TENNIS INVADERS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1630, 23 December 1912, Page 5

TENNIS INVADERS.

o — BRITISH TEAM. PLAY BEGUN AT AUCKLAND. THEIR GREAT FORM. OUR PLAYERS WALKED OVER/ (By TelegraDh.—Press Association.) Auckland, December 21. The British Isles tennis team met the pick of' the New Zealand players to-day, tefore an attendance of about 1000 people. Four siugle events and tiro doubles were , . played, all of which were won by the visitors. The weather was good. Chief interest was centred on the singles be-' tween C. P. Dixon, the English, captain, ■; and Ollivier, the New Zealand champion. Ollivier fought hard, and put up a really fine game, but, towards the end. of the ■' second set, he tired. His service waa ■ beautiful, and, many times it beat Dixon - altogether. THE SINGLES. Dixon Defeats Ollivier, The Englishman opened the matoh, and, after "deuce" had been called twice, \von t Ollivier's two opening services beat Dixon, • who won the nest with a short ball well placed. Each then .won an additional" point, and then Ollivior, by excellent' ', placing, won. the game, I—l. Each player in turn won on the serve, the games reading 8 all. Dixon then took his own serve : to thirty, and then Ollirier's by a love game, "Deuce" was called four' times on Dixon's next serve before Ollivier ; won.' The Now Zealander started his next servioe badly, but from 15—40 worked his ■••■ way up, and, by good serving and placing, ■ won the game and made the score 5 all. On Dixon's next 6erve the score stood at' 15—40 in favour of Ollivier, but the Eng« ; lishman, by solid play, caught up, and" won. He annexed Ollivier's next service and tho set—7—s. The second set was also a hard-fought one, and, although the visitor won—6—B— .'■' the games were even till halfway through, but then Dixon went ahead, and won. , Ollivier's play was good throughout, but, at the. end of the second set, it lacked some of its earlier dash. Dixon's play ' was consistent, and to this fact he owed his victory. Lowe Defeats Peacock. F. G. Lowe defeated C. Peacock, 6-1, G—2. Peacock started well, winning on his first service. "Deuce" was called four times before Lowe won on his service. Each lest his next service, and then Lowe went ahead to 5—3. I'eacock pulled up one game, but then Lowe went out after - the game had stood at "love"—4o against him. . ■ ■ . ■ . Peacock again started well in the eecond . set, winning his service by a love game, but, from then on, Lowe won easily, finishing up 6—2. : Parke Beats Swanston. , J. C. Parke met R. N. K. Swanston, and won his match easily, 6—o, 6—3. Parke's strong driving left his opponent little chance, and he could have won out sooner on the second set. Beamish and Fisher. The match between A. B. Beamish' and V. M. B. Fisher was a poor one. Neither ' player showed up to advantage, and Fisher's lack of practice showed plainly. He served well, but otherwise his judgment was sadly at fault. Beamish won the first set, 6-4. ■■■■■■ '. : In the second set, Fisher led off in better style, and led 3—o. Beamish then struck better form, and quickly took tho score to 3 all, his fine backhand crosscourt stroke proving too much for Fisher. , The Englishman won the next three , games, C—3, and the set and match, C—4, 6—3. ■ THE DOUBLES. Dixon and Parke against Ollivier and Fisher. Dixon and Parko met Fisher and OI» livier in the first of.the doubles.'. Neither of the New Zealanders played at all well, and Fisher's play, with the exception of his services, was. very poor. The Englishmen won on their serves, and took Fisher's, the ■ score being B—o. Then Ollivier served, and nonplussed his opponents, winning to 15. Dixon and Parke again won their serves, tho latter being particularly brilliant. Fisher lost hia serve, and the set, 6—l. .Ollivier opened the next set, and lost his service to 'love." Fisher started badly, but pulled uy from "love"—4o to "deuce," but the Englishmen then sent down two beautiful passing shots and-won. Dixon won his next service. Ollivier then double-faulted, but, after going to "love" —40, sent down a perfect service, and carried the game to "deuce." The Englishmen, however, took the game, and the next one also fell to them, and the match. 6-1, 6-0. : . .. : ■:; '-:-, Parke and Beamish against Peacock and Swanston. The double between Parke and Beamish and Peacock and Swanston was evenly eon-. tested. The tennis was not spectacular, but the men (with the exception- of. Parke) showed improved form. Beamish . played his backhand cross-court shot beautifully. The first set went to '5' all, and then Beamish won. his service, whilst Swanston lost his delivery, the set ending 7—5 in favour of tho Englishmen. ■ The next set was longer, but, although the New Zealanders deserve every credit ' for tlieir performance, it must be admitted that the match shoukrhavo been finished earlier. The set went to 10—8 before the Englishmen won out, and "deuces" were plentiful. „'■■'■', ,' ■'■'■'■•'■' Further games will be played on Monday. ,■■>