THE TENNIS TOURNAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 188, 18 January 1915, Page 7

THE TENNIS TOURNAMENT.

NTOIIOfA'UX WT\s MUX'S CHAMPIONSHIP. LADIES' CHAMPIOXSIIII' CUES TO AUCKLAND. I Satuiday saw the Taranaki Tennis Tournameiit brought to a successful conclusion, .-avc i'or two liuals, in which prlncipaliy local members are interested, and which will be fought out at the local courts to-morrow afternoon. Fine weather again prevailed, though a strong cross wind during part of the day proved ballling at times on some of the less protected courts, where it made Hie ball perform puzzling evolutions not intended by tlie striker, and absolutely disconcerting to the receiver. On the whole, however, very good tennis was shown, particularly in the finals and scmi-linals of the championships, where the standard of play was high, and there Were .some spirited rallies, applause being frequent and well merited. Throughout the three, days the attendance of the public was excellent, and the interest was maintained to the end. The courts stood the strain of the three heavy days' play exceptionally well, and plaved true to the last game,"the caretaker Mr. Cole, coming in for considerable praise from both visiting and local players for his excellent work in the preparation of the courts, The tournament was well managed : throughout, visitors being unanimous in ! the opinion that it would be hard to eyc« I the conduct of the tournameiit throughout the length and breadth of the. Dominion, Every little detail had been attended to, so (hat everything worked smoothly, and the secretaries, .Messrs. 'Webster and Ryder, are to be complimented.' Mr. ,J. Patou, a former secretary for nuuiv years, rendered valuable assistance, whilst Mr. If. Stoeker, who also bore the secretarial burden for years, was also present, and received mnay congratulations on his recovery from his serious illness. The committal'. | Messrs. Robertson, (irilliths, C. 11, Weston, and Nicholson, also worked strcnu.ously for the common good. The umpiring throughout the tournament was good. The handicapping was sound, as was pro\o.| by the close .finishes, in most of the handicap events. In the men's championship singles, the Pou'drell Tiros, were victorious in the third round, S. Powdrel] beating C. .1. Dickie by B--2, 7-5, the latter' a liotlvcontested set, while A. Powdrcll easily beat Shewan in two straight, love sets. The semi-final between 'the Powdrcll Pros, produced some fine tennis, Both volleyed well, and in several of the games deuce was called four or ' five times. A. Powdrcll won. li—4, (i- 2. 0. B, Webster put up a great game against J. C. Nicholson, but the hitter's steadiness and excellent length gave his opponent few chances at the net, where his smashes, while at times effective, were inclined to be erratic. Three sets were played. Webster won two in the first, and Nicholson two in the second. The third went to Nicholson, (>--(!. The final, which Nicholson won in three straight sets, was keenly contested. Neither player made much use of the net, hut was content to keep a good length. Nicholson's placing was better, and his play was steadier, and it is to this that he owed his victory. In the first set he was pulled up by the umpire, for footfaulting, and this m> doubt affected bis ' play to some extent in that set. Nicholson won the first game to love. Powdrcll won the next. Nicholson won the next four, and the game stood at: Nie- . holson. ;■)•- 1, and 40—15. Then he gave a double fault, and Powdrcll ultimately won the game, 5-2, and took the next three games: The last two and the set went to Nicholson. In the second set the players won alternately off each other's serve to '2- 2 Nicholson lost only one stroke in each of the next two, ami won the following two after deuce had been called, Powdrcll returning some easv shots into the next, or beyond the base-line. In Hie third set Powdrcll went up to the net more, but Nicholson kept a good length, and drove well down the side line, winning the set, (i—3, and with it the match and the championship.

11l tin' semi-tinal of the Indies' championship .Miss lirewstcr proved too good for .Miss V. Simpson, (i—-4, (i—], after Miss Simpson had led in the first set, 3—l. The final between Miss Gorrie and Miss Brewster did not produce many exciting rallies. Miss Gorrie's not play was splendid, and so were her base-line drives. She played a line safe game. Miss Brewster, whilst not so accurate as 'usual, brought off some line side-line drives. In the lirst set play was very even. Miss Gorrie winning, (i —0. In the. second set Miss Gorrie won rather easily, Miss lirewstcr only securing the first and sixth games, the latter of which she won to love oil Miss Gorrie's serve. In the semifinals of the men's doubles, Nicholson and Webster.defeated Grillith Bros, in two straight sets of li—l. There were soniu line rallies and some long games in each set. In the lirst set (iriilitli Bros, led at 3—l, and in the second they also led at 2 love. Webster was in line form at the net, Dickie and Wallace proved too good for the Xew Plymouth pair in the final, and won, U —2, li—o. In several of the games the local men carried the score to deuce, only to fail in the final strokes. The semi-finals of the combined championship saw one. of the games of the dav between Webster and Miss Gorrie and Wallace and Mrs. Wallace. This ran to three sets. In the first set Wallace led, 4-0, but Webster and Miss Gorrie won six games in succession, and the set. Wallace won the next, 6—3, but lost the third and decisive set. Miss Gorrie played a line game, whilst Webster smashed well. Wallace played well, but lost a lot of points through attempting to return shots that would hare been well out if left alone. Nicholson and Miss Brewster beat S. Powdrell and Miss D. Simpson, ()—l, ft—4 The final between Nicholson and Miss Brewster and Webster and Miss Gorrie, to be played probably to-morrow afternoon, should prove very interesting. Misses Gorrie and Brewster defeated the Misses Simpson in the filial of the ladies' doubles in two straight sets. Detailed results arc as follow: MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES. Third Hound: S. Powdrell beat C. J. Dickie, o—2, 7-5; A. Powdrell beat Shewan, o—o, o—o. Semi-finals: A. Powdrell beat S. Powdrell, fi—4, o—2; .1. C. Nicholson beat (.'. 11. Webster, o—2, 2--G, 6—o. Kinal (best of five sets; advantage sets): J. C. Nicholson beat A Powdrell, 7-a, o—2, 0-3. LADTES' CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES. Best (if three sets; third sets advantage sets only. Semi-final: Miss Brewster beat Miss V. Simpson, li—4, o—l. Pinal: Miss Gorrie beat Miss Brewster, 6- 5, 0-2. MEM'S CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES. Set of three sets; advantage sets. Semi-linal: Nicholson and Webster bent Grilliths Bros., o—l, o—l. Pinal: Dickie and Wallace heat Nie-hnl-ou and Webster, 0-2, 0-0.

COMBINED CHAMPIONSHIPS. Best of three sets; advantage sets. Third Round: S. Powdrell and Miss D. .Simpson beat F. (irilliths and M ; iss Kieatiiateh, o—2, o—2.0 —2. Semi-final: Webster and Miss Corrie beat U'alaee and Mrs. Wallace, (i—-I, ::-(», li—3; Nicholson and Miss Brewster beat S. Powdrell and Miss D. Simpson, 0-1, 0-4. The final will be played to-morrow afternoon. LADIES' CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES. Dot of three sets; third set advantage. sets only. Final: Misses Corrie and Brewster beatMisses Simpson, (i—-I, G- 3, MEX - S HANDICAP MXGLES. GO poiuts up; advantage points. A Grade. Third Round. JO. W. OrillUhs (scr.) beat A. Powdrell (owes 7), who retired ata 44—.'13; T. Simpson (rue. 15) boat A. Powdrell (owes 5), 110—43. Semi-final: E. W. OrillUhs (scr.) boat A. K. Ityder (roc. 15), GO—sß; T. Simpson (rec. 15), beat Dr Fookcs (rec. 15), 00—55. Final: JO. W. Crilliths (scr.) beat T. Simpson (rec. 15), 00—48. B Grade. Sc-nir-final: King (scr.) beat Thompson (rec. 15), GO—44. ' Final: I'atersoii (rec. 10) beat King (scr.), 00—51. I COMBINED HANDICAP DOUBLES. 00 points up; advantage points.' Tliird Round: Chappoll and Miss Ambury (rce. 20) beat Fookes and Miss L. Thomson (rec. 10), 00—50; Davies and Miss Bundle won from Nicholson and .Miss Brewster by default; Ambury and, Miss Ambury won from Mr. and Mrs. Dickie by default; T. Simpson and Miss V. Simpson won from Webster and Miss Corrie by default. Semi-final: Simpson and Miss V. Simpson (ree. 5) beat Chappell and Miss 0. Ambury (rec. 20), 60—57: Davies mid Mi'ss Bundle (rec. 10) boat Ambnrv and Miss Ambury (rec. 20), 00—10. Final: T. Simpson and Miss Y. Simpson (rec. 5) beat Davies and Miss Bundle (rec. JO), 00—50. LADIES' HANDICAP SINGLES. (50 points up-, advantage points.) Second Round: Miss Derrett (rec. ?7) beat Miss V. Simpson (owes 5), 50—38. Tliird Hound: Miss Brewster (owes 15), beat Miss Clark (rec. 15), 51—40; Miss L. Thomson (rec. 5), beat Mrs C. ■I. Dickie (rec. 10), 50—33; Miss Horner (scv.l beat Miss Derrett (rec. 171,1 50—42

Komi final: Miss M. Thomson (scr.) beat Miss Horner (kit.), olt —54; Miss Brewster (owes ir>), beat Miss L. Thomson (roe. 5), 50—32. Tim final Mill probably be decided to-morrow afternoon. MEN'S HANDICAP DOUBLES. CO points up; advantage points.) i Semi-final: Gooch and Shewan (roc. 22), beat Powdrcll Bros, (owe 10), 00—43; ('. 11. Weston and S. Paul (roe. 20), beat Griffith Bros. (rec. 10), 00—50. Final: Gooch and Shewan (roc. 22), ■ beat C. ir. Weston and S. Paul (rec. 20), (10—38. LADTES' HANDICAP DOUBLES. ' (50 points up; advantage points.) Third Round: Misses Simpson and (ireatbatc.li (rec. 5), beat Misses Brewster and Gorrie (owe 15), 50—41. Semi-final: Misses Derrett and Horner (rec. 10), beat Mrs Weston and Miss Leatham (rec. 12), 50—48; Misses Simpson and Clreatbatch (rec. 5), beat Mesdanies Budge and Stewart (rec. 12), 50—41. " ' ■ Final. Misses IVrrott! and Homer (rec. 10), beat Miss 1). Simpson and Miss Creatbafch (rec. 5), ;;0-40. Till': CHAMPIONS. Men's Singles: ,1. C. Nicholson. Runner-up, A. Powdrell. Ladies' Singles: Miss Gorrie' (Auckland). Runner-up, Miss Brewster. Men's Doubles: A. G. Wallace mul ('. J. Dickie. Runnors-up, J. C. Nicholson and 0. B. Webster, Ladies' Doubles: Misses G. Gorrie and A. Brewster. Runners-up, Misses D. and V. Simpson. Combined Doubles: Final to be decided to-morrow afternoon. IIANDICAP WINNERS. Men's Singles (A. grade): E. W. Griffiths Runner-up, T. Simpson. B - grade, Patterson (Tarata). Runuer-up, E. King. Ladies Singles. Final to be played tomorrow afternoon. " ■ Combined Doubles: T. Simpson and Miss V. Simpson. . Runners-up, Davies and Miss Rundle. Ladies' Doubles: Misses Derrett and . Horner. Runners-up, Misses D. Simp- ; son and Oreatbateli. , Men's Doubles: Gooch and Shewan . (Master/ton). Runners-up, C. H. Weston and S. Paul. 1 THE LADY CHAMPION. Miss G. Gorrie is a member of the ' Eden and Epsom Club. Auckland, and lias played in first-class tennis now for a number of years, though this is her ; first visit to a Taranakl tournament. ' She has a fine free style, and a splen--1 did forehand drive which she uses with ' telling effect. She is able on cmer- ' gency to use either hand with equal . success. She is a keen sport, and sson :• made herself very popular on the courts. - THE MEN'S CHAMPION. , At the conclusion of the game, the j President of the Association Dr. [ Leatham presented Mr" Nicholson with , the championship Cup amidst applause. Mr Nicholson is ai well-known local player, having been undefeated champion of the local club for the past ten " years. He started his tennis, at the ' Wanganui College, and has been a regular competitor at the Taranaki tourna--1 nient since 1902. That wap the first :> year in which the meeting was open to the whole of New Zealand and he, tliuii a lad of eighteen, succeeded in annexing the cup. He has been runnerup on several occasions since, but until Saturday had not been able to get his • name, engraved on the Cup for the t second time; Previous winners of the Cup are:—l9o2, J. C. Nicholson: 1003, - V, Dickie; 1904, IT. A. Parker; 1005, H. t A. Parker; 1900. A. G. Wallace; 1907, A. G. Wallace; 1908, 11. A. Parker; 1909, A. s V. Wilding; 1910, C. Dickie; 1911, A. G. I, Walace; 1912, A. G. Wallace: 1913, C. Ollivier; 1914, C. Ollivier.