LAWN TENNIS (By "Huka.")

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 74, 28 March 1914, Page 14

LAWN TENNIS (By "Huka.")

INTERCI.UB MATCHES. The ladies' team of tho Hutt dub, in the early parr, of the reason, challenged and defeated the Wellington Club"*, ladies for the senior championship. Several ciubs Sf>nt their ladies out to the Huit After that ! championship, but tho Hutt. player* steadily and successfully defended their title. Last Saturday the finad match of [ the season was played, Wellington Club (the original holders) making the attempt to regain their lost position. The Wellington team had its strongest players engaged, and the Hutt Club has every reason to be proud of its ladies' team, as it retained the championship in a most handsome manner. The team is a real good all-round one, and it should be even harder to beat next year. The Hutt Club has set an example that many older clubs might copy, and it is to be hoped that all clubs will send teams after that cham- ; pionship next year. j THE PLAY. Miss Stevens pleased her many friends by the splendid display she made against Miss Travers. The first set was a very close one, 5-all being ca/lled, but the Hutt player forged ahead and won. In the second set she won splendidly, 6-1. Both players wers driving with good pace, but the winner had more accuracy, and, be<ndes, she lasted splendidly. Miss Williams was too good for Mrs. Wagg, al though the latter tried hard. The winner has a service and drive that is troublesome to any player who has not played often against her. Miss Williams, was in great form, aoid on her form should have taken first single for her team. Miss Callender and Mrs. Grady had a very close mateh — the former just snatched the first set, 6-5, and Mrs. Grady, with a> fine effort, evened the sets with the same score. The final was well fought, but the Hutt player was just too good, and won, 6-4 Miss Speedy ran away with the first set, 6-1, from Miss Hannah, but the latter, with good tennis, just evened the sets with a 6-5. The last set promised to be a close one, but condition told, and Miss Speedy ran out winnet, 6-3. In the doubles Misses Williams and Travers were too experienced for Mrs. Wagg and Mis 6 Stevens, the city players winning comfortably. When Mrs. Grady and Miss Hannah took the first eel *-l from^ Misses Callender and Speedy, the Hutt s chances looked none too good, as, had the city players taken the next set, it would ha\e given them the championship by 8 sets to 6 ; but .it was not to be The two Hutt players made a great effort, and took the remaining eets 6-3, 6-4. It was a splendid win Tennis players generally will congratulate the suburban team on its fine victory. The team has been mo6t attentive to practice, and has reaped the reward. MEN'S JUNIOR CUP. The men's team of the Petone Club once again successfully defended their title to the junior championship, but Victoria College gave them a bit of a shook last Saturday, and had Robertson got home m the last 6et— he was only beaten by one game— the College team would have been holders, winning 8 sets to 7. Atmore had Austin, of Petone, going at top, and won with a 6hade in hand. Parkinson and Cleghorn were evenly matched for two sets, then the ! former romped home 6-1 in the final. Duncan held Clere comfortably in both sets. Baker and Robertson had a mast i strenuous match— the former took the Bret set 6-4, only to see hie opponent even the sets with the same 6Core; tlwn came the exciting third set. "Five all" was called, and Baker just did the needful. Both played well, and it is hard to siy who would win if it were replayedA Parldnsoir and Duncan m the ddnbles ran away with the first set 6-1 from Cleghorn and Robertson, but the latter pair just took the feecond set 6-5, and had they taken the third set it meant everything to them, but the Petone pair were out to win, and win they did, 6-4. The other V.C pair, Atmore and Clere did their share, beating Austin and Baker 0-5, 6-5, after a most interesting struggle. Petone have done remarkably well this season, and if they can stall off the Brougham Hill team to-day the championship is theirs. If the city team has practised together as much as the Petone team it will take some beating. ' BROUGHAM HILL The Men's Championship Singles has been won and lost. Eric Reeves beat Albert Howe in the semi-final, 6-3, 6-4. The match was played on a windy day, and Reeves scored heavily with his volleying. The final wa* between Butcher, last yeaj 1 s champion, and Reeves. This year's junior player by real good play secured a fine victory 6-4, 6-4. ' Reeves was in great form and cut off Butcher's drives repeatedly at the net, in fact the winner's volleying was of great merit. Butcher last year jumped from a junior to the champion of the club, and now Reeves has repeated that performance. Both aro young players of promise, and if they can take victory and defeat with composure, then both may advance further" in the game. They have_ a lot to learn yet, and "Huka" does not intend, whilst congratulating both winner and loser on their advancement, to Fi> so far as to say that they are • much* ahead of some of their club mates. 'ThtTe are other young- players who may defeat them should either be inclined to peacock feathers. Not lhat either have shown that, but with all young players, who come on a bit more than tmeir fellows,- there is the inclination to stand out of frames with players who only a. season b»ick were superior. That npt only makes a. player unpopular, but in most cases such players are looking for the fall that comes sooner or later. In the doubles, Tleeves and Butchor voa tha final with good combination, ano ■jfgresMT* play against the Howr Brothers, beating them 7-5, 6- 1 . Mise Davis won the »emi-fin»l of the singles, beating Miss Sterns. 6-3, 6-3. Missed Davis and Archer meet in tho final. Mrs. J. A. B. Howe badly injured th« sight of one of her eyes through playing in the failing light ia fJbo match agsinst. the Hutt two weeks ago, and will be vuiable to play for pome time. Sbq»is in ma s nil of the combined championship with Sim, against Mrs.. Goldie and Butcher.