LAWN TENNIS CHAMPIONS

Taranaki Daily News, 2 January 1926, Page 13

LAWN TENNIS CHAMPIONS

FINALS AT DOMINION MEETING.

G. OLLIVIER WINS MEN’S SINGLES.

LADIES’ TITLE TO MISS SPIERS.

•Bv Telegraph.—Press Association. Christchurch, Last Niriit. Die New Zealand tennis ehainpionsnips were concluded in much cooler leather on Thursday before very large attendances. The weather he'd line till the last set,, which was played in fairly sharp showers, and the presentation of the trophies took place inside the clubhouse.

The men's singles was won by OlHvier, the title-holder, in very decisive fashion after losing the first set against the wonderful speed and length of his younger opponent, D. G. France. Ollivier, however, kept France moving and was able to force him into a greater number of errors owing to superior court era ft. The game was remarkab’y fast, and the genera] opinion was that trance played the best tennis ■of the tournament apart from Ollivier, but. could not sustain the marvellous speed with which he won the. first set.

.Miss May Speirs played like a champion .from the first rally with Mrs. Scott (nee Miss McLaren), whom she beat decisively in the final on the same court two years ago. This year Miss Speirs drove with astonishing speed and length, and although her opponent played a dogged game, she had to succumb to a natural player who was better equipped in service, driving, overhead work, and volleying. Auckland and Wellington critics conceded that Miss Speirs last year at Auckland quite failed to reproduce her true form when she lost the title in the early rounds. Miss Speirs was also the deciding factor in winning the combined doubles with Fiance against Miss Marion Macfarlane and Hill despite the fact that they had just played their singles finals. The Canterbury players dominated the game, and their Win gave Miss Speirs a triple title, equalling the record held previously by Misses Nunneley and Curtis.

The men’s doubles final was remark able for the determined fight of Peacock and Wilson after losing the first twa sets against Ollivier and Seay, and the result was really due to the bad slump by Ollivier, who dropped many service games and made many errors. Nevertheless, Peacock's emergence as winner ot the event, which he first won in 1900, was extremely popular, and a great deal of sympathy was also felt by the crowd for Wilson’s pluck in playing with a damaged eye. Play in the championships waa admittedly on as high a level as in former years, and the tournament was favoured ■with perfect weather every day. FRANCE IN GREAT FORM. In the men’s final crisp driving rallies saw Ollivier forced back on the backhand, and the game went to Olhvier on France’s errors of driving, in which he was feeling for length. Nets and outs lost France his first service game in the third game. Ollivier was advantage three times, but France opened his shoulders for a perfect smash on the baseline. France had now jumped into perfect length. A weak half volley at 40—15 and two netted drives carried him to advantage out, but lie smashed in a savage forehand drive and recovered the lost ground, only to lose it on a brilliant crosscourt passing shot in Ollivier's best style. Ollivier led 3—l. France had decided on the right road ta victory, and it was a question whether he could preserve his accuracy against Ollivier's uncanny placements. France stood well in on the drives and hit them confidently for clean aces, reducing Ollivier's 3—l lead to 3 —2. His American backhand with plenty of punch behind it brought him one or two aces that Ollivier did not worry tc go after. In the next game he levelled with a concentrated attack on Ollivier’s backhand. He forced into the lead off Ollivier’s service with the same tactics. There was no short stuff and both men jumped right into their stride from J the word “go.” France seemed a little Lit weak in service, and when he tried a careful drive he netted, and Ollivier led 5 —4 after France had had the advantage once. France drew level with a love game on sweeping corner drives and led 6 —5, winning the set al 7—5. , OLLIVIER PULLS UP. In the second set Ollivier led 4—2, 1 France losing ground whenever he came i to the net. In the seventh game Ollivier took the net and volleyed a terrific drive, which France recovered for a pretty placement, which left Ollivier standing. Fierce driving exchanges favoured France, who drew level in the eighth on a love game. Ollivier led at 5—4. Frame rocked in two cannon ball I services for a clean ace. but two nei-' and a double fault gave Ollivier

point, which he lost on a job. which wa« carried out by the wind. He got another set point with a net cord along the side line, and France drove the next, out. giving the set to Ollivier 6—4. OHivier, in the next set, was feeling his way for possible weaknesses. He tried France’s backhand and ran him around very hard in the fourth game. This game seemed to shake France .» bit, but he came up smiling and turned the speed on again. Ollivier continued to run him about and led 5 —2, mainly by a concentrated attack in service and the rally on France’s backhand. These tactics, however, were not adopted on account of any particular weakness in that quarter so much as to avoid Hie deadly accuracy of the forehand attack. Ollivier took the set 6—2, and he went on to take the net five games on ('rd. leading five-love. France got the Titxt. but Ollivier took the match with a love mime. Hearty cheers were given for both men. THE DETAILED RESULTS. | Details are:— MIXED DOUBLES. Semi-finals.—Miss Speirs and France beat Miss Ballantyne and Smyth 7 —5, 9—7: Miss Marion Macfarlaue and Hill beat Miss Tracy and Wilson S —6, 5—7, 6—2. Final.—Miss Speirs and D. G. France (Canterbury) bear Miss Marion MacfnrJane (Auckland) and lUII (New South Wales) 7—5, 6—4. MEN S DOUBLES. ' Final.—Wilson and Peacock (Wellington) beat Seay and Ollivier (Canterbury) 2—6, 4 —6, 6—l, 6—2, 6—4. MEN’S SINGLES. Final.—G. Ollivier (Canterbury) beat |D. G. France (Canterbury) 5—7, 6 —4, 6—2, 6—l. LADIES’ SINGLES. Final. —?diss May Speirs (Canterbury’ beat Mrs. Scott (South Canterbury) 6- 2. 6—4. OTHER TROPHIES. The association banner and Wilding memorial cup were won by Can’erimry with nine points, while Wellington scored three, Auckland one and South Canterbury one. FOR THE WILDING SHIELD. AUCKLAND v. CANTERBURY. GRIFFITHS CONQUERS OLLIVIER. Christchurch, Last Night. A Wilding Shield tennis match t-'j-tween teams of four players from Auckland, the holders, and Canterbury was begun at the United courts to-day in a blustering .southerly wind. Auckland won both doubles and two out of th* four singles, so that Canterbury can only afford to lose one of the remaining six games if they are to ree<>ve.* the shield.

A feature, of the play was the absolute slump of Ollivier, who made a most feeble effort against Griffiths in the singles, and was also beaten in the doubles with Greenwood by two Auckland. juniors, who had been quite outclassed in their earlier singles. lu the match with Ollivier, Griffiths led 4 -2 and 5—3, winning- the set with a service ace. He was serving and driving well, while Ollivier was languid. From 3 all in the second set Ollivier led 5 —3, and although he lost the lead from 40 —15 he ran out the winner after deuce had been called twice. In the third set Griffiths ran to five love. Ollivier, serving three double faults, wis o—4o. He pulled up to deuce and Griffiths had the advantage three times, but lost it. Ollivier took the next two with good placements. Griffiths, however, ran out at 6—3.

There was nothing in Seay’s match against Johns, but the finest exhibition of the day was Bartleet’s defeat of Don France, outdriving him completely ami serving and volleying more accurately. France had played three hard matches on the previous day. Bartleet and Griffiths also registered a line win against Seay and Franco. They were down 2 —5 in the second set. a which Uantcrbtsry had the set point, ’•nt sireat serving by Bartleet helped Am-kland out to win S—6.