TENNIS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 81, 31 December 1919, Page 8

TENNIS

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIPS

SEMI-FINAL ROUNDS

COMBINED CHAMPIONSHIP WON BY AUCKLANDERS

The New Zealand tennis championship | tournament was continued yesterday. The weather was ideal, and the play all round whs very good indeed, by far the best that has yet been seen at the tournev. Most of the series are played out to tho.final stages, but in one or two of them tiitre aro, still matches' lo lie idaved in the semi-final rounds. It will bo a vcrv easy 'matter to get all tho matches through fedity. Following aro detailed results:— Men's Singles, Second round: C. A. Guff (Te Aroha) beat' D. J. Ji. Seymour (Wellington), 6— 2. 3-6. G-3. C-0. Third round: Cuff beat Lampc (WaG—l, G—4, , 9—7. Ollivior (Olmstchurch) bolt Quill (Christchurch), fi—t. (? —2. o—l. L. France (Wellington) beat. W. Pearse (Temuka), o—B, 2—6, S—fi. G—l. G—l. Fourth mind-: Laurenson (Auckland) beat Denton (Christcliureh), G—o, G—3, 3—G. G—fl. Robson (Auckland) beat Bonnington (.Christchurch), 6 —l, I—G, I—G, fi—4. G—2. Wilding (Christchurch) beat S Powdrell (Wanganui), G—l, 6-4. (Powdrell retired'). Ollivier (Christclurfch\ Iwat L. Franco (Wellington)', C—2, G—l, G—l. VLadies' Singled"' Third round (semi-final): Miss M'Farlano (Auckland) beat Miss Travers (Wely lington), 6—o, 6-4. Mrs. -Hodges (Auckland) beat Miss M. Payton (Auckland), G—2. o—l. Men's Doubles. . Third round: Allison and Gray (Dunedin) beat Swanston and Peacock (Wellington), C —l, G—3,' B—G. Ollivier and Wildinz (Christchurch) beat - Laurenson and Rolison (Auckland), G—4, 6—3, 6—3. Fourth round (semi-final): Allison and Gray (Dunedin) beat Goss and Clark (Chrislehurch), fi—3, G—4, C—3. Ollivier and Wilding (Christchurch) beat Cuff (To Aroha.) and Park (Wellington), 6 —3, G-2. G—£. Ladies' Doubles. Second round: .Mrs.' Melody and Mrs. Parkinson \(Wellington) brat Mrs.'Gordon (Masterton) and Miss Payton (Auckland), 6—4, 6—4. Mrs. Mnrchbanks find Mrs. Peacock beat Miss Plimmer and Miss Wilson, 8-3. 6-1. Third round (semi-final): Mrs. MaroliIxtnks and Mrs. Peacock beat Miss N. Mantell and Miss Ward ("Wellington), 4-6, G—l, 6-1. Combined Doubles. . Third round: Griffiths and Mi® MTarlane (Auckland) Angus (Christchurch) and Miss I: Mantell (Wellington), fi—fl, fi—l. Fourth round (semi-final): Goss (Christcliureh) >wd Mrs. Hodges (Auckland) beat Pearse (Temuka)'and Mrs. Gordon (Masterton), 7—5, "J~-6, G—l. Griffiths and Miss M'Farlrine beat Webster (New Plymouth) and Mrs. Parkinson (Petone), 7—5, 4—6, 7—5. Final: Griffiths and Miss MTarlaue beat. Cioss and Mrs. Hodges, .'l—6, 6--fl, G—3. Boys' Singles. Third round: Haddock (Wellington) beat Graham (Wellington), 3—6, 6—3, G—2. Russell Young (Wellington) beat ]}. Karle (Kelburn), I—G, 6—l, fi—2. Keay (Christchurch) beat Bevin (Nelson), fi—], 3—G, 6-1. Goldie. (Wellington) beat Jack Powdrell (Wanganui), G—3, 'Fourth round (semi-final): Young beat Maddock, 6-1, 6-2. Goldie beat Seay, G—s, G—i. s \ ' Girls' Singles, Third round: Gwendoline Culver (Wanganui) beat Esnia- Grierson (Lower Hutt), G—2, G—2. Arita. Howe (Wel1)0at Mavis Princo (Wellington), 6—4, G-2. Hughline Lapwortli (Wellington) beat Nina Davidson (Wellington), fi—2,..G—2. Fourth round (semi-final): Gwendoline Calver beat Hazel Wallis (Wellington), o—4, 2—6, 7—5. Arita Jlowo beat Hughline Lapwortli, 6—l, G—o. NOTES ON THE PLAY. Most of the series have now been played down to the semi-final stages. In the men's singles Ollivier and Wilding, of Christchurch, are left in, and they. nre drawn to play -each other. Uobson and Laurenson, of Auckland, are also left in, ami they, too, are drawn against each other. On tho play to-day OHivicr is by far tlie best player at the tournament:, and unless ho falls back in form a great deal he will bold' tho champion6ll,riic game of tho day in the doubles olicUiipmrisliip was that between Ollivier and Wilding, of Cimstchurch, and the Auckland pair, Eobson and Laurenson. By bad luck it was one of Robson'ss off days. He is known' among his friends as'an erratic player, sometimes styowing Tenl brilliance, aiul at other times relapsing- almost into mediocrity. 110 was not in nearly such good form in this game against the Christchurch men as he was when ho played against Dickie and Wallace on Monday. If, ho bad been the gamt would have gone differently, although tihc' Auckland men still might not have won. Tho opinion of all the critics lias been that the Christchurch pair were weak through the poor form of Wilding, and this opinion 'lias been justified on his play .previously, but yesterday he was little inferior to Ollivier. lie wits given most of the work of the match,-and he stood up to it well. The Chrifdchurch men won decisively, and on the play they deserved to . win. Tho other gfime which drew a crowd was that between Swanston and Peacock, of Wellington, and Allison and Gray, of Otago University. The younmr men beat the Wellington veterans without at any time giving fciiom a chance. This was tho more unexpected from the fact that early in the tCurnament Swanston beat Gray, the better of the Otago men, with the greatest ease in a single, but Peacock as a doubles player stands out amongst our best. The fact is, and, it has been'proved .in other eases in tiiis tournament, that the older players, have not stood th-s hard war of several days of strenuous play. In the final nothing but some mishap can prevent Wildingand Ollivier' from winning, though Allison and Gray, if they maintain their form of yesterday, will make matters decidedlv interesting. Among the ladies the honours of the tournament are with Miss M'Farlane. She came hero already a good playor, but'she has shown a remarkable improvement in form as the tournament has advanced, and it is extremely doubtful whether there is another lady at the tournament who can beat her. In tho singles series she is left in with Mrs. Hodges, the present champion, who, in club games, litis beaten her comfortably enough, but Jlrs. Hodges will liavo to plav her best to win on present form. M& .M'Farlane. yesterday beat Muss Travers without ever' leaving tho issue in doubt, except perhaps at ono stage. She took tho first sot, 6-0. This was a remarkable performance for a comparatively new player. In the next set Miss Travers established a lead of 4—2, but after that "Miss M'Farlano did not lose a game, and took the set and the match. In the combined doubles, the final of which has already been played, Griffiths ~„d Ui« Ml'arlane took tl>» championship'from Goss and Mrs. Hodges, and Miss M'Farlane was tho strongest player of the four. Neither ot the men nlnved championsmp form, Griffiths boiii" especially at fault in getting out of position in the endeavour to protect a partner who needed no. protection Goss was watchful and a good tactician as ever, but lie was not gct)i„« I lie shots ho played for. Mis. Hodgw played a sound game. fijio lias more winning strokes than Mi-.s "U'Farlane. but she made more mistakes. In the ladies' doubles Mrs. Hodges and Miss M'Farlane have to play a, match in ;V' round, a.ud this they should win. Then in the final they will have to meet Jlrs. Marchbnnks and Mis Voncoelv. This may prove, to bo a good game if the Wellington ladies are in form, but few expeU thorn to beat tho redoubtablo Auckland double.

CASUAL COMMENTS. (J3y The Onlooker.) Of course tho championship .tournament of 1!)1D is not yet over. Most of the finals liavo yet to bo played, l-ut tho form of tho players and the standard of the best tennis the Dominion can produco at tho present timo can now iio fairly well estimated. How does the play this year compare with that of 'previous championship toyrnanien.s? What aro tho outstanding features after a gap of live war years during which little, if any, first-class tennis has been played?• How do our champions and prospective champions line up with those o: past championship tourneys? Tho answers to these questions are on tho whole satisfactory when the circumstances aro taken into account. Tho play has been mixed in quality—very mixed at times. The only men's single in which I saw really first-class play was that between Olliwier ami Peacock, and Peacock was patchy. Still he (lid go for his shots, anil when he succeeded in developing the desired opening lie did makd the unmistakably finishing shot. So, of course, did Ollivier, who is now quite out by himself as our most fii.ished all-round player. Swanston after .his long spell during _ tho _ war years has been unable to strike his cid form, though he gave occasional glimpses | of it in one or two of his games; but that splendid staying power and fiteadinosffMvhicli made him dangerous • right up to the last stroke of a match havo been lacking in the present tournament. With nioro first-class practice ho may pick up again. But outside the threo old-timers mentioned and one or two of the younger men "out for a lash" l ho singles play has been on tho whole remarkable chiefly for its "pottery" mature. It has Ireen largely a test of endurance in pushing 11m lull backwards and forwards over tho net as many ti'mcs as possiblo in a negative sort of fashion, rather than tennis of the aggressive type. Takinj, for example, tho match between Eobson and Bonnington yesterday. Both of tliesQ players aro capable of making clever openings and getting in and finishing off a rally, but yesterday _ they plaj;ed like back-markers in a points handicap, each waiting for his opponent to "net" or "out" rather than trying for a "kill." Of course, each at times brought off some pretty shots, but it was tame tennis of the handicap * ather than of the championship variety. Ono i thing that our singles tennis (men's) wants is obviously more devil. There are several promising players amongst the younger men; they have good strokes, and are steady enough, but, generally speaking, they have displayed a lack of aggressivness and daring, in the present tournament. France, of Wellington, is a fair example. He comes into the net readily enough, and volleys and half-volleys very prettily and accurately, but he has yet to develop the killing stroke that rounds off effectively a woll-manoeyvred situation. Perhaps tho moral is/that there are too many "points" matches in our club teniv's. Players who play to win in points matches play too much for safety to go very far in championship tennis. Tho doubles nlay has also been very in and out. The most brilliant game played—indeed, the oitlv rame in i hiclv firsir-cliws form was well maintained throughput—raj that between tho Auckland colts Laurenson and Robson and the ex-champions Wallace and Dickie. The two latter are, in mv opinion, our best double. They were handicanpcd on the present occasion through the ill-health of one \if the pair, and through lack of practice, but they gave a glimuso of what they ars. really capablo cf in the gamo in question. Laurenson and Eobson in this match played brilliantly and won after ft desperato _ struggle, which was worth 'going a long way to see. Had they reproduced the same form against Ollivier and Wildine thev would have had an excellent prospect of carrying the championship. But they, couliTnot do so, and it is urettv clear that they- are in and out in their ulav. Allison and Gray, of Otago, aro plhying excellently together, and tlio fact that they disposed of Peacock and Swanston in straight sets, and now aro in tho final with Ollivier and Wilding speaks for itself. But taking the plav all round, the present clmmnions. Ollivier and Wilding, and the exchaiunions. Wallace and Dickie, with nract.ico. would still quite outclass any of the newer aspirants to championship honours. This, again, is partly, due to a lack-of really killing shots amongst the vounger generation. They may have them, but they do not use them often enoueh. Certainly.' Laurenson and Bobson showed what they could do ill this rosnect against Wnllaoo and' Dickie on Mondav last, but 0110 yell-played match does not. win a championship. But the veterans have not had it their own way by any means. _ Many of the older players have fallen—iu some instances iiuite unexpectedly—on the way to iiie final stages of the championships, and have met defeat in some instances nt the hands of the younger men; . In all the finals past champions will have to fight out for this year's honours with players of a vouneer Generation. In the. singles Ollivier. the present champion (assuming he defeat? Wading), will bo faced with Laurenson or Pobsou (havers like Swanston. Peacock, and Wallace, all exchnmpions, having succumbed in the earlier stages). In the double* Ollivier and Wilding, the pr,-=ont cliamp'ons. will 1m opposed by Allison and Gray.' The nrobabilities point the present ehamnions retaining their titles, but it is n good thing to see the vounger cii\ts«l-iii<» tlm fi-'Ms. Indeed, in the the only final so far completed-tbe combined—the holders, Goss and Mrs. Hodges, were handsomely and unexpectedly lienten yesterday bv two players, Griffiths and Miss MacFarlaue, who Iwve not previously aspired to championship honours. , ' The play of the ladies, though pood, has not so far been quit' s 1m to our best phamflionshiovforni. Of the two left in the final of the singles cliampionsTiip. Mrs. Hod?es (better known in tennis circles as Miss Bairdl has been consistently in the front rank for some years past, though she has never yet carried off the singles championship. She will be opnosed by Miss MacFarlane. who yesterday secured'a meritorious win over Miss Travers, an ex-champion. Miss Travers has not had much first-class practice during the war years, but Miss MacFarlane's win was nevertheless a .good one. Both Mrs. Hod<:e=! r.nd Mi=.s JfacFarlape belong to the Remuora Club, where the former is frst lady player and the latter fifth. In the present tournament, however. both have won their matches upi to the present stage decisively, and it is hard to say on the form shown how the finnl will go. It is safe to say, however, tlint Miss MacFayline is the most improved lady player competing in _ this year's championships, and it will take ; champion to beat lie on her present form. In the doubles slie is playing nitli Mrs. Hodges, and will probably meet Jlrs. Marchbanks and Mrs. Peacock, of Wellington, in the final, ill whicl\ ease the Auckland ladies' will probably win. The ladies' doubles has not produced a strong field, which is probably one. of the after-effects of the war, our women-folk as a rule having little heart for serious tennis during the war period, .

The introduction of boys' and girls' championships hns been a good move, but the management of tho association :has been guilty of one serious oversight in this connection. The young players who enter for these'competitions should play their matches under the best possiblo guidance, and to ensure this experienced players should in all cases have been appointed to umpire the games. As it was, the players in most cases seem to have had to find their own umpires, and in some instances rather juvenile selections were made. This is bad business, not so much on account of the possibilities of error as because' of the opportunity missed of imparting to the voung players a clear idea of matchplajAng conditions. Thero should be no looseness in championship games, and it would 'be a good thing in future contests to endeavour to ensure that in these championships for boys and girls seasoned umpires are provided. The umpiring throughout the tournament has been rather lax. Tt has been a rare tiling to hear a foot-fault called, yet foot-faulting lias been in' liinnj s^ instances the rule rather than the exception. Ono plnver yesterday hardly delivered a service without foot-faulting—it was a .subject, for comment amongst players who sat near me—but apparently the umpire did not notice it. It would be ungenerous to disparage tho work of those win give up their timo to tho trying, and at times wearisome, task of umpiring, but in championship contests all tho rules of tho gamo should bo enforced.

FINAL MATCHES TO-DAY. PARTICULARS OF THE DRAW. !) a.m.—Semi-finals Men's Singles: P. 9. Wilding v. C. A. Gnff, on No. 1 court. Semi-finals Ladies' Doubles: Mrs. S. C. Hodges and Miss M. M'Parlane v. Mesdames W. J. Melody and 11. Parkinson, on. No. 2 court. 10.30 a.m.—Semi-finals Men's Singles: Dr. J- T. Laurenson v. L. Robson, on No. 2 court. Final Girls' Singles: Gwendolines Calver v. Aiita Howe. on No. 3 court. 11.30 a.m.—Finals Men's Doubles: P. E. Allison and A. S. Gray v. G. Ollivier nnd F. S. Wilding, on No. 1 court. 12 nonn.—Finals Ladies' Singles: Miss jr. M'Farlane v. Mrs. S. C. Hodges, on No 2 court. 2.15 p.m.—F S. Wilding or C. A. Cuff v. G. Ollivier, on No. 2 court. 2 p.m.—Finals Boys' Singles: R. R. T. Young v. G. N. T. Goldie, on No." 1 court. , 3 p.m.—Finals Ladies' Doubles: Mrs. Hedges and Miss M'FaTlane or Mesdatnc.s Melody and Parkinson v. Mes(iames J. Marehbanks and J. C. Peacock, on No. 1 court. 4.30 p.m.—Finals Men's Singles: Lauren son or Robson v. Wilding or Cuff or Ollivwr. <v \t the conclusion of this match the championship medals, cups, and tropliies will be presented to the winners by Mrs. II M. Oor«, wife of the president of the N.Z.L.T.A Court.'; Ifos. f, 5 anrl 0 will be available tlirous[hcut the day for the commencemeut of the Wellington provincial tournament.

PROVINCIAL TOURNEY PLATERS AND TIMES FOR TO-DAY. The list of players, tlio draws in which they are engaged, and the times at which the matches will be played to-day, are as under:— 9 a.n'u—Mrs Iv. Groves, and Groves v. Miss I. Mantell and 31/ Angus; Miss M'lnnes and lfowden v. Miss Plimmcr and Briitiran; Mis? Naughton and Lees v. Miss Wells and Pownall; Miss Hughes and Swainson v. Miss Clark and Clark; Miss N. Mantell and Walker r. Miss Newman and L. France; Miss,S. Clark and Govder v. Miss Marehbanks and Clavton. 10.30 a.m.—Miss Harden and Lampe v. Mrs. Donxlas and Denson; Staintou Bros, v Amis and Pritchard; Mitchell and Marks v. Howie and M. Smith; Powdrell and Swainson v. Melody and Lees; Park Bros. v.'R. Clark and Angus; Swanston and Peacock v. Seymour and Heans. 12' noon.—Miases. Walker and Curtis v. Misse.s Mantell and Ward; Mifes Hughes and Mrs. Booth v. Misses Newman and Whitwel!: Misses Gore and I. Mantell v. Misses Gambrill and Plinuner; J.. N. Stainton v. H. L. • Mitchell; G France v, Bringans; S. Powdrell v. H. Tones. 2 p.m.—D. Seymoiir v. Gay lor; K. C. Clavton v. A. Brown; C. E. Howden v. Edmondsoi: Peacock v Pritehnrd; Riley v. Lees: Smith (Wairoa) v. F. W. Marks. 3.30 p.m.—Mrs. Booth v. Miss Wells; Miss Svbil Clark v. Miss ,N. Mantell; Mrs. K. Groves v. Miss E. G. Plimmer; Miss Snow Clark v. Miss 31. Ward; Miss Hushes v Miss Cnrriek; Miss Irene Sievwricht v. Miss Warren; and F. W. Marks v. Pritchard. 5 ii.ni.—A. D. Carson and G. E. Short v. ,T. Powdrell and J. Anderson; Iv. C. Clavton and R. R. Martin v. Eades and Nees: II .T. H. Gilmer and P. Hall v. Groves and Groves; Eric Reeves and Walker v. Swainson and r«\vdrell; D. S. Smith and Harper v. Smitli (Wairoa) and M'Leiinan; Miss Miirchbanks and Clavton v. Miss Williams and Eades. Junior competitors will play on Friday, January i.