Lawn Tennis Notes.

Free Lance, Volume VIII, Issue 400, 29 February 1908, Page 11

Lawn Tennis Notes.

In the Cup fixtures of last Satuiday Petone succeeded in winning onlythree sets against Wellington (51 games to 95). These three sets, however (which were the first men's single and both of the ladies' doubles), will, mail probability, be a great determining factor in the match Wellington v. Khandallah, to-morrow Sheppard, in the previous week, must have played quite at the top of his form to have beaten Cornell, tor on Saturday the latter gave an exhibition of tennis of which he might iustav feel proud, and his deleat or Fraser is his finest effort this wason. During the opening stages ot the game Fraser had by far th« °eU&T prospects of winning, and led 7—4, and up to that point the play had been, full of interest. Frasers passing shots, both back-hand and fore-hand, and more especially his net work, had been consistently good, whilst Cornell had used every opportunity to hit hard. The Wellington player at this stage seemed to become tired, and his opponent quickly took advantage of this to keep him moving bv more accurate driving to both coiners of the court. In this way Cornell won the next four games, and led B—7. Fraseir then made the games even by winning en his opponent's service, but in the next game his own service was not successful. The score was 15 — 40 against him, but. after succeeding mi making it 30_40, he failed to Teturm a welldirected drive which Cornell made across the court, thus losing the set 9—B aces 55-57 Cornell's splendid condition would appear to have chiefly aided him in winning. Miss Penny suffered defeat by Mrs. Pierard, from whom she secured omly two games Mrs. Pierard played extremely well, frequently disconcerting her opponent by good length balls which many times dropped exactly on the back line. Petone, however, worn the first ladies' double Mrs. Hawkins and Miss Penny defeating Mrs. Pierard and Miss Dimant, 7—3. The latter pair, until the last two matches, proved a strong combinatiom, bub recently have not shown quite the same severity towards their opponents. Miss Bennett, in her match with Miss Dimant, began well, and led 3—2, but the latter by good driving and serving won the next five games and set. Mites Bennett and Mrs. Wilkinson upheld the reputation for consistency gained by the Petone ladies' doubles, and by good, steady play defeated Mrs. Reeves and Miss Hannah, a stiongpair. During the whole of the present season the Petone second lades' double has lost only one set (games 66-29). Ward and McNicol were too good few Austin and Parkinson, but the latter's performance m securing fourgames trom the pair who proved such a strong combination in the recent Brougham Hill-Wellington match is worthy of credit. Ward, however, appeared to- be slightly out of form, which in his match against Khandallah tomorrow will make all the difference betweein defeat and victory. McLeans appearance in a single is. in itself, surprising enough to call for mention. Parkinson has developed his playng powers greatly, and if two games was his full share, then .Richardson is m .for some healthy exercise in Wellington's qualifying match. McLean and Shand were much too experienced for Duncan and Curtis, the latter of whom is a youngster of promise, his most noticeable failing at present being a penchant for serving double faults. Of course, the combines were also uneven, the youthful Petomeites never having a chance of coping suecessfuillv with Fernie and Shand. The last-named player would appear to advantage in a single, and the writer knows from experience he can probably defeat any man m the team barring Ward Khandallah had a fairly even match with Newtown, and won by 8 sets to 5 (94 games to 66). Several sets were keenly contested, the first ladies' single being won by Khandallah, only after a close struggle, m which at times supremacy appeared to lie with New town, -Whilst Holdsworth, after leading strongly at two stages of his smgle, was defeated. The greatest surprise, however, was occasioned by the defeat of Khandallah's hitheito unconquered first ladies double by Mi«=s Clark and Mrs Low. The game first became interesting when Newtown took the lead at 3—2,3 — 2, only to lose it again at 4—3.4 — 3. At this stage the Newtown ladies began to play with great determination, and, after having allowed their opponents to secure only one more game, won the match, 7-^-5. This was only the second occasion on which the winning pair had played together, but nevertheless

they showed excellent combination. That Mrs. Low is a good player was evidenced by her hard driving and clever lobbing. Miss Clark played a steady game, doing a great deal of work," and making but few mistakes. The Khandallah ladies were inconsistent, and lost one game by driving every ball out, and another by finding the not with four consecutive shotts. On the day's play the Newtowners deseived to win, but Miss Cock and Miss Batham lost only after a most interesting struggle Their recoid is still a most enviable one, and reads • Won 9, lost 1, games 68—38. Thwaites played a hard and, be it said, a brilliant game, and, contraiv to expectations, succeeded in defeating Ploldsworth. The latter led 5—2 and 8 5, but his opponent then showed great pluck, and bv fighting for eye 17 point took four games m succession., and won the set, 9—B9 — 8 (points 67-66). Thwaites was at his best, and did wonderfully well. Sheppaid bv superior play defeated Fleming, 9—7 after one of the closest matches of the afternoon. Fleming led 2—o,2 — 0, but the Newtown player made the game even until' they were 5 all, after which Fleming again obtained the lead, 6 — o. At this juncture, however, the latter, who had been plavmg his usual game at the net, retired to the base line, but on account of faulty driving secured only one more game. Sheppard still continues to improve, and evidence of this fact is shown in his volleying and smashing. Another match w hich caused almost tens^e excitement was the single between Miss Cock and Miss Clark. The Newtown lady seemed determined to win, and led, first at 4—3,4 — 3, and then at 6-— 4. However, Miss Cock then began to play very steadily, and gradually drew level when the score was 6 alii. Miss Cla,rk now had the service, but appeared to somewhat lose confidence, and drove the first three returns into the net (love — 40) from which position she could not recover, losing 6—7.6 — 7. Miss Redward and Powell defeated Miss K. Clark and Mackay by 7 games to 2. Miss Claxk played well, her serving being eispecially noticeable. A keen struggle was also evidenced in the third double, which was worn by Newtown, 9—B.9 — 8. De Rose made his first appearance in the inter-club competitions, with great confidence, and played surprisingly well. Richardson is again playing up to his best form, and defeated Murray 9—49 — 4 The latter has improved 50 per cent, since last season, and was expected to give the Khandallah man a much closer game. Miss N Batham was successful m both her sets, the second ladies' double and last combined being easily won by the subuibanites. « • • Although Karori defeated Victoria College by 8 to 5 (87 games to 77), several of the sets were close enough to make the match of an inteiesting nature. Mansfield played his usual plucky game, but was no match for the redoubtable Smythe, who was, however, given several good games (9 — 3). Tudhope got as near to a win against Downes as at any time during the season. At one stage the score read 7—57 — 5 an d 40-15 in his favour, but Downes, playing a stylish game, came with a rush, and won the last four games The Karori player in practice ought to be in much better company. Eichelbaum's tennis showed a decided falling off, and he was badly handled by Beere, being unable to notch more than a couple of games. Beeres exhibition, was his best to date, and he really played a fine game. Eichelbaum and Fair were actually within a point of set when B—7,8 — 7, but, like Tudhope, faded out in the closing stages, "head" and over-head work on the part of Downes and Beere beating them. Miss McKellar struck something like the form which previously characterised her tennis as breezy and entertaining, and won a really good game against Miss Smythe, after a close struggle, the score, 10 — 8, speaking for itself. The set, which was played advantage, is the longest ladies' match decided in this season's inter-club competitions. Miss Cox made her re-appearance, and her tennis was none the worse for her spell. She helped Smith to credit the first combined to College at 7—5,7 — 5, but with Miss McKellar had that score reversed in the first ladies' double against Misses Smythe and Gavin. Wilson had a day out on Saturday, and both of the matches in which he ■assisted ended in onesided victories for his team (9—l and 7—o). Miss Cooke, who is a rare trier also had her best afternoon's success, and was in no way responsible for the Collegians' deficiency of three sets. Mr. F. M. B. Fisher, M.P., writes: "I have read the lawn tennis notes

in youor issue with a certain amounit of astonishment. One would naturally be inclined to believe that the local critics would have been, as glad to have seen our team score a win at GhristchuTch as the selectors of the team, yet they are almost unanimous in their condemnation of the selection. "To begin with, exception' is taken to the inclusion of Miss Nunnelly. Why? Because she does not play in inter-club competitions on asphalt courts. She is a grass court champion with, perhaps, not an equal in Australasia, yet she is to be put on one side on that account. The suggestion is ridiculous and absurd. As to the two defeats sustained by I/aishley at the hands of Morris in a nine-game contest, that should have little or no beaming on the question, of the propriety or otherwise of Laishley's inclusion in the team which has to play 3 set matches "Of many instances, I shall give two to illustrate the fallacy of judging on such performances. In the New Zealand Championship on one occasion I met H. M. Gore, and took the first 9 games to love, yet lost the match by 3 sets to 2. Against Parker at the last Taranaki championships I won eleven games out of the first thirteen, yet lost the match by 3 sets to 1, which goes to. snow that the first 9 games is not, and never can be, an indication of the merits of players under championship conditions. I should be very glad indeed to think that Newtown had produced a player who could beat Laishley in a championship, and I hope the success Mr. Morris has met with sofar will induce him to work himself right up to the front rank. "As to your criticism of Mr. Gore, I say without any hesitation that he is still m the front rank as a player, and only two years ago won the provincial championship, nor should you have overlooked the fact that he is probably the one member of the Thorndon Grab Committee most anxious to' see his dub taking part in the Shield matches. "Taking the team as it is, and excluding myself altogether from the calculation, as I have no. desire to _ lay myself open to the charge of egotism, I venture to express the opinion that the team picked could travel right throjugh the Dominion and hardurv lose a set. If, however, the Association wishes to force players into the Shield matches, then it should frame a rule enacting that no player shall be chosen who is not a participant in sucn matches." In view of the important Cup fixtures to-morrow, the probable selection of the teams may be of interest : — Wellington. — Cooke, Fernie, Ward, McNichol, Fraser, Shand, Mrs. Pierard. Miss Dimant, Mrs. Reeves, and Miss Hannah. Khandallah. — Holdsworth, Jones, Fleming, Richardson, Cockayne, Mackay, Misses Cock, Batham, Page, and K. Clark.