LAWN TENNIS "

Evening Post, Volume LXXVII, Issue 99, 28 April 1909, Page 9

LAWN TENNIS "

■ ♦ SYDNEY CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING. MISS NUNNELEY DEFEATED. SYDNEY, 27th April. The tennis championships were continued to-day. In the ladies' doubles Misses S. and D. Gordon beat Misses Travers and Gray (New Zealand), 6—4, 2—6, 6—4.6 — 4. In the ladies' singles Miss Stewart (Victoria) beat Miss Nunneley (New Zealand), after a fine game, 6—3,6 — 3, 4—6,4 — 6, 6—3. Miss Powdrell (New Zealand) beat Miss Lee, 6— 2, 6—o. DAVIS CUP MATCHES. PROPOSED NEW GOVERNING BODY. SYDFEY, 27th April. The council of the Lawn Tennis Association discussed at great length the proposals relating to the management of the Davk Cuj> matches* in Australia. The following resolutions were carried, and the meeting adjourned to a later date :—: — , That this association, is agreeable to the appointment of a separate council, representing the States of the Commonwealth and New Zealand, for the purpose of arranging, sanctioning, or controlling international matches. That the number of delegates to such council shall be on a proportional basis, calculated on the respective populations, while Australia, with New Zealand, shall be regarded for the purposes of such contests as a separate nation. The profits shall bo reserved for international matches. That in the event of any alteration in the regulations for the international lawn, tennis championship, so as to constitute New Zealand a separate nation, no such alteration should become operative while Australasia remains as at present the champion nation, and nothing should afreet the present position of the Australasian Association as the organisation of the champion nation. That the regulations governing such council be agreed on by the Australasian Association and the New Zealand Asso- 1 ciation. THE LADIES' TEAM IN AUS- ' TRALIA. 'MARTYRS TO SEA-SICKNESS. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, 24th April. After the hearty send-off given to the team when it left Wellington, the girls felt equal to anything. But a head wind and a choppy sea on Saturday morning altered the whole complexion of affaiTS. All the team suffered more or less from sea -sickness, and for one day at least nobody cared who won the inter-State match. Miss Nunneley was the first to make her appearance on deck, .and was followed the next day by Misses Travers and Wefiwood. Misses Ward and Powdrell were among the missing until Monday, aud Miss Gray was not seen until the Riverina was alongside the Sydney Wharf. • . Messrs. Dunlop, Hicks, and Rudder met the boat, welcomed the team, and escorted them to their home in Mac-quarie-street. OFFICIAL RECEPTION. The team was taken out to the Double Bay courts on Tuesday afternoon, where they had some practice. During the afternoon tlie team was officiaUy received and welcomed by the president, Mr. Danlop, and Mr. Colquhoun, who said it was an event in New South Wales' tenm's history having the New Zealand and Victorian teams in Sydney at the same time. Mr. James, of Masterton, in a very merry speech, thanked the New South Wales Association on behalf of the New Zealand ladies' team. The girls practise hard each day, and have just about got over the motion of the boat. Skipping ropes, which were taken on board, were never even unwrapped. INTER-STATE MATCH. The ladies' inter-State match between New South Wales and Victoria resulted in a win for New South Wales. The first Victorian ladies' doubles are very strong; both ladies play a good solid game, and both expert at volleying ; in fact, all the Australian ladies are good at overhead work, and they place most accurately. Their length of drive is not so good as that of the New Zealand girls, nor do they appear to have the same strng in their drives ; but they get over the courts well and keep a sharp angle on their returns, and are up at the net on every occasion. The foot fault rule does not seem to be observed much by the ladies here; in fact, some of them ignore it in a way that quite astonishes our team. Lineumpires seem to be quite unknown in the inter-State matches, and lady umpires are quite frequently pressed into service. NEW SOUTH WALES v, NEW ZEALAND. The matches between New South Wales and New Zealand did not commence until 1 o'clock on Friday. It was a perfect day, with no wind and a bright clear sky. Tho first match on was between Miss Wellwood and Miss Gardiner, and a long hard fight it proved to be. The New Zealand lady led three love in the first set, only to see it evened at three all. Miss Wellwood was a bit slack at times, and only pulled off the set 7—5.7 — 5. Miss Gardiner plays a very strong game, and puts a lot of cut on her drives, but although very good at volleying overhead stuff, she was frequently passed at tho net by Miss Wellwood's swift drives. The second set went to New South Wales 6—3.6 — 3. With six all in the third set it was anybody's game, and it was certainly the splendid condition of the Hastings representative which enabled her to pull oif the third set B—6. Mrs. Doyle is a sterling player, and proved too good for Miss Ward, the latter player took the first set B—6,8 — 6, but faded away, scoring only three games in the next two sets. Mrs. Doyle cuts her drives out sharp, both to the forehand and backhand, and, running in, often scores by a smart volley. Miss Powdrell never at any stage of the game had a hope of beating Miss Baker. She has, unfortunately, not yet recovered from the journey across, and we certainly have never seen her to greater disadvantage. Occasionally she got in a beautifully-placed drive, but there was no vim in her shots or attack on her- part. - Score 6—2,6 — 2, 6—3.6 — 3. Through Miss Collins, second lady, suffering from severe cramps, she was unable to play, and Mrs. Colquhoun played emergency in her place. She fell an easy victim to Miss Nunneley, 6—o, 6—2. The match between Miss Jones and Miss Gray was noticable for its long rallies. Both players play much the same game, and went for wearing one another out. Miss Jones moro frequently went for her winning shot, and ran out winner 6—4,6 — 4, 9—7.9 — 7. Miss Travers played the game of the day, and the way she disposed of that well-known and experienced player, Miss Lee, would have made the selection com- ' mittee's hearts rejoice. Her driving was perfect, and the slight cut she imparts on her backhand drive quite nonplussed her opponent. Miss Lee ha 1 ? a good service, places well, and drous many ,

short balls just over the net when her opponent is on tho back. This did nofc disconcert the Wellington player, who sprinted up, and in return made a winning shot oif it. Score 6—l, 6—o. THE DOUBLES. Misses Jones and Lee were given a very close run by Misses Travers and Gray, who led in the second set s—l ; but a little indifferent play on their part and some smart volleying, intermingled with some fine cross courfa drives, allowed the New South Wales pair to even at five all, and finally take tho 'second set 7—5.7 — 5. \ Mieses Powdrell and Nunnela^- beaii Miss Baker and Airs. Colquhoun 6—3,6 — 3, 7—5.7 — 5. 'Mrs. Colquhoun,, being the -weaker player, was given a good share of tha work. iMiss Baker intercepted many shots at the net, and played a fine game, but tho driving of 'Miss tNiunneley was very severe, and she occupied nearly three-quarters of the court and hurled • her drives in at a great pace, winning ace after ace, with her well-known drive. ' 'Miss Powdrell played much better than she did in the single, and was safe. .Misses V 7 arrl and Wellwood had a hard pair to beat in Miss Gardiner and Mrs. Doyle. Both the 'N.S.W. pair pub a ce-rtain amount of cut on their drives, and aro adepts at volleying. Miss Wellwood got in a few beautiful smashes and drove well. She was well backed up by Miss iWard whose diiving was very effective. Score, 7—5,7 — 5, 6 1. ' SATURL "& PLAY. The only match got off on Saturday morning up to 12 o'clock was the double between 'Misses 'Nunneley and 'Powdrell and Miss Gardiner and Mrp. Doyle, which, .proved most exciting. The New South Wales pair took command at the net, both ladies getting fine -cross-cut volleys and smashes, whilst the iNeiv Zeahind pair .both stood on the back line and defended all the tima. iFirst set went to New South Wales, 6—4. The second set saw the New Zealand pair alter their tactics and lob with* much success, securing the set, 6—l. With a lead of 4—2 in the concluding eet, Mrs. 'Doyle was being pelted by Miss Nunneley, and responded gamely, getting back many of our ex-champion's drives admirably. A. weak service on our side, and eomo clever intercepting by ftliss Gaxdiner, evened the score at four all. Three times New South Wales had the vantage, in the ninth game, but our gair were not to be denied, and took the third set (6 — 4) after a strenuous fight. Tho New ' Zealand ladies quite realtes that .they must become more expert ab volleying if their tennis is to be improved. Brookes is playing here, and it is a constant source of pleasure to tennisplayers to watch him play, although ho says he has not practised for a long time. Wright, in the inter-state match, only scored three points against him in the! first set.