LAWN TENNIS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 48, 25 February 1914, Page 7

LAWN TENNIS.

I AUCKLAND-TAEANAKI MATCH. ABANDONED THROUGH RAr>\ (By Our Special Representative.) Most of the members of the representative team returned this morning from their trip, to New l'lyinouth. The match, which was -to have been played yesterday, was, unfortunately, marred by bad weather, thiß being tbe first time for many years it has not been played out. Early In the afternoou. when Auckland was leading by 7 mutches to G, a heavy mm set in, which ! made play impossible, although for some j lime several players battled on in the wet j trying to finish their respective games, ine , courts were in fair condition, but the grass 1 was rather long, and rain during the night i caused them to be very slow, at times the J ball hardly bouncing more than a few ; inihte. This was a great handicap to ] some of the players, especially Wallace, Miss Gray, and Gold Smith. A feature of the match was the unexpected defeat of the New Zealand champions, Dickie and ■ Wallace, by Dr. McCutcheon and Gold Smith; also the defeat of Miss Gray by ! Miss Brewster. By a singular coincidence jtbe winning shots in both these matches i were made practically at the - same moment, i In the men's singles Wallace easily upheid his title against MeCuDcheon. although the latter played very well. Wallace's passing shots down the side lines were not to be denied, and when ho got a ball to volley he generally won the stroke outright. 'Wallace seems to he getting even better in some dep:irtments of the game, playiDg his shots much quicker and harder. His i driving at times la much more severe than any of the other leading players. This ■ match was played mostly in the rain, which was a great pity, because on a dry I court the game would have been well worth watching. Dr. Keith could make no headway against Dickie, who was playing a fine forcing game, and like his clubI mate Wallace, had a great liking for the chalk on the side lines. Nicholson played I a sure game against Gold-Smith, the lowbouncing balls causing the latter to find I the net time and again, off easy shots. ■SncUing beat Thompson T>y playing hJs usual i hustling game. The Taranakl player is a I young player of great promise, possessing ja very pretty backhand shot. Suelling's fine service was responsible ror many ; points in his favour; and considering his ' good play all throught I am glad be was given a chan-ce to show his worth. I Miss Brewster carried off greiit honours in the ladles' singles by defeating Miss ! Gray, the New Zealand champion, and after i the match was given a great shout of applause, us much from her opponents as anyone, for they all knew what a hard player she had to beat. Although Miss Gray was feeling the effects of her trip; it was a pity she could not have got down with the other ladies last Thursday. The slow court \ suited Miss Brewster immensely, as she has a slight drag on all her shots, which caused the ball to shoot away at great angles. Miss Gray, who Hkos "a bouncing bail, had the same difliculty as other but tier opponent played a reaily fine game, and fully deserved her win. Mrs. Cooper's volleying was a great asset in her match with Mrs. r*earco, the latter lady evidently not being used to such severe shots as Mrs. Cooper was playing. Mlse 1 Rarstow and Miss Uundle had a real dingdong go, the Aucklunder playing many fine I shots, and her opponent showing great steadiness, nnd never letting a ball go without having a good try for it. The match took a long while, and both ladies are to be commended for the way they Ktuck to it to the last shot. The first two sets were very close, the scores being o—7, 7—9; but in tbe last set Miss Baretow. who was driving well, and using her head at the same time, won out at o—2.

The first men's doubles between the N.Z. champions, Dickie and Wallace, and our local players. Dr. McOitcbeon and Goltl Smith, w-as a fine exhibition of tennis, although the Turanaki men were not playing their usually deadly game. The light, which was very dull, seemed to puzzle Wallace, who consequently did not get as close to the not as usual, for fear of not sighting the ball in time; so the Auoklanders, who did not seem to mind the light, took the opportunity of getting In as quick as possible. In the first set McCutcheon and Gold Smith started off with a rush, and secured the first three games before their opjKinents started to score Dickie, and Wallace .ire noted for being slow starters, so no one was greatly surprised at fhpnn losing the first set, 4 —6. In the second set the Auckland players started to make mistakes, and their opponents coming on with their usnaJ rush, carried the set easily at G—2. The lasl set was the one really productive of good tennis, for It was give and take all the way. The Auoklandcrs ame on again with a great rush, both serving extremely well and making good openings for one anotner at the net.

Gold Smifh tvs serving with much more pace tlian usual, and generally got bis opponents' return right Into his hands nt tlie net. where he w;ls able to win aji ace with a hard volley across court or down the side line. At this stage of the game tlio Taranaki men would have done better if the.v had tried Jobbing, but they did not seem to think »f this; if they had it might have upset the Auckland«rs" gamp, for they would have been forced further back. Mr-CTrtcheon's smashing was a treat to watch, several winning smashes being made from well back over the service line. When play vms stopped. Misses Oorrie, Steele, and Macformick were each playing rb-eir singles, nili, from the way they were playing, should have win ttreir respective events. Auckland players mentioned first. MEWS SINGLES. McOutchcon lost to Wallace. I—R. 3—fi: Keith lost to Dickie. 2—<S. 2—fi: OoldSmith Inst to Nicholson, 4 — (J. 2—6: Snelling beat Thompson, o—2. n—7. LAJHES" SIW>I/ES. Wiss Gray lost to >Ilss Brewster. 6—4, 4 —6, 4 —6: Mrs. Cooper be'it Mrs. Penree, r —». 6—o: Miss noxsto-w beat Miss Rundle. 0 2. 7—o, C—2. MBX'S r>Ot'BLBS. IMcTntchcon and fJold-Smith beat Dickie and Wallace, o—4. 2—6. 7—r>: Brown and Ttobson lost to Nicholson and Webster, 6—3, I—6, 2—G. LADIES' DOEiBL/ES. Mrs Cooper and Miss Steele beat Miss Simpson and Miss Thomson, β-l. β-i Miss r.arsrow and Miss MaeConrack beat Mrs rearcp and Miss -Cross, G—2, 6—o. ___ COMBINED DOUBLES. Brown and Miss Gorrie lost to Wallace and Miss Rundle, -I—6, 5—7. Miss Steele nnd SneHing beat Miss Simpson and Griffiths, 6— i. 7—3.