LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 444, 1 March 1909, Page 3

LAWN TENNIS.

WELLINGTON DEFEATS CANTERBURY. EXCITING WIN BY PEACOCK AND FISHER. • (BY Imer-CLCD.) The annual interprovincial match was played between Wellington and Canterbury on Saturday, under most favourable circumstances, Wellington winning five rubbers to four, after a most exciting finish.; The matches were started at ten o'clock in the morning, and by the luncheon adjournment Canterbury had won the three matches played. When play was resumed at two o'clock a fair gathering of enthusiasts had assembled, and there was considerable excitement when Ollivier, Canterbury's promising young colt, beat Swanston, and it suddenly dawned upon the supporters of the local team that Canterbury led by four matches to one, and for' Wellington to be victorious the whole of the remaining matches would have to be secured by them. This was done, after some exciting contests, and the result was in doubt ( until the last stroke was played. The following are the results:— Singles.—Ollivier (C.) beat Swanston (W.), 5—6, 6—l, 7—5; Fisher (\V.) beat Goss(C.), 6—4,6—4; Peacock (W.) beat Quill (C.), 6—3, 6—4; Kiver (C.) beat Smythe- (W.), G—4, 4—G, G—4; Pearse (P.) beat Brown (W.), 6—l, 6-4. A third set, which was won by Brown 6—2, was unnecessarily played; Bonnington (C.)'beat Young (W.), G—s, 3—G, 7-5. Doubles.—Peacock and Fisher (W.) beat Goss and Kiver (CO, 6—l, -t—6, 10—S; Swanston and Brown (W.) beat Ollivier and Quill (C.), 6—t, 6—i; Young and Smythe (W.), bent Bonnington and Pearse (C.), G—s, 6 —i. In this match the third set was not necessary. Swanston made a wonderful recovery in his single against Ollivier, after the latter led 4—o in the first sot; Swanston took game after game, six in all, whilst his opponent took one. The second set went to the Canterbury man easily, his driving being hard and accurate and his head work extremely good. Swanston at times lapsed into soft p'ay. With a lead of 'I—2 in the concluding set tho Wellington man seemed to have it in his hands, but Ollivier came with redoubled force and evened at 5 all. The last two games, which went to Ollivier, were hotly contested, deuce being called six times before tho winner, made his winning shot —a beautiful drive which landed in tho corner on tho line. Goss was very willing, and responded vigorously to Fisher's continuous attack, and it was not until 4 all had been called in both sets that Wellington's most tactful player secured a victory. The match between Peacock and Quill was remarkable for some most brilliant rallies at the net, and although Peacock won two sets straight, Quill played a brilliant and resourceful game, 1, only .the winner's, great pace proving a stumbling block for him.at times. , i Kiver proved better than Sroytho on tho day's play, but the men played a most even game,. both lobbing well and driving with safety. After Kiver led 4 love in the third set, Smythe made a most determined effort, taking four games in succession, but tho effort was too much for him. Tho Canterbury man, going for his shot every time, won the next two games and set. . Brown disappointed his supporters by his play against Pearse, which was not by any meansup to his usual form. Pearse's strokes were forccful and well placed, and at times he out-manoeuvred his opponent.

Bonnington took the first set, 6—5, from Young, but it was anybody's set until the last stroke. Bonnington plays an attractive game, and has the accuracy almost of a Parker; in fact, many of his strokes are very like tha ■ex-New Zealand champion's. Young was good off the ground, and finding his gamo ran away with the second set. The deciding set saw Bonnington with the lead, 4—2, Young failing badly on overhead stuff, yet lie managed to oven at 4 all, and loci 5—4. Bonnington having had a bad lapse, Young then slackened, and the Christchurch man. with a spurt, took two games in succession, which meant set and match. Swanston and Brown, the latter playing quite up to liis form, made a splendid combination, beating that sterling pair, OHivier and Quill two sets straight. Canterbury took the lead in the first set, 4—l, but safe play on the part of Swanson, and some really dashing play of Brown's, enabled them to even and take the first set, 6—4. Wellington led s—l in the second set, when Swanston lost badlv on his service through making two double faults. Ollivier winning on his service and Brown failing on his, put Canterbury within striking distance, and a most determined struggle was madeVor the next game, which finally went to Wellington. Young and Smyths were pushed hard bv Bonnington and Pearse in the first set, but their better combination helped them through, ihe second set won by theui was due chiefly to Young s extreme accuracy in driving, anil binytue s excellent work generally. The result of the whole match res;cd on the Peacock and Fisher v. Goss and Kiver game. } a nd s—l5 —1 in the third set in favour of Canterbury it looked all over. Then lusher, who had been playing loosely and offhand in tins set, pulled himself together and ably backed up by his patnier took four games oli the reel,' making the score b all, amidst great excitement. The Canterbury pair, Who had been playing a safe game, made a dash and took the next game, Goss going for his shot and winning it outright at times. Each side won on their serve, and it was not until B all that Wellington secured the two final ffuo OS ' * meant set, match, and compeTlie teams dined; together at the Grand Hotel, and the visitors were given a hearty wh , en 11 th^ l left by the Hararca folr Ljttclton at 11 o clock on. Saturday night. A tennis match between the visiting delegates of the Methodist Conference and the trinity Church Tennis Club resulted in a win for the visitors by 36 games to 30, 3 sets each.'