LAWN TENNIS.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 February 1921, Page 3

LAWN TENNIS.

TARANAKI TOURNAMENT. OPENING DAY’S PLAY. SOME CLOSE MATCHES. The decision of the Taranaki Lawn Tennis Association to revive the annual tournament, which was a prominent feature in the tennis world *prior to the war, has been appreciated by tennis players, as was demonstarted by the interest shown in the tournament which was opened yesterday at tte New Plymouth Club’s courts. Entries totalling 185 have been received, including representatives from practically every club in Taranaki, as well as visitors from Auckland, Whangarei, Hamilton, Waverley, Wanganui, Palmerston North, and Wellington, and the indications are' that this tournament will prove quite as successful as any of its predecessors. Tennis, in common with all other outdoor sports, has experienced a great revival since the war, and the New Plymouth Club is quite alive to that fact, as is shown by tte improvements carried out at the courts in Vivian Street. Extensive alterations have just been carried out, the, club having purchased an additional strip of land, and removed the pavilion further back, giving more room for the courts, and enabling two grass courts to be laid down where formerly there was an asphalt court. For this tournament five courts are being used, and they are In splendid order, a tribute to the work bestowed on them by the club’s groundsman (Mr. Revell), though no doubt the northerners find them much slower than ’the courts they are accustomed to.

The arrangements for the tournament were distinctly good, and reflect great credit on the club’s committee and its capable secretaries, Messrs. C. H. Wynyard and K. O. Archer, the greens being kept fully occupied throughout the day. Mr. J. Taton, who has been a prominent official since the inception of the tournament, lent valuable assistance Dr. H. B. Leatham, president of the club, was present during the day, and though there was no formal opening, he extended a cordial welcome f& *all players.

The resumption of the tournament is of particular interest, in view of tfce probability of the next New Zealand championship tournament being played here in December. Blenheim, Hastings, and New Plymouth have applied for the tournament, but as Blenheim has already had if twice, whilst Hastings v/as the venue as late as 1912, and as the tournament was held here as far back as 1907, the prospects for New Plymouth are bright. Yesterday was beautifully fine and hot, and consequently there was a large attendance of spectators, who thoroughly enjoyed the games, most of which were keenly contested, and indications point to some close finishes in the championship events. In the men’s singles E. W. Griffiths, of Auckland, beat his old club mate, C. B. Webster. Griffiths proved the steadier player, and in the second set, when Webster led 5—2, ti e Aucklander proved his ability by winning the next five games and the match. A. Wallace defeated J. C. Nicholson in two straight sets, the second of which was stubbornly contested. Sims, of Hamilton, had no difficulty in accounting for Caplen, of Hawera. In the ladies’ championship, Miss Payton, of Auckland, beat Miss Carruth, of Whangarei, and Miss Maofarlane (Auckland) defeated Miss Simpson (New Plymouth) by two straight sets, after the latter had established a lead of 4—2 in the second. In the championship doubles, Nicholson and Webster (New Plymouth), and Wallace and Dickie (Waverley) are so far unbeaten. Detailed results arc: —

CHAMPIONSHIPS. MEN'S SINGLES. First Round. Dickie (Waverley) beat Simpson (Auckland), G—l, 6—l; Powdrell (Wanganui) bea£ Rutherford (Waverley), 6—2. 6—2; Davies (New Plymouth) beat Little (New Plymouth), 6—l, 6 1; Sims (Hamilton)) beat' Caplen (Hawera), 6—l, 6—2; A. Wallace (Waverley) beat J. C. Nicholson (New Plymouth), 6—2, 7 E. W. Griffiths (Auckland) beat C. B. Webster (New Plymouth), 6—4, 7—-5; A. R. Ryder (New Plymouth) beat L. Ethrlngton (New Plymouth), 6—2, 6—3; C. F. Wybourne (Waverley) beat Kururangl (Hawera), 4—6, 6—o, 6—4. i Second Round. Dr. Fookes (New Plymouth) beat F. Blennerhassett (Waverley), 6—4, 6—4. LADIES’ SINGLES. First Round. Miss Payton (Auckland) beat Miss Carruth (Whangarei), 6—4, 6—o; Miss Macfarlane (Auckland) beat Miss Simpson (New Plymouth), 6—-1, 6—4; Miss Brewster (New Plymouth) beat Miss Whittington (Hawera), G—o, 6—l. MEN’S DOUBLES. First Round. Nicholson and Webster (New Plymouth) beat Wybourne (Waverley) and Duncan (Palmerston North), 6—2, 6—-3; Foden and Foden (Hawera) beat Bosworth and Shipton (Park), G—3, 6—l: K. Archer (New Plymouth) and A. Sims (Hamilton) beat N. 'Caplen (Hawera) and G. Pownall (Wanganui), 6—l, 6—l; S. Powdrell (Wanganui) and McDonald (Palmerston North) beat Dr. Fookes and E. B. Davies (New Plymouth), 6—l, 6 —l; R, Anderson and L. Curtis (Stratford) beat T Simpson (Auckland) and M. (New Plymouth), 6—o, 6—3; A. Wallace and C. Dickie (Waverley) beat A. R. Ryder and E Griffiths (New Plymouth), 6—2, 6—o. LADIES’ DOUBLES. First Round. Miss Brewster (New Plymouth) and Miss Mcformiek (Auckland) beat’ Mrs. Wallace (Waverley) and Miss Watson (Palmerston North), 6—l, 6—2.

COMBINED DOUBLES. First Round. N. Caplen and Mrs. Smith (Hawera) beat A. Ryder and Mrs. Ryder (New Plymouth), g—9, 6—3; Dickie (Waverley) .and Miss Payton (Auckland) beat E. Shaw and Miss Winfield (New Plymouth), 6—l, 6—o; Wallace and Mrs. Wallace (Waverley) beat T. Clark and Miss Macfarlane (Auckland), I—6, 6—l ( g—6 ; McDonald (Palmerston) and Miss Kirkby (New Plymouth) beat S. Powdrell (Wanganui) and Miss L. Thomson (New Ply-

mouth), 6—4, o—6, 7—5. Second Round. Pownall (Wanganui) and Miss Higgins (Hawera) beat Kururangi (Hawera) and Miss Whittington (Hawera) 6—3, 6—3; C. B. Webster (New Plymouth) and Miss Carruth (Whangarei) beat T. Simpson (Auckland) and Miss Simpson (New Plymouth), 6—l, 6—4; E. W. Griffiths (Auckland) find Miss McCormick (Auckland) beat Duncan (Palmerston North) and Miss Watson (Palmerston North), HANDICAP EVENTS. MEN’S SINGLES.—A GRADE. First Round. Rutherford (Waverley) owe 15, beat Webster (New Plymouth) owe 40, by default; Dr. Fookes (New Plymouth) rec. 15 1-6, beat Anderson (Stratford) owe 15 2-6, 9—3; F. Blennerhassett (Waverley) owe 15, beat Hogg (Wellington) owe 15 1-6, 9—5; C. Tate (Waitara) rec. 15, beat L. Curtis (Stratford) scr, 9—2; T. Clark (Auckland) owe 30, beat Wybourne, (Waverley) owe 30, 9—6; A. Sims (Auckland) owe 40 3-6, beat E. W. Griffiths (Auckland) owe 40, 9—3. Second Round. C. Tate (Waverley) rec. 15. beat T. Clar?< (Auckland) owe 30, 9—o; E. B. Davies (New • Plymouth) rec. 15, beat N. Caplen (Htiwera) i.GW« 80/

MEN’S SINGLES.—B GRADE. First Round. E. Shaw (New Plymouth) rec. 15 1-6, beat L. Reader (Park) owe 15, 9—7; King (New Plymouth) owe 15, beat Hawkins (Waitara) rec. 15, 9—5; Turner (New Plymouth) owe 15, beat Denny Brown (New Plymouth) rec. 15, 9—3; A. Little (New Plymouth) owe 15, beat A. Aunbury (Park) rec. 15, 9—7; J. D. Smith (Manaia) owe 15, beat Colson (New Plymouth) owe 15, 9—6; Edmonds owe 15, beat Wynyard (New Plymouth) scr, 9—B; Bennett (Waitara) rec. 15 3-6, beat Shearer (Park) rec. 15 4-6, 9—5. LADIES' SINGLES. First Round. Miss Walker (Waitara) rec. 15 1-6, beat Miss Macfarlane (Auckland) owe 50, 7 6; Miss Payton (Auckland) owe 50, beat Miss Rollo (New Plymouth) rec. 15, 7—3; Miss Clarke (Auckland) rec. 15, won from' Miss Carruth (Whangarei) owe 30, by default; M ss McCormick (Auckland) owe 40, beat Miss Rundle (New Plymouth) owe 40, 7—4; Miss Frethey (Park) rec. 15, beat Mrs Smith (Hawera) rec. 3-6 15, 7—3; Miss Whittington (Hawera) owe 3-6 15, beat Miss Shaw (New Plymouth) rec. 15 2-6, 7—4. MEN'S DOUBLES. First Round. Clarke and E. W. Griffiths (Auckland) owe 40, beat Tate and Bennett (Waitara) rec. 15,’ 9—B; Archer (New Plymouth) and Sims (Hamilton) owe 40, beat Foden and Foden (Hawera) owe 15,7; Rutherford and Blennerhassett (Waverley) rec. 15 2-6, beat Amburv and Williams (Park) rec. 30, 9—B; Etheriiigton and Edmonds (New Plymouth) rec. 15 2-6, beat Eggleton and Atkinson (New Plymouth) rec. 15 4-6, 9—B; Colson and Wynyard (New Plymouth) rec. 15 4-6, beat Dickie and Wallace owe 50, 9 —2; Anderson and Curtis rec. 15 2-«, beat Turner (New Plymouth) and Hogg (Wellington) rec. 15, 9—5. Second Round. Bloxam and King (New Plymouth) rec. 15 2-6, beat Reader and Shipton (Park) rec. 15 1-6, 9—4. LADIES' DOUBLES. First Round.

Misses Shaw and Rundle (New Plymiouth) rec. 3-6 15, beat Mrs. Balharry and Miss Kirkby rec. 2-6 15, 7—5; Misses Macfarlane and Payton (Auckland) owe 50, beat Mesdarnes Ryder and King 15 2-6, 7—6; Mrs. Knapp and Miss Frethey (Park) rec. 15 2-6, beat Misses Simpson (New Plymouth) aijd Carruth (Whangarei) owe 15 4-6, 7—5; Misses Winfield and Roekel (New Plymouth) rec. 15 1-6, beat Mrs. Wallace (Waverley) and Miss Watson (Palmerston North) scr, 7—6; Misses Greatbach and Leatham (New Plymouth) scr, beat Misses L. and S. Thomson (New Plyi mouth) scr, 7—4; Misses urewster and Rtm- ; die Plymouth) owe 40', beat Mrs. Archer and Miss Greig (New Plymouth) rec. 30, 7—2; Miss Grant and Mrs. Fearless (New Plymouth) rec. 15, beat Misses Home and Koch (New Plymouth) rec. 15, 7—4. TO-DAY'S MATCHES. The tournament will be continued to-day, commencing at 9 a.m. sharp, when the following games will be played jHandicap Doubles. —Dr. "Fookes and Grant v. T. Simpson and Shaw. Ladies’ Doubles Championship—Misses Simpson and Carruth v. Mrs. Smith and Miss Whittington; Misses Macfarlane and Payton | v. Misses Rundle and Thomson. 1 Men’s Handicap Doubles. —Powdrell and Mc- | Donald v. E. Griffiths and Ryderr^ - ” I These games will be followed by the following : | Men’s Handicap Doubles.—Curtis and Reader ( v. Wybuorne and Duncan. Combined Championship Doubles. —J. C. Nicholson and Miss Brewster v. Etherington and Miss Grant. Championship Singles.—Hyder v. Sims. Handicap Singles.—Bosworth v. E. Griffiths;