LAWN TENNIS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16928, 30 December 1922, Page 5

LAWN TENNIS.

NEW ZEALAND CHAMI FIONSHIPS. (Pxn Press Association.) HASTINGS, December 28. Tue New Zealand lawn tennis championship tournament wac continued 10-day i i tine but cloudy weather, without sun or ■**ind. All tlio events advanood to tb.-* semi-finals. All the finals will bo completed to-morrow. A start was made to-day with the Hawke's Bay championships, for whim Uiere are 1000 entries. The semi-finals and finals will not be reached till tho latter part of next week The first defeat of any of the Australian ladies was sustained in the combined doubles between Miss MacFarlaue an ) Robson and Mrs Lascelles (Now Soutti Wales) and Parkor. The latter par made a bold bid in the first set. beiug only beaten after six a<l had been called. They wen the second 6-1 but had to lower thoir oolours in the deciding eet, the Auckland pair concluding a splendid performance by winning: 6-4. A sterling game eventuated between Miss Lloj'd (Now South Wales) and Mrs BootTWatson (Auckland). The latter was in her best form, and justified her reputation as ; being a splendid singles player. She had ( the visitor extended throughout, and won ' the first set by a variety of well finished > strokes, especially excelling in back-hand ! placements. In the second set, the Aucklander won the first four games, but Miss Lloyd took the next three, only to he well beaten in the two concluding games, sizing Mrs Scott-Watson a well deserved and popular victory by two sets to one. i The longest game of the tournament so i far wan played in the ladie6’ doubles bell tween Mrs Hodges and Miss MacFarlaue (Auckland) and Mrs Hetley and Mi?.* 1 Snow Clark (Napier). The Aucklanders 1 won the first set, 8-3, but a prolong -1 ! tussle ensued in the second, tho couples winning alternate games until Mrs Hodges I and Miss Macfarlane eventually won by thirteen games to eleven. Mrs Hetley con--1 fined her play to the net and as a< result | Miss Clark hare the brunt of the game. Mrs 9cott-Watson and Miss "Payton | (Auckland) reached the semi-final of the ' ladies' doubles by defeating "Mieses Williams and Howe, two young Wellington [ players after losing tho first set. 1 Goss v. Greenwood, tho holders of the | men’s doubles, had a long game against Powdrell and Lampe, winning by three seta to one. Good tounis was witnessed, the veteran Goss being very deadly. Hi 3 overhead work decided the match. Mrs Green jyid Walker had a. good ganief ~Trn Miss Gray (N.S.W.) and Griffiths (Auckland), being defeated by t.wo sots to one. The main feature? of tho game were faultless lobbing by Mias Gray, forcible driving by both ladies, overhead work by Griffiths, and tho difficult service by Mrs Green. Walker played a 'strenuous game but wa« rather erratic. Mieses Lance and Lloyd reached the final of the ladies’ doubles. defeating Mrs Hodges and Miss MacFarlaue by two sets to one. In tho first set. the Australians won 6-3. hut, were beaten in tho second 7-5. after winning alternate games to 3 all. Tn tho third set. they outclassed tho Aucklanders and led 5-0. Then the latter, through splendid driving and bock-hand strokes by Miss MacFarlane. won threegames in succession. The visitors won the next* game to 15 and the match. Mrs* Lance played solid tenuis, with a, variety of strokes. Her partner showed her oustomarv steadiness at the back lino. Mrs Lasoellw heat Miss Pavton in the fourth round of the ladies championship very oaeily 6-0, 6-1, and then met Mrs Scott-Watson in the semi-final. What promised to be a close contest proved a j decisive victory for the Australian. Mrs ScottrWatson was quite unable to master her opponent's back-hand drag shots. Andrews (Palmerston North), easily defeated Rhodes Williams (Wellington) in the final of tho boys’ junior singles championship. 6-4. 6-1. The winner was in a class above all the other competitors in this

Mise Doris Hart (Timaru), defeated Miss M. A. East (Wellington), in the final of the gii’ls* junior aingles championship, 6-5, 6-1. The match, Ollivier versus Sims created much interest, and the result showed tho glorious uncertainty of the game. Ollivier opened by annexing the first set comfortably. bnfc in the next two eets liis play became very weak a.nd gave the onlookers the impression that he was taking interest in anything but the game Hia attempts to return Sims’s easy drives at times were appalling. In the fourth set. Ollivier certainly was more successful, but the game resolved itself into a monotonously long rallies without any effort made to execute winning shots. Ollivier won 6-4. Tho deciding set provided a sensation in that Ollivier turned what looked like certain defeat into victory. Sims led off taking the list four games, tho second to love. Olli’ icr won tho fifth, sixth and seventh games, and then lost the eighth off liis own service. After several deuoea, ho won Rims’s service in the next andi annexing the ninth, levelled to 5 all. During tliis game Sims had received medical assistance for a cramped left hand. Resuming, Ollivier lmd Sims on tho run. lie merely drove good length bails to each corner in the hope of Sims making mistake?. Ho won the eleventh game after two deuces and in the final game he won 00-3-O. Sima played an exceptionally steady game, relying mostly on back-hand drives, and seldom troubling about the net Ollivier showed glimpses of liis old form Mrs Melody and Wallace effected a surprise defeat of Mrs Lloyd and Allison in the fourth round of the combined doubles championship winning- a well-contested match by 8-6. 6-4. The winning couple played splendid tennis Throughout. Mi sfl Lance and Sims had a 1 hree-sefc contest against Mrs Hodges and Goss. Tlio latter won tlio first, set 10-s after ;i fine exhibition by both sides, but suffered defeat in the second set 6-4. In the last 3 * r ? , Ho< * ffeß , an<l f J oss were completely on■ played and unable to gain a game. Results: MEN'S SINGLES. Fifth Bound. Lauren son beat Hobson. 7-5. 6-2, 6-3. L. France beat Peacock. 2-6, 6-4. 7-3, 2-6, Ollivier l>eat Page. 6-2. 6-3. 6-8. buna beat Young. 6-0. 6-0, 6-2. . Semi-final. Ollivier beat Sims, 6-3, 1-6, 6-4, 7-5. Laureneon beat L. Frauce, 6-2, 1-6, 6-2, 6-1. LADIES’ SINGLES. Fourth Round. ifr? ~ Jeat Vnyton. 6-o. 6-1. 6-3 Ir 9 koott-W atson beat Miss Lloyd. 6-4, Semi-final. Lance beat Miss Gray. 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 g o* rs Lascelles beat Mrs Scott-Watson, 6-0, MEN’S DOUBLES. Third Bound. Field Ind1 nd r . l i obßon beat Denton and Fourth Round. Goss ai d Greenwood beat Powdrell and Lampe. 2-6. 7-5, 6-3. 10-8. 6-* iri /e th - an<l Robaon beat I>a^e and Moir. LADIES’ DOUBLES. Third Round Mrs Tlodge* and Miss Mac.Farlane beat Mrs Hot ley and Miss Rnow-ClarU. 6-3, 13-11. * rs Lascelles and Miss Gray beat Mrs Melody and Mrs Green, 6-3, G-2. Semi-final. Misses Lance and Lloyd beat Mrs Hodges and Miss MacFarlaue, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3. Mrs Lascelles and Miss Grav boat Mrs Scott-Wat.son and Miss Payton, 6-1, 6-4. BOYS' SINGLES. Final. Andrews beat Rhodes Williams, 6-4. 6-1. GIRLS’ JUNIOR SINGLES. Semi-final. Mi?s East beat Mies Johnston, 6-1, 6-0. Final. D. Hart beat Mies H. M. East, 6-5. COMBINED DOUBLES. Fourth Round. Miss Gray ami Griffiths beat Mrs Green and Walker, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. ■Mr.? Melody and Wallace beat Miss Lloyd and Allison, 8-6, 6-4. Miss Lance aud Sims defeated Mrs Hodges and Goss, 8-10, 6-4, 6-0. THE FINALS. The following finals will be played tomorrow : MEN'S SINGLES. Laurenson plays Ollivier. LADIES’ SINGLES. Miss Lance plays Mrs Lascelles. LADIES’ DOUBLES. Misse* I mce aud Lloyd play Mrs Lasses and Miss Gray.

COMBINED DOUELES. Miss MaaFarlane and Bobson play Miss Gray and Griffiths, and Miss Lance and Him* play Mrs Melody and Wallace in the semi-finals. MEN'S DOUBLES. Peacock and Sims play France and rranee in the fourth round, and the winners play Laurenson and Ollivier in the semi-final. Goss and Greenwood play Griffiths and Robson in the semi-final. NOTES ON THE PLAY. OLLIVIEE BEATS SIMS. (Special to " Star ") With all »>, HA ®J' ISfGs . December 29. Ulth all the odds against him after having gone to pieces in two sets Ollivi *r had the most strenuous fight yet’ seen ;r tho championship to beat Sims. It was « magnificent match, which kept the crowd in a state of intense excitement. Ollivier oouid not go wrong in the first set, but in ttie next two sets ho over-hit. missed tlio side lines badly and netted nearly every volley he attempted. Sims was pla v xng confidently, and looked a winner all over, but Ollivier came back in deter mined mood at the commencement of the fourth net- Even then Sims got ahead but tlris set went to the Canterbury man. who got. the deciding set. after driving rallies that were as perfect as one oould wish to see. Sims is a- very fit man. and he raced for shots similar to which Olli- • vier at first let go without a struggl-v With defeat imminent., Ollivier cut out faults at the net, picked up Sims's forehand drives right in his back-hand corner, and commenced dropping short stuff over the net after long rallies. Could Sim> have changed his play a little and dropped similar shots over the net when he had a j chance, he must have beaten Ollivier. j There were no fancj- strokes all througn. Tho Canterbury man wan more finished than his opponent, who, however, caused excitement, by the way he handled Ollivier’s placements in the last two sets. The game commenced at 1.5 p.m.. and lasted till 3.13 p.m. After playing for an hour ancl fifty minutes. Sims developed 1 cramp in the fingers of his left hand, with i which he holds the racquet for nlaying, though he serves right-handed. After mas- ( sage, tho cramp disappeared. I Ollivier served first, and lost the game. . Ho won Sims’s first service. Once Olliviei I missed’ a high toss which landed ner.rtha net, but lie whipped round and slapped it to the side line, keeping it well back. Boiu ! players commenced driving medium-pace 1 j balls well to tlio base lines. Ollivier lei ! at. 4-2. Sims played persistently to his op- | poncufs back-band, and Ollivier just as | persistently played his opponent s for ’• j hand" Situs was lobbing well, lmt ho lo a t ! the seventh game by bungling an eau • smash with the open court before mm. A 1 rally of twelve drives ended by Ollivi >r . sending a perfect fore-hand drive along ! the side line. At. this stage Ollivier s judg- ! ment was very sound, and Sims was hav- ! ing difficulty *in picking up some balls. ! ollivier held liis advantage, winning the : first set 6-3. . ■ I Siuis opened the next set by ' 1 lovo games- The umpire gave a wrong de cision, though the fhot was claimed. fourth jrame «t the second eel through Sims's mistakes. An effective low V?” J from a superb forehand drive by Olliviei was followed by two lino drives that beat Ollivier badly, and Sims led 4-1. The next game went to Sims, through the weak returns of Ollivier, which found the not. Ollivier continued hitting over, and lost the set, 1-6. He was playing very poor tennis, and Sims was taking absolutely no chances. Ollivier could find no weaknesses in his opponent’s play. Sims led to 4-0 in the third eet. Ho was keeping Ollivier moving, and pasting his backhand continually. When Ollivier took net after a round of slow driving, Sims would finish the point by driviug along the pideline. Ollivier was anticipating badly. He won the fifth game off hi 3 servioe, the Waikato player missing tho baseline with lobs. Sims then won his service 5-2 and Ollivier’s to 15-40 bypassing drives and faults by Ollivier. The set went, to Sims, who served a hard first ball which Ollivier did not touch. He had thought, the ball was a fault, but the umpiro decided otherwise. Sims leads 3-6, 6-1, 6-1.

There wa.s a five minutes* spell, In which Ollivier changed his shoes. The others wore apparently giving him trouble. Ollivier got the first two games in the fourth set. He was volleying much more accurately, and both men were driving with a perfect length, the pace being even. Good placements by Sims got the latter the third game, and 2 all was called when Sims won his service. A forehand drive by Simp was untouched, and Ollivier out.cd a smash. Sims led in the fourth set 3-2. Ollivier evened up. He was now playing perfect strokes, and was taking absolutely no liberties with his backhand. He pulled off some neatly timed half volleyfl, and dropped a number of shots just over tho net. Again Sims forgocl ahead by clipping the side lines with low drives, but after a beautiful drive rally, notable for placing liy Ollivier, 4 all was called. After deuce had been called three times, Ollivier got. tile next game and won the following after the best drive rally of the day. The ball travelled over tlic net no fewer than twenty-three times, being

netted by Sims. Two seta all. Tho spectators were now keyed to a high pitch of excitement. After a fiCommutes’ spell, in which there were a few spots of rain from a cloudy' skv, Sims took the serve and led 1-0, l>y beating his opponent along the side line. Ollivier served, netted three easy drives and outed. One lovo game for Sims. Two weak shots into the net by Ollivier, a side line drive by Sims and a. weak shot, into the not gave tho third game to Sims. Through inexcusable faults. Ollivier lost the 4th game. Ho rallied and by superior placements got the fifth game after a short deuce game. He got tho next game and also the fob lowing one by cross-court, drives that his opponent could not reach. Another spectacular drive rally ended in Ollivier dropping the ball just over the net. and at this stage Sims got cramp. On resumption. Ollivier never let anything beat him that lie could possibly reach. Formerly he appealed to he very casual, but he was taking no chances now. Sims carried off two smashes and led 5-3. Again long drive rallies followed. Ollivier’s back hand being sound. There was a rally of twentytwo drives, and deuce was called. Two more mistakes and game, set, and match would go to Sims. Ollivier looked deterout-., He drove surely, and Sims nursed the sideline and tossed a re. turn of service over the baseline. Sini* leads 5-1. Ollivier was not out of the woods yet. but his winning of the last, game gave luni confidence. and, his drives had more pace. ITe got Sims •. iu tie rattled by taking tho net and it was hia volleying here, after magnificent drive ‘J 1 ,at ' era T? 11 hl \ n tl,c Same fire "as still playing with uncliang‘fl s * ea rtinpsß. He took the service lint found Ollivier returning liis best forehand & 1 de-line drives, and he was comservice “J?* - erro "* 4 Ho lost his Ollivier leadsYs. Ollivier served, and^on S e # t r r “im* I Yade^a^vali^ S* is oinirfr ’£S ,a ". deuce called. Ollivier served liotlv und 8ll » s miKHod the sideline by inches so game, set and match went to Ollivier.

GOOD WIN FOlt L. FRANCE. in?o y I P °* COCk ’ L Franoe got list° was * I* 'on e I Y, h*' “ ffton st.enuously contested. Peacock drives con bU y ,-f :i<! .* ran S e <loes likewise, but his L Wl !1 ! y t ' ho, T od drivM Placed far back, and he swung the majority of them into niH opponent s backhand corner. The game was practically of unvarying character I ?‘ < '. re " er<! some splendidly thought-out points, but Peacock's chief weakness was in handling his opponent's spuming short drops over the net He hedd his racquet wrongly and poked* most of them into the Pet. There were numerous long volley rallies, with some difficult Placements, but both men made great recoveries. It was France s superiority in finding the sidelines with his chopped strokes, coupled with mistakes hr p« a . cocy m handling volleys, that gave Franco the match. 2-6, 6-4, 7-5, 2-6, 6-1. LAURENSON v. FRANCE. When Laurenson met France he took extreme care with the etufl sent to him France played liis best chopped shots, but they were ineffective against one who chafed them unweariedly Laurenson was on his overhead game and he missed a lot of smashes. He made some remarkably fine recoveries from awkward placements by France, bu» the latter was trying to put a heavy twist on balls to such an extent that he netted many. Laurenson won the firat set with a fair amount of ease, lmt lie got into some awkward corners in the second set, which went to France. 6-1. Laurenson from then on handled ajl liis opponent's strokes with accuracy, ad outgeneralled him, wiuuiug the last tvrv saU 6-i, 6-A,

A TOPIC OF DISCUSSION. Of oomwa, th® main topic of discussion is the prospect of Laureneon retaining the singles championship. Even after having watched both man extended, it is difficult to say how each will fare when they coxae contact. There is no doubt that Ollivier Is determined to do his best to put Me opponent down. Ho is very temperamental and there cannot be much doubt that one or two decisions of the umpire in his match against Sims upset' him. he claimed shots which the umpire disallowed, and immediately after he got careless and drove wildly. It was only When Sims had established a comraandlnar lead in the fourth set that Olfanteri >ett ed ' . ? ls backhand wu subjected to a seorohica test by Sime yet t stood it well. There is uo doubt HoSfoK -n r B e e D t T'^ood^orw. tSera a ”. d e m a a Ea 1 1 , n ,S e wm hare his work cufout to" Stan™" lort& w?" weak“but L tw?"fauit ir S ;ta%h m a n r ob ;L‘^ s SSE-rJK »■ lltTTi-' l,nßcttled *U the ru S o 'T ratten i„ h W' W ’ U ’ L. Franra S!: ihS olhvicr ea’ta'th, that is, if Laurenson °a^not'l;rmore' h oSt Of his fore-hand and O o tt i e a 0 “" smashtnir. Laurenson Is the fitter of th? two men, if it comes to hard testing and he lias an uncanny instinct for anticinatth S „ h , at T tho result of the match for the singles champtonship of New Zealand it will bo worth going a long way to see, OTHER HATCHES. The eemi-finals of the men's doubles w!U occupy most of the time to-morrow aon. mg. lauremon and Ollivier meet th. winning pair of the Peacock and SimsV franco and France game. Goss and Green w°°d will meet Griltttha and Robson. The Canterbury representatives have been made to fight with great determination in all their doubles games, and, while they should put up a good light, it will go hari from ivhmirY keep Griffltha and Robson This afternoon S. D. Denton amd S. W. Field (Canterbury) were beaten by Griffith and Robson. 6-2, 6-0, 7-5. The winners were too strong in the finer points of the game and general accuracy of strobes, but th, Canterbury men made a splendid struggle ot the third sot, but without success. The forecast of the result of the ladrij' singles has been quite accurate, as the New South Wales players. Mis s Lance ao l Mrs Lascelles, will play off for the final to-morrow. All the ladies games to-day have beei excellent, but apparently there is nothing iii New Zealand comparable for tho stamina and all-round ability to the visitors from across the Tasman Sea. Miss Gray eliminated Mrs Hodge.s, and Mi?s Lance beat Miss Gray. Mrs Lascelles bent Mise Payton with great ease, but the Auctlaiwler did not. seem to be ori her game. In a most stubborn game. Mrs Scott-Wat-son went down to Mr s Lascelles. The laL ter plays most of her shots facing tbenev and she drives with a saucer motion, often making little jumps out of the way. In the ladies' doubles. Misses Lance and Lloyd (New Bouth Wales) meet in the finals Mrs Lascelles and Miss Gray. The former players to-day disposed of Mrs Hodges arid Miss MacFarlnne, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3, and the latter pair of Mrs Scott-W at sou and Miss Payton, 6-1. 6-4. In all the ladies’ doubles games, driving has been a feature, but, combined with outstanding abilities in this way the N© v South Wales players have a knowledge of net play that is very thorough. Of conrii their numerous matches together ha«*o given them such an appreciation of each other’s style of play that they know exactly what to do in all sorts of awkwarl developments. Miss Lance smashes as effectively as most men do, and for nicety of timing on her back-hand she could hardly b<- beaten.