LAWN TENNIS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 153, 27 December 1911, Page 5

LAWN TENNIS.

CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING. SATURDAY'S PLAY. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Christchurch. Saturday. The New Zealand lawn tennis championships opened at Lancaster Park this morning. There was dull but fairly favorable weather. The strong easterly blowing down the courts did not interfere. with the play, but the wind grew chilly and uncomfortable. Brookes and iHeath (Australia), to the. regret of many, scratched for the singles. In the afternoon the star feature was the appearance of Beals Wright and Maurice McLouglilm (America) against H. M. Buttenvorth and F. S. Wilding (Christcluii'th). Results:— MEN'S SINGLES. First round —H. W. Brown beat W. floss, 3—o, (i—4, C—2, S—G. It. D. Harnian beat A. E. Davev, o—o. 6 —l, (i —3. P. M. B. Fisher beat C. C\ Box. 6—o, 6 —4, 7 —5. L. Bonnington beat 11. M. Batterway, 7 —5, fi—2, <s—2. ■Second round—G. O'Sullivan beat A. Wertheim, o—l, o—3, ft—2. R. D. Ha.rinan beat P. S. Wilson, o—3, 6—2, 7—5. MEN'S DOUBLES. First round —Beals Wright and M. E. McLoufl'hlin beat H. M. Buttenvorth and F. S. Wilding, 6—2, 7 —5, B—l. H. Rice and It. Heath beat R. D. Harman and G. M. Buttci v.urth, 6—o, 6—2, 6—3. COMBINED DOUBLES. First round—A. W. Dunlop and Miss Welhvood heat R. Wertheim and Miss Cotton, C—4, 6—4, o—3. Second round—O'Hara Wood and Miss Stewart beat G. Oliver and Mies Miles, 6-0, 6—l. LADIES' SINGLES. First round —Miss M. Buttenvorth beat Miss Molesworth, 6—l, 6—3. Second round —Miss P. A. Stewart heat Miss E. A. Bloxam, 6—o, o—l, Miss H. M. Cotton beat Miss Doris Wellwood, (i—7, o—2, 6—3. LADIES' DOUBLES. Second round—Misses Stewart and .beat Misses Miles and Bioxam,*{j— 3,4—li, 7 : YESTERDAY'S PLAY. THE AMERICANS IN BRILLIANT FORM.

Christchurch, Last Night. The Xew Zealand lawn tennis championship meeting was resumed at Lancaster Park this morning. After yesterday's rain the courts were in bad order, and the slight drizzle that came on about 10.30 made ' them still more slippery. A start was made with the three games at 10 o'clock, but at 11.15 the committee met and decided to postpone the ladies' matches until the afternoon, but to proceed with the men's matches. By noon the drizzle had cleared off and the temperature became wanner. In the afternoon the sun shone out, and under the influence of the better conditions the courts impraved. There was a very big increase in the attendance, and by the time the "star' item came on, namely, the match between Beals Wright and McLaughlin, the Americans, anfl Rice ana Heath, tjie Australians, there was a. large gathering present. • In the men's singles, Kidston, who came over as a practice member of the Australian team, met W. Pearce. The first set was won by Kidston after an even go, but he took the next two sets easily. The Australians' accuracy and placing were too much for the Temuka player, who was handicapped through playing without spikes to his shoes. A very keen and interesting struggle was witnessed between P. S. Wilding and S. C. Brown. Wilding won the three sets straight, but the second set went to !)-7 before he secured it. Wilding seemed to be more affected by the slippery state of the court than the Auckland player was. In the second round Peacock met F. S. Wilding and won three sets straight. Wilding played well in the second set, but Peacock's driving powers and fast service were too much for the young Christchurch player. The only match played in the ladies' singles in the morning was that between Miss E. Travers, the present champion, and Miss L. van Stavern. Miss Travers plays a fast and forcing game, her driving being especially good, and she won fairly easily. The only other noteworthy feature in the ladies' singles was the fact that Miss P. A. Stewart, the Alistralian champion, easily defeated Miss H. M. Cottan, of Christchurch, who found the pace set too fast. In the men's doubles, Wertheim, of Victoria, and Kidston played an interesting match against Bonnington and Sheppard. Kidston, as usual, played accurately and cleverly, but Wertheim was erratic, and appeared to go right off his game for a while. A lot of his strokes found the net, however. He recovered and played well towards the finish. His remarkable reach enabled him to put in some fine overhead work, and he was good on the smash stroke. Bonnington and Sheppard both played a capable game.

Brookes and Dunlop simply did wihat they liked with Lampe and Billows, and the Australians hardly got what might be called a practice game. Lampe got in a few good shots, but Billows was rather conscious of the inequality of the sides. Although beaten in the next round by the same pair of champions and by the same margin as Lampe and Billows, A: Brown and Morpeth put up a much better fight, and got in some good forceful drives.

Excitement ran high when Wright and McLoughlin and Rice and- Heath, appeared in the courts, and the spectators were hoping for a fine exhibition. They were not disappointed. A brilliant struggle took place. Long hot rallies were frequent, and were greeted with yells of delight. Wright played his usual safe game, and displayed great generalship in working till he got his opponent out of position, so as to place the ball whore no opponent was. McLoughlin put great force into his smashes and drives, but was again erratic. His smash to the side of the court was a. feature of his play. Heath played' a brilliant game, his volleying and cross court drives being notable features of ihiß work, llice's placing and not work were also splendid. The Australians placed a beautiful partnership. It is safe to say that nothing approaching this exhibition of play has been seen in New Zealand bef-ore, the sustained brilliancy of the rallies across the. net being altogether memorable. In the first set the score was 5 all, and then the Australians won the next two games and thus secured the set. 11l the second set Wright and McLoughlin were 4—l, but the Australians pulled up to 5 all. Then a game went to the Americans, G—s, and one to the Australians, <i all, but the next two games went to the Americans, and gave them the second set, B—6. In the third set the Americans got to 4 —1., but this time the Australians could not pull up, their leeway, and the set went to the Americans, 6—3. In the fourth set the Australians also .failed to make up lost ground. After the Americans had got to 4 —2, the Australians could only win one game. The Americans took the set at 6 —3 and the match.

In the ladies 1 doubles Misses Baird and K. M. Nunneley had an easy win against Mrs. Berry and Miss Timing. The winners had too many powerful strokes for their opponents, Miss Nun-

nelly's fast services and crass court drives being beyond their ability to reply. Results:— Men's Singles Championship, best of five sets, advantage sets. Present chastpion, J. C. Peacock (Wellington). First round: Kidston beat \V. Pearce, 7—5, O-O, 6 —2; F. S. Wilding beat A. S. C. Brown, 6 —3, 9—7, 6—4. Second round: j\ C. Peacock beat P. 8. Wilding, o—2, 7 —5, 6—3; H, Moipelh beat M. L. Lampe, 7—5, o—3, fi—2. Ladies' Singles Championship; best of three sets, advantage sets. Present champion, Miss Eva Travers (Wellington). First round: Miss E. Travers 'beat Miss » L. Van Stavern, fi—2, <>— l; Miss L. Williams walked over from Miss G. W. Greenfield; Miss K. M. Nunnelly walked over from Miss D. Bedford. Miss E. Goodman beat Mis s E. Miles, 6—l, ft—l. Second round: Miss A. Gray .beat Miss L. Tturton, 6-0, 6—3. Miss P. A. Stewart beat Miss H. M. Cotton, ft—o, fS—l.

Men's Doubles Championship; best of five sets, advantage sets. Present champions, P. M. B. Eisher and J. C. Peacock (Wellington)--iTirst round: Cox and Aitken beat Davey and ltoss, 6—3, o—2, o—2; Quill and 11. Brown beat Wilson and Pearse, 6—3, 6—4, 6—2. Second round: Wertheim and Kidston beat Bonnington and. ,S/ieppard, 6—l, B—4, B—l.8 —I. Fisher and Peacock walked over from Nicholson and Webster. A. Brown and Morpeth beat Sands and Berry, 6—3, 6—4, <s—3. Brookes and Dunlop beat Lampe and Billows, 6 —o. 6—0,6—1. Borrows and O'lkra Wood beat Cox and Aitken, 6—3, 7—5, 2—6, 3—6, 7—3. G. Ollivier and Jennings beat Quill: and H. Brown, C—3, 6—3, 7—6. Third round: Brookes and Dunlop beat A. Brown and Morpeth, 6—o, 6—M), 6—l. Wright and McLougblin beat Rice and Ileath, 5—7, B—6,8 —6, 6—3, 6 —3. Ladies' Doubles Championship; Ibest of three sets, advantage sets. Present champions, Misses Eva Travers (Wellington) and It. Wellwood (Hawke's Bay). First round: Misses Williams and Hartgill beat Misses Scott and. Tutton, 6—4, 6—4; Misses 1 Baird and B. M. Nunnelly beat Mrs. Berry and Miss Timms, 6—o, 6—l; Misses Travers and Gray beat Mrs. Rose and Miss Van Stavern, 6—4, 6—3; Mesdames Chisnall and Lord beat Misses Cotten and Turton, 6—l, 6—4.

Combined Doubles' Championship; best of three sets, advantage sets. Present champions, Miss R. Wellwood (Hawked Bay) and H. A. Parker (New South Wales). First round: Sheppard and Miss Goodman beat Aitken and Mies Molesworth, o—l,0 —1, 2»—6, <l—3; Ross and Miss Van Stavern walked over from Heath, and Miss Campbell. Peacock and Miss Simpson beat Pearse and Miss Hay, 4 —o, (J—3, 6—2. Second round: Peacock and Miss Simpson beat Sheppard and Miss Goodman, 6—3, 2—(3, 6—2.