LAWN TENNIS

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 153, 24 March 1920, Page 8

LAWN TENNIS

ENGLISHMEN IN DUNEDIN

FINE EXHIBITION IN DOUBLES

By Telegraph—Press Association

Dunedin, March 23. A lawn tennis match played on a specinl court at Carisbrook to-day between Beamish and Lowe and an Otago team, supplemented bv Ollivier (New Zealand champion),, provided one of the finest exhibitions of -the game ever seen locally The weather was fine overhead, but a ■• cold south-west wind made matters decidedly unpleasant for tho large attendance of spectators, and in the early part of the afternoon had a disconcerting effect upon the piny. Lowe, on account of an injury received in Christchurch, only n'.aved in tho doubles, Beamish playing in both singles. Results are as follow:— v - Singles. .Ollivier benb Bsnniish. G-3, C—l. ' Beamish beat A.'S. Gray, 4-G, G-3, fi—l. - . Doubles, Beamish and Lowe beat Ollivier arid S. r N. Brown. I—G, 7—5, G—3. G-3. .The match, between Ollivier nnd Beamish was closely contested, but the former always held tho upper hand in stoadin m s nf 1 d V mllK ' l,nd "«uracy of placing; although his ground strokes lacked something of Beamish's pace. In tho, first set Beamish led 3-0, but Ollivier W tlis next three games in succession. In the sixth game Beamish served well, and won Train 40-30, but Ollivier followed by winning his own service and" taking the ibikl 4-3 Jn the eighth game Beamish went to the net, but Ollivier passed him ■with beautiful side-lino shots, and won trom 40—30. Ollivier won his service, and took the set at G-3. The opening came of tho second set started in a similar fashion. Beamish winning the first two games. Ollivier evened, but Beamish inndi; the score 3-2 in his favour, the only deuce game of the match followed, it being won by Ollivier, who also rook tho next two, and led 5-3. Beamish won (ho ninth game, but Ollivier captured the next, and the match off his own service.

Beamish did not appear to bo fully extended in. the singles game with Gray, a young player fujl of.promise, but lacking experience,- in big tennis. A't one stapo of -the first set tho Englishman led 4—l. but Gray won the next five games and the set. ■ The second set was marked bv goqd driving by both players; neither going to the net.-SThe second set went 8 nil. but thereafter Gray did not win a earne,. Tho third set was won rather easily by Beamish, although Gray brat him several times with fine passu.';; shots.

The doubles game really provided the treat.of tho afternoon.j ' The hopes of local, enthusiasts ran high when Ollivier and Brown took the first set 6—l. Lowe's leg npponred to be giving him trouble, both in reaching the net and in going back for lobs. Tho second set provided a.sterHng exhibition, Ollivier driving and volleying" beautifully while Brown beat tho Emrlishmen time and again at the' net. . Every gamo was keenly fought, and the score went 5 all. when tho visitors won the last two games with' the loss of onlv one stroke in each. In tho next set Beamish and Lowo led 3—l, 4—l. and 5—2, at which point,a game to each side ended tho set.\ Tho last set was evenly contested, but Lowe's driving showed an improvement, and Benmish making few mistakes, tho score was called at 3-2. 4-2, '1-3. and finally 6-3. Tho visitors leave Dunedin for the north bv the first express to-morrow.

MATCHES IN WELLINGTON,

Tho English lawn tennis Messrs. A. E. Beamish and A % H. Lowe, who, with Kingscote competed against Australasia in the recent Davis Cup matches in Sydney, and who are now touring the Dominion, will meet tho New Zealand champion singles and doubles player G. Ollivier, of Christchmch, 'and the ex-champion singles and doubles player, J.' C. Peacock, on "Friday and Saturday next. Tho matches are timed to take place at 2 p.m. on Friday, and 1.30 p-m. on .Saturday. A special court has been prepared at the Thorndon Ten-, nis Club's courts, Halswell Street, off Murphy Street, and arrangements havo been mads for a large attendance of tho public The attention'of our readers is directed to a notice detailing tho arrangements made /

. VENUE OF DAVIS CUP MATCH. Sydney, March 23. The Lawn Tennis Association has decided to decline the invitation of South Africa to send an Australasian team to South Africa, .but will consider sending one next year. A motion that negotiations should be commenced with New Zealand with a view to changing tho venue of the forthcoming Dnvis Cup Match to Melbourno lapsed, as the mover was absent.—Pross Assn.