BIG TENNIS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 855, 26 December 1929, Page 10

BIG TENNIS

START OF AUCKLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS MEN’S SINGLES BEGIN In ideal weather the Auckland Tennis Association began Its annual championship tournament in the Stanley Street courts at 9 o’clock this morning. At first sluggish after the rains, the courts speeded up as the morning advanced until at noon the turf was playing fast and true. The morning was given to decision of men’s singles matches, both in the A and B grades. Each of these sections finds 32 players ■engaged. Tho women’s singles have attracted 21 entrants, the boys’ singles 30 and the girls' singles IS. In addition. the doubles championships show well supported lists. Taken as a whole, entries exceed those of last year, reports the secretary. Mr. L. W. Swann. The first round of the men’s A grade singles was completed at 1.C5 p.m., When K. Hay.r. of Opotlki. beat W. J. Melody, of Wellington. Tho men's B grade singles began as soon as courts became available, the first match beginning soon after eleven o'clock.

The men’s A snide singles provided • some matches that held the keen attention of the gallery. The marathon of the day was provided by McKeovn and Clark. Besides running to five sets, there were many long and attractive sallies. Toward the end of the fifth set both player's appeared to be somewhat distressed. Clark forced the pace in that set, frequently coming to the net and forcing .McKeown into errors many times. Tlieso factors gave the match to Clark. North did well to defeat Brough, who is the second player at the Hamilton Tennis Club.

Entwistle’s exhibition of his usual steady reliable play won the day for him against Robertson, who sent down many fast well-placed drives. Hardy could not contend with the pace set by Sturt, who made few mistake and won handsomely. Bartleet carried too many guns for Potter, although the latter made many good returns and played frequent good passing shots. Melody’s chop stroke worried Hayr during the early part of their match and enabled him to take the first and third sets. Later, however, Hayr’s driving was too good and he finally made the pace too hot for his opponent and notched a win. At 3.35 p.m., rain necessitated an adjournment of play. The following games have been arranged for tomorrow morning: To play at 9 a.in.—Women's Singlcr: Mrs. Melodv v. Mrs. Napier, Miss M, Maefarlane v. Miss P. Miller. Miss Taylor v. Miss Parr. Men's Singles: Hubblo v. Charters, Clark v. Griffiths, Bartleet v. Pickmere, Morrison v. Turner, Entwisile v. North, Hayr v. Lamb. Men’s PonMes: McDonald and Andrews v. Hughes and Aldred, Brough and Hobbs v. La tta and La. ta, Milne and Lucas v. McKeown and Potter. To play at 9.30 n.m.—Men’s Doubles: llowarth and Anderson v. Bassett and Bassett. Jones and McKenzie v. Coat-’s and Chalmers. Turei and Ruru v. Melody and Hardv, Stedman and Sturt v. Wilson and Wilson. Women's Doubles: Mrs. Herrick and Miss P. Frankham v. Missed Newton and Chambers, Misses Marion and Marjorie Maefarlane v. Misses Parr and McCrea. Misses Dods and E. Potter v. Misses Knight and Wliitelaw. Owing to the continued rain it was decided. at 4 p.m.. to postpone play until 9 o’clock on Friday morning. Today's play had reached the beginning of the second rounds in the men’s A and B grades singles, and the women’s singles. Results are as follow: Men's Singles. A Grade. First Round.—A. C. Steelman heat P. H. Jones, 6—o. 6—2, 7—5: C. C. Chalmers heat A. H. McDonald. 3—6, 6—l. 6— l. 5 6; A. K. Turner beat M. Aldred. 3—6, 6 3. 6—3, 2—6, 10—S; M. M. Morrison

beat R. J. Coates, 7 —5, 6 —2, 6 —4; K. A. North beat G. Brough, 6 —4, 4— 6, 7—5, 12—10; W. H. Entwistle beat S. J. Robinson, 4— 6, 6 —3, 6 —3, 9—7; W. G. Watkins beat C. G. Bowden, 6 —3, 7 —5, 6 —2; N. G. Sturt beat R. B. Hardy, 6 —o, 6 —2, 6 —l; E. L. Bartleet beat P. E. Potter, 6 —4, 6 —4, 6 —l; L. T. Pickmere beat C. Partridge, 6 —2, 6 —l, 6 —2; A. S. Lamb beat R. Milne, 6 —l, 6 —3, 6 —3; J. C. Charters beat V. R. Johns, 9—7, 6 —3, 6 —l; V. N. Hubble beat J. Hughes, 7—5, 6 — 3, 6 —4; T. E. Clark beat A. E. McKeown, 2— 6, 6 —4, 7—9, 6 —3, 6 —3; E. W. Griffiths beat J. C. Andrews, 6 —2, 6 —l, 6 —o; K. Hayr beat W. J. Melody, 3— 6, 6—o. 3—6, 6—o, 6—2.

R. Carter beat E. Reeves, 6 —4. 6 —S, 6—4.

The association has made a new departure in the men’s A grade singles, which this year involve the best of five sets, instead of three, as formerly. At present the champion is E. L. Bartleet, of the Remuera Club. The championships are being held earlier this year than is customary, the tourney usually being held at the end of January. The competition has stimulated interest throughout the Dominion, competitors having come from North Auckland, Wellington and as far South as Christchurch. , Second Round.—Stedman beat Chalmers, 6—2, 6—4, 6—3; Sturt beat Watkins, 6 —3, C—4, 6 —l. B GRADE First Round. —J. S. Wilson beat H. M. Major, 6 —o, 7—5; C. K. Harrison beat C. J. Trapski, 6 —3, 6 —o; W. D. Pert beat S. H. Ruru, 6- —4, 5—7, 7—5; J. S. Colegrove beat T. J. Gould, 6—l, 6 —4; T. R. Turei beat D. Anderson, 6—o, 6 —o; W. Roberts beat J. Shand, 6 —2, 6 —4; B. W. Brownlee bt;at J. Bassett, 6 —4, 6 G. L. Brown beat M. T. Wilson, b—l, C—4; T. Sparling beat D. C. Coombe, G 2 6 —3; A. Bassett beat R. McKenzie, 6—2, 3—6, 6—3: E. Tonks beat A. T. James. 6—2, 6—3; McMillan beat Philson, 6 4, 6—2; L. Hobbs beat F. C. Gould, G—o. 6—l; A. R. Walton beat C. H. Hayworth. 6—2, 6—2. A. Porter beat D. G. Maefarlane, C—l, 3—6, 6—4. ORGANISATION WORK Much of the organisation has been in tho hands of Messrs. A. C. Johns and D. G. Maefarlane, with support from the following committee: Messrs. A. Goldie, R. B. Hardy, A. Turner, E. W. Griffiths, A. S. McKeown, C. D. Warren. A. S. Lamb and Dr. J. C. Andrews. The association’s referee, Mr. A. Goldie, has been unable to attend on this occasion for the first time in years. Even though the series is only in its early stages, the attendance of tennis enthusiasts and the general public was gratifying and the “gate” good. Some sparkling tennis was seen, particularly in the later sets, when players warmed to the game. WOMEN’S SINGLES First Round. —Miss E. Miller beat Miss M Corby, 6—2, 6—4; Miss P. Frankham beat Miss Marion Maefarlane, 6—4, 2—6, 6 2; Miss J. Ramsay beat Mrs. Arneil, G 0 6—2; Miss N. Whitelaw beat Mrs. Sturt, 6—4, 6—3: Miss M. Potter beat Miss McCrea, 6—l, 6—l. . . , , . Second Round. —Miss B. Knight beat Miss R. Johns. 6—o, 6—o; Miss T. D. Newton beat Miss J. Dods, 6—l, 6—3-