INTERPROVINCIAL TENNIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 286, 3 December 1925, Page 6

INTERPROVINCIAL TENNIS.

ANTHONY WILDING SHIELD MATCH. js ' ■ AUCKLAND. V. CAXTEEBURY.. Tlie clre'f interprovincial tennis fixture in ±\ew Zealand tennis is: the-compete tion for the Wilding Shield, established in the memory of that great New Zealander who held the world's championship at the time he met with his death in action in France. Probably, the contest is. not so well known to. Aucklanders as it is to southerners, by reason of the fact that the shield has been heli so long by the Canterbury Association From a sentimental point of view ii was originally handed to the Canterbury Association, whose headquarters,.are,a' .Christchurch, where the late. Anthony Wilding's parents reside, and.where this great-player first learnt, his tennis. It is a condition of the rules governing the contest that the match must be played on tiie holder's ground, unless otherwise mutually arranged. Our local representatives have competed for it at Christchurch on two occasions, and other associations have also endeavoured to secure the custody of the trophy, but it waJ only last "year, when the Canterbury team was in Auckland for the New Zea* land championship meeting, that "| 9 original holders were beaten. On tins occasion this southern association sportinglv acceded to the request of •Wβ Aucklanders to play the match away from home.-despite the fact that that full strength was not available! ."p 9 New Zealand Championships are Ming held at Christehurch this year, andwhen a request came that Auckland, the B re ' sent holders, should play Canterbury ott their own ground, the latter'Mportsman sir p was remembered, and it * a decided to play or forfeit the trophyThi> diaplav of sportsmanship is wortflv of both associations, and makes for »>i that is host and worth while in spon. Tlir. Auckland team will not be at «■ full strength as several of the w> olavers are not available, notably a-" Robson and 11. Brinsden, who *?' finalists At the last Auckland champion--hip*. Tlip selection committee. Messr. Barllo-t. Ooldie nnd Thomson, has ** and nicl-M the following team:— The Wilding Shield team will MF. L. Bartleet. E .W. Griffiths, A. 0. Johns, and L. Knott. Emergency: A. °- Lamb. , , ■_„«,•,.. Bartleet and Griffiths are ****"?*. clalisti. whilst A. C. Johns has *£ amongst the first-class players for *>» Years. H. L. Knott first came Jg prominence in school showed ud prominently last yea: « New Zealand ehamnionsMP* ana ceedod in winnmg the -onslilp P<min*t a strong fid » rf Easter. The emergency is cliamp.on. the TarncH Club.