In the Final Eight

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 238, 28 December 1927, Page 12

In the Final Eight

AUCKLAND’S THREE MEN

(championship Tennis

SECOND DAY AT CHRISTCHURCH AUCKLANDERS are still going strongly in the New Zealand tennis championships at Christchurch, Bartleet, Sturt and Laurenson being in the final eight of the singles. If Sturt can beat Ivan Seay (Christchurch) he is almost sure to meet Ollivier in the top semi-final. Bartleet is expected to contest the other with Laurenson. Miss Marjorie Macfarlane has gone into the third round of the singles fairly easily, but Miss Knight had a tussle to qualify, and Miss Ramsay went down badly to the exchampion, Miss May Speirs (Christchurch).

Press Association,

CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday. The New Zealand tennis championships were continued to-day in perfect weather, with a light easterly wind. The first round matches in the men's doubles were played in the morning and the third round of the men's singles and tho second round of the women’s singles in the afternoon. All contests were adjourned for an hour between 1 and 2 o’clock as a mark of respect to tho memory of Mr. R. D. Harman, for many years a prominent tennis official and ex-player. As a result of the third round matches the following eight players are left in the men’s singles championship: Bartleet, Sturt and Laurenson (Auckland), Ollivier and Seay (Canterbury), L. France and Malfroy (Wellington). In tho next round Ollivier plays D. France, Sturt plays Seay, Bartleet plays Malfroy, and L. France plays Laurenson. It is expected that Ollivier and Seay will meet n the semi-final in the top half and that Bartleet will meet Laurenson in the other semi-final. Malfroy is suffering from an injury to one arm and may scratch. Bartleet so far has not had a severe test, and it is hard to predict how he would fare against Laurenson. L. France, however, has to be reckoned with in this half. Laurenson is rapidly playing himself into form. His defeat of T. W. Patterson, the South Island champion, was impressive. NO SURPRISES IN WOMEN’S SINGLES There were no surprises in the second round of the women’s singles. In the next round Miss Speirs plays Miss Tracy, Miss Maofarlane plays Miss Pattison, Mrs. Adams (present champion) plays Mrs. Melody, and Miss Knight plays Miss Wake. On present form Misses Speirs, Macfarlane, Mrs. Adams and Miss Wake should enter the semi-final. The second round of the men’s doubles was interesting. France and France, Laurenson and Bartleet, Peacock and Wilson and Ollivier and Seay are all showing fine form. Excitement was tense when Laurenson and Bartleet played Wallace and Parker. The game lasted two and a-half hours. At five-all in the fourth set, Wallace nd Parker were advantage «n seven times, and secured the game only after a keen struggle, taking the set at 7—5. The last set went to ~he Auckland pair at 6 —4 in the fading light. OLLIVIER HARD PRESSED The third round of the men’s singles provided many good matches. A. B. Loughnan lost the first set to Ollivier, 6 —3, but improved remarkably in the second set. He beat Ollivier repeatedly with clean placements and crisp volleys. He led 4 —l and was 40 —30, but became over-eager and lost the game on errors. Again at 5—3 and 40—15 Loughnan tried to clinch matters. He lost accuracy and Ollivier eventually won the set at 7—5. It was his toughest fight to date. Bartleet took sets without trouble from Melody and then eased up. Melody led 4—l in the last set, but Bartleet won 7—5. Clean hitting and brilliant serving helped Malfroy to beat B. B. Loughnan in four Interesting sets. Loughnan made too many errors off easy balls in the first two sets, but he attacked with greater precision in the third, winning it G—4. Malfroy was again on top in the fourth. His exhibition was much admired. Dr. Laurenson was even steadier than Patterson, of Canterbury, who has a reputation for sureness. Laurenson won in three sets, but there were many rallies of long duration. Seay, playing fine tennis, had Peacock’s measure at every stage. Kis forehand drive was working with faultless ~r t r rl? tt rfc r l r Hr ir r'A rr

accuracy, and when he came into the net his volleying was decisive. A good match in the women’s singles was that between Miss Macfarlane and Miss Rankin, a young Canterbury player. The contest was closer than the scores, 6 —3. 6 —2, indicate. Miss Rankin made her opponent fight all the way. The Auckland player volleyed excellently and drove with consistent length. Miss Speirs proved herself a first-class player by losing only three games to Miss Ramsay in two sets. Miss Knight had difficulty in defeating Miss Partridge. Both players came into the net often and volleyed. It was bright tennis. MEN’S SINGLES Third Round.—Bartleet beat Melody, G—ft, 6 —2, 7—5; Sturt beat Browning, *—o. G—4 (Browning retired): L. France beat Wood, 6 —o. 6 —l. 6 —2: Ollivier beat A. B. Loughnan, 6 —3, 7—5, G—o; D. G. France beat Dawson, 6 —4, 6 —l, 6 —4; Malfroy beat B. B. Loughnan, 6 —3, 7—5, 4— 6, G—4; Laurenson beat Patterson, G— l, 6 —ft, 7 — 5; Seay beat Peacock, 6 —2, G—2, 6—2. WOMENS SINGLES Second Round.—Miss Macfarlane beat Miss G. Rankin, 6—2, 6 —3.; Miss Speirs beat Miss Ramsay, 6 —2, 6 — l; Miss Pattison beat Miss Jones, G—l, 6 —l; Miss Knight beat Miss Partridge, 7—5, 5—7, —3; Miss Tracy beat Miss Myers, 6 —l, —G, 6 —3; Mrs. Adams beat Miss Hoare, 6 —4, 6—l; Miss Wake beat Miss Dallas, *’—G—3; Mrs. Melody beat Miss Bast, 6 — l, 6—2. MEN’S DOUBLES Second Round.—Fulton and Boddy beat and Robinson, 6 —4, 6 —3, 3— 6, G-—3; Walker and Angas beat Gerard and Barlow, 6 —3, 6 —2, 6 —l; France and r ranee beat Goss and Greenwood. 6 —3, 3—G, 6 —2, 6 —3: Peacock and Wilson neajt Borrows and Wilding, 6 — l, 6 —l, 2; Ollivier and Seay beat Bagge and t-oull, 6 —3, 6 —3, 6 —l; Laurenson and Bartleet beat Wallace and Parker, 6 —l, ’— 6 —l. o—7, 6 —4; Knott and Sturt nea * Loughnan and Loughnan, 3— 6, 6 —2, 6 —l; Malfroy and Lampe beat Pearse and Melody, 6 —3, 6 —l. 6 —l. COMBINED DOUBLES Round.—-Miss E. Johnston

Browning beat Mrs. Campbell and Dawson, 6 —2, 6 —2; Miss East and Greenwood beat Miss Sowden and Goss, 6 —4, 6 —3; Mrs. Pritchett and Field beat Miss Xicholls and Sumpter, S — 6, 4— 6, 6 —3; Miss Speirs and D. France beat Miss Thwaites and Robinson, 6 —4, 6 —l; Miss Tracy and Wilson beat Mrs. Crawshaw and Crawshaw, 6 —l, 6 —o; Miss Partridge and Patterson beat Miss Dini and Rickard, 6 —2, 6 —3. WOMEN’S DOUBLES Second Round.—Mrs. Adams and Miss Tracy beat Misses Jones and Dallas, 6 —4, 6 —l; Mrs. Buchanan and Miss Cotterill beat Misses Pattison and Sowden, 6 —3, 10— 8. Third Round. Misses Speirs and Partridge beat Mrs. Buchanan and Miss Cotterill, 6 —3, 6 —l; Misses Macfarlane and Knight beat Misses East and Myers, I— 6, B— 6, 6 —3; Misses Wake and Andrew beat Misses Rankin, 6 —l, 6 —l. NEW ZEALAND PLATE First Round.—Johnston beat Dive, 6 —3, 6 —o, 6 —3; Hay beat Steeds, 6 —4, 6 —2, 6 —2; Munns beat Penlington, 6 — 4, G—l, 6—o; Tait beat Crawshaw, 6 — 4, 6 —4, 6 —4; Walker beat Stevens, 6 —o, o—3, 6 —3; Johnston beat Dive, 6 —3, b—o, 6—3. Second Round.—Angas beat W. Somerville, 6 —l, 6 —3, 6 —2.

Notes on the Play

By “WAYFARER” CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday. “Bunny” Loughnan, of Christchurch, has, I am persuaded, been indulging in an intensive course of Coueism, for “every day in every way he is getting better and better.” For some time I have been keeping a quiet eye lifted on him, and there is no doubt but that his play of late has improved wonderfully. The “week-end” play he has been getting in on a private court with good partners has done him an immense amount of good. To force Geoff Ollivier to 7 —5 in the second set was quite an achievement, and I am satisfied that were his opponent asked the direct question he would admit that “Bunny” really won the second set, but was beaten out of it on bad decisions of the umpire. I know that old “wheeze” about onlookers and the game is done to death, but I was in a better position than the umpire to see, and I am absolutely satisfied that Loughnan had really bad luck. It would not have affected the result, but it must have hurt. “Bunny” Loughnan runs Bartleet a close second even if he does not beat him for pride of service at the tournament, and he will also bear watching. Ivan Seay put “paid with interest,” and John Peacock, being a lawyer, would appreciate that, to J. C. Peacock’s win of two years ago on the United grounds. Two years when one is getting past one’s prime is a big handicap.

Malfroy, playing with machine-like precision, displaying splendid courtcraft and producing lovely strokes, had B. B. Loughnan well down when he seemed to develop arm trouble. He is full of grit, and has in the past, because of this very grit, got into some of the machinery of various rounds, and made a mess of things. This arm trouble was apparent by his appearing in a doubles with his elderly partner Lampe against Bill Melody and Warn© Pearse, two ever-smiling and cheerful protagonists, with a bandaged arm. Speculation was immediately rife as to the trouble, and was intensified when the umpire with the scores I think at 3—2, got down off hi& seat and had a consultation, or at any rate a serious talk, with the three elder men. Just what happened is not known, but the umpire resumed his seat and the game progressed. When the youngster had won the first set it became more than ever apparent that he was suffering acutely. With each shot he played he winced visibly, and his play lacked punch. His pain was patent to all except his partner who, having no eyes in the back of his head, could hardly be expected to see what was going on behind him. A further development took place almost immediately, the umpire asking to be relieved, and stating publicly that he considered it his duty, in the interest of the youagster, to use that form of protest against Malfroy being urged against his better judgment to continue. Gone are Wellington’s chances of retaining the Anthony Wilding shield should young “Cam” not be available, and that his father thought things had gone too far was proven by his appealing publicly to his son to come off. The youngster, however, was adamant, and continued through to the bitter end to win. Just what will be the outcome time must show, but I would urge the lad’s friends not to ruin perhaps the most promising career in New Zealand tennis by allowing too much tournament play. In the women’s singles Miss M. Myers, of Wanganui, and Miss May Tracy, of Wellington, showed themselves very dashing players. They were both of them dashing all over the court, Miss Myers especially making some spectacular recoveries. The Wellingtonian won, but when she and Canterbury’s May go Maying to-mor-row a different tune will be sung. Miss Speirs did as she pleased with the Aucklander, Miss Ramsay.

Alec Wallace and Jack Parker were good enough to agree with my expressed views that they might make some of us think a bit. They made the new-found Auckland pair, Bartleet and Laurenson, think hard, in fact Jimmy several times thought aloud to the amusement of the crowded gallery. Parker was just enough off not to be able to stand up to the virulent attack the Northerners directed against him. As most people know in Association football the ball is often played with the head and at times it appeared as if Parker and Laurenson thought they were in a different arena, as each was responsible for an amusing incident when they could not dodge a fast ball and got a good belt on the head.

The Frances knew too much for the Canterbury ex-champions, Goss and Greenwood, who flattered their sup-

E. W. Griffiths distinguished himself by winning the singles, and the doubles with R. H. Potter. Hitting his ground shots with force and accuracy, Griffiths ran A. M. Nicholson, the Varsity player, off the court in the first set of the men’s singles final, but Nicholson’s steadiness told in the

porters and themselves by winning a set. Pearse and Melody believe in the adage “hit and run.” They do the hitting and the ball boys the running into the next field. Little did Miss Macfarlane and Miss Knight dream what they were in for when they encountered Miss East and Miss Myers. Shots were rained at them from all points of the compass, and they only just managed to avoid a “boil over” which, with the heat, could well have been understood, for at times it was boiling yesterday. The Aucklanders will need to pull themselves together to get their names jointly on any trophy. In the ladies’ singles Miss Beryl Knight was thought to have a win in view, but it took her all her time to make a “bird” of Miss E. Patridge. This game see-sawed in the most remarkable manner, each player winning a series of four games in succession alternately.

Beyond the fact that Miss M. Ward and Angas took hours and hours to dispose of Mrs. Penlington and Fulton, of Wellington and Otago respectively, nothing need be said about the mixed. To-morrow I hope to discourse learnedly on the foibles of umpires. TOURNEY CONCLUDED

AUCKLAND HANDICAPS A day earlier than schedule the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association finished its Christmas handicap tournament yesterday.

second. Both men put up a great fight to get this set, but Griffiths finally took the two winning games, the score being 9—7. They were on the same handicap.

Steadiness and courtcraft defeated Miss A. Johns (plus 3-6 15) in the final of the women’s singles, the winner being Miss M. Potter, the Parnell champion, who was owing 30. A young player, Miss Johns showed an excellent knowledge of strokes, but experience told. After narrowly getting home in the seixii-iinax iium V. R. Johns and Hayr, Nicholson and Grant lost the final to Griffiths and Potter. There were three sets and the volleying was often crisp and spectacular. The final of the women’s doubles was a lobbing duel in which Misses Knell and Walker dispatched the Maori girls, Misses Rukutai and Newton, in two sets. Playing snappy tennis and combining well, the Varsity players, Hayr and Miss Brownlee, had a fairly easy win over Hilton and Miss R. Johns in the final of the mixed. Results: MEN'S SINGLES Fourth Round.—K. Hayr (owe 15 3-6), beat R. H. Potter (owe 15), 6—o, 6—o; A. M. Nicholson (owe 30 2-6), beat E. Tonks (owe 15 2-6), 6—2, 6—2. Semi-finals.—E- W. Griffiths (owe 30 2-6), beat V. R. Johns (owe 30 2-6), 6—5, 6—2; Nicholson beat Hayr, 6 —2, 6—4. Final.—E. W. Griffiths beat A. M. Nicholson, 6—l, 9—7. WOMEN'S SINGLES Third Round.—Miss C. Bryant (owe lo 3-6), beat Miss B. Griffiths (plus 15), 5 * 6— 5 » Miss Potter (owe 30), beat Miss Knott (owe 30), 4—6, 6—l, 6—o Semi-finals.—Miss A. Johns (plus 3-6 lo), beat Miss C. Bryant, 6—5, 6—o: Miss Potter beat Miss R. Johns, 3—6, 6—4, 6—4 6—2 in 6?—2 MiSS PoUer beat Miss A - Johns,' MEN’S DOUBLES Third Round.—K. Hayr and V. R. Johns (owe 30 2-6), beat Condon and Haydon (plus 3-6 15), 6—l, 6—4; Neill and Johnati°n * pl . us 3"® 15 >» beat Stallworthy and Aldred (owe 15 4-6), 6—4, 2 6 6 4 ,„ ®“finals.— and Grant’(owe 40), beat Hayr and Johns, 6—o, 5 6 /—Potter and Griffiths (owe 30 1-6)! beat Neill and Johnston, 6—4, 6 3. . Final.—R. A. Potter and E. W. Griffiths Nicholson and G. Grant, 4—6? WOMEN’S DOUBLES fT>fu^ 1 1 l^? n hL S D '7 - S? isSes l inell Walker (Swe S 1 10 ) '3 b 6)! “ 6 e 64 nO 6 “f n,i Fletcher ar^dNewton, MIXED DOUBLES Second Round.—Hilton and Miss R Johns (owe 4-6 15), beat R. H. Potter and Miss Bygate (owe 15 1-6), 6—3 6 2 U heat In l:. < l l nalS ' — Hi l ton and Miss’ R. Johns beat Andrews and Miss C. Bryant (owe Id 4-6), 6—l 6—5; Hayr and Miss Brownlee (owe Id 4-6), beat Mclnnes and Miss A Johns (plus 3-6 15), 6—l, 6 2. K Final.—K. Hayr and Miss J. 'Brownlee beat Hilton and Miss R. Johns, 6—4, 6—2.

ROTORUA EVENTS SECOND DAY’S PLAY (From Our Own Correspondent) Rotorua, Tuesday. The courts were fast and the weather perfect for the second day of the Rotorua lawn tennis tournament. Results: MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES Third Round.-—Mclsaac beat Grant, 6—o. Morpeth beat Robinson, 6—3, b—o; Morgan beat Martin, 6—2, 6 5* Kliott beat Horton, 6—l, 6—4: Bowden Reed 6—3 tS< 6—s 62 ’ 6 — 5; Thomson beat c K° Ur "\ r?^ oun^' —Smith beat Morgan, 6—2; ihomson beat Mclsaacs, 6—o. 6—3; Morpeth beat Stedman, 6—3 2—6 6—•>; Pllliott beat Bowden, 6—2, 4—6, 7 5; MEN'S HANDICAP SINGLES Second Round.—Major beat Gaddum, 13—S; Stedman beat Morrison, 11 3Morpeth beat Leggatt, 11—3; Kitchener beat Robinson, 11—10; Rowlings beat Waters, 11—10. ■. 1 ouncb —Allison beat Robertson, ll—10; Richardson beat Dannefaerd, 11—9; Brooker beat Thomson, 11—6; Tonson beat Oakley, 11—10. Semi-Final. —Tonson beat Brooker, 11 — 10. WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES Second Round.—Miss Mellsop beat Miss Manson, 6—l, 6—l; Miss Sherriff beat Miss Waters, 6—o, 6—o; Mrs. Roberts beat Miss Be Vere, 6—l, 6—l; Miss Payton beat Miss Higginson, 6—l, 5—6, 6—3. WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES Second Round.—Mrs. Tonks and Miss Higginson beat Misses Mellsop and Burnside, 6—4, 6—4; Misses Payton and Richardson beat Mrs. Brown and Miss Adams, 6—2, 6—o; Misses Matheson and McKay beat Misses Parkinson and Manson, 6—o, 6—2; Misses Asser and Wilson beat Misses Sharpe and Craig, 6—2, 6—l. WOMEN’S HANDICAP DOUBLES Second Round.—Mrs. Tonks and Miss Richardson beat Misses Waters, 9—6; Misses Mackay and Matheson beat Misses Asser and Wilson, 9—7; Mrs. Burke and Miss Sherratt beat Misses Craig and Sharpe, 9—5. MIXED HANDICAP DOUBLES Second Round.—Mrs. Allison and Allison beat Miss Kendall and Major, 11—6; Miss Dannefaerd and Morpeth beat Mrs. Roberts and Mclsaacs, 11—9; Miss Wilson and Horton beat Miss Sherratt and Burke, 11—4; Miss Waters and Richardson beat Miss W. Waters and Dannefaerd, 11—7; ttMisa Asser an£ Bowden beat Miss Hum-,

pbries and Guddum, 11—5; Miss Craig and Craig beat Miss Manson and Robertson, 11—5; Miss McKay and Piper beat Mrs. Burke and Burke by default; Mrs. Parkinson and Reed beat Mrs. Brown and Brown, 10 —9. WOMEN'S HANDICAP SINGLES Second Round. —Miss Richardson beat Miss Wilson, 9—7; Miss Higginson beat Miss Roberts, 9—l; Mrs. Tonks beat Mrs. Brown, 9—7; Miss Humphries beat Miss Sharpe, 9—6; Miss Mellsop beat Miss Foster, 9—S. Third Round.—Miss Higginson beat Mrs. Tonks, 9—3; Miss Mellsop beat Miss Humphries, 9—7; Miss Matheson beat Miss Asser, 9—5. MIXED CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES First Round.—Miss Matheson and A. C. Stedman beat Mrs. Leggatt and Leggatt, 3—6, 6—3, 7—5; Miss McKay and Piper beat Mrs. Burke and Burke, 6—4, 5—6, 6—2; Mrs. Brown and Brown beat Miss Balne and Elliott, 4—6, 6—l, 6—3; Mrs. Hay and Hay beat Miss Bradford and Morrison, 6—l, 6—2; Miss Wilson and Horton beat Mrs. Parkinson and Reed, 6—l, 6—5; Miss Richardson and Robinson beat Mrs. Allison and Allison, 6—4, 3—6, 6—l; Miss Manson and Robertson beat. Miss Kitchener and Kitchener, 6—l, 6—l. MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES Second Round. —Dannefaerd and Smith beat Morrison and Brown, 6—2, 5—6, 6—2; Mason and Grant beat Swan and Major, 6—5, 6—5; Pooley and Craig beat Legatt and Basham, 6— l, 6—4; Stedman and Stedman beat Hay and Reed, 6—3, MEN’S HANDICAP DOUBLES Second Round.—Robinson and Robertson beat Dannefaerd and Smith by default; Tukere and Royal beat Bowden and Bowden, 11 —7; Allison and Walker beat Pooley and Raig, 31—8; Martin and Piper beat Morrison and Brewer, 11 6‘ Brown and Elliott beat Mclsaacs and Sumner, 11—7.