LAWN TENNIS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 258, 4 December 1914, Page 11

LAWN TENNIS.

THE JUNIOR CONTEST. The following tabic shows the final jpositions of the Junior A grade teams iwhose competition was concluded on Saturday, by Opawa winning the shield by half a point from St. Albans, with ISouth Christehurch another . half -point behind, third. ; Won. Lost. Drawn, i Opawa ■•-'.. . . 5 0> 1 St. Albans . . 5 1 ... . 0 . S. Christehurch 4 1 1 : : Avonside : . . 3 3 0 Addington ... 2 4 0 • Oantby. College 1 5 0 Lirtvvood . . . . 0 6 0 OPAWA'S VICTORY. A Opawa's success against St. Albans was well-deserved, for the individual" players have worked hard to attain the desired result, and their play has certainly been superior to that of any bther team in the competition. In last Saturday's game they showed a mark-, ied superiority to St. Albans in almost every department of the game. Garland's steadiness was the main factor in his defeat of Baiues, but the veteran was hardly at the top of his form. His low drives were not relished by his opponent, who, in attempting to score off them, invariably; found the net. Even/' so, the St. Albans man played one of-his best, games of the-season, and he is improving. ■ There ; was little to choose between Henley arid O'Gorinell, and the foriher fully deserved his win. He has a muck; fetter variety of scoring shots than has O'Connell, who is decidedly weak on his back hand, arid relies almost entirely on a fore-hand drive to T win his aces. Meredith-Kaye created a surprise by his decisive victory against Harman, who is much the more experienced player. The St. Albans player gave liis best exhibitiion of the season to date, and he is To be congratulated on his success. Like most of the others engaged in the competition, he should make a point of developing his backhand strokes, which at present are decidedly, weak. Willis' was in goo& : form against Fisher, and registered a decisive win the St. Albans veteran. Willis has a' nice free style, and is one of the most promising, players in the competition. In the Addington v. South Christehurch match the scores were very : even, South Christchureh winning by the narrow, mar--gln of brie game. Avonside had no~difficultjHri securing a very comfortable win.' against Linwood, the Linwobd team being in the unfortunate position of not having won a single set in the whole, competition.' '•■'■'. N.S.W. v, VICTORIA. The New South Wales v. Victoria contest, played on the Albert Ground in the final of the annual..championship; tournament,; sKoWed scoi-es as follow:—v - >, '■:'■' Singles Matches.-—A. B. Jones (N.S.W.) beat. A. O'Hara-Wood (Vic), 2-6, G-l r 6-3; A. B. Jones beat Patterson, 6-1, 6-1-j M. H. Marsh beat A. O'Hara-Wood, 1-6, 6-3,, 6-4; M. H. Marsh lost to Patterson, 4-6, 2-6; W. A. Clark beat Campbell, 6-4,. 6-4; W. A.. Clark beat P. O'Hara-Wood, 7-5, 2,6, 6t3; H. M; Rice beat Campbell,. 6-4, 8-6; H. M. Riee lost to P. O 'HaraWood, 4-6, 6-3,4-6; N.. Peach lost to Weritheim, 0-6, 1-6;, N. .Peaeh lost to Raws, ! 7-5, 3-6, 3-6; J. B. Metcalfe lost to Wertheim, 6-4, 2-6, 2-6; J. B. Metcalfe lost to Raws, 2-6, 3-6. Victoria, 6 rubbers 15 sets 141 games; New South Wales, 6 rubbers 15 sets 125) games. . Doubles Matches.—Peach and Jones (N.S.W.) beat Campbell and Patterson (Vic), 6-4, 6-8, 7-5; Peach and Jones jbeat Wertheim and Raws, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4; I Peach and Jones beat Wood and Wood, [6-3, 3-6, 6-3; Marsh and Metcalfe lost |to Wood and Wood, 4-6, 8-6, 3-6; Marsh and Metcalfe lost to Campbell and Patterson, 4-6, 4-6; Marsh and Metcalfe lost to Wertheim and Raws, 3-6, 2-6; Clark and Rice beat Wertheim and Raws, 6-2, 11-9; Clark and Riee lost to Wood and Wood, 4-6, 4-6; Clark and Rice lost to Campbell and Patterson, 8-6, 6-3. New South Wales, 11 rubbers 26 sets 245 games; Victoria, 10 rubbers 26 seta 256 games. The Sydney ''Daily Telegraph," in commenting on the play, says that the singles matches were strenuous, principal honours falling to A. B. Jones and Clark. Patterson failed lamentably against Jones, who merely played the ball, softly back to him, enticing him to a succession of errors. Marsh experienced quite a different Patterson and found him serving and sriiashing in irresistible fashion. Patterson's service is a revelation. It is uh- ! doubtedly the best service in Australasia '• at the present time, and is even more deadly than that of Brookes. He wins; more of his serviee aces outright, without - his opponent being able to touch the ball, than any other player here. Metcalfe and Peach were a disappointment in filling the last places* in the team, both being defeated in turn by Raws and Wertheim. Jones in the doubles again distinguished himself. He and Peach met the brothers O 'Hara-Wood and won the first set, but Peaeh suffered several bad lapses in the second set, and they were beaten. In the third set Peach still appeared overanxious, but Jones was exceptionally " good, and after the games had run to 3 all . Peach steadied and gave Jones a better opportunity to attack, with the result that they secured the set. It was a great performance. Each side had won 10 rubbers, arid only one remained to be played. The. excitement was intense when Patterson, and Campbell, Victoria's leading pair, started against Rice and Clark. , - ; The grandstands round the Davis Cup court of 1908 seated a large attendance that burst into volleys of applause at every piece of bright play. The first set - was a great fight. Patterson served and smashed with marvellous severity, while . Rice and Clark made many wonderful re-, ,; coveries yards outside the lines, and tossed ; back with excellent length. Victoria had : secured a lead of five games to three, when Clark won his next service, and the New .. South Wales pair then got the best ,of Patterson for the first time and drew level at five games each. After six all .Mew South Wales again secured Clark's imd Patterson 's services, and won the set. The second set was a determined battle, but • the New South Wales pair wore the Victorians down by combining judicious toss- • iug with fine driving.. This set, carrying with it the interstate match, was won by New South Wales amidst a scene of en- - thusiasnv