LAWN TENNIS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 222, 16 September 1905, Page 12

LAWN TENNIS.

■ . .... (From Our Special Correspondent.) " LOXDOX, August I, Norman Brookes met with ret (a. 1 other reverse last Saturday at Edgbaston. this time at the hands of Mr S. Smith, the Gloucester player, who mafle such a gallant fi#ht with the Australian in the final round of the All-comers Com. petition at Wimbledon. Brookes ia a through the preliminary rounds of tie Midland Championship, and in the semi-final settled the pretensions of a clever player in G. H. Hillyard by tm» sets to one at C—3, 2 —(5, 6—2, fcnj he caught a tarter in Smith. Playin* a brilliant and safe game the Gloucester crack won the first set at 15—1J after a particularly exciting series' of games, and took the second at 6-jfc. Brookes then made a big effort to retrieve his fortunes, and after "four all™ managed to win at 6—4. The final set was exciting, but finding the net rather frequently Brookes lo?t it at 6 —4, and the match and chaiupion.shiji by 3 sets to 1, and 31 games to' 27. ' The result bears out my remarks con-' cerning the chances of the game last week. Both fit and well there is very little to choose between Brookes and Smith, but the latter is a much mote. ; consistent tennis player, his "off" diya \ being few and far between, whereas 1 Brookes is seldom caught at his best two or three days running. . ! Brookes and Dnnlop are both engag;ed in the Northumberland tournament I now in progress, and have each suirircd three rounds in the Gentlemen's Singles, their respective opponents being quite unable to extend them. Brookes' screw shots in partic-nlar have greatly bothered his opponents wlo hare all failed to win a single set against him. Later the Australians. have tougher material to force for S. H. Smith, G. W. Hillyard and W. V. Eaves are among the survivors. * In the Mixed Doubles Brookes and Mrs Hillyard were opposed in the first round to Dunlop and .Miss Kendall. Tnt latter pair put up a really good fight against superior metal, and were only, beaten 6 — t, B—6 after a most exerting ! match.