EXCITING PLAY IN TENNIS TOURNEY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18043, 31 December 1926, Page 11

EXCITING PLAY IN TENNIS TOURNEY.

BIG GALLERY WITNESSES HARD-FOUGHT MATCHES. fSpeeial to the “ Star ") AUCKLAND. December 30. The morning broke dull and threatening with clouds hovering, but the sky cleared about ten and ideal con- j ditions prevailed throughout the day j until shortly before five o'clock, when ■ a heavy thunderstorm broke over the ! city. For a short time the court[ were partially covered with a sheet of* water. A very large attendance of the public was treated to tennis well up to championship standard The majority of the matches were well contested and full of thrills. The audience was a thoroughly appreciative one. Doubles Keenly Fought. Two matches in the men’s doubles event that created much enthusiasm were staged early, namely. Peacock and Wilson (the holders) v. Dr North and M’Causland (New South Wales) : and Seay and Andrews v. Haege and Maifrov. The former game went the full five sets before the New South Welshmen won. The match was keenly fought throughout. Wilson was most brilliant in the first set, his overhead work being first-class. M’Causland served consistently Winning repeated aces with his first. Tremendous speed and accuracy gave the “ Aussics ” the second set. with a lot to spare. In the third set Peacock and Wilson were at the top of their form. Peacock's anticipation was uncanny and his courtcraft delightful. The fourth setwas very even and games went to 5-all, the standard of tennis being high. The visitors came to light at a critical time and captured the set. Wilson was disappointing in the final set, although Peacock strove valiantly. The visitors thoroughly deserved their win and were heartily congratulated upon their success. Haege Improves. The standard of play was consistently high in the other game, and the result was in doubt right up till the finish as the score indicates. The games in the first two sets went exactlv the same, Seay and Andrews taking the first two and then Haege and Malfroy three. Seay then took two and Haege three in a row. Malfroy received most attention from his opponents and acquitted himself remarkablv. The Wellington lad’s play was a revelation. Seay on the whole played better than his partner, who failed repeatedlv .with smashes and volleys. Seav served consistently well and frequently brought off angled cross-court volleys. The play of Seay and Andrews in the third set delighted the gallery, who frequently could not re- | strain from applauding during long I rallies. Seay led 3 to 1 in the fourth set, but Ilaege. who is a much improv- ' ed player since he was here last year, | came to light in brilliant fashion, smit- ; ing the ball to the corners with great I precision. The winners thoroughly deserved their win. Great Driving. Dr North, the victor of Don France, put out the veteran Wallace in straight sets. The latter was feeling the effects of his strenuous endeavours of the past two days. Dr North nevertheless played delightful tennis, his drives skimming the net from corner to corner repeatedly. Ilaege defeated M'Causland and now meets North in the final of the top half of the draw. Bar fleet's Win. The singles played in the afternoon drew a crowded attendance. The matches went in each instance the full five sets. Perhaps the outstanding match was that between Bartleet and Sims, bojth seeded players. The first set was close. Each point was hotly contested, for the most part from deep court. Sims was very steady at the start, while Bartleet attempted to force matters. Sims placed his sliced drives effectively to the corners, thus forcing Bartleet into errors. The second and third sets saw Bartleet in his best vein. His services were repeatedly unplayable and he completely overwhelmed his opponent by beautifully placed drives. Sims racing from side to side. At this stage the best play of the tournament was seei>. Sims came back refreshed from the rest period and took five games in a row; the standard of play, however, was poorer, Bartleet making repeated errors in both service and placing, while Sims frequentlv drew him in. only to pass with a lightning drive down the sidelines. The last set found both players very tired and play deteriorated in consequence. Bartleet made fewer errors, giving him the match. Wilson Unlucky. The Andrews-Wilson match produced play of exceptional merit during the first three sets. Wilson was really unlucky in not winning the fourth set and the match, but having failed in this he was all out and hopelessly exhausted. not attempting to go after repeated shots by his opponent down the sidelines. The Lady Champion. The supporters of the Dominion lady champion suffered a setback by her defeat in the semi-finals of the* ladies’ doubles with Mrs Melody, against the Auckland pair. MissesKnight and Golebrook. The champion's display was disappointing al most throughout. True. Mrs Melody was not at her best, while the winners thoroughly deserved their win in straight sets. Miss Speirs’s play in the combineds was not convincing, while she and France have not met serious opposition her game must improve considerably on the form shown today to enable her to succeed in remaining events. * She was serving erratically and mistiming drives and volleys. The singles are out to the semi-finals, in which the contestants will be: — Men's—North (Sydney) v. Haege (Melbourne), and Barlcet (Auckland! v. Andrews (Palmerston North). Ladies—Miss Speirs (Ghristehureh) v. Miss Watson (Sydney) ; Mrs Melody (Wellington) v. Miss Howe (Wellington). In the men’s doubles Haege and Mai frov, having beat Seav and Andrews, now tackle Knott and Sturt, the winning pair (the former for certainty) facing North and M'Causland l Sydney) in one semi-final, while the other will j be fought out between Peach brothers I (Sydney) and Bartleet and Robson (Auckland!, the Dominion champions j of 1923. J Following are the scores: MEN S SINGLES Fourth round. Dr A. L. North (New South Wales) beat A. G. Wallace (Taranaki) 6-3, 6-3, 6-1. P. Haege (Victoria) beat J. M'Causland (New South Wales! 6-3, 6 4. 6-1 E L. Bartleet (Auckland! beat A. W. Sims (Auckland) 4-6, 6 1. 6-2, 2-6. 6-3. E. D. Andrews (Palmerston North) beat N. R. C. Wilson (Wellington) 6-3, 3-6, 1-6, 9-7. 6 1. LADIES’ SINGLES. Third round. Miss J. Watson (New South Wales)

beat Miss B. Knight (Auckland) 62. 6-3 Mrs W. J Melody (Wellington* beat Miss B. Witherow (Auckland) 6-1, 63 MEN S DOUBLES. Second round. P. Haege (Victoria) and C. E. Malfroy (Wellington) beat I. A. Seay (Canterbury) and E. D. Andrews (Palmerston North! 6-4, 6-4. 1-6, 7-5. Third round. Dr A L. North and J.. M'Causland (New South Wales) beat J. C. Peacock and N. R C. Wilson (Wellington) 8-10, 6-2. 2-6, .*B. 6-0. E. L. Bartleet and H. L. Robson (Auckland! beat V. R. Johns and A. C. Johns (Auckland) 2-6. 6-4. 6-1. 6-0. F. Peach and N. Peach (New South Wales! heat'M. L. Lampe (Wanganui) P G France (Wellington) 3-6. 62, 6-4. LADIES’ DOUBLES. Third round. Misses N. Lloyd and J. Watson (New South Wales) beat Misses A. Howe (Wellington) and J. Ramsav (Auckland) 6-1. 6-4. Misses B Knight and M. Colebrook (Auckland) beat Mrs W. T. Melody (Wellington) and Miss M. Speirs (Can ter bury) 6-3. 8-6. COMBINED DOUBLES. First round. Miss M. Speirs (Canterbury) and D. G. France (Wellington) beat Mis* M. Colebrook and J. A. F. Watson (Auckland) 6-3, 63. 8-6 Mrs W. J. Melody (Wellington) and M L. Lampe (Wanganui), beat Miss M. Napier and S. Lamb (Auckland) 6-0. 6-3 Miss M. Myers (Wanganui) and J. M Causland (New South Wales) beat Miss P Rukutai and W. Turei (Auckland) 6-0. 6-0! Miss B. Witherow (Auckland) and C. Brewster (New South Wales) beat Miss M. W Smeeton and V. R, Johns (Auckland) 7-5. 2-6. 8-6. Second round. Miss N Lloyd (New South Wales) and A. G. Wallace (Taranaki) beat Miss A. Howe and R. McL. Ferkins (Wellington) 6-2, 6-2. Mrs Scott-Watson and 11, Brinsden (Auckland) beat Miss N. Whitelaw and A. K. Turner (Auckland.) 6-4, 4-6, 64. Miss Speirs and France beat Miss M. Stevens and J. C. Charters (Whangarei) 6-2. 6-3. Miss Witherow' and Brewster beat Miss A. Francis (Auckland) and W. Pearse (Temuka) 6-3, 6-4. Miss B. Knight and A. W. Sims (Auckland) beat Miss A. Arneil and L. T. Pickmere (Whangarei) 8-6. 6-1 Miss J. Watson and Dr A. L. North (New South Wales) beat Miss M. Macfarlane (Auckland) and I. A. Seay (Canterbury) 6-3, 7-5. BOYS’ SINGLES. First round. E. 11. K. Turner (Auckland) beat W R. White (Waikato) 63. 6-2. M. Ferkins (Wellington) beat A. R. Walton (Auckland) 6-5. 64. D. Peart (Auckland) beat J. L. Gregory (Auckland) 3-6, 6-5, 6-4. L. Floyd (Auckland) beat W. Turei (Auckland) by default. C. E. Malfroy (Wellington) beat R. K. G. Macindoe (Auckland) 6-1, 6-1. Second round. Malfroy beat Floyd 6-1, 6-1. C., G. Bowden (Auckland) beat H. R. Tawhiri (Poverty Bay) by default.