TENNIS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4954, 22 March 1926, Page 3

TENNIS.

THE AUCKLAND MATCH.

INSTRUCTIVE EXHIBITION. Tennis on the Hauraki Plains received the biggest boost of its, existence at the Ngatea courts on Saturday, when a match was played against an Auckland team containing gome of the foremost exponents of the game ir. the province. The match was arranged by the Ha,uraki Plains’ Tennis Association for the purpose ofgiving ( its players experience, and also of giving them a basis for comparison of 'their own merits!, and in this; it proved successful, ph account; of the counter-attraction at Thames 1 the attendance was not as large as wag expected, there being only about 200 people present.

The weather conditions .were ideal, there being no wind and very little bright sunlight. The matches passed off smoothly and quickly, and though the Plains team only .secured three wins thej’ were by no means disgraced. The Auckland players were very surprised at the high standard qf the play of the local team, and stated that it .was much better than had -.been anticipated. The visitors did not strive to win matches, so much as to point out and demonstrate the weaknesses of the local; players. A word of a,dvice was frequently given and accepted in the spirit; intended, and although at times it may have appeared that the Aucklanders were deliberately taking advantage of their opponents'’ weaknesses, this was done for the benefit of the country players, as, demonstration is better than advice.

The outstanding match was that between E. W. Griffiths, df Auckland, and G. L. Griffiths, of Waitakaruru, which resulted in a .Win for the local man. Jt was a splendid exhibition of firgixclass tennis, for the Plains champion excelled himself, but the Auckland champion had nothing to be ashamed of, and admitted that he was fairly and squarely beaten.' The first 'game went to deuce and fell to the Aucklander. The Waitakaruru player then won three games oh end, two of them going to deuce, and after losing a game he wop two more. A game to the Aucklander, followed by one to G. L,. Griffiths, gave the latter the first set. The second set opened with the visitor winning four games running, .losing .two, and winning the next two and the set. The Plains man then retaliated by winning the first five games in the third set, only letting his- opponent reach 15 in 'each game. Three love games," then . fell to the Auckland champion, and then on in which G. L. Griffiths secured two strokes,. Another game to the local man in which his opponent secured two strokes gave him' the set and the. match, but as the players did not notice .the score, they continued playing and G. L. Griffiths secured another love game. The result was 'a surprise to everyone, ag the Waitakaruru player has lately appeared to be losing interest in the game and underrating his ability. Although the Auckland champion is a seasoned and heady player G. L>. Griffiths was able to work' through to his weakness,’ which is his backhand. Backhand work is G. L. Griffiths’ strong point, and wa.s a revelation to the Aucklanders. who predicted that if he was as good with other strokes he would go far in big tennis.

The second men’s singles looked like a runaway ’at the start, asi the style of N. Sturt, who, by the . way, holds no mean . plade in Auckland tennis,, was altogether 'foreign to W. E. Murphy, and the first three games went to him. The Aucklander has a. handsome style, and hits harder and truer than players on the Plains are used to; ihus it was some time before Murphy learned his proper! "position’. He then won two long deuce games, lost one, and then won his third. After four deuces the visitor won the final game. In the second set Sturt won the first four games- and then lost four. A win fc- the visitor and then two wins to Murphy gave the latter the set. Murphy ,won the first game in the third set' and then A lost four. Game and game followed until the Aucklander had his sixth, and with it the set and the match. All of Start’s balls were fast, and he was’able to return most of the very difficult sihots.’ He made liis winning points off the easier balls', for witjh his control and accuracy he was able to get his opponent out of. position.

The third men's singles resulted . in EL. Ohlson securing twelve games to F. C. Robinson’sj three in two long sets. Eight of the I's games went to deuce. Robinson plays, a continual defensive game and sacrifices, for safety good chances to attack. The 'fourth men’s singles, J. Moir v. ‘S. Coppins,, was an even match, resulting in the visitor winning two* sets by a margin of two_ games-in each.’ In the first set Moir won-the first three games, of which two went to deuce. Coppints- won the next two, one of which was a-love game. The wina alternated from then on, till the end of the set, and in each case the loser’s s,core was 30. Throughout the second set the margin of strokes was never great. R. Gardiner, Auckland’s fifth man, beat A. Otter in a love set, getting just twice aS' many strokes. The finst two games in the second set, he also won fairly easily, and then Otter won the second “van” in three games, and also a love game. However, he fail</d to maintain this, and the next four games went to Gardiner, who thus, won the set and the match. Gardiner is, a hard hitter and a good tactician, and the match should prove instructive to Plains’ players.

The top Ladies’ singles was evenly contested, Miss Wilson beating Miss Duffy by one game in each set. Aside from the eight deuce games in the 22, .the loser’s score was never very high. Miss' Duffy put up a very creditable fight against a stylish player who varied her’ tactics.

The next ladies’ match, that between Miss Napier and Mrs Clotworthy, was somewhat similar, and 10 of the last 13 games Xvent to deuce. Mrs ClotwOTthy proved a great fighter, and when she became

used to her opponent’s style made a marathon of the game. Like alb the Plains lady playens; with .the exception of Mrs Bird, Mrs Clotworthy was caught with anything short. Griffiths noticed this in a later match, pointed it out, and, being of opinion that the failures, were due to a preconceived notion that, the shots were too difficult, and, in consequence, the Plains ladies did not attempt them, sent as many balls as possible jus,t over the net, so .that in their attempts they would learn that the shots, were not hard. The match between Miss, Robertson and Mrs Bird is deserving of special mention. It was characterised by its evenness, and by the number of long rallies. At no time wasi one player more than three games ahead of the other. Mrs Bird won four love games’ and her opponent one. In a one-set match Miss Robertson went down to Mrsi O’Loughl.in by one game.

In the first men's doubles Griffiths, and Sturt beat Griffiths and Murphy, of Plains, in the first game, and in every game' from the fourth to the end of the set. One game went to deuce, Auckland won one love game, and in the others the losers scored 15 or 3.0'. Plains opened .the siecond set by winning two games, the score of the visitors being 30 in each case. Six games then went to the Aucklanders, including two love games a,nd three deuce games.

There is little doubt that .this Was the match .that Mr E. W. Griffiths had in mind during the evening when he spoke, at the invitation of the association, of the lack of unison among partnens in doubles matches. , With a partner working in unison Griffiths would be a dangerous, opponent. The match, followed a,si it was by the explanation, should bo of benefit/to those Plains players who will profit by being told of the fine points. It was also an exhibition df the value and method of volleying, the stroke which wins sb many points when it has been mastered by practice.

In the next match', in which Ohlson and Moir had an eatsy win from Robinson a,nd Coppins by securing 27 strokes to 11 in a love, set, was also an example of the lack? l of knowledge on the part of the Plains playersl to meet fast balls, and also .the lack of unisqn among partners. The local men profited by their experience and the second set went to 65 ; . f (Ohlson and Gardiner beat Robinson and Molesworth 6 —3, 6 —l in the next match, securing 39 strokes to 17 in the first set and 27 to 14 in the second. These two Plains players were not matched, and had never played together before. The ladies,’ doubles, Misses Wilson and Napier v. Mis®- Duffy ' and . Mrs Clotworthy, was a. long, ha,rd-fought match, resulting in the visitors winning by 6 —2, 6- —5. Eight of the games went to deuce, and most these were very long. Auckland won two love games, and Plains one, but otherwise, throughout the match,, the losers,’ score was only once below 30. The scores in the second set really indicate the merits’ of .the players in this ’ match. ’ There wasi much lobbing, and in this the Plains, ladies were able to hold' their own. ’The Aucklanders won by angling short shots, which found the Plains, ladies too far back.

The combined doubles match, Griffiths and Miss Wilson v. Murphy and Mrs Clotworthy, which resulted in a win for the former by 6 —2, 6—2,. was the match in which short shots to Mrs, Clotworthy for her benefit. •

Three deuce games opened the next combined doubles —Ohlson and Miss Wilson v. Robinson and Mrs O’Loughlin —the first going to Auckland and the next two to Plains). The visitors then won two gajries, the- Plains, iseore being 15. A win to the home com-: bination and then three wins in succession to the visitors, including one love game, gave the latter the set. There were five love games in the second set, Auckland securing three and Plains two. Small sjeoring characterised the other games, of which Plains won one and Auckland three.

The Plains playens- MOlesworth a,nd Mrs Bird gave a good exhibition against Gardiner and Miss Robertson in another combined doubles, which went to three sets. Plains won the firsit 6—2, and lost the next two, 6—4 and 6—3. Plains, fought for everything, and found that they could get away with lobbing the best. Lobbing is a valuable • stroke, and should be used more often than it is.

Three sets were also necessary to decide the winners of the combined doubles Moir and Misjs Napier v. Otter and Miss Duffy, as Plains won the first, 6 —5. The visitors won the next set by 6—o and the. deciding set by 6—3. The Plains combination secured 36 strokes to 38 in the first set, 12 to 25 in the siecond, and 19 to 30 in the final.

Fqllowing are the details! of the scores, the names of. the Auckland players, being mentioned first: — Men’s Singles.—E. ,W- Griffiths lost to G. L. Griffiths, 4t—6, 6—2, 3—6 ;N. Sturt beat W. E. Murphy, 6— 31, s'—6, 6—3 ; E, Ohlson beat F. G. Robinson, 6—2, 6 —l ;J. Moir beat S. Coppins, 6 —4, 6 —4 ; R. Gardiner beat A. Otter, 6—4, 6—o.

Ladies’ Singles.—Miss Wils|cm beat Miss Duffy, 6 —5; 6 —5 ; Miss, Napier beat Mrs Clotworthy,- 6—4, 6—5 ; Miss Robertson lost to Mrs Bird, 4—6, 6—5, 4—6; Miss Robertson lost to Mrs O’Loughlin, 5 —6. Men’s Doubles. —Griffiths and Sturt beat Griffiths and Murphy, 6 —2, 6 —2 ; Ohlson and Moir beat Robinson and Coppins, 6—o, 6 —5 ; Ohta'on and Gardiner beat Robinson a,nd Molesworth, 6—3; 6--1. ’ Ladies’ Doubles.—Misses! Wilson and Napier beat Miss Duffy and Mrs Clotjworthy, 6—2, 6 —5. Combined Doubles. —Griffiths and Miss, Wilson beat Murphy and Mrs Clotworthy, 6 —2, 6—2 ; Ohljs'on and Miss Wilson beat Robinson and Mrs ©’Loughlin, 6 —3, 6—3 ; Gardiner and Miss Robertson beat Molesworth and Mrs Bird, 2—6, 6 —4, 6—3. Moir a.nd Miss Napier beat Otter and Miss Duffy, 5—6, 6—o, 6—3.

Exhibition M-^tch. —E. W, Griffiths beat N. Sturt, 6 —o, 2—6.

NETHERTON DEFEATS PAEROA.

An enjoyable afternoon wa3 spent on Saturday by .the members of the Paeroa Tennis- Club’s B team, who travelled to Netherton and played an inter-club match with the A team. After an exciting and close contest the home team won by the narrow margin of one set, the to.ta,! scores, being. 8 sets to 7, 73 games each. Following are the details, Netherton players being mentioned first: Mrs Matthews beat Miss I. Taylor, 6—3; Miss Matthews, lost to Miss Argali, 5—6;. Miss Halligan lost to Miss T. 3—6 ; Miss Sarjant beat Miss J. Buchanan, 6—o.' Men’s Singles,—B. Carter beat S. Hamilton, 7 —3 ; F. Johnson lost to JBigelow, 2—7 ;E. Potter lost to L. Masters, 4 —7 ; E. Williams beat 1. Peek, 7 —6 ;W. Richmond lost to A. brant. 4—7 ;R. Morrison lost ( to M. Poland, o—7. •

Men’s Doubles.—B. .Carter and Johnson beat Hamilton and Bigelow, 7 —4 ; Potter and Williams, beat Masters b.nd Peek, 7—4 ; Richmond and Morrison lost to Grant and Poland, 3 —7. Ladies’ Doubles. —Mrs and Miss Matthews beat Misses J. Taylor, and A. Argali, 6 —3 : Misses I. Halligan and Sarja.nt beat* - Misses I.’ Masteits and J. Buchanan. 6—3.