Standard of Play High In Yesterday’s Tennis.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18349, 29 December 1927, Page 3

Standard of Play High In Yesterday’s Tennis.

DR LAURENSON AND A. L FRANCE GIVE EXCITING DISPLAY IN LONG GAME.

IN ideal weather, the New Zealand Tennis Championships reached the semi-final stage yesterday. The standard of play was generally high and one or two of the games were of an exceptionally fine standard. There were no really surprising results, all of the leading players coming through. There were many close goes, however, and some of the champions had to exert themselves to win. The most exciting game was that between Dr J. T. Caurenson and A. L France, which finished 15-13 in Laur-enson’-s favour. Both men were in perfect physical condition and the tennis was of a high order.

THE RESULTS. Following are the results of yesterday’s play:— MEN’S" SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP. (Best of five Advantage Sets.) 5 Present Champion: E. D. Andrews (Wellington). £ Fourth Round. E. L. Bartleet beat C. E. Malfroy, -T-6, 6 8. 6-4, 6-0. 6-2. G. Ollivier beat D. G. France, 6-4, 6-0, *6-2. N. G. Sturt beat I. A. Seav, 8-6, 2-6, l «4. 3A, 6-0. f. T. Laurenson beat L. A. France, *l-6, 2-6, 64, 64, 15-13. MEN'S DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP. (Best of five advantage sets). IPresent champions: L. G. Knott and I N. G. Sturt (Auckland). bp* Third Round. L. G. Knott and N. G. Sturt beat J. Fulton and E. G. Boddy, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 46, 64. 1. LADIES’ SINGLES CHAMPIONS’ , SHIP. (Best of three advantage sets.) Present'Champion : Mrs R. P. Adams (Wellington). Third Round. Mn R. P. Adams beat Mrs W. J. Melody, 6-1, 6-0. Miss M. Speirs beat Miss M. Tracy, 6- 7-5. Miss B. Knight beat Miss M. Wake, 16, 6 4, 6-2. LADIES’ DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP. (Best of 4hree advantage sets.) Present Champions: Misses N. Lloyd and J. Watsdn (New South Wales). Semi-final. Misses Speirs and Partridge beat Misses Knight and Macfarlane, 6-2, 5-7, Mrs Adams and Miss Tracy beat Misses Wake and Andrew, 6-3, 3-6, 9-7. COMBINED DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP. (Best of three advantage sets.) Present Champions: Miss M. Speirs (Canterbury) and D. G. France (Wellington ). Second Round. Miss M. East and P. G. Greenwood teat Miss M. Pattison and S. G. M’Dougail, 6-0, 6-2. NEW ZEALAND PLATE. Second Round. L. G. Knott beat A. G. Wallace by default. W. Pearse beat A. W. Smithson, 6-3, 7- 6-3. X. R. C. Wilson beat J. B. Parker, 63. 6 2. 64. K. T. Walker beat S. G. M’Dougall, 6-4. 63, 6-0. R. T. Bogge beat J. C. Cullman, 64, 2-6, 6-0, 7-5. Third Round. R. 11. Tait beat N. G. Munns, 6-2, 6 2. 6 2. C. Angas beat N. Barlow, 6-3, 8-6, -6 4. BOYS’ JUNIOR SINGLES CHAM-

PIONSHIP. (Best of three sets. Third only advantage.) Present Champion: C. E. Malfroy (Wellington). Second Round. A. R. Cant beat P. Slade. 6-0, 6-1. R. A. H. Ilowe beat J. H. Griffiths, 6-1. 62. I). A. M’Caskey beat D. .White, 6-1, 61H. A. Barnett beat N. J. Daly, 6-2, 64. GIRLS’ JUNIOR SINGLES CHAMPION SHIP. (Best of three sets. Third only advantage.) Present Champion. Delia Newton (Auckland). Second Round. Miss C. Longmore beat Miss E. Brydon, 6-1, 6-1. ■» a, Miss B. Dini beat Miss N. Blunden, 6-3. 6 0. Miss N. Fleming beat Miss H. M. Donaldson, 6-4, 6-5. r. NOTES ON THE GAMES. f MRS MELODY LOSES. Mrs Adams could not do anything wrong in her match against Mrs Melody. It was not that Mrs Melody played a poor game. Her tennis was brilliant from first to last. She fought, a hard fight, making many wonderful recoveries. volleying with great speed and serving strongly. Mrs Adams settled down to a steady determined match. She was out to win and her play was a delight to the gallery. She had not been in better trim since the commencement of the tourney. Every-

thing she did was done with confidence, Her service worried Mrs Melody, who nevertheless refused to be bustled, and played her game with characteristic coolness. Mrs Adams’s cross courtdrive was much in evidence. Mrs Melody retaliated with clever chops, but they seldom gave the younger player much concern. It was Mrs Adams who forced the pace and maintained it to the end. She took the worst that Mrs Melody could give her, and she remained unruffled. She played, like a champion and deserved her win. Mrs Melody’s defeat created considerable surprise. It was a much more interesting match than the score would suggest. BARTLEET AGAIN. The first set between Bartleet and Malfroy gave no promise of an interesting game. Bartleet was right off his game and Malfroy ran out 6-2. There was a disposition ‘ among those looking on to regard the opening games of the next set as not revealing Bartleet’s true form and that soon he would wake up and drive Malfroy off the court, but an analysis of the play showed that Malfroy was doing everything that his opponent could do and only bv 1 Malfroy’s game deteriorating could Bartleet win. The way the boy was handling Bartleet’s famous serve was a treat to watch. At 6-5, Malfroy had two set points, only to lose them (the first by bad luck) but at 8-6 he ran out, Malfroy two sets jn. Without any discernible -difference in the play Bartleet won the next two sets. Malfroy maintained the same accuracy but the sting was going out r of his shot. He let Bartleet have more on his forehand than he had done in the earlier games, and this did not pay. Th last set saw Bartleet run into a good lead, Malfroy returning short. The Aucklander had two match points at o-l, but Malfroy was unperturbed and went for winners. All the same, he was tired and Bartleet getting set point, ran out a winner 2-6, 6-8, 64, 6-0, 6-2. EXHILARATING. Snappy volleying and crisp overhead work marked the ; doubles between Misses Macfarlane and Knight, and Misses Speirs and Partridge. Miss Speirs dominated the play except when she traded drives with Miss Macfarlane when the honours were often with the Auckland lady. Miss Partridge volleyed better than in her previous displays, and Miss Knight cut into anything loose overhead, so the tennis was decidedly exhilarating. The brightest ladies display so far. Misses Speirs and Partridge won 6-2, 5-7, 7-5. STARTED BADLY. Laurenson started very badly against Len France. Never has thfc Wellington man displayed a greater delicacy of touch than he did in the first two sets. He dropped the ball dead just over the net from near the base-line, and when the speeedy Laurenson got to it, then the return sent Laurenson galloping back to retrieve a lob. It was noticed that, whereas Laurenson was returning France’s cross-court shots across the court, France inevitably played the side-lines under the same circumstances, thus bearing out Ollivier’s theory that the difficult shot' is always the best to play off a short ball. Laurenson tried cutting the ball himself on the theory of a hair of the dog that bit one, but it only put France off his game for a short time.

In the third set, Laurenson began running round his forehand and using his faster backhand drive. This, with his speed on the court and an occasional smash, got him the third set. The fourth set was even, with Laurenson getting the odd point playing to France’s backhand.

The deciding set was a most stub-bornly-fought final. Both players are born, fighters, and, although Laurenson had collared his opponent’s cut shots, yet he had to content himself with merely returning a good length. At 5-3, Laurenson 'had two set points, and at 7-6 France had a set point. The games went 8-all, 9-all, 10-all and 11-all, both players looking tired, with France slightly the fitter. The game went on 12-all, 13-all, and at 13-15, on France’s serve, Laurenson got home, winning 1-6, 2-6, 6-4, 6-4, 15-13. A match that will be well remembered for a long time of three hours’ gruelling play. WONDERFUL OLLIVIER. After a few games bf preliminary sparring, in which Ollivier had the best of it, France settled down to a determined" attack on Ollivier’s backhand. Probably this has been on France’s mind ever since the pair met in the final two years ago. France lacked his speed of last year, but he more than made up for it in greater accuracy. Still the slower pace was just to Ollivier’s liking. Where he lost the first sets two years ago and was hard pressed in one of the others, this year the Canterbury champion did as he liked. In the second set, France only scored eight points. Never has the tennis ability of Geoffrey Ollivier been more apparent. He won, 6-4, 610, 6-2, without running a dozen times.

CANTERBURY’S HOPE. Miss Speirs, Canterbury’s hope in the ladies’ singles, had her first real try-out when she met Miss Tracy. Miss Tracy is a determined player, capable of returning everything, and she plays to the side-lines and uses the angles of the court to keep her opponent, moving. In addition, the champion volleyed and smashed well, and could conceal the direction of her drive. Bearing this in mind, Miss Speirs’s first set 6-0 could only be considered that of a champion. The second set was different. Miss Tracy anticipated better and kept the ball in play, and Miss Speirs’s impatience forced her into errors. Miss Tracy led 4-2, and the next game saw about a dozen deuces before Miss Speirs could get home. Miss Tracy maintained the lead till 54, when the Canterbury champion, who was now pressing hard, brought the score level off her opponent’s service. With her serve, Miss Speirs pulled off a fast volley in true Ollivier manner and a side-line drive and a service ace saw her in the lead, 6-5. The next game was the last. Miss Speirs reached 40-15 with a delicate drop shot that brought her applause, and, -in an attempt at another dropped her first match point, but the next Miss Tracy hit out. Miss Speirs won 6-0, SEAY AND STURT. If Seay’s play had not become hopelessly ragged in the fifth set of his matchx against Sturt, the result might have been different. It was a hard struggle. There was not a great deal between the players. Sturt started off better than his opponent. He sent down harder stuff, was trickier and better in his placing. Seay was not warmed up to it, although he was playing a cautious game. Sturt was called upon to step lively on occasions, and he showed surprising' agility on the courts, seldom missing Seay’s hardest shots. He took the first set 8-6. Seay settled down in the next. He went out after every shot, and punished his opponent badly. He played to the other man’s forehand almost continually with advantage to himself. It was evident that he was employing the right tactics, and he took the set 2-6. Both men were playing well now, and the match promised to be an interesting one. In the third set they were driving strongly, and it was clear that they were out to make a hard match of it. Brilliant tennis was Witnessed on both sides, Sturt winning the set 64, after an exciting display. Seay put every ounce of reserve into the fourth. He played a delightful forehand, and there was a fine length to all his shots. His placing was excellent, and he repeatedly baffled his opponent by his capacity to anticipate. He deserved the set, which went to him 6-3. In the last, however, he seemed 1 a changed man. He had very little energy left, and missed a number of easy shots. Sturt placed the ball with great precision, but Seay went down principally on his own mistakes. He became careless, due no doubt to his fatigue. Sturt was steady all the way, but his opponent was erratic, although responsible for some brilliant shots even in the last set. Sturt, however, was always equal to them. Seay lost the set 6-0, the last game of the match being a love one. He did his best.against a better man, although, until the last set, the decision was in doubt. HARD LUCK. The Canterbury girls, Wake and Andrew, had hard luck in not reaching the final of the ladies’ doubles. They had set point, but luck was against them, and the experienced Wellington team, Mrs Adams and Miss Tracy, pulled the match out of the fire at 9-7 in the third set. The tennis was of a high standard, all four ladies giving fine displays. There is little doubt as to Miss Andrew’s improvement during the past year, and she must now be Regarded as one of Canterbury’s best doubles plaj^ers. The Wellington pair commenced well, Mrs Adams playing. at her best. There were some great rallies, chiefly from the baseline, all four driving in great style. There was a fair bit of net play, but little “killing,” most of the winners being placements. Wellington won at 6-3. Jn the second set the Canterbury pair improved, Miss Andrew, who served and drove powerfully, being the best of the four. She and Mrs Adams had some long driving duels. With the score at 3 all the Canterbury girls won three games in a row to take the set.

Miss Wake was feeling the effect of a hard singles match, and hit into the net frequently. Miss Tracy was prominent for clever play, which gave her a lead of 3-1. Recovering, the younger pair took four games in succession, outplaying their opponents. With a set point, it looked to be all over, but experience told, and the older players evened, up, eventually taking an exciting and stern match ai 9-7. At the finish Miss Wake, 'although driving well, was frequently caught out of position. NEW ZEALAND PLATE MATCHES. Wilson defeated Parker in three straight sets in the first round of the New Zealand Plate. The tennis was spectacular at times, both men giving a good exhibition. There were some solid driving rallies, usually finished off with a sharp smash or volley. Wilson was always superior to his club-mate, but all the games were hard-fought, Parker driving hard and accurately. His back-hand was particularly good, and he often left Wilson standing with a fine passing shot. Wilson is improving each day, and his shots were surer than usual. His overhead work was deadly. The score was 6-3, 6-2, 64. There was some bright tennis in the Barlow-Angas match. The former is playing extremely well just now, and he kept Angas busy. The rallies were short and snappy, each player “ killing ” effectively at the net. As usual, the younger player was prominent for some wonderful recoveries. BODDY AND WILDING.Frank Wilding "played some fine tennis against Boddy, but failure to press home his advantage at critical stages cost him the match. Two very evenlycontested sets went to Boddy, who was going well, at which stage Wilding withdrew in order to fulfil an engagement elsewhere.

Bagge, ex-St Andrew’s College champion, unleashed a terrific fore-hand drive to defeat Cullman, 64, 2-6, 6-0, 7-5. Both played strongly, some of the rallies providing some bright tennis.

MISS WAKE v. MISS KNIGHT. Miss Wake was almost out in her game with Miss Knight. Driving solidly and placing with judgment, the Canterbury girl dominated the first set, winning at 6-1. Miss Knight was not going very well and was outplayed in every department of the game. Miss Wake was driving to the side-line and drawing her opponent into the- net and then passing her with beautiful shots. Half-way through the second set Miss Wake fell off considerably and Miss Knight improved. The games seesawed to 5-3, and then 5-4, but Miss Knight worn through steadiness. The third set saw some bright rallies, Miss Wake being the. more enterprising and Miss Knight the steadier. The Auckland girl came into the net often, and smashed effectively. Miss Wake executed some fine shots, but mulled several easy ones. TOO STRONG.

Greenwood and Miss East were a! together too strong for the- Otago combination, M’Dougall and Miss Patter-

son. Greenwood was the dominating figure of the match, driving and volleying crisply and cleanly. The Otago pair seldom came to the net, reiving on lobs which were dealt with in devastating fashion by the winners. The score, 6-0, 6-2, is a fair indication of the play, although the losers were unlucky to lose one or two deuce games. BOYS’ SINGLES. 11. A. Barnett, ex-pupil of the Cathedral Grammar School, and recently from the Chatham Islands, was one of the most impressive of the junior boys and looks like winning this- event. His first opponent kept him busy for a while, but Barnett was much superior at the finish. Daly, a promising boy with some attractive strokes, made a good game in the second round, but succumbed, 2-6, 4-6. Barnett has a great capacity for returning almost everything and is effective at the net. Cant, the Boys’ High School champion, is playing a great game, his stroke-equipment being an excellent one. He and Howe, a most promising youngster from Wellington, look like providing trouble, and the winner should come from either of this pair, or Barnett. A GREAT MATCH. One of the best matches of the day was the men’s doubles, Knott and Sturt, the title-holders, v.- Boddy Fulton. Knott was responsible for many brilliant shots. His recoveries provoked repeated ovations from the gallery, which was fairly large despite the fact that the match went on until after 8 p.m. Sturt made few mistakes. His hard, clean drives were a feature of the game. Fulton repeatedly came »to light with strategic shots. Boddy.played in fine style, his volleying at times being brilliant. In the first set, play was inclined to be loose, although Boddy and Fulton struggled hard. They went right into it and surprised their opponents with their splashes of excellent play. In the second set the play of the losingpair was better still. They combined well, sending speedy balls down the side-lines rd'peatedly. They forced the pace, although they spent themselves in doing so. They deserved to take the set. In the next, however, it was a different story. Knott and Sturt had an eve on their laurels now. They played like the champions they are, and wore their opponents down with their lightning-like shots." Boddy and Fulton stuck to it tenaciously, but they were given few openings. Knott and Sturt took the set 6-3.' Their play in the fourth set "■was best of all. They were out to make short work of it. But Boddy and Jfulton were determined not to let them have all their own way. Leading 3-1, the titleholders were sending down tricky balls. Then Boddy and Fulton took a hand, ancf with a long run of rapid shots took the next three games. Knott and Sturt won the next. Play became exciting and those who remained in the gallery were rewarded with a fine exhibition of tennis. Boddy and Fulton led 5-4, playing a careful yet enterprising game. They took the next game and the set. With each side having two sets in play became cautious for a time. Boddy and Fulton were hitting hard and placing the ball where they wanted, it. They took the first game of the fifth set. the champions repeatedly driving the ball out. Boddy was chopping delightfully. Fulton could always, be depended upon. They were sending back the worst that the champions could give them. . Nothing seemed to worry Fulton, who was playing the best game of the four. Boddy and Fulton led 3-2 and 4-3. Knott was hitting balls which obviously would have gone out. 'His lobs, however, were spectacular. With the score 4-4, deuce was called seven times, --and Knott and Sturt took the set after some excellent rallies. It was the first time the champions had led in this set. At match point in the next game, Fulton lobbed the ball over the back-line. It was a very interesting match.

< TO-DAY’S PLAY. Following is the draw for to-day’s play• 9 a.m. Miss Wake and Walker v. Miss Mvers and Lampe. Miss Andrew and Seay v. Miss Dallas and Hay. Boys’ Singles. Girls’ Singles. 9.30 a.m. Sheppard v. Robinson. * Bagge v. Prebble. 10 a.m. Miss Tracy and Wilson v. Miss Ramsay and Pearse. Tait v. Angas. 10.30 a.m. Miss Speirs v. Miss Macfarlane. Mrs Adams v. Miss Knight. 11.30 a.m. Mrs Melody and Melody v. winners of Miss Andrew and Seay-Miss Dallas and Hay match. New Zealand Plate Singles. Noon. France and France v. Lampe and Malfroy. 4 p.m. Bartleet v. Laurenson. 2 p.m. Ollivier v. Sturt. 3 p.m. Final Ladies’ Doubles. Bartleet and Laurenson v; Peacock and Wilson. 4 p.m. Finals Boys’ and .Girls Singles. 5 p.m. ' Knott and Sturt v. winners of France and France-Lampe and Malfroy. > WOOLSTON v. AKAROA. On Monday a match was played at Akaroa between the Woolston and Domain Club, the former winning by 39 games to 78. The scores were, Akaroa mentioned first:— , Women’s Singles-—Mrs Richardson 6. Miss Wenmoth 0; Miss Narbey 6, Mrs Banfleld 3; Miss M’Nab 6, Mrs Pierce 5- Miss K. M’Nab 3, Miss Rowe 6. Men’s Singles—E. Parris 3, E. Mahon fi- E. Giddens 1, J. O'Malley 6; H. Parris 2, G. Pierce 6; W. Glynan 1, J. Arn°Women’s Doubles—Mrs Richardson and Miss Narbey 9, Miss Wenmoth and Mrs Banfield 1; Misses K. and M. M’Nab 9 Mrs Pierce and Miss Rowe 7. ’ Men’s Doubles —Parris and Giddens 1. Mahon and O’Malley 9; H. Parris and Glynan 7. Pierce and Arnold 9. Combined Doubles—Miss Narbey and E. Parris 7, Mrs Banfield and Mahon 9; Mrs Richardson and Giddens 5, Miss Wenmoth and O’Malley 9; Miss M’Nab and IT. Parris 9, Mr and Mrs Pierce 8; Miss K. M’Nab and Glynan 3, Miss Rowe and Arnold 9. Totals: Akaroa 78, Woolston 99.