LAWN TENNIS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22353, 26 February 1936, Page 20

LAWN TENNIS

INTER-CLUB CONTESTS LOWER GRADE PROSPECTS DELAYS CAUSED BY RAIN BY SIDELINE Although the weather last Saturday afternoon cleared and play at the grass court clubs was possible, the Caro Memorial Cup final and other grasscourt fixtures set down for decision at Stanley Street were postponed and will now be played next Saturday. In the second grade, Eden and Epsom, grass-court winner, played the first part of its match with Hallybnrton Johnstone, the hard-court winner, at Windmill Road, the latter club establishing a useful lead of six matches to four and thirteen sets to nine. It will be interesting to see if Eden and Epsom can overcome this lead when the clubs meet at the Stanley Street courts. Both clubs have well-balanced teams and a very interesting conclusion seems certain. West End defeated Mount Eden fairly decisively in the third grade semifinal and now'meets the winning team of the Royal Oak-Mount Albert match. West End is a particularly well balanced team and has only once, against Halljburton Johnstone, been in danger or defeat in its passage through the hardcourt section. Both Royal Oak and Mount Albert, one of which will be the grass-court representative in the final, have good records, and a very interesting contest against West End should result. Owing to the unsettled weather and the calls made upon the players' time bv inter-club fixtures, club events are still well behind hand. The two major events at Remuera, the men's and ladies' singles, however, have by dint of a number of scratchings reached a fairly advanced stage. In the ladies' singles. Miss Marjorie Macfarlane meets Miss Ramsay, and in the other half of the draw Miss Bishop plays Miss Ruth Taylor. Miss Macfarlane has dominated this event for close upon 14 years, but her tenure is less secure on this occasion and both semi-finals and filial appear to be very open. LADDER POSITIONS CHANGES BEING EFFECTED A slow but certain change is taking place on the Auckland ladder and it appears definite that next season will see almost a completely. different set of players occupying the higher positions. The ranking, however, is still far from true to form, as is indicated in tournament play throughout the season. A. D. Brown is to be congratulated upon having fought his way to the top by defeating M. T. Wilson, 6 —3, 9 —7. N. G. Sturt's duties take him out of town too frequently to enable him to take part, and he has withdrawn, it is to be hoped only temporarily. Recent results are as follow§: —Men's singles: A. D. Brown beat M. T. Wilson, 6 —3, 9 —7; C. E. Partridge beat S. Lamb, 6—4, 6 —3; J. W. Gunn beat V. R. Johns, 6 —2, 6- —3; J. Neale beat E. W. Griffiths, 7—5, 6 —3. Ladies' singles: Miss B. L. Bishop beat Miss Marjorie Macfarlane, 6 —4, 2—6, 6 —3. ROUSING WELCOME SOUTHLAND'S ALL BLACK CHARIOT AWAITS ARRIVAL A rousing welcome home, which was a tribute alike to his popularity and to the prowess shown by him on the Rugby fields overseas, was accorded N. A. Mitchell, the Southland All Black, when he returned to Invercargill. Accompanying him was G. Gilbert (West Coast), who gave such a sterling display as the team's fullback on tour. Long before the train was due sportsmen and the public generally were making their way to the station, the platform of which was thronged with four or five hundred people in suppressed excitement. The Battalion Band, under Lieutenant R. Simpson, which from eight o'clock until nine had played a selection of airs from the post office rotunda, took up its position, and as the express drew in it struck up a lively march.

When Mitchell, smiling happily, appeared at the carriage window there was a surge toward him, and the appearance of Gilbert and himself on the carriage platform was the signal for an outburst of cheering which, taken up by the crowd as a whole, mounted to a crescendo of enthusiasm. Mitchell was carried shoulder high, but it was with difficulty that a way was made through the gathering to the station entrance. Close friends of Mitchell then took charge. A chariot, which would have gladdened the heart of even Ben Hur himself, was awaiting the All Black, who, without the option, was tenderly bundled into the conveyance, which, appropriately decorated, was manned by three sturdy charioteers. A large crowd had gathered at the rotunda, to which Mitchell was ultimately allowed to proceed. As he was being welcomed by the officials of the Southland Rugby Union the Battalion Band played "Home, Sweet Home" and then led the gathering in the singing of "For He's a Jolly Good Fellow." Three cheers were given for the All Black, who, after being welcomed by Mr. H. S. Strang, president of the Southland Rugby Union, briefly returned thanks. Ho was then led once more to the chariot and conducted to the Club Hotel, where he was residing temporarily. Cheering for both Mitchell and Gilbert was renewed at the hotel, where among the crowd was Mr. ,T. Page, father of J. R. Page, the All Black first five-eighths, who suffered an unfortunate injury right at the commencement of the New Zealanders' tour. Southland sportsmen will later tender Mitchell a welcome home social.