LAWN TENNIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15548, 4 March 1914, Page 6

LAWN TENNIS.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. '-•■•'■' The only inter-club matches played on '••' Saturday were in the B section of the HI first grade, when Devonport defeated West 111 End 11. by the comfortable margin of 10 S matches to 3, and Onehunga I. easily ac- *?§ counted'for Otahuhu I. by 11 matches to *M 2. The remaining inter-club matches will S be completed next Saturday, when in the ■• ,' A section of the first grade Parnell meets West End 1., and Remuera meets Auckland 1., and in the B section of the same grade Devonport plays Onehunga I. and Otahuhu I. plays Onehunga 11. In the A section the ultimate win of Remuera is assured, lor that club has already beaten both Parnell and West End, and unless the greatest surprise of the season is witnessed next Saturday, Remuera should have no difficulty in winning from Auckland. The match between Parnell and West End should create som» interest, as on paper the teams seem faith evenly matched, and the winners of th» match will supply the position of runner--up for the inter-club championship. In the B section, matters have reached an interesting stage, for neither Onehunga I. nor Devonport have yet suffered a defeat, and the winners of next Saturday's match will also be the winners of the section.

Devonport proved too strong for West End 11. on Saturday, the only matches secured by the latter club being two men's singles and the second ladies' single. As West End were successful in winning three out of the six singles played, one would have expected something better from that team in other directions, but such was not the case, and most ot the other matches went to Devonport, with something to spare. Robson was too good for Macky, and Sherriffs disposed of Clark, 9—6. The •,;; other two men's singles went to West End, | Fee just defeating Ewen, 9—7. far at one f stage the score stood 6—2 against, the win- J ner. Bartjeman was also successful M against Whittaker after a close match. || In the ladies' events Miss Whittaker ,-| easilv held Mrs. Wilson, but Miss Hunt, | of West End. won from Miss McClymont j4 by a fair margin. All the other events \ were captured by Devonport. The first round of the JDunlcp Shield \ contest was completed on Saturday, when | Remuera defeated Devonport. Dr. A. B. "1 McCutcheon and K. Duthie represented £ the winners, and H. Robsou and Sherriffs the losers. Robson made a good showing - against McCutcheon, and for a time J, seemed likely to annex the first set. The > Remuera man, however, soon got going, 'v land ran out a victor in two sets straight, ,- 6 4, 6—3. In the other single match, y Sherriffs created a sensation by fully extending the Auckland champion, and with a little, back would probably have won, for on several occasions he was within one stroke of match. Duthie took the first set fairly easily, and led s—l in the second, but his opponent had been improv ing with every game, and by fine side-line ; driving and judicious lobbing Sherriffs came with a rush and took the set, B—6. The third set was a battle royal, the game alternating in favour of each player, Duthie ultimately winning at 12— The .- Remuera man had to call up all his re- . sources to win. and appeared, very tired : towards the end of the match, for he had ? previously met McCutcheon in the final of the Remuera Club's championship. On the other hand, Sherriffs had also, played previously, for earlier in the afternoon he assisted his club in the match against West End 11. After tie fine display given by Sherriffs one -wonders how far he would • go if he gave the game even an average amount of attention. Owing, to Remueira winning both singles matches, the double* {match, was 'not played, as it had nonhealing on the final result. ,; v M«Cuteheon avenged his defeat in the Auckland championship by defeating K. .Duthie in the final of the Remuera Glnb'i championship by 3 sets to 1. The doctor played the most • brilliant tennis right r through the match, and ithere were many? ■who thought the match -to be the finest. witnessed, in Auckland this season... /In both volleying and driving McCutcheoa was seen at his best, and although Duthie y;* made many fine efforts he was unable to : withstand the onslaught of his opponent:: Duthie appeared to take too many risks, .and sacrificed much for the sake of brilliant shots, which did not always come off. His tendency to volley from the service. line, with the ball at his "feet, lost him many aces, for he was playing against a 1 man at the top of his form. The score • in McCntcheon's favour was: 6—2, . 4—6, , 7—5. This is the first defeat Duthie has suffered this year at the hands of an Auckland player, and although ens . likes to see a young player meet with success, Dnthie's present defeat will probably be an incentive to him to keep practising,: for unless a player is always at the top of. his form defeat may come from the most unexpected quarter. " : " 'SSSfe

INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT ' SUCCESS OF WILDING. . '-;. By Telegraph —Press Association— :;: (Received March 3, 8.30 p.m.) Paris, March 2. In the final of the international tournament at Monte Carlo to-day Wilding beat F. G. Lowe, 6—2, 6-3, 6-2. , DAVIS CUP CONTEST. ' CHALLENGE TO UNITED STATES, i By Telegraph—Press Association—CopJTieW. (Received March 3, 10.25 p.m.) New York, Match 3. The American Davis Cup Committee has announced the receipt of the challenge. Germany and Canada has now joined France, Belgium, Australia, and the British Isles. The committee has expressed the hope that all the preliminary matches -will be played in the United ; States as being the most suitable meeting I ground for all the parties. *