LAWN TENNIS

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 80, 28 December 1921, Page 5

LAWN TENNIS

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIPS \ TOURNAMENT OPENING DAY’S PLAY By Telecranh—Press Association. Christchurch, December 27. The Now Zealand lawn tennis championships commenced' to-day on the United Club’s grass courts at Hagley (Park, which were never in better condition. A start was made with practically all the. events at 9.30 this morning, this being done in order, to enable competitors with a chance in the finals to spread their matches evenly over the four days of the tournament. The weather was almost perfect—there was very little sun, and. the air was cooled by a slight easterly oross-courts breeze. Results are a« under :— MEN'S SINGLES. Best of five sets, advantage sets; present champion, W. T. Tilden (U.S.A.). ! First Round.—A. B. Loughnan (Canterbury) beat A. D. Tench (Canterbury)' fi—4. d—G, B—G. 5—7. 6—5. J. D. Denniston (Canterbury) beat W. G. George (Canterbury), G —l, G —4, 6—2. 15. Bartlett (Auckland) beat H. De D. Holthouse (Wellington), 6-0, 6-0, 6-0. S. P. Wheeler (Otago) beat DI. W. Earle (Wellington), 6—2, 6—2, 6—2. A. F. Harrop (Canterbury) beat L. Porter (Wellington), 6—l, 6—o, 6—o. G. A. Dawson (Canterbury) beat C. F. Jones (Wellington), 6—l, 6—3, 6-0. J. A. Seay (Canterbury) beat L. J. Edmondson (Wellington), 8— 6—4, 3—6, 6—l. K. H. Hounsell (Canterbury) won from A. E. Park (Wellington) by default. E. D. Andrews (Palmerston North) beat F. B. Hale (Canterbury), 7-5, 7-5, 11-9. J. C. Peacock (Wellington) beat P. White-Par-sons (Waikato), 6—B, 5 —7, 7—5, 6—4, 6—2. M. L. Lampe (Wanganui) beat R. Browning (Canterbury), 6—2, G—l, 6—4. I*. O. Greenwood (Canterbury) beat L. France (Wellington), 6 —3, 6—l. 6—o. W. Goss (Canterbury) beat F. W. Martin . (Wellington), 6—o, 6—l, 6—l. F<. Salmond (Wellington) won by default from S. W. Field (Canterbury). Dr. J. T. Laurenson (Waikato) beat B. B. Loughnan (Canterbury), 6—2, 6—3, 6—4. S. D. Denton (Canterbury) beat Y. H. Robinson (Canterbury), 6—2, 6 —3, 6 —2. T. W. Patterson (Canterbury) beat J. H. W. Sheppard (Canterbury), 6 —3, 6 —4, 6—3. K. Clark (Canterbury) beat A. J. Park (Wellington), 6-2. 6-2, 6-0. R. H. Milburn (Hawke’s Bay) beat L. J. Berry (Wellington), 6 —2, 6- —4, fl —4. L. Bennington (Sydney) beat W. J. Melody (Wellington), 6—l, 6—O, 7—5. G. Ollivier (Canterbury) beat Bray (Otago), 6 —l, 6—o, 6—3. R. B. Hardy (Hawke's Bay) won from R. J. Hobbs (Auckland) by default. T. R. Quill (Canterbury) beat W. G. Morrison (Canterbury) 6—o, 6—l, 6—l. S. G. Aitken (Canterbury) beat A. W. 'Sims (Waikato). 2—6. o—6. 6—3, 6—2. 6—3. L. B. Cottrill (Canterbury) beat R. H. Denton (Canterbury), 6-4, 7—5, 5- 7-5. Second Round.—Hardy beat Hounsell, 6— 6—2, 6—2. Laurenson beat Goss, 6—2, 6—3, 6—3. Clark boat Milburn, 6—1.'6—4. 6—. Denton beat K. G. Walker (Hawke’s Bay), 6—3. 6—3, 2—6, 6 —3. «, MEN’S DOUBLES. Best of five sets; present champions. W. ' T. Tilden and W. M. Johnston. U.S.A. First. Round.—A. W. Sims (Waikato) nnd E. W. Griffiths (Auckland) beat L. 1 J. Taylor and T. R. Quill (Canterbury), 6—3, 6— 1,, G—l. L. J. Berry and D. W. Earle (Wellington) beat G. G. Aitken and F. S. Wilding (Canterbury), by default. W. Goss and P. G. Greenwood (Canterbury) beat A. E. Park (Wellington) and M. L. Lampe (Wanganui), by default. W. Bray (Otago) and K. Clark (Canterbury) beat W. W. J. Melody and E. J. Adams (Wellington), 7—5. 6—2, 3— H. L. Robson and E. L. Bartlett (Auckland) bent L. Bennington (N.S.W.) and K. W. Walker (Hawke's Bay), 7—5, 6 —l, 12—10. L. and D. G. France (Wellington) beat C. J. Dickie and A. G. Wallace (Taranaki), 6-3, 8-7, 3-6, 6-4. J. Sheppard and I. A. Seay (Canterbury) bent E. B. Smyth (Otago) and A. J. HarTop (Canterbury), 6—2, 6—6. 6—4. J. C. Peacock and E. Salmond (Wellington) beat K. H. Hounsell and W. R. Robinson (Canterbury), 6—2, 6 —3, 6—3. C. W. Collins and L. W. Patterson (Canterbury) beat L. D. Cottrell and P. M. Baines (Canterbury), 6—2, 3—6, 6—4, 4— 7—5. B' B. Loughnan and G. H. Halford (Canterbury) beat A. J. Park and L. J. Edmondson (Wellington), 6—2, 9- 9-7. COMBINED DOUBLES. Best of three sets, advantage seis; present .champions, MJiss N. E. Curtis and Dr. P. H. Allison (Wellington). First Round. —Miss N. Curtis (Wellington) and G. Ollivier (Canterbury) beat Miss E. H. Reeves (Canterbury) and W. G. Gerard (Canterbury), 6—o, 6—l. Second Round.—Mrs. M. Scotl Watson and E. W. Griffiths (Auckland) won from Miss D. Diamond and H. Ford (Canterbury) by default. Miss Marjorie McFarlane and H. L. Robson (Auckland) beat Miss G. Goodman and L. J. Taylor (Canterbury), C —4, 6—2. Mrs. Bannerman and W. Pearse (South Canterbury) won from Miss Taylor and W. Y. Purchase bury) by default. Miss Marjorie McFarton (Auckland) and E. Salmond Wellington) heat Alias M. I. Craig (Hawke’s Bay) and H. L. Houlthes (Wellington), 6—2, 16—8. Miss E. Donnan and R. Browning (Canterbury) beat Miss J. Wales and E. D. Goldsmith (Canterbury), 6—2. 3—6, 6—3. Miss D. Anderson and Y. H. Robinson (Canterbury) beat Mi’s B. Fisher and L. A. Ldnguet (Auckland), 6—4, 4—6. 6—3. Miss Marion McFarlane and T. Clark (Auckland) beat Miss Mnrsh and L. Porter (Wellington), 6 —l, 6 —l. Third Round.—Miss Curtis and Ollivier beat Mrs. Bannerman and Pearse, 6-2, 6—3. 1 LADIES’ SINGLES. Best of three sets; present champion, Miss N. E. Curtis (Wellington). First Round. —Miss Marion McFarlane (Auckland) beat Miss B. Fisher (Auckland), 6—2, 6—4. Mrs. J. C. Lord (Canterbury) beat Miss E. W. J. Fenton (Wellington), 6—l. 6 —2. Miss A. Orinond (Hawke’s Bay)! beat Miss K. AT. Todd (Otago), 6-0, 6-0. Miss M. H. Bain (Canterbury) beat Miss B. Cotterill (Canterbury), 6—2, 3—6, 6 —4. Airs. AL S. Watson (Auckland) beat Airs. W. -J. Melody (Wellington), 6-4, 3-6, 6-2. Second Round. —Miss G. Hay (Canterbury) beat Airs. T. S. Weston (Wellington, 3—6, 6—2, 6—4. Miss N. E. Curtis (Wellington) beat Afrs. C, J. Marshall (Auckland), 6—4, 6—3.

LADIES’ DOUBLES. Best Of three sets; advantage sets; present champion, Mrs. S. C. Hodges (Auckland) and Miss McFarlane (Auckland). First Hound. —Mrs. A. Ormond and Miss D. Fenwick (Hawke’s Bay), beat Mrs. 'Scott Watson and Miss M. Payton (Auckland). 6—4, 3—6, 6 —3. Second Round'. —Miss E. Dorman and Miss J. Wales (Canterbury) beat Miss A. Howe and Miss Marsh (Wellington), 7—G, 9—7. Mrs. W. .1. Melody and Miss N. Curtis (Wellington) beat Miss R. Whitwell and Miss L. Newman (Wellington), . 6—2, 6-0. Misa M. 11. Bain and Miss Y. Ferrier (Canterbury) beat Mrs. Bannerman and Miss I. H. Green (South Canterbury), 6—l. Mrs. M. Sheldon and Miss R. A. Bloxham (Canterbury) beat Misses H. K. Tavlor and Marion MacFarlane (Auckland), 1-6 6-0, 6—3. Mrs. C. J. Marshall and Miss Marjorie MacFarlane (Auckland) beat Mrs. Lord and Miss E. Goodman (Canterbury), 6—o. 6 —4. Misses M. I. Craig and M. Laing (Hawke’s Bay) boat Misses E. M. and) W. M. Partridge (Canterbury), 6 —3, 6 —4. GIRLS’ SINGLES. Best of three sets. Present champion. Miss Arita Howe (Wellington).

First Round.—Miss W. M. Partridge ICanterbury) beat Alias M. Nixon (Canterbury), 6 —l, 6—o. Miss A. Howe (Wellington) beat Miss S. Todd (Dunedin), 6-0, G—2, Miss E. H. Reeves (Canterbury) beat Aliss D. Quill (Canterbury), 6—4, 6—4. Aliss L. Nichols (Otago) beat Miss AV. Wilson (Wellington), 6 —l, 6-2. Miss G. Wellctt (Canterbury) beat Miss Al. East (Wellington), 6—4, 6—4. Miss M. A. East (Wellington) beat Aliss H. I. Dorman (Canterbury). 6—3, 6—3. BOYS’ JUNIOR SINGLES. Best of three sets. Present champion, I. Seay (Canterbury). First Round. —AV. R. Robinson (Canterbury) beat F. J. L. AVellett (Canterbury), G—o, G—2. D. Al. Richardson (Canterbury) beat S. A. Cooper (Canterbury), 2— 6—3, 6—.3. V. H. Thwaites (Wellington) ,bcat C. R. Ogier (Canterbury), 6—4, I—6, B—6. D. Barker (Timaru) beat D. F. Laurenson (Canterbury), 5—6, 6—l, 6—3. P. B. Lusk (Auckland) beat A. Al. Hatch (Canterbury), 3—6, 6—2, 6—2. E. D. Andrews (Palmerston North) beat W. D. Sabiston (Kaikoura), 6—o, 6—o. J. A. F. Watson (Auckland) beat R. J. D. Sharoe (Canterbury). 6—2, 5—6. 6—3. Second Round.-H. Nixon (Canterbury) boat H. Spicer (Canterbury), 6—o. 6—2. R. H. Tait (Canterbury) beat H. AV. Ogier (Canterbury), 6—5, 6—l. COMMENTS ON THE PLAY OLLIVIER IN GREAT FORM GOOD PLAY IN LADIES’ GAMES. Singles Championship. A good deal of interest centred in the match between Dr. Laurenson, Auckland champion, and B. B. Loughnan, a promising Christchurch player. Laurenson won a love game off his service, but the scores were 2 all. Laurenson then ran. out a winner. He repeated the performance (6—3, 6—4) in the next two sets, being much too steady for Loughnan, who was erratic »nd experimental. Both men were sound on the back hand, but Loughnan missed a lot overhead, and could not kill anything. It was largely a base line game, in which Laurenson made more excursions to the net. AV. Goss had! an easy win against F. W. Martin, the winner’s experience being far too much for his opponent. Ollivier (Chrstchurch) and Bray (the Otago champion) had a very big gallery at the centre court, and the result was a brilliant exhibition by Ollivier, who won as he liked. In the first set he ran to s—o, but then threw nway a game off his own service, only to win off Bray’s service with the loss of only one ace. In the fifth game Bray was warmly applauded for a brilliant crosscourt recovery of a well-placed volley. A five-set match that aroused the keenest interest was played between Sims (Waikato) and Aitken (Canterbury). Sims, playing brilliantly, with wonderful stroke eonipment. ran away with the first two sets, in which ho only lort two games. Sims was then confidently exnectedl to win. with a prosnect of going into the final with Ollivier, but the Ganterbnrv player settled down to a. dogged, stern chase, and placing and lobbing accurately, ho won the next two 6—3, 6—2. Tn the last set Sims rushed the ret, and took th» firat game, but Aitken forced him hack with lobs nnd went in himself. Sims evened at f-h™> pl], but lost the seventh yn’-”’ with -a final double fault, and the e’ghth by driving the service out. Aitken stuck 1 .to it dnooedlv. refusing to give in. although obvionrtv in a worse condition f.h.an Sims, and by clovcV headwork and placement, ran out winder in probably the hardest match in Ws experience. Peacock (Wn’tingtonl lost th" two c eto against White Persons (Waikato), hut wore him down, and won a gruelling five-set match. Championchip Doubles. Sims and Griffiths, the Waikato combination, .showed that they would be close up in the final of the doubles, as they teamed extraordinarily well and ran out easy winners against Quill and L. J. Taylor, 6-3, 6—l, 6-1. Quill won his service, but Sims evened. Taylor lost his service owing to gcod net play by Sims. Griffiths won his service and led, 3— and Quill then lost his service after advantage, a tricky drop shot by Griffiths deciding the game. Taylor won off Sims’s service after deuce had been called 1 three times. The local men rallied, but never looked like winners in the next two sets. The second, fourth, and seventh games went to advantage. Griffiths lost his service in the third, but both he and Sims were serving remarkably well. The third set was not such a runaway as tlie score indicates. The visitors 1 played the hard driving game and showed good court generalship. Combined Championship Doubles,

In the. combined cihampionship doubles the first match between Ollivier and Miss N. Curtis and Gerard and Miss Reeves was a trial run for the two champions, and the score, 6—o, 6—l, speaks for itself. The younger players made a plucky fight of it, and there wore some very good rallies. Miss Reeves, who is only seventeen, had a very good service, which she used with advantage frequently against Miss Curtis. Gerard also had a fast first service, but he could not get it in very often. On one occasion he cleaned bowled Ollivier, who did not move for the ball. Robson and Miss Marjorie MacFarlane (Auckland) had no difficulty in beating Taylor and Miss Goodman (Canterbury), G—4, 6—2. The Canterbury pair made no bid for the' net position, except for occasional excursions by Taylor. Nevertheless the driving and placement of both ladies was admirable, and Miss Goodman showed good judgment in evading Robson at the net. Ladies’ Singles Championship.

The contest between Mrs. Scott Watson (Auckland), and Mrs. Melody (Wellington) was very stubborn.

The match between Miss N. E. Curtis (Wellington) and Mrs. C. J. Marshall (Auckland) was watched by a. large gallery of spectators. Miss Curtis was not playing at the top of her form, and Mrs. Marshall frequently beat her with good back-hand drives and an occasional well-placed volley. Miss Curtis improved in the second set, and some first-class play was witnessed. The game lietween Miss D. Fenwick (Hawke’s Bay) and Miss Pay ton (Auckland) was unfinished owing to the failing light. The score was one set all, Miss Fenwick winning the first set, 13 — 11, and Miss Payton taking the second, 6—3. The game was a splendid exhibition of ladies’ singles. Both players drove hard and well, and on occasions came to tho net with good effect. Play throughout wlls of a high standard. Ladies’ Doubles Championship.

Hawke's .Bay beat Auckland when Misses Qmiond and Fenwick beat Mrs. Scott Watson and Miss Payton. It was a hard-hitting game of the kind not seen lately in Christchurch, and it looked as if notlhiug could have beaten either pair. Miss Ormond was the outstanding player of the four, but there' were good rallies and a little net play. Misses Dorman and Wales (Canterbury) beat Miss Arita Howe (Wellington) and Miss Marsh (Levin), 9 —7, B—6. The northerners were playing together for the first time and their team work was not too good. Miss Marsh would have done better by coming in oftener. Miss Howe, who is junior champion, showed great form, and put in a couple of telling smashes. The Canterbury win was quite unexpected.