LAWN TENNIS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16928, 30 December 1922, Page 10

LAWN TENNIS.

RAIN INTERRUPTS PLAY. (Pifb Press Associayxojt.) HASTINGS, December SO. The 3T«w Zealand iermie tournament was continued this morning; in dull weather. A southerly wind was blowing acme* the court. LADIES’ DOUBLES FINALS. The ftr.-t final reached was the Ladies' Doubles. Iho contestants being four New Smith Wales ladies. Misses Lance and Lloyd beat Mrs Lascellee and MM a Gray. 6-3, 6-4. The exhibition of tenuis was splendid. Miss Lance especially playing; a magnificent game. Mrs Lascelles and Miss Gray led 2-0 in the second set, but their opponents won tbe next five games, after a succession of long rallies, and secured the set 3-4. Heavy rain fell before midday and plav was suspended till the afternoon. The final of the ladies’ singles bet we m Miss Lame and Mrs Lasoelies was in proerre;?? when rain fell. ‘Miss Lanoe leading by four games to one. The weather appears to be clearing. Goss and Greenwood, last year’s doubles champions, were beaten by Griffiths and Ifobson (Auckland).. The Aucklanders won the two sets comfortably, but th<* champions took tbe third. In the final set- there was a ha.**l tussle. Griffiths ant Robson winning 7-d. After luncheon the weather cleared and the play, was resumed at. '2.30. Results: — MEN’S DOUBLES. Fourth Round. Peacock and Sima beat Franco and Franco 6-1, 3-6, 7-5, 4-6, 6-3, Griffiths and Robson beat Goss an 1 Greenwood 6-1. 6-2, 4-6. 7-5. LADIES' SINGLES. New Zealand Championship Final: Miss Lance beat. Mrs Lascelles. 6-2. 6-0. COMBINED DOUBLES. Semi-final. Miss Maofarlane and Robson beat. Miss Gray and Griffiths, 6-2, 6-4. NOTES ON THE PLAY. (Special to the “ Star.”) HASTINGS, December 30. There was a strong south-west wind blowing across tlie courts this morning and there were a Jot of threatening clouds around. No. 1 court, on which the finals were played, was in good orae”, though the base liues were worn considerably. There was a big crowd of spectators present. Tho first game played was the final of the ladies’ doubles, between the four New South Wales players, and it resulted in a win for Misses Lane© and Lloyd, 6-:i, 6-4, It was one of those even, good driving games for which Indies’ games have been noted. The tour players were effective loba when their opponents were

at net Misses Gray and Lascelles led in tbe first sot 8-1. Miss Gray is probably tlie best stylist of the four, but sho is apt U) tire after a long rally and drives out or neta. Misses Lance and Lloyd got the next five games and the set. Miss

i Lance’s baokhand volleying at the net is very accurate, and she swings most of ; her shots into impossible positions. Tlie j court oraft on both sides was conspicu- . ously good, but it was tho more oonsistj out driving and bettor net play of Misses | Lanoe and Lloyd that won them the first set, Miss Gray beat hor opponents badly a number of times with her first seri vices. Miss Lloyd engaged her two opj ponents in a magnificent driving rally, the shotß frequently clipping the base and j side lines. Miss Lanoe won a hard oon- | tested point by amashing out of reach I after two all had been called. Misses Lance a.ud Lloyd got to 6-2 by more consistent. driving and better net play, and though their opponents got the next two games they could not keep tho pace up and lost tlie match. There was a very heavy shower of rain a: 11.80 which held up play. Just before the bad weather came Goss and Greenwood lost in tho semi-final round of the men’s doubles against Auckland’s first and second men, Robson and Griffiths. The final, of tho ladies’ eingles had just commenced, but had to be postponed when the game stood 4-1 in the first set in favour of Miss Lance. There was another shower about 1 p.m. whioh thoroughly wet the oourts, and play was postponed till S p.m. Though there was every chance that further showers would fall sawdust was put on the courts and rollers were used, the committee being very anxious to get the matches conoluded, as many of the playi ers wiabed to return home. | if the. weather does hold up the j OUivier-Laufiensou match will not bo j played, and only the doubles games will I Sono on with. ! . Tt 16 ™ is , BtiU ° lle semi-final in the top j balf T of the draw of the men’s doubles, ! a* Lauronson and Ollivier have to meet ! Peacock and Sims, and there are two j matches in tho combined doubles before : the final is decided. i . Lobbing and driving were the chief 1 Features of Goss and Greenwood’s la-st j f3o ‘*kle.3 match. Robson played the best i game of the four. Ho was right on his smashing, in which the play of Grig- ; flths was a bit uncertain. Especiallyi h°Lt r , dB , Zba - ® n<l „ GreenTCOO <! played very , bright tennis. Goes was ver-r sure most | til “ time - but had spells Of poor play. nth Hr A eam v to Robson and Grif. I aths through Goss mißsing volleys ; Greenwood then pulled off two nice low ; PoritfL s ,',/ an j d - Goss soored with two good I foiohan/ drives, and tho games -were evened Vise drove and then smashed tnJ. , ■, " ut , hls opponents led 2-1. I Z h 1 *, err T aOS by Griffiths and I missed yi .shea by the Canterburi- men PlacemG j, off smashes by Goss agadn score ; but, Goss then missed 1 j ;, a| f lne with drives. Robson and Griffiths led 412. Lobbing was a feature of the next two games, which went to the Canterbury men through better placements. Then they went off their game little and missed some low vola°d the first set went to Robson and Griffiths 6-4.

Goss was a little erratic in hia driving, and Greenwood was brightening up. lwo nice lobs were placed by Robson, and was fai r ly evon ‘IB 2 all. Griffiths waff giving his opponents trouble with his first services, and he scored feral aces. The Auckland men were volleying accurately, and compelled the others into errors, and the set went to Robson and Griffiths 6-2.

Go3s’s backhand was a bit too furious, and he was vnising wit.l> his lobs, thiß being mainly duo to the tricky wind. Griffiths passed Greenwood twice down the side line. Robson was smasching Goss's lobs effectively, but by playin steadily the Canterbury players keflt the soore ' even at 2 all. Robson and Griffiths Jed 4-2. Good rallies followed, both sides playing bright shots. Greenwood wn-s tea.ring through with his backhand drives, and Goss came to light with .some heavy smashes. The' pet. went, to Canterbury 6-4. Volleys by the Aucklanders and lobs bv the Canterbury men followed. Robson was doing most work on his side, and the score went to 3 all. Gobs was netting drives a-nd lobbing over the baseline. From here on Greenwood showed out conspicuously and the ga.mes went to 5-5. Griffiths took the service and Itobeon smashed boss's return and repeated the process. There was an exchange of low volleys which ended in Goss outing and game and set and match went to Robson and Griffiths.

Probably tlie most interesting doubles match played from the point of view of diversity of strokes and quickly changed tactics was that between Sims and Peacock and L. France and I>. G. France. Very often players were all inside the service line. When lobbing would he started, chiefly by the France brothers. Sims and Peacock would start smashing and their opponents created great excitement by returning these from well-nigh impossible positions by low volleys. The players wore all up to top form', with the exception of Peacock, who was uncertain. J). G. France has a brilliant forehand, which he switched across with lightning rapidity, but he har. patches of faulty play when he outs easy volleys.

France was on his best chopping game, and his placements generally were excellent. Sims and Peacock played with greater confidence throughout, and Sims's steadier driving and volleying compelled the Frances to make mistakes in the first pot., which they lost. They had &, hard uphill game against good placements In the second set. which they pulled off 6-3, owing chiefly to faulty handling of lobs and volleys by Peacock.

Time and again the Frances picked up long low volleys, lobbing them well back, wliero Sims started smashing. It was a hard set. By running in at lightning speed from the base line the Frances evened the score to two sets all, but though they made a great fight of it. in the last set they were outclassed and Sims was smashing in between them.

Peacock and Sims will now meet Ollivier and Laurenson in the seiui-fimi 1 round, and the winners of that match will play Griffiths and Robson iu the final.