OUR SPECIAL INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS

Press, Volume L, Issue 8676, 28 December 1893, Page 5

OUR SPECIAL INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS

FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDFNTS «*_ AUCKLAND NOTES. December 27. The Auckland team of cricketers is certainly weak in batting, and general regret is expressed that such men as Gardiner, ArneU, Yates, and Williams are unable to accompany the team. In bowling, however, they are very strong, all, the beat talent being available; in fact from the abundance of bowlers at his disposal R. L. Holle (who has been chosen captain) will, have some difficulty in choosing his changes if he requires & fast trundler to relieve Kallender. Auckland has two good tricky bowlers in Neil and Jacobs, while Kallender, Stevenson, L&wson, Lundon, Mills, and Moresby are six fast bowlers, who have all captured wickets at a small expense for their various clubs, and any of them are class enough to bowl in an interprovincial contest. Mills is the crack batsman, and the Aucklauders expect to hear of him making some respectable scores in the South. Neill, Kaliender, King, Fowke, and Howßon on their present form should also render a good account of themselves with the bat. HoTie should cause some trouble with his long reach, and take some of the sting out of the bowling; Holle .should go first to the wickets, with Mills. If the Southern fields men are kind to Lundon he will pile on the runs at a fast rate. Although MacCorraick has done nothing to speak of this season he is a valuable batsman, for he . has a happy knack of making runs when they are most wanted. Stemson has shown his best batting on Southern wickets, and cricketers will remember his grand display against Canterbury at Lancaster Park in 1890. It was the best innings that Stemson has ever played. Neither Moresby nor Jacobs have been batting consistently this season, but both are likely to make a score at any time. The defeat of J. M. Marshall by Hooper, the champion of Auckland, in the tennis tournament was a general surprise. An account of the match is sure to be of interest to the Christchurch public. This event commenced under the most favourable circumstances as far as the weather and the ground were concerned. Hooper was first to serve, and scored against Marshall off the first stroke. Hooper kept the lead till the end of the game, his opponent only winning one stroke. In the next game Marshall made several j faults, and appeared to serve rather wildly, which gave Hooper, who played steadily and surely, a second game, and that a love one. The Christchurch man now appeared to warm to his work, and got off with a good lead in - the following game, bub Hooper pulled up rapidly and deuce was called more than once, Marshall eventually securing the win. His brilliant smashes and swift serves also secured for him the next, making the score two games all. The next game was full of interest, and was remarkable for fine play on both sides. With the game at deuce the Auckland man failed to serve, and an unplayable return by Marshall secured for him the game. Now for the-first time the lead went to Christchurch, but Hooper's brilliantly steady play put the two on even cerms. Again Marshall shot" to the front, but Hooper winniug two games in succession with a splendid spurt, once more wrested advantage from him amid the loud applause of the intensely interested spectators. The excitement increased ; wliien Marshall challenged his opponent for the premier position once again, and succeeded in getting abreast of him, the game standing 6 all, which made an 5 advantage 6et necessary. The Aucklander's cool and precise play told upon his opponent, and he won the next two games and the set, 7—5, amid very lie'arty cheeriug. Marshall the second set well, his strong smashes and serves winning for -him the first two games. Hooper, However, responded gamely, his rieti play telling heavily on hie antagonist. Though nearly all the rallies were f of Unusual length, Marshall only won one more game, Hooper annexing the set, 6*—3. The 'excitement now ran wry high, for another se6' j .to; Hooper would give him the match, but Marshall determined that such a termination must not be. Theyeach won agamefor commencement, and thea the Southerner beat bis opponent almost right through the set wtuch he won, 6- —2, the score being the beat of any eet in the match. The next set- , proved as great a struggle as the first,.each playing all he knew and having resort.to every expedient. Almost every was applauded and the score mounted up evenly, and slowly uutil 5 all was called, meaning another advantage set. Marshall theil'made a great effort, and equalised matters by securing the set 7—5, just as Hooper had done, the first. As the next set was to decide the match the excite-" ment grew apace and each player strained every nerve. . No;he could fail to admire the brilliant vigour of Marshall's handling of the racquet, but, Hooper's steady persistence bore down all opposition. He won the set 6—4 and with it the match, amidst loud and edntiuued"'"cheering. To show how keen and even was the contest, it is only necessary to add up the games won by each, Hooper 26 atid Marshall 25, which shows that the victor only secured one game more than the vanquished out of the fifty-one played. Tho features of Hooper's pUy were his. steady returns, his clever placing, his fine net play, and his driving whenever the opportunity offered. He gob in some splendid diives, and generally he played like a book. It was quite apparent at various times throughout the.match that Marshall was not at his best, and certainly he did nob play up to his reputation, indeed his friends say they have never seen him play worse. Althougu his serving* was vigorous, and 'thought every now and then he gave a ■'■■'wonderfully '.fine dieplay of teunis, as if to show of what he was really capable, yet on tne whole his play was careless. He made several double faults, and for some unaccountable reason he seemed to throw' away some of his best opportunitiea. Hooper's;' yietory is nevertheless a highly creditable performance, and his victory is one of which he may be justly proud. The match was one oi the finest ever played in New Zealand. Marshall held his opponent too cheap at the outset, which gave Hooper an advantage which was never wiped oub. ,