Championship Tennis Is Advanced Further Stage At Wilding Park To day.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18060, 21 January 1927, Page 11

Championship Tennis Is Advanced Further Stage At Wilding Park To day.

DOUBLE EVENTS PLAYED IN HOT WEATHER; GOOD FORM SHOWN.

t Play in the Canterbury Lawn Tennis ! Championship was continued at Wilding Park in bright sunshine to-day. [ Conditions %vere oppressively hot in the E morning, and were not as favourable to good tennis as they were yesterday, when the heat was tempered by a light easterly. The courts, however, had been watered overnight, and were in better order. Ladies were given a chance on the top courts to-day, when the most interesting appearances were N. Peach and Mrs Beale against

Angas and Mrs Bullock, on No. I court, while on No. 2 court, Miss Speirs and Miss Andrew claimed attention. Really, it was a combined morning on all the courts. It was noticeable that ladies do not adjust themselves to the use of ball-boys as men, and very obligingly spent their time retrieving the ball when they should have remained on the , base-line, and the “young sinners” were quite content to let them do it.

(Prominent lady players).

M«n’s Singles. "” r ' ' _A L. North beat J. H. W. Sheppard, Madias’ Singles. Second Round. Miss M. Macfarlane beat Miss B. Macdonald, 6-3, 60. Third Round. Miss M. Speirs beat Miss M. Andrew, 61. 6-1. Miss E. M. Partridge beat Miss Y. Ferrier. 7-5, 61. Miss M. Wake beat Miss E. Stewart 4 6. 6-1, 6-3. Miss M. Macfarlane beat Mrs M. Beale 6 3. 6-8, 64. i Indies’ Double*. First Round. "Mrs H. C. D. van Asch and Miss E. Johnston beat Miss G. Wright and A. Colombus. 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Misses H. Jones and K. Scott beat Misses E. Bowron and E. Burrows, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3. Misses G. and M. Rankin beat. Miss E. M. Guy and Mrs Sharp, 4-6, S-6, 6-1. Second Round. Misses M. Sowdcn and M. Ward beat Misses E. and I. M’Mullan, 6-4, 6-1. Misses M. Macfarlane and B. Cotterill beat Mrs F. B. Hale and Miss B. Macdonald, 6-3, 6 1. Misses Rankin beat Misses Jones and Scott, 6-3, 7-5. Mesdames Beale and Bullock beat Misses R. and M. Richards. 6-0, 6-2. Misses M. Wake and E. AT. Partridge beat Misses N. Reed and M. Andrew, 10-S, 6-1. Third Round. Misses Speirs and Ferrier beat Misses Sowdcn and Ward, 6-3, 6-1. Misses M. and L. Saunders beat Misses G. and M. Rankin 6-2, 6-4. Mixed Doubles. First Round. Glanvillc and Miss G. Jellett beat M. F. Instone and Miss I. M’Mullan,* 6-0, 6-0. C. Brewster and Miss M. Andrew beat 11. W. Ogier and Miss E. Nutt, 6-4, 64. A. L. North and Miss Wake beat N. Matson and Mrs M’Rae Peacock, 6-0, 6-2. J. M’Causland and Miss Y. Ferrier beat W. Pearse and Miss N. Reed, 6-3, 6-3. V. E. Page and Miss Sow’dcn beat S. W. Field and Miss G. Wright, 6-3, 6-2. G. C. Bennington and Miss E. .Stewart beat M. G. Somerville and Miss B. Gould, 9-7, 6-0. B. B. Loughnan and Mrs Sharp beat W. G. Morrison and Miss E. M’Mullan, 5- 6-1. 6-2. F. Peach and Miss M. Macfarlane beat D. O’Connell and Miss E. Bowron, 6- G O. K J. .Walker and Miss B. Macdonald beat W. R. Robinson and Miss I. Thwaites, 6-1, 6-1. J. Mercer and Miss A. Colombus beat C. A. Cuff and Miss M. Ward, 4-6, S-6, 64. W. 11. Sheppard and Miss E. Partridge beat J. H. Fulton and Miss E. M. Guy, 5-7, 6-1. 8-6. C. Angas and Mrs F. Bullock walk over. J. Fitzgerald and Miss B. Cotterill beat W. S. Somerville and Miss L. Saunders, 13-11, 6-4. F. B. Hale and Mrs Hale beat L. W. Leslie and Miss R. Richards 4-6, 6-1, 6-3. Second Round. N. Peach and Mrs M. Beale beat .C. Angas and Mrs F. Bullock. 6-2, 6-2. J. Mercer and Miss A. Colombus beat D. F. Glanville and Mrs G. Jellett, 6-3, 6-4. Men’s Double®. First Round. J. 11. W. Sheppard and C. Angas beat E. B. M Kay and R. Peters. 64, 64. J. S. Wilding and D. F. Glanville beat F. B. Ilale and W. S. Somerville, 6-2. 64. Dr P E. Allison and S. W. Field beat G. FI. Holford and R. Jones, S-6, 6-1. G. G. Aitken and I. Seay beat T. W. Patterson and W. R. Robinson, 6-4. 6-3. Dr A. L. North and J .M’Causland (NSW) beat N Barlow and 11. W. Ogier# 6-1, 6-2.

- * W. Pearse and D. O’Connell beat Q. Wright and W. G. Gerard, 3-6, 6-2, 6-1. C. A. Cuff and S. D. Denton beat G. C. Bennington, and K. A. North, 6-3, 6-3. W. E. Page and A. B. Loughnan beat E. G. Boddy and J. Fulton, 6-3, 6-4. Second Round. T Fitzgerald and C. Brewster (N.S.W.) beat G. Ollivier and R. Browning, 6-4, 8 : 6. B. B, Loughnan and K. G. Walker beat C. W. Collins and J. R. Johnston, 6-2, 7-5. Dr A. L. North and J. Al’Causland (N.S.W.) beat W. Pearsc and D. O’Connell, 6-2, 6-2. P. G. Greenwood and W. Qoss beat Ay. G. Morrison and S. W. Jamieson, 6-4, 6-3. F. and N. Peach beat A. Borrows and R* A. Row, 6-4, 6-2. V. E. Page and A. B. Loughnan beat C. A. Cuff and S. D. Denton, 6-2, 6-1. Scayr and Ait-ken beat Alison and Field 6-4, 6-3. NOTES ON THE, PLAY. Miss Macfarlane and Miss Cotterill scored an easy win over Mrs Hale and Miss Macdonald. The winners combined well, Miss Macfarlane taking the net. Mrs Ilalc and Miss Macdonald played from the base-line. There was only one really good rally in the match. The match between Page and Miss Sowden and Field and Miss Wright did not provide a very good exhibition of tennis. Page and his partner had things their own way throughout. Miss Sowden’s back hand play was a feature of the game. F. Peach and Miss Macfarlane and Miss O’Connell. It was a very uninteresting match. There were a few snatches of bright play. The winning jiair had no need to exert themselves. Miss M. Macfarlane (Auckland) had an easy victory over Miss Macdonald, the game being too

one-sided to be interesting. Miss Macfarlane drove consistently to both sides of the court, keeping her opponent on, , the run, and forcing her to hit out. Miss Macdonald's . backhand was * weak, and she frequently ran round a return to take it on her forehand. The first

set went to Miss Macfarlane 63. Miss Macfarlane forced her opponent full out in the second set,' causing her into numerous errors. She generally finished off a game with a hard drive to the base-line, coming up to the net to smash the return. In this manner she took the set 6-0. Miss Speirs started a bit carelessly against Miss Andrew, who was driving

y wen at nrst, but who becarhe inaccurate as the game went on. For all that, she was playing a greatly improved game as compared with yesterday, driving freely on both hands and serving a very decent second service. One could have wished that Miss Speirs had made the games

harder for the sake of her own practice. The score spoke for itself, but she was never pushed in a rally. When three down in the second set, Miss Andrew scored a love game on service, but this was the only game she got' iff this set. Long rallies more heady and sure than spectacular marked the match in which Misses G. and M. Rankin defeated Misses Jones and Scott 6-3, 7-5. Play was mostly on the baseline, with Misses Jones and Scott making occasional visits to thc.net, where they were superior to their opponents. Miss Jones was especially safe overhead. * The Misses Rankin, however, remained

steady throughout, proving themselves past masters at. tlir baseline game. They did not vary their game a great deal, being content to find the corners with well-placed shots which were the downfall of their opponents. The second set was very evenly contested, both pairs playing warily and watching cverv opportunity that offered. Miss Gwen Rankin was responsible for many winning drives down the centre of the court to the baseline, passing Misses Jones and Scott, as they came up to the net. Page, and A. B. Loughnan were both at the top of their form for their match

against Denton and Cuff. They were much too good for their opponents. In the second set Loughnan excelled himself. The serving and volleying of both he and his partner were excellent. forehand drives were very severe. Denton drove well at times, but he anci

Cuff did not really get going. The best singles match of the tournament, so far, was provided by Dr North and Sheppard. It

was marked by brilliant volleying by Dr North, and there were many long rallies. Deuce was called on one occasion eight times and on another occasion seven times. Dr North's baseline play was excellent. He played with the utmost steadiness, and placed his balls to the best

advantage. Sheppard made some wonderful recoveries. Ilis play was really good, and he has not been in better form this season. J. Fitzgerald anci Miss B. Cotterill beat Somerville and Miss L. Saunders in one of. the best games of the morning, the score being 13-11, 6-4. The game was a spectacular exhibition of all-round play, with very little between the pairs, both of which were frequently at the net volleying and smashing in finished style.. Fitzgerald and Miss Cotterill were admirably matched, having a slight advantage over their opponents in this respect. Miss Cotterill played an aggressive 'game at the top of her form, and was frequently applauded for her overhead work at the net, where she repeatedly scored with “kills.” Fitzgerald, like his partner, was in excellent form, bringing off some wonderful saves, and while attacking he was unbeatable, his sideline shots being especially fine. Somerville and Miss Saunders did not vary their game as much as their opponents and, although they played good tennis and were at times brilliant, they did not exhibit the versatility of the other pair. Somerville always looked dangerous, and he was treated with a great deal of respect. After gaining a lead of two games at the conclusion of the opening set

of their match against Mrs 11. C. D. van Asch and Miss B. Johnston, Misses E. Stewart and L. Bonnington went to pieces, and then made a remarkable recovery. They were easily beaten for the first four games of the second set and looked like going under, but their play at that stage became steadier, and by forcing their opponents.into errors thev won the next six games, taking the set 6 4 andMh 6-1, 0-4. K j. Walker and B. B. Loughnan engaged upon a yolleving duel .which

ran to three sets before going in Walker’s favour. The play was not brilliant, neither man going for anvtiiing that had an element of risk about it. Walker went down 4 6 in the first set, but in the next two he was superior to his opponent, winning the second 6-3 and the third 6-1. Loughnan played poorly .in the last set, his shots being scrappy, and lie was unable to return Walker's fast overhead shots. .Miss Macfarlane defeated Mrs Beale after an exciting match. The third set saw both ladies playing good tennis. With the score 3-3, Mrs Beale was placing her shots well, and kept Miss Macfarlane busy. Mrs Beale took the next game with a well-judged shot, and led for the first time in the third set. Some first-class backhand play marked the next game, both players appearing to advantage in this direction. With the score 40-0 (Miss Macfarlane serving) Airs Beale drove the ball out ayd gave her opponent the game, 4-4. Long rallies were a feature of the next game, in which some fine forehand drives were seen. Placing her shots well, Miss Macfarlane took the game, and with the score 5-4 Mrs Beale strove hard by vigorous shots to even up. At match point Airs Beale failed to come up to the net in time to return a well-judged shot, and lost the match. The Misses G. and M. Rankin, who had shown considerable promise in the second round of the ladies’ doubles, met their Waterloo in the Misses M. and L. Saunders in the third round, going down 6-2, 6-4. The match was a slow r one, confined to driving to the corners, but there were many long rallies in which all four players took part. For consistency and patience, ‘both pairs have few rivals, but it would be better if they could persuade themselves to get away from the stereotyped methods and introduce a little liveliness into their play. The Misses Saunders were the more venturesome in this match and really won because of this. L. W. Leslie and Miss R. Richards won a good opening set against F. B. and Airs Hale, but their play slumped badly in the next set, and although they improved slightly individually in the third, their combined efforts were weak. Hale and Airs Hale won 4-6, 6-1, 6-3. x There were a few brilliant pieces of net work between the male members that saved the game from being devoid of interest. Sheppard played wonderful tennis against Dr North, and was really unlucky not to win the match. He fought hard out of difficult positions again and again. North made the mistake of attacking his backhand, on which Sheppard was very sound. In the second set North had four set points before he took the set. Ollivier took his match with Ogier very lightly, and although Ogier got in some good shots, Ollivier really gave him games in both sets. Ollivier was careless, and with the score 5-0 in the second set he let his opponent take the next three games. He served a double-fault in the eighth game, but abandoned his careless attitude in the next and took the match. An interesting display was witnessed fn the doubles match between the Aitken-Seay and P. Allison-Field combinations. Good exhibitions of volleying were given by both pairs. Aitken and Seay were severe overhead, their work in this respect being the deciding factor in the first set, which they won 6-4. Both sides went in close to the net on their service in the second set and some brilliant exchanges ensued. After the fourth game Field went to pieces and although Allison played in great form he could not carry his partner in the face of the attack of the other pair. Once in command Aitken and Seay went all out to win the set at 6-3 and the match 6-3, 6-4.

NOTES ON THE GAMES PLAYED YESTERDAY.

Page’s service was deadly in the opening game of the third set, Loughnan being hopelessly beaten by its pace. Loughnan got his revenge in the nsxt game, which went to deuce four times. With one game each, both players made desperate efforts to get, ahead. Page finally secured the advantage and at 2-1 played on the top of his form, winning the next game off Loughnan’s service in spectacular style. After establishing a good lead in the following game he drove out, letting Loughnan creep up on his mistakes. 3—2. Loughnan played brilliantly in the next game, which he won by sending down a fast drive that left Page standing. 3—3. Brilliant base-line rallying marked the seventh game, Loughnan showing up well at the net. The wind caused Page to serve a double fault that gave the game and the lead to Loughnan. 4 —-3. Loughnan, not

Page, was in the picture now. He was playing confidently and in the long rallies that ensued he was steadier than his opponent, placing winning shots in the corners and taking the game to 5-3. Page won the next game by agressivc base-line play. He also took the tenth game, Loughnan cracking up after two badly-timed excursions to the net. 5—5. Page gave a fine display at the net in the next game, standing near the centre of the court and keeping Loughnan on the run to make his returns. A brilliant backhand shot a little later spoke of Page’s form, but this was shadowed by a spectacular overhead shot at the net with which Loughnan brought deuce up for the seventh time. After deuce had been called ten times, the game went to Page. Play kept at the high standard until the sixteenth game, in which Loughnan's service broke down and he gave the set and match to Page by serving a double fault. * * * * Dr North took the first set easily from Aitken, who gave a weak exhibition. Aitken hit the ball out repeatedly, and was obviously not in good form. In the se'cond set, he improved remarkably, taking the set at 6-4. North won the first game of the third set. Aitken was now driving well, and playing a steady game. He took the second and third games. The driving of both men was good, and their placing excellent. Both played a base-line game, similar in many respects. With the score 3-2 in favour of North, he was playing better than he did in the first two sets. Aitken fell off from thei>,..obviously tiring. Dr North won 6-1, 4-6, 6-2. * * * * The holders of the provincial doubles championship, Ollivier and Browning, went down to Fitzgerald and Brewster, 4-6, 6-8. The tennis in this match was father uninspiring save for a few flashes. The visitors took the first set easily. Browning did not show his usual form, and fell into several mistakes. Play tightened up in the second set, in which Ollivier produced some of his characteristic shots, and the Canterbury pair took the lead. Better combination on the part of Fitzgerald and Brewster saw them draw level, 4-4. Games fluctuated until the score read 6-0. -The New South Wales men coneentrated on securing the next two games, anci at. first match point Fitzgerald finished off with a good smash. * * * * Wilding opened poorly in his match against Fitzgerald, but at one stage was leading 4-3. Ilis serving was excellent. and he kept his opponent busy. With the score 5-5 in the first set, both men were playing good tennis. Both favoured the base-line. Fitzgerald took the set, 7-5. In the second set, Wilding took the first two games, but lost the

successive string of games, and the set ended 6-2. Wilding served exceptionally well, but did not attack his opponent’s forehand sufficiently'. Dr North and M’Causland’s combination proved too much for Pearce and O’Connell. Al’Causland’s service was very effective, and Dr North was responsible for some very nice overhead shots. One of the chief causes contributing to the defeat of the Canterbury pair was their short lobs. Pearce play*ed very'- well at times. O'Connell got in a. number of fine fore-hand drives. Pearce and O'Connell were leading 2-1* in the second set, but from then they went to pieces. ❖ * * * Denton played an excellent game against Brewster. With backhand drives, well placed, he ran to 50 in the last set. Then Brewster came at him hard and took the next six games. Denton evened to six, and then led 7-6. When he was advantage out, he put. a ball on the high side, and * the umpire unfortunately gavfc* “ out.” That gave Brewster the game. Brewster contented himself with steadyplay, winning the nextlwo games and match. There was a big gallery watching the game, which did not finish till nearly 7 o’clock, ....