LAWN TENNIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 37, 13 February 1929, Page 14

LAWN TENNIS.

SATURDAY'S GAMES.

PROSPECTIVE WELLINGTON MATCH

(By HALF-VOLLEY, i

Ths season seems likely to be one to be remembered for some time, for the number of matches against players from abroad and from other parts of New Zealand. Having already seen the j English players in action in the early part of the season, followed by the New Zealand championships at Christinas, Auckland enthusiasts will very probably be treated to inter-association matches next Saturday, the 10th, and the following Saturday, the 23rd. Next Saturday Auckland plays Waikato at Stanley Street, and it is to be hoped that the local association will put a strong team into the field. It is not yet known who will constitute the Waikato team. The following Saturday, if present negotiations are successful, will see a first-class contest when Auckland will meet Wellington. The Capital City's team is considered by many competent critics to be the strongest in New Zealand, and if Malfroy, Wilson and the brothers France come up with the team, a large crowd should be seen at Stanley Street on Saturday week. It is hoped that ladies' matches and combined doubles will also be played; Mrs. Adams, Miss Tracy, Miss Nicholls, Mrs. Melody and Miss Howe proved a strong quintet at the New Zealand championships, and would take some beating as a team. Wilding Shield Match. The overwhelming defeat of Canterbury (challengers) by Wellington (holders f in the Wilding* Shield match last Friday and Saturday, though the match was played on the challengers' courts, shows the high standard of play at present prevailing in Wellington. Of the Canterbury team, Ivan Scay, who lias now apparently recovered from the illness from which he was suffering earlier in the season, was the only [(layer to score a win. He won both his singles matches, defeating Don France on Friday and beating Malfroy on the second day in straight sets. Angas, on the other hand, was beaten by both France and Malfroy. Seay's beautiful style makes him a most attractive player to watch, for he has the natural gracefulness which characterises the play of so many left-handers. His performance against Wellington must place him fairly high in any ranking list issued this season. University's Defeat. The absence of Alan Stedman from the University A grade team playing Eden and Epsom on Saturday proved disastrous to the students, who should probably have won, but by a narrow margin, with Stedman in the team. Stedman, who is in camp at Narrow Neck, was unfortunate in being unable to obtain leave from the military authorities. Eden and Epsom won by six matches to four, and will now play the winner of Parnell v. Remuera in the final. Eden arid Epsom were particularly successful in the ladies' matches, in which department they won three out of the four matches.

The first men's singles saw A. M. Nicholson defeat Morrison after a strenuous contest. Nicholson led 4 —3 and 40—15 in the first *et, and seemed! likely to secure a useful lead at o —:{, but Morrison took eight points in a row and led f> —4, finally winning the set (i—4. In the second and third sets Nicholson's persistent volleying gradually broke up Morrison's driving game, and the University player ran out G—l in the third set. While Nicholson did not appear to be volleying with quite the severity which used to mark his kill shots, he was exceedingly accurate and showed his usual cleverness in anticipation of his opponent's passing shots. V. K. Johns defeated Hubble in a fairly even contest, in which Hubble was too erratic to use his winning shots to advantage. Johns lost the second set, but wan too steadv for Hubble in the third. Miss Ramsay used her chop-shot throughout her single against Miss Pat

Miller, who seemed to be troubled by the gusty wind. Miss Ramsay, uii the other hand, showed her resourcefulness l»y using the wind to make her heavily (hopped strokes more difficult than ever. Miss Kamsay never looked like losing, and ran out comfortably in straight sets. Miss D. Miller could do nothing right against Miss Newton, who only needed to be steady and J let her opponent make till the mistakes. Miss Miller was decidedly not on her best game, and allowed Miss Newton to win easily at (i —0, C> —4.

In the men's doubles the Eden and Epsom pairs, Morrison and A. (_'. Johns and Rowlands and V. K. Johns, both won their matches ill straight sets, and in the combined doubles the 'Varsity pairs won both matches. 'Varsity's second ladies' doubles. Misses Whitelaw and Mueller, were far too strong for Misses Griffin and Knott, but their first strings, Misses Miller and Miller, were unable to rise to the standard necessary to defeat Misses Ramsay and Newton, who scored their second win each in defeating the University girls in two sets. The Grade Matches. Remuera. were successful in both B grade matches. Their tirst B team beat Onehunga easily by eight matches to two. Their win here was generally anticipated, but their second team had an unexpectedly easy victory over the University team, who were without the services of K. North and A. H. McDonald, who were both in cam]), University having to rely in consequence on two of their C grade team. J. Stedman's win over Lucas is interesting as reversing the result ill the Auckland championship, when the All Black won. Milne did well to beat Andrews, who has some good performances to his credit. The ladies' matches were all won by Remuera, Miss Batty, in her combined double with Spencer, being the only 'Varsity lady to score a win. Ladder Matches. An interesting ladder match was played last week, when N. T. Sturt challenged E. \V. Griffiths for the third place on the Auckland ladder, Griffiths won, f>—4, 4 —(i, «i—2. Griffiths has been playing very well this season. His showing against Bartleet in the Auckland championships, when taken together with this match, shows him still to be one of the best singles players in Auckland, and quite worthy of the position he at present holds on the ladder.

Other ladder results to hand are as follow: Rowlands beat Watkins, ti—o, <i—4. Martin beat Chalmers, ti—4, <i —2. Hubble beat Briiisden by default. Miss Potter beat Miss Napier by default. Miss E. Miller beat Miss Marion Macfarlanc, 15—4, 2—(i, <S—4. Mrs. Herrick and Miss Frankham beat Misse-s Potter and Feainley, (> -2, 6—:!. On the junior ladder Forbes beat Hooper, 4—C, (s— l, «— i.

AUCKLAND ASSOCIATION. LADDER MATCHES PLAYED. The following matches have been played in connection with the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association's ladder competition :— Men's Singles.—<i. Martin beat C. C. Chalmers, • >—4, «—•_»; K. W. (irifflths heat \. Stnrt. li■— 4. 4—(i. o—•>.0 — •>. ; V. N. Hubble beat H. Hrlnsden by default. Junior Singles.—\V. l>. Forbes beat A. S. Hooper. 4—f>, <> —1, t; -4. Ladies' Singles.—Miss M. Potter beat Miss M. Napier by default : Miss K. Miller beat Miss Marion Macfarlaiie, o—4, 2 —(>. (J —4. Ladies' Doubles.— Mrs. Herrick and Miss P. Frankhum beat Misses Potter and Fearnley. t> -:.'. t> —:{. and bent Misses Whitelaw and Mueller, (i —4, O—JJ.0 —JJ. WAIiIATO RANKING LIST. MORRINSVILLE. Tuesday. The following ranking lists have been issued by the match committee of the Waikato Lawn Tennis Association :-- Men.— J. T. Lull ren son (Matamata). A. M. Sims (Hamilton). (.;. Brough (Hamilton), <;. <;rant (Apnnilll, C Stevenson (Hamilton I. A. C. Thompson (Putarurii), A. E. McCracken (Hamilton). A. Bassett (Matamata). D. Seymour (Hamilton). J. Cates (Hamilton). W. \. Robinson (Cambridge). A. T. James (Hamilton). Ladies.—Miss X. Beverley (Matomara). Mrs. Waters (Hamilton). Miss E. Newell (Hamilton), Mrs. A. E. McCracken (Hamilton). Mrs. Johnson (Te Kuiti), Miss McPherson (Taumariiniii). Mrs. Mander (Hamilton). Miss E. Madeley (Hamilton). Miss I. Kruce (Hamilton). Miss W. Worrall (Hiintly). Miss M. Beverley (Matamata), Miss J. Bell (Pirongia).