NOTES ON THE PLAY.

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 80, 30 December 1919, Page 7

NOTES ON THE PLAY.

The first important, event of the day tvas (he match between RoVon and LfwrenFon, the .best Auckland pair, and the ex-champions Dickie and Wallace, of Woverky. It was well known that Dickie was far from well, and that neither of fclio men from Tarnnaki were in tournament form, but it was thought by many that their Ion? experience and their splendid combination would uive them a bis- advantage- over the younger and Ire* tried Auckland men. But it whs fooii evident that Dickie, because of hi.i inability to reach for balls in certain

positions in the court, could not show any of his old form, and Wallace, overloaded as ho was, failed often on tins account. The ex-champions made a good fight of it, but they could not win. The Auckland men played sterling tennis. Eobsou's overhead play was particularly fine, probably the best yet seen in the tourney. Laurenson was always sale, and often scored will!; well-placed strokes. Tho Aucklandora must have a good chance in their match with Ollivier and Wilding to-day. Tho surprise of- tho doubles tourney was tho hard fight put un by the Wanganui pair, Pownall and Lampe, against Swanston and Peacock. Tho Wellington men look the first two sots nuito oasi'.v, and, in view of hard games ahead for both of them, they eased up. The Wanganui men rose to the occasion. They are both men with good services and good fighting nualities. and in spite of the efforts of Iho Wellington men to recover their form, the visitors took two sets one of them a very long set, ana tho result was that Swanston aiyj Peacock had to n?ht very 'hard indeed to keep their place in the tourney, and thev left the court absolutely tired out. Ollivier and Wildin? nlnyrd two oMicr Cliristclmrcli men, Quill and Bonnington, nnd the champions were rather disappointing, especially Wilding. 'Miey won safely enough in the end. but they made more of the- struggle than should havo bci>n necessary. The lugscst singles match of tlu> day was that' between Ollivier and P-acnek. It happened unluckily for th« Wellington plover that ho had just finished anlt an 'hour before n ve'y strenuous doubles match, lasting for About two 'houm and he did not enmo on to (he court frc*li. Ollivier had also hud a match, but not nearly such n hard one. Ollivier was playing one of his best games, and he was decisively too good for Peacock, although the latter played a steady game and fougbt for every shot. The big l surprise was the retirement of Swan-ton from his match wilh. Bonninglon. a player whom the ex-champion should not bnve any difficulty in defeating. But Swanston was very liml. The hard fiveset double of tiie nnrlicr part of tho dav in tihe hot sun had worn him out, and afb» winning tho first set ea=ily enou.ah he began to go to pieces, and when his opponent was two sets in be retired, probably with the idea of saving his energies for his double with Peaco:k, for it ft gone-Tally concede! that Swanston and Peacock are one of the pairs that, should hnm a ehnw' in this feries. Robson and Laurenson each won his single ouite comfortably, and if they keen tlieir form they should g*'' through their next tasks and into the fifth .round safely. There thev niav have to meet each other. The combined double mnv be won in the end bv Goss. of Christch'irch. nnd Mrs. Hodges, now of Auckland. O-ss rilavs a wonderful game still, nnd Mrs. Hodaes is the strongest lady player left in the series. There were few ladies' singles played yesterday, but lib? contests we v e keen and good.. Miss M'Farlane won from the Hawke's .Hay representative. Miss Clark, after a really good game. She will hayo to meel Miss Travers in her next match, and. will have to do belter than she has yet done to win. althous'h sho is certain to make a good fight of it.

AUSTRALIAN VISIT POSSIBLE. LETTER FROM NX OFFICIAL. Mr. A. G. Henderson, a member of Ihe Management Committee of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association, who recently left on a holiday visit to Australia, 'was asked to endeavour to negotiate either for a visit to Now Zealand by an Australian team, or for a New Zealaud team to visit Australia; also to ascertain the movements of the Davis flup players, with a view to securing a visit to New Zealand by them. Writing from Sydney under date Deceml>er 14. Mr. Henderson advised the Secretary of Hie New Zealand Association (Mr. A. .1. Pttlicrick; as under: "I have had the pleasure of n long chat to Marsh, Hie president of the New South Wales Asso-. uintiou, and mentioned the matter of the visit of a t6am from New South Wales lo New Zealand. He says he quite recognised that his association owes us a visit, and regrets that, owing to the war, it has not been possible to arrange for a team to go across. Owing to a piom'se. to South .Australia to be present at the Australasian championships, to 'bo held at Adelaide in March, it will not bo possible to pay a visit during this season, but ho promises that a- team will bo brought over during r.ext fcason. Providing that Austral a retains (he Davis Cup next month, the next contest will, of course, bo held in New Zealand, and Marsh thinks that this would be a good opportunity to send over a team. I havo suggested to him that a team of ladies should accompany the men's team, and 1 think this will probably be arranged. I may say that I was agreeably surprised at the form shown by the lady competitors at the New South Wales championships. There is, of course, no urgency to dscr.ss tiie matter of the visit of tho Now South Wales team, but my reason for writing specially by this mail is to place before the Management Committee a suggestion thatwas mad? at my interview with Marsh. It is that a team from New Zealand should visit Sydney next month, when the Davis Cup is being played. The dates for that qvent are January 16, 17, and 1!!, wh le the Australasian Championships follow from January 21 to 26. It has been suggested that tlie members of the New Zealand team could play in the championships (which will probably iuchula tho Davis Cup plavc-rs and all the leading men from the other States), and the team.-; match against New South Wales takes place immediately after. Tho reason for the suggested visit is that in addition to allowing our players to see the Davis Cup, it will give the Davis Cup selectors an opportunity of s?eing our bo*t players in action and giving any with Davis Cup prctens'ons a chance of selection for the match to lie held in JNew Zealand the following year. As you are no doubl aware, the'present-day form of New Zealand players is an unknown quantify over here."