LAWN TENNIS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18905, 21 January 1927, Page 13

LAWN TENNIS.

CANTERBURY CHAMPIONSHIPS. PLAY AT WILDING PARK. Blue skies and bright sunshine favoured the commencement of tho Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association's Provincial championship tournament on the Association's grounds, Wilding Park, yesterday. Tlay was confined to the twelve grass courts, which were used for the first time. Despite the fact that they had been well watered and rolled, it was soon found that Ihey were not conducive to very fast tennis. The top-dressing that had been given them had not worked through to the sole of tho turf, owing to the thickness of tho . grass. Dust, therefore, was plentiful, and the balls refused to bounce lively. By next season they should be in capital order. Leading players from many clubs in the province havo entered in this year's tournament, which has a great added interest in the appearance of the touring team of five players from New South Wales. Considering that the tournament is a provincial one, tho number of spectators who witnessed the morning's tennis was small. The attendance increased in the afternoon, however, when the galleries accommodated over 400 people. The second round was reached in the Men's Doubles and Ladies' Singles, while in tho Ladies' Doubles Championship, and Men's Singles, the third round was entered on. Weather conditions in the morning wero ideal for good tennis, there being almost an absence of wind, while the light was splendid. The north-east wind that blew after noon did not affect the play to any big extent, although at timeß it whirled across courts. Although somo of the visiting Australian players had close calls in one or two games, the only one to suffer defeat by a local player was J. W. McCausland. at the hands of D. F. Glanville in the Men's Singles championship. The tournament will be continued to-day and to-morrow. Results of yesterday's matches are as follows: MEN'S SINGLES. First Round. 0. O. Brewster (N.S.W.) beat Warne Pearse, 6-3, 6-3. Dr. A. I/. North (N.S.W. beat C. A. Caff, 6-2, 5-7, 10-8. C. G. Aitken heat G. H. Holford, 6-3, 6-4. .7. H. W. Sheppard boat N. Matson, 6-3, 6-1. N. Barlow beat C. W. Collins, 6-3, 2-6, 8-6. J. McCausland (N.S.W.) beat P. G. Greenwood, 6-3, 6-8. D. F. Glanville beat R. A. Row, 6-4, 6-1. V. E. Page beat F. B. Halo, 6-1, 6-3. A. B. Loughnan beat R. Partridge, 6-0, 7-5. G. Ollivier beat K. A. North, 6-2, 6-2. Second Round. N. Peach beat C. Angas, C-2, 6-3. J. R. Johnston beat W. S. Somerville, 3-6, 6-3, 7-5. K. J. Walker beat T. W. Patterson, 6-1, 6-4. B. B. Loughnan beat A. Borrows, 6-4. 7-5. S. D. Denton beat Q. Wright, 7-5, 6-2. C. 0. Brewster (N.S.W.) beat V F. Peach (N.S.W.), 6-1, 8-6. Dr. A. L. North (N.S.W.) beat G. G. Aitken, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2. J. 11. W. Sheppard beat N. Barlow, 7-5, 6-1. D. F. Glanville beat J. McCausland (N.S.W.). 6-3, 6-3. V. E. Tage beat A. B. Loughnan, 4-6, S-6, 0-7. G. Ollivier beat S. W. Field, 6-0, 7-5. H. AV. Ogier beat L. W. Leslie, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2. 1. A. Seay beat W. G. Gerard. 6-0, 60. W. R. Robinson beat W. G. Morrison, 6-2, 6-0. F. S. Wilding beat G. C. Bonnington, 6-3, 3-6. 6-1. .T. Fitzgerald (N.S.W. 1 ) beat W. Goss, 7-5, Third Round. . N. Peach (N.S.W.) beat J. R. Johnston, 6-1, 6-0.

MEN'S DOUBLES. Firßt Kound. J. H. W. Sheppard and C. Angus beat E. B. McKay and R. Peters, 6-4, 6-4. J. S. Wilding and D. F. Glanvillo beat F. B. Halo and W. S. Somerville, 6-2, 6-4. Dr. P. E. Allison and S. AW Field beat G. H. Holford and R. Jones, 8-6, 6-J. G. G. Aitltcn and I. Scay beat T. W. Patterson and W. R. Robinson, 6-4, 6-3. Dr. A. h. North and J. McCausland (N.S.W.) beat N. Barlow and H. 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. Bonnington and K. A. North, 6-3, G-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-t>. B. B. Loughnan and K. G. Walker boat C. W. Collins and J. R. Johnston, 6-2, 7-5. Dr. A. L. North and J. McCausland (N.S.W.) beat W. Pearse and D. O'Connell, 6-2, 6-2. P. G, Greenwood and W. Goss beat W. G v Morrison and S. W .Jamieson, 6-4, 6-3. F. and N. Peach beat A. Borrows and R. A. Row, 6-4, 6-2. LADIES' SINGLES. First Round. Miss M. Andrew beat Miss M. Ward, 11-13, 7-,5, 6-2. Mibb Y. Ferrier beat Miss M. Sowden, 6-1, 6-1. Miss N. Reed, a -walk-over. Miss I. Thwaitcs beat Miss K. Scott, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. Miss E. M. Partridge, a walk-over. Miss E. Stewart beat Miss L. Perkins, 7-5, Miss I. McMullan beat Miss E. Nutt, 6-4, 6-2. Mrs Sharp beat Mias M. Rankin, 6-3, 6-2. Miss M. Wake beat Miss G. Rankin, 6-3, 6-4. MisH B. Macdonald beat Mrs M. A. Sledman, 6-1, 6-2. Second Round. Miss M. Speirs beat Miss E. McMullan, 6-1, 6-4. Miss M. Andrew beat Miss B. Cotterill, 6-2, 6-4. Miss Y. Ferrier beat Miss N. Reed, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2. Miss E. M. Partridge beat Miss I. Thwaites, 6-2, 6-2. Miss E. Stewart beat Miss I. McMullan, 7-5, 6-4. Miss M. Wake beat Mrs Sharp, 6-1, 3-6, 6-1. Mrs M. Beale beat Miss H. Jones, 6-1, 6-4. LADIES' DOUBLES. First Round. Misses E. Stewart and L. Eonninglon, a walk-over. Mrs H. C. D. Van Asch and Miss E. Johnston beat Misses G. Wright and A. Columbus, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Misses H. and K. Scott beat Misses E. Bowron and E. Borrows, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3. Misses G. and M. Rankin beat Mis 3 E. M. Guy and Mrs Sharp, 4-6, 8-6, 6-1. Second Round. Misses M. Speirs and Y. Ferrier beat Misses B. Gould and G. S. L. Jellett, 6-2, 6-3. Misseß M. Sowden and M. Ward beat Misses E. and I. McMullan, 6-4, 6-1. Misses M. and L. Saunders beat Mrs M. A. Stedman and Miss I. Thwaites, 7-5, 4-6, 6-1. Mesdames M. Beale and L. .Bullock beat Misses R. and M. Richards, 6-0. 6-2. Misses M. Wake and E. M. Partridge beat Misses N. Reed and M. Andrews, 10-8, 6-1. Third Round. Misses M. Speirs and Y. Ferrier beat Misses Sowden and Ward, 6-3, 6-1.

NOTES ON THE PLAY. MEN'S SINGLES. An interesting match was that in which C. Angas, of Avonside, met X. Peach, first man in tho New South Wales team. Although staged in the morning, a well-filled gallery saw the Australian defeat tho Christchurch player in the first two sets. Peach opened the first game, which ho look as easily as he did the second, making the 6 core 2-0. Nervousness caused Angas repeatedly to net his shots, and to make hi 3 base-line balls too long. He experienced, however, a temporary recovery, equalising the score by annexing the following couple of games. But then Peach, who obviously did not citund himself at any 6 tago, played with a remarkable burst of epeed, and deadly accuracy. Baffled by the Australian's heavy chops and powerful back-line drives, Angas, thrown on the defensive, could only answer with pretty back-band strokes, and an occasional brilliant corner ball, which won warm and spontaneous clapping from an appreciative audience. The set ended 6-2. In the second set there m, a repetition of the play. Angus regaining confidence, was responsible for odd fine rallies while the visitor moved with that impass iveswT tn'ess and precision that la associated with a champion. Play see-sawed m the'lirtfcw games till it reached 2-2, when

Peach terminated it quickly by taking the 1 remaining games, with one exception, win-! mng tho set and match, 6-3. In the match J. McCausland (N.S.W.) v. I. G. Greenwood, play wa3 slow, tho dustv court not being conducive to fast tennis The match, best of three advantage sets, wen* to McCauslsnd, who occupies third place in the Australian team, 6-3, 6-3. McCausland owed his victory to persistent low shots to the base-line, and to brilliant rallies. Stcadincjs marked Greenwood's plav. Ho replied t-j McCausland with fast forehand drives. and occasionally with deep ehots to the baseline.. A good panics was witnessed when C. A. Cuff tried conclusions with Dr. A. L. North (N.S.W) It took an hour and a halt before a decision was reached Hanv games went to deuce. Dr. North took tho first set rather easily, but Cuff improved after this, and secured the second 7-5. The last act went to Dr. North 10-d after a hard and strenuous contest Both played fairly accurately, the play being confined chiefly to the base-line, although at timc 3 there was some nice net play. Dr. North, especially, seemed to find the slow court difficult, and many times when waiting for the bounce for a hard drive mistimed his shots, Bending them well outside. Cuff took full advantage of passing shots. . C. Brewster (N.S.W.) found littlo difficultv in accounting for W. Pearse, winning th'e two sets played easily. It wa a a steady basc-lino game, with Brewster displaying much greater accuracy as well as having the advantage of youth. Otherwise there was nothing extraordinary in the play. \- K. Page won liis two sets against h\ B Hale without exerting himself. 1 ago played with good length, and his deep base-lino driving was extremely accurate. D. F. Glanville beat It. A. Row in a steady base-line game, with a scarcity of net play. The two Bets between J. Fit-7.gcra.ld (N.S.W.) and W. Goss provided some fine hard hitting. Fitzgerald was very strong in backhand drives. Goss beat him several times .with short .cuts aud lob 3 over the not. G. Ollivier won his first- round match against K. A. North easily. The. second set of his match in tho next round with W. S. Field was the only time 'he appeared to be exerting himself. The best exhibition of the day was provided by V. E. Page and A. B. I Loughnau, in the Bocond round Thero were ] somo particularly long games at critical J stages, one gamo to 10 deuces and another to 11. At one stago Loughnau was leading in tho last 6ct 5-3, but made tho mistake of going into tho net, which looked to cost him tho match. Page's strong service and steadiness was an advantage. His placing was sweetly done, and his long, hard driving and corner placing were splendid. Loughnan played a fine game, and got out of difficulties very cleverly with nice backhand Bhots. His placing, short drop sliots, and smashing were well executed. He tired towards the end, but stuck to his task gamely. Quite or.o of the smartest tussles was witnessed in tho afternoon, when K. J. Walker defeated T. W. Patterson, 6-1, 6-4. It was a. second round match, in which Walker dominated the first set, driving and placing _ his shots well. His sharp, cross-cut vollies were effective. It was not until tho second set was commenced that Patterson's play attracted attention. He showed up to advantago thon, a feature of his efforts being ths amazing speed with which ho returned Walker's deep-line rallies. 410 led his opponent at one stage of tho game. However, when Walker took his fourth game, equalising with Patterson, he drew ahead to win the game and set, 6-f. A vast amount of interest wa3 taken by the gallery in the match in which F. Peach and C. C. Brewster, both of New South Wales, played off in tho second round. Brewster, who i 3 below Peach on the Australian ranking list, surprised ,- y defeating his opponent, G-l, 8-6. Doubtless the most remarkable characteristic of Brewster's p'ay was his sudden return of shots which seemed unbeatable. Peach wa3 conspicuous by his fine serves, patchy vollies, and his variety of strokes. An agreeable surprise also was provided by D. F. Glanville, who soundly defeated j the Austialian, J. McCausland, in the second round. In the first round McCausland had beaten P. G. Greenwood. At tho end cf the second set Glanville terminated the match, 6-3, 6-3. From the beginning he had had his opponent well in hand, his sparkling allies and hard base-line drives baving severe effect, and upsetting McCausland's calculations. Mistakes made by the visitor included drivos that were too long and fast shots which went wide. Playing off in tho second round, Dr. A. L. North (New South Wales) and G. Aitkon drew niuch attention. Aitken was on tho defensive tho whole of the first 6et, which he- lost 1-8.. But in lha nest he showed a remarkable recovery. He was four games down to North, when, by hard driving and well-placed base-line and comer shots, he established a lead and went, on to win tho set, 6-1. In the final set, however, Aitken was overwhelmed by tho Australian representative, whose well-judged deep-line shots won the admiration or the gallery. North took tho set, C-2. MEN'S DOUBLES. J. Fitzgerald and C. Brewster (N.S.W.) proved too good for G. Ollivier and R. Browning, the present champions, after ■ a couple of interesting sets. The New South Welshmen vollied cleverly, and 'their net work was good, both' combining well. litzgerald was good on tho long shots, his backhand play being very strong. Almost every first service he gave was a fault, brewster got in some nicely-placed shots, returning some at times which seemed impossible to reach. Ollivier placed cleverly, and lobbed nicely, often leaving the opponents standing with shots right between them. Browning drove hard and executed some good ■ strokes, but at times his returning was weak. Page and A. B. Loughnau were not doing their best to defeat K 0 Roddy and J. H. Fulton in two sets. They had had a strenuous gamo earlier in the afternoon, and knew too much about the game for their opponents. . Excitement was lacking in the matuh in which F. and N. Peach (N.S.W.) and A. Borrows and R. A. Row battlod for isecond round honours. Tho visiting champions dominated the play and won in two 3ets 6-4. 6-2. Their Bmartness on the return of short lobby shots and side line drives from Borrows and , Row went to brighten the play.

LADIES' MATCHES. Both in the ladies' singles and ladies' doubles championships there were no exciting contests. Play was of the ordinary club standard. Miss M. Speirs, the champion, being unable to discover anyone who could oxtend her. For the most part the women gave.steady exhibitions, occasionally attacking brilliantly or warily returning lobs and cross court drives. „ , The onlv feature about the first round match in the ladies' singles between Miss M. Andrew and Miss M. Ward, which drew a crow ; d, was its length. It lasted the three sets, and was won by Miss Andrew 11-7. 7-5, G-2. Otherwise it was a very steady, "stone-wall" affair, both ladies playine with extreme care. There were some more or less even contests in the first round of the doubles, without any particular brilliance shown In the second round Misses M. Speiw and T. Ferrier easily defeated Misses B. Gould and G. S. 1,. Jellett fl-2. 6-3. The presence of Miss Speirs, who recently re turnedrom the North, where she contested the singes title in the New Zealand.championships, auaed interest to the games. The experience of the winning pair made victory for them an easy thing.

TO-DAY'S PLAY. The order of play for lhi3 morning at a o'clock sharp will be:— ... Ladies' Doubles—Misses M. Macfarlaiie and B. Cotterill, Mrs F. B. Hale and Miss | M. Macdonald; Misses S. Stewart ancTL. Bonnington, Miss H. C. D. Van Asch and Miss Johnston; Misses H. Jones and K. Scott, | Mißses G. and M. Rankin. Combined Doubles—Miss G. Jellctt anrl Glanville, Miss I. McMullan and Instone; Miss M. "Ward and Cuff. Miss A. Columbus and Mercer: Miss E. Pariridse and Slieppard. Miss Guy and Fulton; Mies E. N'utt and Osier, Miss M. Andrew and Brewster; Mrs Mcßae Peacock and Matson. Miss M. Wake and A.L.. North: Miss Y Ferrier ana McCaiisland, Mi*s X. Keed and Pearse; Miss G. Wri?ht and Field, Mies Sowden and Pa?e: Miss B. Macdonald anl Wa'lter, Miss I. Thwaites ond Robinson: Miss B. Gould and So-merrille. Mies E. Stewart and Bonnington; Mrs Sharp nnd B. B. Loughnan, Miss E. McMullan and Morrison. All remaining competitors musi be in attendance not later than 10 a.m.

PUBLIC SERVICE V. LAW STUDENTS. An enjovable afternoon -was spent yesterday at the" Canterbury College Tennis courts, when tcam3 representing Government offices in Chrißtehurch played the Canterbury College Law Student*' Society. Tiit. students emerged the victors by a comfortable margin. The scores vere as follows (law students' names beinir montionsd first): Singles—C. S. Penlington 0, Searle 8: D. F. Lsurenson 9, G. Palk 6; A. W. Smithson 9, G. Fvfe 5; J. X. Laurenson 9, C. J. Christian 7: T. K. Papprill G, Hobin 9; J. A. Johnston 9, S. T. Barnett 1; F. G. Marrie 9, S. Roberts 4; J. Scott 7 C. Plirnmar 9. Doubles—Penlington and Laurenson beat Saarle and Palk, 6-3. 6-5: J. X. Laurenf-on and Msrrie beat Fyfe and Hobin, 4-6. 6-5, 6-5: Johnston and Papprill beat Christian pnd Plimmer, 6-4, 6-2; Smithson and Scott lost to Barnett and Roberts, 5-6, 3-6.