LAWN TENNIS.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 February 1921, Page 3

LAWN TENNIS.

TARANAKI TOURNAMENT. CONCLUDING DAY’S PLAY. BALANCE OF FINALS DECIDED. The Taranaki Lawn Tennis Association’s tournament was brought to a successful conclusion on the New Plymouth Club’s courts yesterday. The weather was anything but ideal for good tennis, a strong wind blowing across the courts in the morning, at times considerably upsetting calculations, while early In the afternoon rain fell and delayed the start of the men’s doubles until 4 p.m. By this time the court played on the uead side, taking the sting out of the smashes, but nevertheless some good tennis was witnessed. In the morning the final of the men’s singles was decided, Sims (Hamilton) defeating Wallace (Waverley) in three straight sets. Wallace appeared to play hardly up to his best form, whilst Sims, who is a forceful player, got in a number of good shots. He has a rather peculiar style, in that he serves with his right hand, and for the balance of the game relies almost entirely on bis left hand. He defeated Wallace by B—6, 6—3, 6—3, and was warmly congratulated by those present on his victory.

The semi-final and final of the ladies’ handicap singles were also decided in the morning. Miss Frethey (Park) being the winner.

In the afternoon keen interest was manifested in the meeting of Wallace and Dickie (Waverley) and Sims (Hamilton) and Archer (New Plymouth) in the final of the men’s championship doubles. This provided a good exhibition of tennis, there being some fine lobbing and volleying, with occasional smashes, but very little driving. The game was keenly contested throughout, victory finally going to the Waverley irair by B—6, 6—4, 4—6, 10—8. In the combined doubles Nicholson and Miss Brewster (New Plymouth) beat E. W. Griffiths and Miss, McCormick (Auckland) in two straight sets 6—4, 6—3. DETAILS OF THE PLAY. MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES. Wallace lost the first game off his own service, whilst Sims won off h!s service to love, and lead by 2 nil. The Waverley man, placing well, won the next two games and levelled up the score. Sims won the next game, but Wallace gained the next three games and led 5—3. Sims took T?ie next three games, winning the second on his service to love, and the score read Sims 6. Wallace 5. Wallace equalised in the next, in which .Sims double faulted twl.ee. The last two gaunes went to Sims, who took the set B—6. Wallace scored only one point off the opening game in his own service, Sims returning the compliment next game. Sims won the next two games, the first being a love game, and the score read Sims 3, Wallace 1. Sims maintained the upper hand, and’ alternate games carried the score to 5—3, when Sims won the final game 6—3. Sims won the opening game, but Wallace, who gave his first double fault, equalised In the next game, which ran to several deuces. Another long game went to Sims, and alternate games saw the score read 3 all. Then Sims, whose service was pretty deadly, won the next to love, and winning the last two, also won the set 6—3, and the match B—6, 6—3, 6—3. MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES. The opening game went tc Sims and Archer, off the former’s service to love, but the Waverley pair scored in the next, their opponents getting one point. In the next game the Waverley pair led 30 love, but their opponents cacne at the death and won, the score reading 2—l in favor of Sims and Archer. Some good rallies saw the Waverley pair even /matters up, and alternate games saw the board read 3 all. Archer’s service also went to the Waverley pair, after some fine rallies. Wallace and Dickie, who were combining beautifully, won the next set to love. / Sims, with his deadly serve, won the next two points, but Wallace, with nicely placed drives between the pair, evened up, and the Waverley pair won the game and the set 6—3.

Dickie, witt l sone fine smashes, placed the first game of the next set to the credit of the Waverley pair, but the next game went to Sims and Archer to love. In the next game there was some fine volleying, in which iSims showed out, the game going against the Waverley pair, who, however, won the next two games, in one of which their opponents did not get a point. Wallace and Dickie 3, Sims and Archer Sims then equalised off his own service. Wnllace and Dickie won the next game, but Archer and Sims, with some fine shots, again evened matters, and alternate wins to each side brought score to 6 all, Wallace placing nicely and winning the eleventh game to love. The Waverley pair then won the next two games, and the set B—6.

The opening game of the third set ran to five deuces, and was won by Sims and Archer, who lost the next game, but winning the next two, despite a double fault, led 3—l. Alternate games brought the score to 4— 2, and then after a long rally Sims got in a hot smash qnd won the next game. Wallace and Dickie won the next, two games, and with the score at 5—4 against them, looked to have a chance of winning in three straight sets. The next game and the set, ho’wever, went to Archer and Sims 6—4.

The opening game of the fourth set went te three deuces, when Dickie sent down two beautiful serves and won the game. Sims and Archer won the next. Rain then caused a slight adjournment. Wallace won ,pff his service, but their opponents scored in the next three games and led 4—2. The next game saw some great rallies, ultimately going after three deuces to the Waverley pair, who won the next two games and gained the lead, 5—4 in favor of Wallace and Dickie. Archer and Sims, placing neatly, won the next two games and led 6—5. Wallace and Dickie won the next game to love, and again secured the lead by winning the following game after a number of good rallies. Interest was now intense, but neither side could gain any decided advantage, the games alternating until the score read 8 all. Wallace and Dickie won the next game after losing the first two points, and led 9—B. In the final game, after a good rally, Sims found the net, but evened up with a pretty one over the net. The Waverley pair won the next two strokes, and then double fault was -called against Sims, but his opponents, considering the serve a good one, it was played again. Wallace and Dickie won the final point and the set and match 6—3, B—6, 4—6, 10—8. COMBINED CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES. The match between J. C. Nicholson and Miss Brewster and E. W. Griffiths and Miss McCormick was won by the New Plymouth pair by two straight sets. Miss Brewster and Nicholson won the first set, but their ppponents evened up on the second, the third going to the New Plymouth pair to love. The Auckland pair won the next two and led 3—2, but the next two sets were easily in faver of the local pair, their opponents only scoring one point. The Auckland double again evened the score with a love game, 4 all, but Miss Brewster and Nicholson won the next two garaes, and the set 6—4. In the second set the game alternated in the early stages, the score reading 3 all. From that point, however, the New Plymouth pair easily held the upper hand, and winning the next three comfortably, secured the set 6—3, and the match 6—4, 6—3. LADIES’ HANDICAP SINGLES. In the semi-final Miss Frethey, rec. 15, beat Miss McCormick, owe 50, by 7 games to 6, the winner being Ln doubt till the Jast stroke. In the finals Miss Frethey (Park) rec. 15, had a comfortable win over Mrs. Ryder (New Plymouth), by 7—l.

AUCKLAND v. TARANAKI. THE ANNUAL MATCH TO-DAY. The annual match between Taranaki and Auckland will be played on the New Plymouth Club’s courts to-day, play commencing at 9.30 a.tn. The teotXM a**/

TARANAKI. Men’s Doubles.—-Wallace and Dickie, Nicholson and Webster, Wybourne and Archer. Ladles’ Doubles.—-Misses Brewster and Runtile, Mrs. Smith and Miss Simpson. The combines will be paired as follows: Dickie and Miss Simpson, Nicholson and Miss Brewster, Wallace and Miss Rundle, Webster and Mrs. Smith. AUCKLAND. Men’s Doubles.—Robson and Sims, Griffiths and Snelling, Bartlett and Webster. Ladies' Doubles —Miss Payton and Mrs. Marshall, Miss Maofarlane and Miss McCormick. Combines. —Robson and Miss Macfarlane, Sims and Miss McCormick, Griffiths and Miss Payton, Bartlett and Mrs. Marshall. The Auckland team Is fully representative of that province, so that some high-class tennis should be witnessed.