Wellington) 6 —l, 6—0,; Miss W. M Partridge (Canterbury) beat Mrs K. Cooke (Wellington) 6—o, 6—o: Mrs. R. H. McMaster (Wellington) beat Miss E. M. Partridge (Canterbury) 6—4, 2—6, 6—2. MEN’S DOUBLES. First round.—B. B. Loughnan and I. A. Sea/ (Christchurch) defeated A. L. Taylor (Tim aru) and C. E. Schofield (Auckland) 6—l, 6—l. 6—4. LADIES’ DOUBLES. (Best of three sets.) First round.—Misses Marion and Marjorie MacFarlane (Auckland) beat Miss Y. Ferrier and L. Saunders (Canterbury) 6 —4,9—7: Mrs. Scott Watson (Auckland) and Miss M. Tracey (Wellington) beat Miss E. H. Bloxam (Canterbury) and Miss Capper 6—2, 6—4. Second round.—Misses M. Cato and Z. Wellwqod (Hawke’s Bay) beat Mrs. E H. O'Rourke and Miss S. Fox (Canterbury) 6—o. 6—4. NEW ZEALAND v. N.S.W. RESULTS OF TEST MATCH. Christchurch, Last Night. A test tennis match between New Zealand v. New South Wales was played to-day, Results : Singles. Ollivier (New Zealand) beat Poulton (New South Wales) 6—o, 6—3. Wilding (New Zealand) beat Goosman (New South Wales) 10—8, 9—7. Reid (New South Wales) beat Slms (New Zealand) 2—6, B—6, 6—4. France (New Zealand) beat Jordan (New South Wales) 6—l, 6—o.

Bartleet (New Zealand) beat Peach (New Wales) 6—l, 6—4. Wallace (New Zealand) beat Pike (New Soutli Wales) 6—4, B—6. Doubles. » Reid and Pike (New South Wales) beat '■'’■■i"ce and Wallace (New Zealand) 2—6, 6—2, | 6—3. Ollivier and Sims (New Zealand) beat Peach and Jordan (New South Wales) 6—3, 6—l. Peach and Goodman (New South Wales) beat Bartleet and Wilding (New Zealand) I—6, 6—4, 9—7. France and Wallace (New Zealand) beat Peach and Jordan (New South Wales) 6—3, 6—4. Ollivier and Sims (New Zealand) beat Reid and Pike (New South Wales) 2—6, 6—l, 6—3. The singles between France and Jordan was one-sided, as the latter was bothered with his |njure<Uarni He did not try for shots out o' and his overhead work was exExcellent rallies and clean driving distinguished lite Pike-Wallace contest, which was well fought out. The first set was close and the second was Pike’s up to the eighth game, when he setmed to lose form. Pike’s lobbing and cross-court drives were good. There was an extraordinary number of aces and double faults in the Bartleet-Peach match, and very few rallies. Peach’s serving was inaccurate. Some of his volleys were brilliant, but Bartleet outplayed hint. Wilding and Goodman played a long and strenuous match with long rallies and little volleying. Wilding's serve bothered Goodman. The Canterbury man remained on the backline all the time, but his placing was excel:,n t. Goodman occasionally came to the net and played with brilliance. Poulton and Goodman were lucky to defeat Wilding and Bartleet. Wilding and Poulton both served steadily, but with the other two 1, was often an ace or a double fault. The net plAy was good all titrough, and all four men went up at every opportunity. At the beginning of the third set Bartleet had the mlsfortunate to break his racket while smashing and did not seein to be at his ease for the rest of the match. The Australians, and especially Poulton, smashed perfectly down the side-lines. The doubles between Reid and Pike and France and Wallace was evenly contested, victory going to New South Wales.

AUSTRALIA’S DAVIS CUP TEAM. BROOKS TO PLAY AGAIN. By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright. Received Dec. 24, 9.15 p.m. Sydney, Dec. 24. Norman Brooks is shortly sailing abroad, and It is announced that he will pro'bahly be In America In time for the next Davis Cup contest, and will be available if necessary. Patterson and Wood will be available, and if Anderson could go Australia’s prospects would be particularly rosy. CHALLENGE FROM IRELAND. Received Dec. 24, 11.35 p.m. / New York, Dec. 24. Ireland’s challenge for the Davis Cup has been received. KAPONGA v. ELTHAM. A team representing Kaponga visited Eltham on Saturday and played a team or the Eltham Club. The visitors won by 14 sets to 8 and 123 games to 105. TARANAKI TOURNAMENT. Players are reminded that entries for the I Taranaki ohampionshlip and annual handicap ! tournament, which is to be held on the New Plymouth Club’B courts on January 8, 9, 10

I ana 11. close with the secretary (Box 169, | New Plymouth) on January 4. The rourna- > ment gives promise of being one of the most | interesting and most successful yet held, as j good entries are being received from outside j provinces, and it is hoped to receive a strong J entry from players within this province. The I draw takes place on Saturday, January 5. | THE AUSTRALIAN'S VISIT. A 'FILIP TO THE -GAME. Tennis is becoming very popuplar right throughout the Dominion, and this applies even in Taranaki, where climatic conditions are somewhat against the game. During the last year or two there has been a decided revival in the game, which promises to become the most popular summer game with the young people. In almost every town it is found necessary to put down additional courts to cope with the access of membership that clubs are receiving, whilst in many of the country districts clubs are being, formed and courts laid down. There is every indication that this popularity is no passing whim but is likely to continue.

It was therefore fitting that Taranaki should be honoured by a visit from the Australian team at the present juncture. Such a visit was bound to create, as it did,. considerably increased interest in the game. This was shown by the large attendance, enthusiasts being present fiom as far as Hawera, and the fact that Taranaki was able to hold its own with sßeh doughty opponents should be a distinct encouragement to the young Taranaki players to persevere and practice. Who ’knows but what this province may not in the future produce a champion in tennis as it has done in marly other branches of sport? The Australians played bright, attractive tennis, but they were up against men who proved equally as 'good, and the match ended in a draw. Some of Taranaki’s leading players, notably Wallace, Dickie and Nicholson, have been on the scene for years, and cannot be expected to maintnin their positions many years longer. The question that should concern those keenly interested in tennis is, where are their successors to come from? It should surely be good policy to encourage the younger players, even if possible going to the primary schools. FINE SPORTING SPIRIT. There is no need to recapitulate details of the play, as the match was fully reported in Monday’s News. The Australians, by their bonhommie, quickly established themselves with the public, who impartially and unstintedly applauded good play on either side —and there was plenty of applauding. A striking feature was the splendid sporting spirit evinced. Every player was out to win if possible, but to win fairly. There was no spirit of win at any cost that so often creeps into athletic contests. Time and again, when a player was awarded a point that he did not think he had gained, or his opponent was robbed of one by a mistake on the part of the referee, the next stroke would be deliberately given away. A. G. Wallace, the veteran, showed that he is by no means a back number by the way he outplayed and outgeneralled F. Peach, the New South Wales captain. Taranaki tennis players are very pleased that the Taranaki captain has been included in the New Zealand team to do battle against the Australians, and particularly that he has been chosen captain. This is a deserved com ; pliment to the Waverley player and to Taranaki.

The surprise of the match was the defeat of the New Plymouth pair, Nicholson and Webster, by Reid and Pike. On the day they were outclassed, but if they were to meet again the result might be closer. The Now Plymouth men were very tired, Webster particularly having played a very strenuous singles of over 2} hours. Certainly Reid had also played a three set singles, but ic was not so strenuous. The Australians, who combine beautifully, went in to hit hard, and, taking almost everything on the top at the bounce, it came off, and they ran through the opposition before it had time to get going. C. B. Webster had decidedly hard luck in his singles with K. L. Poulton. At one stage he had a set in, and in the second set was leading 5-4 and 30-love in the tenth game. Poulton, who fully sustained his reputation as a dogged player, however, showed that he was not beaten, and evened up the game, and fourteen more games were necessary before finality was reached, with Poulton the winner He easily won the final set. Nicholson showed what a great player he is, when fresh, by easily defeating Goodman in the morning game. The Australian frequently sent over some shots that looked sure winners, but Nicholson returned them with ease, and his skill and incomparable coolness seemed to nonplus his opponent. A SPLENDID TIME. The Australian tennis players thoroughly enjoyed their stay in Taranaki. This is evidenced by letters received by Mr. K. G. Archer, secretary of the Taranaki Association, since their departure. Mi'. E. B. McKay, the manager, says: “The team had the time of their lives, enjoying every moment of their stay from the time they crossed the Taranaki border till their departure.” The captain (Mr. F. Peach) on behalf of the team, thanked the association for the “truly wonderful time that had been given them.” He paid a tribute to the ladies, who .provided morning and afternoon tea, and said that it would be a long time before the memory of the good folk of New Plymouth would pass out of their minds. THE TARANAKI TOURNAMENT. The next important matter to engage tennis players is the Taranaki tournament, which opens at New Plymouth on January Bth. There is certain to be a considerable number of outside entries. E D. Andrews, the young Palmerston North player, who won the championship last year, has signified his intention of defending the title, whilst Smythe, one of the best Otago players, and D. Salmond, of Wellington, will also be present. Taranaki players are certain to enter in large numbers. They should bear in mind that from the form shown at the tournament the team to meet Wellington will be chosen. GENERAL. Good progress is being made with the construction of the two hard courts at Inglewood. This club hopes to have their four courts in use early* in the new year, and they are needed, as the club has had a considerable influx of members. Tennis is flourishing along the eoast. Tataraimaka, Okato and Pungarehu are among the strongholds of the game, and Warea will soon possess two courts, as & live club hBS feeen formed, and is los-

ing no time in laying down two courts ' in the Domain. It is a pity that Clarke, of Stratford, was not available against the Australians, as he is spoken highly of. It is hoped that he will be to attend the Taranaki tournament.