"INDIAN SIGN."

NZ Truth, Issue 1261, 30 January 1930, Page 13

"INDIAN SIGN."

Dulcie Puts It Over Mrs. Adams

(By "N.Z. Truth's" Special Tennis Writer). New Zealand championship prospects, as set out out In "N.Z. Truth," found further evidence to support them m the Wellington provincial championships, which closed last Saturday. IVAN SEAY made out the clearest . case fc entry to the semi-final .of the men's sing -es by the way In which he disposed of Len., France m three straight, 6-2, 6-4, 6-0. It was a commentary on the standard of the tourney, from which most of the cracks were absent, that France, less m form than he has ever been at this time of the year, was able to reach two finals and a semi-final and annex one of the championships — the men's doubles. Seay showed that once he settled down m the first set he was playing fully thirty better than France, who lost four games while gaining a handful of points. There was v a close, determined fight for a set and a-half, but after that it was a landslide to Seay. Always, m the pinches, he was hitting his way cleanly, to victory, and his games were studded with placements beautifully made from France's spun shots. In the wind the Wellington man was not happy, and Seay was thoroughly at home. France tried vainly to catch his opponent by varying pace and length, but his short ones Invariably .invited a .net raid against which he was usually powerless.

/Seay's well-geared forehand was worth the match to him, for' his angled drives kept France from concentrating on the Southron's back-hand, a fair, but by no means aggressive weapon.

Dulcie Nicholls presented the clearest brief for entry to the women's final and tenure of the championship singles by gaining her eighth successive victory over one of the country's top ten. • Incidentally, the win gave her another championship and the "Indian sign" over her opponent, Mrs. Adams, a past national champion m more than one event. . It was another case of the uncer: taint.y of tennis. Mrs. Adams, fresh from first-class victories against , Doris Howe and Marjorle Macfarlane, last year's champion, did not show her usual sting and will to win. Another slump came ' m the men's doubles finals, the T. S. Wiliiams-J. B. Parker pair caving before Len. FranceLampe m a bout of hard hitting. Up to that time, Parker, with practically no preliminary practice, had been deadly at the, net, and crowned his' work with a third set victory to love against Lampe m the singles. '• A. B. Sandrall played like the Australian he is m the mixed, which was notable' for the reappearance of Mrs,. Sturman, who, as Miss Nancy Curtis, was one of the greatest players the country ever saw. Trial matches for the New Zealand team against the All-Australian side are to follow the national tourney at Miramar at the end of this week. Christchurch Is expected to be the scene of the only test between! the visitors and the New Zealand team. Arriving m Auckland on February 18, the Australians will play m the north on 21st and 22nd and then come south. The date of arrival m Auckland has put one more spoke m the wheel of the Wellington L.T.A^ m its negotiations with Auckland for . a suitable Wilding Shield date, for February 21, probable date of the first day's play against Auckland, had been suggested by Windy town for the settlement of the Wilding Shield challenge lodged some time ago.

. Use Ayres' Championship Stitchless Tennis Balls. Their greater resilience puts less strain on the gut. Perfect In flight. Very durable. The choice of leading N.Z. players.*