TENNIS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 31 December 1927, Page 6

TENNIS.

SOUTH WAIRARAPA TOURNEY. The semi-finals and finals of the South Wairarapa lawn tennis championship and handicap meeting were intemipted yesterday by heavy rain, Which fell in the early afternoon, makincf it impossible to complete several of the events. These will be decided at an early date .on courts to suit the convenience of the finalists. A number of the finals, however, were decided m the morning before the change in the weather necessitated a postponement of play. The results of the events decided so far are as follows: — CHAMPIONSHIPS. MEN’S SINGLES. piual.—l). .'Johnston (Timaru) beat S. AVheeler (Wellington), 2/6, 6/3, G/l. MEN’S DOUBLES. . Pinal. —E. B. Wellwood (Masterton) and F. W. Martin (.Masterton) beat J. Martin (Martinborough) and D. •Johnston (Timaru), 0/4, 6/3. LADIES’ SINGLES. The semi-finals of the ladies’ championship singles were won by Mrs L. H. McMaster (Martinborough) and Miss IL Card (Featlierston), who have yet to play off the final. LADIES’ DOUBLES. Semi-finals. —-Misses Z. and M. Castle (Wellington) beat Misses M. Cameron (Masterton) and Bain (.Martinborough) (1/4, 6/1: Mrs Brown and Miss N. Welch (Wellington) beat Mrs Groves (Masterton and Mrs Clark (Pahiatua), 6/4, (i/d. COMBINED DOUBLES. Final. —IT. Plank and Miss Bell (Wellington) beat Miss Dobbs (Auckland) and D. Unwin (Timaru), 7/5, 7/5. HANDICAPS.

MEN’S SINGLES. Final. —D. Johnston (Timaru) beat AV. Blundell (AVclliugton), 60/51. MEN’S DOUBLES. Fourth round. —Blundell (Wellington) and Wardell (Masterton) beat Hutchison (Christchurch) and Howden (Wellington), by default; Ashworth (Wellington) and F. McLeod (Martinborough) beat AVarren (Featlierston) ami Unwin (Timaru), 00/SS; F. AY. ton) beat B. P. Welch (Masterton) and Martin and E. B. AYellwood (MasterSwainson (Pahiatua), ‘6O/5.’!. Semi-final. —Blundell and AVardcll beat Ashworth and McLeod, 60/55. LADIES’ SINGLES. Semi.-finals.—Miss Z. Castle (Wellington), 50/3S; Miss M. ‘Castle (AVellington) beat Miss P. Blundell (Wellington) beat Miss’ A. Pragnell (Masterton), 50/40. The Misses Castle will play off! the final at their own club at Newtown, Wellington. J.A DIES ’ DOUBLES. Final—-Misses M, Z. Cattle (Wellington) boat Miss Zofirab (AVellingLon ) and Miss P. Bhmdeil (Wellington), 50/4).- \ COMBINED DOUBLES, ElifaJ. —rB. P. Welch (Masterton) amt Miss M. Cameron (Masterton) beat D, ; .lahnjitoii (Timaru) and Mrs A. B. {--Martin (Miartiivbproqgl)), lU/59. '(* - V | N.z. CHAMPIONSHIPS. ' t CHRISTCHURCH, Friday. Owing to heavy fail), there was little I play to-day in the New Zealand tennis championships. The matches did not begin till after 3 o’clock, when the combined doubles Vccre advanced to the semi-finals. As the result, Mrs AdalMs and Len France will meet Miss Tracy and AVilsou j* the final. Jt should be sjjn iut-Mesting matcli'.

To-dnv # Was Hu* 'defeat of ilio tltle-hohleVs, Miss Spelt's and D. G. Frahee', by MW Adams and L. France in Dyo.sets'. The court was heavy and the ladies played in stockinged feet. Len France dominated the play. His brother was unsteady all through, and was frequently passed at the net. All the finals will be played to-morrow. Ollivier and Bartleet meet at 2 o 'clock. ■ Results:— MINED DOUBLES. Third round. —Miss Speirs and D. France beat Miss Myers and Lampe, 6/1. 6/4; Mrs Adams and L. France beat Miss Macfarlane and Sturt, 6/1, 6/2. Semi-final. —Miss Tracy and AVilsou beat Miss Andrew and Seay, 4/6, 6/2, 6/4; Mrs Adams and L. France beat Miss Speirs and D. G. France, 6/3, 6/3. NEW ZEALAND PLATE. Second round. —Lampe beat Boddy by default. Third round. —Baggc beat Tearse by ./*'default; Walker beat Lampe, 1/6, 6/2, «3/5, 6/3; Wilson beat Knott, :6/S, 6/2, 10/8, 6/2. Bagge and Angas have both advanced to the semi-finals.

UNFORTUNATE INCIDENTS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) OHEISTCHUBOH, Friday. A great deal of .dissatisfaction has been felt by players, and expressed by followers of lawn tennis, at the conduct of- the New Zealand championships this vear, and one or two incidents in connection with the events yesterday and o r. Wednesday have marred the tournament for those who have been following the fortunes of the particular players. There was an unfortunate crowding of play yesterday in connection first of oil with Dr. Laurenson. After his gruelling five-set match with A. L. France "late on Wednesday, his feet were in such a bad condition that he entertained the idea of defaulting to Kartleet in the semi-final of the championship .singles, but decided to go on at Bartleet’s request, and partly to Iceep faith with the public. He was nearlv three-quarters of an hour late in appearing,’ as ho had to bo bandaged heavily to enable him to go on. When Bartleet was leading 4/1 with two sets in hand, Dr. Laurenson retired. Ho was very much surprised to find that he and Bartleet were called on immediate-

lv for a hard doubles match against Peacock and AVilsou, who had not played at all during the day. In the oppressive heat this was regarded as going bevond a joke, especially as both men had had m. luu-.-lt. They had barely time to change and swallow a cup of tea before they were out on the top courts again in the so.a. ‘hat they won after four sets teas due to u brilliant recovery. A somewhat similar incident occurred on AVc-dnesday, when Ivan Seay, after a live-set doubles, had to go on to piny Sturt, in a single which went to five sets. In his ease il was considered that he should have been called on to pPiv the singles first and the doubles Inst. As it was, he. lost the singles. The most unfortunate incident of the tournament, however, occurred yesterday in the case of Miss May Spoil's. Her semi-final against Alias Marjorie Maefarlnne was set down for 10.50 a.m., but as the top courts were .occupied, it. was 11 o’clock before the match began, and for over two hours it was strenuously fought in a most oppressive heat. Both players were run to a standstill. Miss Spoil's was far from well, and her father, on learning that she was to be called on to play the ladies’ doubles final at 5 p.m., appealed unsuccessfully for an extension of time. The matchXwas called at 5 p.m., but Miss Speirs was so obviously distressed and off her usual game that Mr AY. Goss twice went on the court and appealed to her (as Air AI. C. Dcnniston had appealed to Alalfroy) to let the match go by default. This Aliss Speirs reluctantly consented to do at the request of her partner, Aliss E. Partridge. It was a very great disappointment. to the galleries to see the Canterbury ladies abandon a final which, under normal conditions, they had a good chance of winning. Comment was also made on the fact that there was no necessity to force the championship final on at so early a stage. A prominent figure in the tennis world stated to a “Times” representative yesterday that the commercialisation of championships and the forcing on of matches in such an oppressive heat for the sake of galleries might have the effect of discouraging players from entering In the future.