LAWN TENNIS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 149, 27 June 1925, Page 19

LAWN TENNIS

CtY "HUKA'-l AUSTRALIA BEATEN

VICTORIA BEATS NEW SOUTH

WALES

MRS. HARPER AND MISS BOYD

PROMINENT

- The Australian lady players have beeu showing improved form at Boehampton }n a match . England y.Australia. It was cabled that th,s doubles matches between : , English . and. ,'Australian* ladies were "the eliminating rounds p£ the 'Wimbledon /championship : tournament,: but that could h a v4ly be, ;is the Wimbledon tom-namenf! did not. start, until the 22nd of this month.': The Engr lish' team waa composed of Miss Kitty M,'lvaaie, champion, Mrs. Lycatt (Miss Joan W. Austin), Sliss-E. H. Harvey, 'and Miss Joan Rry. In the singles,'seemingly, the teams finished equal, two jnatph.es each, but the cable was' delightfully vague,, and no definite scores we're given. MissM'Kane beat 1 Miss Boyd, 8-6, 6-3, but only after a'desperates finish by the latter.,';' Miss E. H.. Hao.'yey" w3sbe3ten.by.Ml-s. Utz, 4-G,'6-3, 6-3. : The went .out in the first -round, a.t Wimbledon: last yeav: to Mr?. Mallory. (America), 7-5, 0-3. . She is.cpn: pi^ered tobe iii; the first flight in England, and. has beaten such players as Mesdain.e3. Eeamisli,.-i-Sheppayd-Barroii," Colgate, ;:EdgjngtonT Misses J. Fry, J.^ Austin'(npw.:.Mrs. LycettV .IJolcroft, J. C.. Eidley.vaud, Mile. Vlasto, all of whpni are well-known : players. Mile. Vlastpiis 'the -Prench player. who ■ wpn. the Wench hard-court ahampionship last year at the first tinie of asking. Mrs. Lycett beat Miss .Akhuvst, 7-g, 1-6, 6.-1,: but ttje latter 'could" not have been in form., "as she,had just recpyered from an accident.- .'Had "the Sydney' player, been in:the form that she has shown iij Aiis-; •tralia -she .'would not'have lost the- first setAvhen,.Win s .s-3. .It is.to be hoped .that-riie- will (be,fit and-well for Wimbledon, where better.:results:are expected" from her." Miss Joan Fry, who has spome" to .the front 'this season with- a great rush, was ?beaten 6-3, 6-2 by Mrs. -Harper ,(she' jg a. Sydney 'player.'.who, ■ when" :Miss; Sylvia Lance, won the' New.: Zear land championship -at' Hastings -in 1922; but, whose .'liorne is < now ,in Melbourne). This season: Miss Fry, by beating' Miss G-X R. .Sterry in the semi-final" of the hard-court ".'.championship of Great Britain, the score'; being 3-6, 6-0, 6-0, had to meet Miss Ryan in the final, an<l the American .won.: 6-3, 6-2: Miss - Steiiy beat. Miss: Betty. N«tliiiU in the second pound ,'6-3, V 4-6, Miss Sterry. is a daughter, pf.'.the noted-^English, .player, Mrs. VAHved Sterry (Miss ■. C. Coopor), who as far back as 1895 won the English championship, and. was,: also successful on four: other occasions, thq last time bemg in 190§. -'In. 1906 land .1912- 'Mrs' -Sterty was runner-up. .-' With'the score fr »" ■ ?»ISles> it -was thought that the Austryiaris had.- a chance^ of win*ning ,_the-match by.;securing a.- maioritv of-.vjns.-an ".the : doubles, but Miss Akhurst a condition was against'.that'being ; obtajned.:, : :Miss,:M'Kanq; and Miss vey, ■ beat ,Mrs. Hai-per and:; Miss ' AkJni.rst somewhat.'■; easily,'' 6-2, :6,4. "Mrs Harper was .in; great form, but the Enff-Ushr.pair.werevtoo.-clever, -and directed, most of the play, at Miss Akhurst. Tho English, pail--also beat; Mrs. Utz and Miss- Boyd but it was a desperate fight, and-.the Australians,-with a shade of lucif,..might.have turned the taftea as they were .playing splendidly towards the finish.; Mrs/Xycett and Miss Fry iust l°o h, ome n fT °TT i Mr S .: "Ufe and Mis ß Boyd 'b-2, 4-6, 9-7. > Witl! th Q sets even and n trabans looked like winners, but they became -erratici ■ and went- down after ,an advantage set. !Mrs.. Harper and Miss Akhurst ,were. successful-,, against Mrs. Lycett; and ■ Miss : Fry, winning by ' two ■sets to one . It, is pleasant news .to know .that-Miss ,-Akhurst showed betW form, in this match. : England,.it would appear, thus won by : 5 matches to 3 Beading between; the lines, it is easily seen that the Australians gave the En* hsh players ;ls much and more .oppositioii was expected, and, possibly, were a shade _ unlucky • through Miss 'Akhnrat heing handicapped by her accident." Before leaving Australia she was reckoned the_best player in the team. :The • Austrahans have done much .better n-ajnst V^A^^ 0 Am< ™ -: -te«m of of 1? f'^ vJ'ear' "■ *c Americans cpuld:OnW.none match,; and that w"s in the.doub]«s,.whenMrs. G. W Wi-ht .man and.xMi S2 H. Wills beat.Misses Jit Kane ana E., CV,lyor, ;2-6, (A, 6 4 The Australians .should have a verY "fni^ chance of holding thevr owivagSnst■ 0 c Ameiioan;,t«, an ,,. as they should be-in first-class form' when /playing in the .United States. „Miss Harvey placed hi Aice,in March last,-and beat Airs Tit, •m a the', semi-final, 6-1, 6-2,,1 so tvide,^ the latter lady js superior to Miss H-a-vey on :gra ss - courts . Miss. Akhurst led d-3 from-Mrs Lycett, and only wanted one point ior set >: but was KS She then,took the second set, G-l and from what the cable; a ays about her'bei* .out of form, one can come to the conclusion that she is a'much better player S Mrs. Lycett whert : showinf her true were evidently mixed up with the Lon don cliampionship- results. The London elnh nPI°nfT are P'^a at Q° ee S Club, and there Mrs. Melody whs bwt en by Mrs. Colston, 6-2, w/ rwl& Player-was beaten at Wimbledon lZ yearbyMissfM^neintheSr^ e-i?'' At ere m 7* Ryan "S ■o -, o-J. Mrs., (.Jlelody won her first round snatch, beatingVMiss.WeaH,^; Play In Australia. .:,'.. The ' Victdrian ladies' State' team wh.nh visited Sydney recently beat the New South Wales Indiea by being super he SvH Übll Pky- Many -rtckod the Sydney players would win, and when Jhss Mei-cer.had toreturn to Melbourne before the mate]! started (owinto bad weather the matcluwas put off wm for New South Wales looked certain but M.» E. Toyne, the emergency of the team, played . splendidly in the -doiib es, and with Miss M'lver saved to situation. On the first day's play when smgJcs wore played. New; Soutli AValos .by before play could bpresuined nnd at /tho end-of the second day's ulav each side had won 5 matches arid-'l3 sets ap.c C6) -but Now: South Wales s tm held the lesul by two games. Next day the last two doubles were played, and Victoria, won both and secured ■ the 'lionous with a victory of ?7 matches. 17 sets; .149 gamc-s, fo 5 'matches, Jl3 sets X 34 games. Victoria's team was weakened by tho_ absence of Mrs. Harper and Miss Loyd in England, but New South Wales was moro heavily handicapped, as its topnotchers ;in-Misses Akhurst and St. George and Mrs. Utz were also away m England. Mrs. Martin (Miss Am .Way) .jypfl- both h& 6icgle« f beatiag

Missi G. Toyne, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, and Mrs. Todd, 6-4,; 6-4; but strange 'to sm 'Mrs. X odd beat Miss Co?, 6-2, Q-6, 8-6; and Miss <*. loyne also had a win from Miss 6° r xv;2-6> 64, .8-6, Miss M. Elliott (N.S.W.) beat Miss M'lver, 6-2, 6-o:'and also beat Miss E. Toyhe, 6-0, 1-6 7-5. Miss-P. Meaney (N.S.W.) beat Miss E. .loyne, 6-2, "6-4; but was 'beaten by Miss M'lver, 6-3, 3-6, 8-6;' The doubles resulted as follow:—Mrs; Martin and Miss Cpx beat Misses .M'lver and ■ Ei loyne, 3,6, 8-6, 7-5, but were beaten by Mrs. Tpdd and Miss G.Tpyne,. 6-3, p-ly Misses M, Elliott and P. Meaney wore beaten by Missas M'lver and X Toyne, 3-6, 8-6, 7-5, and also by' Mrs. I odd and _ Miss G. Toyiie,;6-3, 6,1. Although. Miss Cox lost both of her inter.singles, she made amends in the v>ay> South Wales championships where she beat Miss, ft. Toyne, 6-2, 7-5. The hit,tei\ ; led 5,2' iti tho/ second set but could geb no further. Miss Cox a|si? beat Miss M'lvey, 6-3, 6-3, and won tha event by beating Mrs. Martin, 7-5, 6,1, V\ the; final. Miss $f." Lloyd, who was playing in tournaments here last season, was beaten in the first round by Miss Butchenne, 6-2, 7,5, then the latter went down to Miss J. Watson, 6.-1 6-2; who fell m the third round to Miss G) Toyne (yictpria), 6-1, 6-1. Mrs. L "at? caused a flutter by besting"" Miss Meaney, who, was picked in the State team, in the first round, 6-4 4-6 6-4 ruid Jli-a Utz. followed that; victory »P byputtfflg Miss E. Tayne (Victoria! 0^ in the neyt round, 6-1, 6-2) but she ■ tell to Miss M'lver, third lady player 6-4, 2-6,, 64- '■ Still the'iiiclusion otMrs. TJtz i n the State team wquJd have meant an improvement in the doubles, and : possibly a, win for South Wales. In the championship doubles, Mrs. .Utz and Miss Cos beat Sirs. .Martin arid Miss Lloyd; 6-4 6-4; and Mrs. Todd and Miss G. Toyne won the other semi -final by putting. Misses Menney and EJliott out, 8-6, 6,2.' The 5 final proved an easy win for Mrs , Utz ■find-Miss- Cox, who beat Mrs. Todd and &T--&" To ry'l6j :6-1 >' 60, whioli Bhbws tfiat Mrs., Utz and.' Mies Cos ay& : a superior combination to Mrs; Martin and Miss Cos. Mrs. L. TJtz will possibly be a ■■ oompetijoi- in the : American National Championships, \vhigh are held in August; as she accompanies her husband, Dr.. Leslie Utz, :to Amerioa early i'", m°ntll- Mrs. H. S. Utz, who isjn England, is a sistevvin.law of Mrs. :Leslie Utn, and the former is the better playeivof.tlie two at-present. They are a yery.slender pair, in fact, are inclined to appear frail when on the courts, and k if -,H y••■■*!le!r sPlen<3id timing of the ball, that allows -them to . get such great pace: into-their drives. -. : . .:: An Unfortunate Accident.V 1 ;; '■'.. ..Mrs.. r Lionel Abraham (P ft Imerstgri North) has: brien most TOfokunate" in again ;-breaking^her.tJiig!j::,:Shehaio(:ft severe fall whilst playing golf, and'the break occurred in exactly the same place as it did some years ago: Mrs. Abraham some years ago was one of the leading .tennis players of New Zealand, and at the JB9l New Zealand championships, held at Farndon Park, Napier, was within' a' point of winning the championship She met Miss N.Douslin in the final,-and took the first 6-3 but Miss Dousl.n evened the sets with a 6^3 win, Jhen when Mrs, Abraham led 5-1 in the third set it looked all over,' but her opponent won game after game, and took the set and championship' at 7-5 On. several .occasions Mrs. Abraham missed tho line.by the smallest of margins' with, shots that would have given her. ;.the victory. The many' tennis friends ; of, this kindly lady will' wish her: a; speedy and ..complete recovery fromiher most unfortunate, accident. -'■'■ .Foot-Faulting. V; ;; - .:; . ■ '.: .;;,,'.' ''■[ • -: "Austral," in the 'June issue of "Australian .Lawn Tennis," most candidly ad- ; mits-that he: made an /error regarding the ; new foot-fault rule, but "he points out the ■ cause o! his error, as follows:—'' I have often complained of the unreliability of the cables sent out as to tennis matters, but I fell iii badly in the last issue of the journal relating to the hew foot-fault, rule. :, That.;, it is human to Enj '?. Uj*i emy only excuse, for I.slipped ..badly.,..-There, is no doubt, --in my I opinion, that the.new ;rule is only new as Jo -the- wording. Aiiy reasonable man will take it to mean that, so long as some part- of either foot is in contact with the ground till the ball is "•struck, tne_ service is; a good one,- if, also, the action of ,the server' does not break the remainder of the".rule, which-makes it a breach iH the server runs -hops, °* T^ 3;'■'■';, The above is only a portion: of "Austral's" explanation, and he has done his best to explain away the mistake, as : well as to rectify his - error, but when he. says that "American Lawn lennis' also fell into error regarding the new me, hejs at fault, as the Ameit ican:editors editorial on "Improving the Foot-Sault Rule" is perfectly clear" Tho following is tho, portion that "Austral" comments on:—f'Most foot-faults are made in, two ways—by bringing the foot over the Jine; before the. ball is struck, or by losing contact with the ground " .'.Austral",;- contends that "the expression .^'bringing the 'foot over the lino" must' refer;.; to the' lifted foot, so that clearly "American Lawn Tennis" thinks; the new. rule; means the swinging foot must jiot leave the ground." "Austral" has made another mistake', and'-ho cannot blame the cable this time. "American Lawn Tennis" does not say anv,thing about the : "lifted foot," or that the swinging foot must not leave the ground;' and' "Austral" has swung; »' regular wild "bull" across his readers. American Lawn-Tennis" plainly means by what was written that a server, must keep his feet behind the line until the ball is struck, and also that contact must be kept with the ground, but hot necessarily with both; feet, or any particular loot .:; The cable to. New Zealand regarding the new rule was . perfectly cear. Readers can rest assured that the alteration was, necessary on account of the wrong interpretation foreign nations .put ; upon, the old rule, and anyone who was acquainted with the discussion that took place by the United States Lawn lenms Association and the English Association before the new rule was sub-' mitted to the federation, could not have but read the cable quite easily "It is human to : err," and "Austral" does so in another par in the June issue as follows :—"Mrs. Melody (Miss C Curtis) ex-champion, of New, Zealand and ' of New South' Wales (defeated Mrs Molesworth -.in., Sydney, in final), is in England, competing'in tournaments. She had no superior in Australasia' threeyears- a<ro." : Mrs.: W. Melody (Miss M. Anderson) is New Zealand champion, and she is at; present in Ensland where she has been competing in tournaments. Airs., Melody so far has not competed in any . Australian tournaments. It was Jrrs. W. Sturman (Miss A Tancy Curtis) who defeated Mrs. Molesworth for the New South Wales championship in 1922 at Sydney. She held tlie New Zealand championship in 1920 and 1921,, and has not competed for it since. It was quite true that she had no superior in Australasia, three . years aero. '

The hundreds-of golfers who use the muiiieiiwl' lints will bo "lad to learn that, the sum. of £1500 has been placed on the estimates for'tho construction'of anew golf house at Berhampore. This will ho central and a-'great convenience. The. amount, .of course, has to be passed by the Finance' Committee of the Gifcy Council, which may lop it somewhat. Nothing definite has been decided about the I>yall Bay area., but the City Council is endeavouring to ascertain certain questions of control. . If these can be satisfactorily, settled, something is not unlikely to be done towards the forma-iiaa-oi a publio-golf course :thers.