LAWN TENNIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 57, 7 March 1936, Page 21

LAWN TENNIS.

THE CLUB FINALS. CARO CUP TO BEMUERA. EDEN AND EPSOM WINS SECOND GRADE. (By HALF-VOLLEY.) Sunny weather last Saturday saw the first anil second grade finals played at Stanley Street. Eain stopped play later in the afternoon, but the matches were already decided before the first drops fell, and the rain was not so heavy as to have- necessitated a stoppage of play if the position had still been in doubt in either contest. In the first grade final, played for the possession of the Caro Memorial Cup, Remuera was successful in regaining the trophy from Eden and Epsom, who had held it for one season. In the past seasons Remuera has held the cup ten times, and Eden and Epsom six times, the two clubs being bracketed equal once, in the 1923-4 season. This record shows how much the playing strength of Auckland tennis is concentrated in the two clubs. Indeed, one can go further and remark that only once since the war has the final of the first grade not been fought out between Eden and Epsom and Remuera: this was about 1924, when University defeated Eden and Epsom in the semi-final and contested the final with Remuera. It should be added, however, that the University team which reached the final on that occasion was, except for A. C. Stedman, composed entirely of members of the Eden and Epsom Club who hud elected to play for 'Varsity against their old club, Remuera's Strong Singles Team. Commenting on the actual matches, one must first remark 011 the extraouiinary solidity of the Remuera singles team. Admittedly Eden and Epsom were without A. D. Brown and J. T. Mayson, ard also without Miss J. E. Ramsay, but Remuera, winning five out of the first six matches played, put the issue at once beyond any serious doubt. N. G. Sturt played well in the single against Wilson, winning G —4, 6 —4. In the clou') I ', partnered by the vigorous and agile Porter, Sturt played brilliant tennis, ;.iid was absolutely safe all the time. They defeated the Wilson brothers 6—4, 6—2, with a really excellent display of / . the doubles game. E. L. Bartleet, playing No. 2, kept just ahead of John Wilson in the first set, and then forged ahead more comfortably in the second, to win 6—5, 6—2. Alan Porter and P. E. Potter, in the fourth single, as might be expected, had a marathon. With a set in Porter led 5—3 and 40—15, and all looked over; but this is the sort of position Potter really relishes, and he pulled up to 5-ail, where, after saving two more match points, he won the set. Porter was not to be denied in the third set, however. S. J. Robinson and J. L. Stevens were next on the court, playing the third single. This was the most interesting of the singles matches played, and produced patient and courageous tennis. Stevens opened confidently and won the first set,' and then had s—l in the second before Robinson, always ■ courageous, struck a patch and delighted the Remuera barraekers by coming from behind to win the set. The first stages of the third set were stubbornly fought, but then, as was the case in the Potter-Porter match, the winner of the first set regained the lead, and Stevens won at 6—2 in the coneluding set. Miss Stewart Plays Well. Playing first for Eden and Epsom in the absence of Miss J, E. Ramsay, Miss E. Stewart lived "up to her reputation by taking a set from Miss Marjorie Macfarlane and running her close (G —4) in the third. Miss B. Knight and Miss R. Taylor played a hard-fought single, in which both girls played attractive tennis. Both players chased balls more than usual and retrieved angles in the most determined mainer, and the third set, won by Miss Taylor at 7—5, saw many long rallies. Neither ladies' double was finished. each being abandoned with one set each way. In the men's doubles Sturt and Porter, as was mentioned above, were far too good on the day for Wilson and Wilson. In the second double Eden and Epsom had its second win, A. C. Johns and Stevens beating Bartleet and Robinson very comfortably. The third match was unfinished, Partridge and Milne having a set in on Turner and Potter, and the score being 2-all in the second set when the ram came down. Only one mixed double was played, Miss Betty Griffiths and Partridge scoring a good win over Miss Whitelaw and Turner, an old combination. Miss Griffiths was in her most reliable mood, and her steadiness gave Partridge a chance to dominate the match with attractive volleying and severe smashing. Second Grade To Eden And Epsom. Starting the second half of the second grade final with a defiicit of 4—:> against Hallyburton Johnstone, Eden and Epsom, playing on grass, made up the leeway and, by winning seven matches to two, with one unfinished, carried off the second grade pennant for the season. Playing in the men's singles W. Goocli defeated C. Anderson 6—o, 6—l, though he had lost to the same player in straight sets on the hard courts at Windmill Road the previous Saturday. A. Lemon repeated the previous Saturday's win over Copsey. In the ladies' singles Mrs. Hay (Hallyburton Johnstone) repeated her win over Miss M. Hall, and must be congratulated \ on this performance, since Eden and Epsom recognise Miss Hall as one of their most improved junior players. Miss P. Cooke evened the ladies' matches by winning over Mrs. Rose All the doubles matches were won by Eden- and Epsom, with the exception of the 6econd ladies' double. The method of playing the junior finals on two Saturdays, one on hard courts and one on grass, is a definite success, and there is no doubt that it has come to stay. The unfairness of any other method of deciding the results is seen by a reference to the scores in this particular match. If the first Saturday's play alone is considered, Hallyburton Johnstone are the winners by 6 matches and 13 sets to 4 matches and 9 sets. If the second Saturday's play only is taken, the result is decisively reversed, Eden and Epsom winning by 7 matches and 17 sets to 2 matches and 4 sets. Surely the "added" results, where Eden and Epsom win bv the smaller margin of 11 matches and 26 sets to 8 matches and 17 sets is preferable, and a truer indication of the merits of the respective sides.