TENNIS CHAMPIONS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1631, 24 December 1912, Page 6

TENNIS CHAMPIONS.

AUCKLAND TOURNAMENT. NEW ZEALANDERS WIN TWO MATCHES. SOME CLOSE CONTESTS. (By Telefrapb—Pross Association.) Auckland, December 23. The lawn tennis test matches . between New Zealand and the English Davis Cup winners were continued this afternoon ta the presence of a large crowd of spectators. The courts were in good order and some first-class play was witnessed. New Zealand showed up much better than on tiio previous day, winning two matches, and closely contesting the others. Sv/anston v. Beamish. The first match, between Swanston and Beamish, was a. good contest, Swanston gaining the honour of taking the first set lor New Zealand against the Englishmen. The first set went to Beamish, (i —■!, but Swanston gained the second, 6—4, chiefly through his good service. Beamish won the tnird set, 6—i. Ollivier v. Lowe. Ollivier was in great form in bis match with Lowe, his service being almost unplayable, while his ground and overhead work were first class. He easily annexed his first set, 6—3, tabling 3 love games. His short lobs had Lowe thinking hard, and ho showed great judgment in placing his strokes. The earlier part of the second sot was more closely contested, and the score ran to 3 all, but Ollivier took the next three Barnes, winning the 6et, 6—3, and the match. Dixon v. Peacock. Dixon, the English captain, proved al« together too good for Peacock. The New Zealander put up a good fight for the first set, and won i games to Dixon's 2. The Englishman, however, won the next four, and annexed the set, G— i. In the 6econd set Dixon gave a tasto of his true form, and won, 6—o, Peacock gaining only a single ace. Parks v. Fisher. Parke was in good form against Fisher, whom he defeated, 6-2, 6-2, although Fisher put up a much better fight than the scores would indicate. Parke placed his balls with great precision, and was particularly brilliant in his driving. . Lowe and Beamish v. Fisher and Ollivier. The doubles match between Lowe and Beamish and Fisher and, Ollivier was the best of the afternoon, Fisher, in particular, playing fine tennis. His overhead smashing and volleying-were, a feature of the contest. Ho received little help from the Canterbury man until near the end, when Ollivier recovered his usual form, and the pair then went out. The Now Zealanders had much the better of the first set, which they won 6— i, but the Englishman equalised scores hy taking the next, G—3. The third provided a great contest, and 16 games had to bo played before the r«ew Zealandera finally got to 9—7, talcing the sot and the match, a great drive by Fisher providing the winning stroke. The 'Wellington man played with great dash and accuracy, throughout. ' ' Swanston and Peacock v. Parke and Dixon The light was failing when. Swanston and Peacock took the court against Parke and Dixon, but some fine tennis nevertheless resulted. The Englishmen took the first game, but the second ran to deuce no fewer than eight times before the >,ew Zealanders won from Dixon s service, the set ultimately went to the Davis tup champions, 6-4. The Wellington men started off with great vim in the second set. winning the first three games, ths Englishmen' gaining' chly'one ace in three games'. Swanston and Peacock, by accurate play, took the score to 5-2, but the Englishmen then played up to tneir best-form,, and won ; the,next.five games, taking the set 7-5 and tlw match. 1 '■