Lawn Tennis

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7979, 9 December 1911, Page 17

Lawn Tennis

Continued from previous page. dicaps liavo proved pretty accurate ana have already brought about t?ome close finiidioci. It‘is good new* indeed to hear that tenuis is going ahead in. Marlborough, and it would be it good idea, for some local enthusiast 'to take a Wellington team across the strait. It would bo welcome. LAST SATURDAY’S MATCHES. Tho umlornoled results were ( left 100 late for publication in Monday s issue: Ladies’ Shield. Brougham Hill defeated Xowtown by 5 rubbers to 1; lb sote to 5; 7(> games to <53. Miss Morgan v. -Miss Bobnusou 5—6, s—o. Mrs W. B. Howe v. Mws L. Clark C—s, I—6, o—o (Miss Clark retired at end of second game in last set). Miss Archer v. Mrs Redware! 6—4, o—3. Mm, Davis v. Miss Dempsey 6—4, 3 —o, 6—l. Misses Morgan and Mrs Howe v. Miss Robinson and Mrs Red ward 6 —3, 0 5. Misses Ardher and Davis v. Misses Clark and Dempsey 6—5, 2—6, 6—3. Men’s Pennant.

Kilbirnio defeated Bidwili street by o rubbers to 1; 49 games to 31. H. B. Mitchell v. Hamilton, 9—B; Worboys v. Cramp, 9—l; Pinckney v. K. Groce, 9—4; McGill v. G. Grace; 4—9; Mitchell and Worboys v. Hamilton and 11. Grace, 9—5; Pinckney aiul McGill v. Cramp and G. Grace, 9—4.

COMMENTS ON THE SHIELD GAMES,

Men’s Competition. Victoria College provided the surprise of the season by utterly annihilating the then leaders oi the cnampmusiiip, Wellington A (5 rubuoxs to 1; 10 sets to 2; 63 games to 281. Certainly, Avuixl was an absentee, but his presence could hardly have affected tho result, so decisive was it; for of tho five rubbers won by College not one ran into 'three sets, and look at t!ho singles! Neither Brown, Fraser, nor McL'aul averaged more than ouo game per set in their respective rubbers against !■'. I'. Wilson, Becro, ami David Smith. Though 'Wellington did a little hotter in the doubles, even in that department they wore quite outclassed, and tho thoroughness of tho defeat stands as one of the most remarkable in the annals of local inter-club competitions when the strength (I) of tho losing team is taken into eousiueration.

A. W. McNicol was the only Wellinglonian to win a rubber- and ho also provided a surprise by soundly tronndig the victorious who was beaten in straight sots by 12 games to 3. G.il.C. has peribnnod so consistently this season tha/t tiro writer would liavo considered his rubber tho safest from Victoria College’s point of view, and yet it was tho only one lost by Iris side! I cannot recall Brown being so badly beaten in hia life as ho was at Wilson’s hands on •Saturday, and I don’t suppose he can either. I venture to assert that there is no player in New Zealand who could beat Brown by 12 games to 1 under ordinary conditions! Wilson’s victim tells mo ho was severely indisposed ana only played with great difficulty. Although Newtown won three rubbers against Brougham Hill, tho latter team was well ahead on sets and games. A remarkable feature .about Newtown’s successes was that victory was gained in oil three on the eleventh game of the third sot (6—5). Morris (playing third man) and Low (malting his first appearance) defeated Hunter and. Sampson respectively while Eedward and Simpson just got homo from 11. V. Howe- and Eedward in tiho first double. Of tho Brougham Hill players, Howe and Hawkins each won ; his single (against Eedward and ' Simpson) with plenty to spare. Hunter and Sampson also having.. .a substantial margin of games in' their favour at the conclusion of tho second double against Morris and low. Ladies’ Competition. Wellington A made 'their position securo as 'the champion team by an easy victory at Victoria College’s expense, not one of tho Collegians succeeding-In winning a set—in fact, the whole side could muster only 18 games in tho six rubbers. , '■ , Thorn-clou and Brougham Hill defeated Wellington B and Newtown respectively by a margin of four rubbers (5 —1). In I tho Thorndon-Wollington. B match Mm Grady'and Miss Hannah (Who has boon tho most successful player for her team in the matches) defeated Mrs Holmes and Miss Smytiho easily in straight sets —tho only rubber secured by tho Wellingfonians. With the exception of Mrs Walker, who took a. set in each of her rubbers (losing her single to MissSmythc after scoring 16 games to tho winner's 14), the Wellington 1 team lost badly -in the remaining rubbers. Brougham Hill’s defeat of Newtown was not so decisive as (lie margin of rubbers and seta indicate, thex'e being a difference of only 13 games (76—63), although Mrs Nagle was absent from tho team. Certainly, Newtown won only one rubber (Miss Eobinson’s single against Miss Morgan), and that by tho narrowest possible margin, but three of the remaining five rubbers ran into three ! sets, while Brougham Hill won tho third single and first double by 12 games to 7 and 12 games to 8 respectively. Mrs \V. E. Howe, Misses Davis and Archer won two rubbers apiece for Brougham Hill. PROGRESS OF THE CHAMPIONSHIPS. The following figures show at a glance the relative positions of the various teams in tho men’s and ladies’ principal competitions. They have been carefully prepared by tho writer from official accord's and may bo taken as the correct figures: Men’s Shield. Victoria College—Mutches played 4, won 3, lost 1; rubbers for 16, against 8; sets for 36, against 21; games for 279, against 203.; Brougham Hill—Matches played 4, won 3. lost 1; rubbers for 13, against 9; sets for 36, against 23; games for 285, against 213. ' Wellington A—Matches played 4, won 3, lost 1; rubbers for 14, against 10; sots for 32, against 23; games tor’247, against 200. Newtown—Matches played 3, won 0, lost 3; rubbers' for 7, against 11; sets for 18, against 23; games for 179, against 233. Wellington B—Matches played 3, won 0. lost 3; rubbers for 2, against 10; sets for 6, against 32; games for 109, against 203. Men’s Cup. Brougham Hill A—Mutches played 5, won 4, lost 1; rubbers for 25, against 5; sets for 53, against 13; games for 351, against 212. Potone—Matches played 5, won 4, lost 1; rubbers for 22, against S; sols for 49, against 20; games for 384, against 232. , Victoria College ’A—Matehee played 5, won ,4, lost 1; rubbers for IS, against 12; gets for 42, against 33; games for 361, against 334. Brougham Hill B—Matches played 4, won 2, lost 2; rubbers for 13, against 11; sets for 29, against 25; games for 217, against 231. Victoria College B —Matches played 4, won 2, lost 2; rubbers for 9, against 15; sets for 20, against 32; games for 200, against 243. Newtown—Matches played 4, won 1, lost 3; rubbers for 6, against IS; sets for 17. against 3S; games for 210, against 283. Trinity—Matches played 5, won 1, lost 4; rubbers for 12, against 18; gets for

33, against 39; games for SCO, against 311. Wellington—Matches player! 4. iron 0, lost 4; rubbers for 3,, against 21; sets for 8, against 45; games for 170, against 296 Ladies’ Shield, AVeilington A —Matches played 5. a-oil 5, lost (I; rubbers for 27, agam.-t 3: set* lor 55, against 9; games for 356, against 166Thonulon—Matches played 4. won 3, lost 1; rubbers for 17, against 7; sets for 36. against 18; games tor 269, against 185. Victoria College—-Matches played 4, iron 2, lost 2: rubbers for 10. against 14; sets for 25, against 32; games for 229, against 256. Brougham Hill—Matches played 5, won 2, lost 3; rubbers for 11, against 19; sets for 28, against 43; games lor 257, against 351. Newtown—Matches played 4, won 1, lost 3: rubbers for 6. against 18; sets for IS. against 38; games fur 194, against 283._ Wellington B—Matches played 4, won 0, lost 4; rubbers for 7, against 17; sots for 17, against 39; games for 194, against 2SC. Ladies’ Cup. i’etone—'Matches played 5, won 3, lost 0; rubbers for 28, against 2; games for 199, against 81. Brougham Hill—Matches played 3, won 4, lost 1; rubbers for 24, against 6; games for 193, against 121. Khaudallah—Matches played 5, won 3, lost 2; rubbers for 13, against 17; games for 150, against 163, AVeilington*—Matches . played 5, won 2Jr. lost 2J; rubbers for 15, against 15; games for 155, against 110. Trinity—Matches played 5, won 2, lost 3; rubbers dor 14, against 16; games lor 148, against 1G:1, Newtown—Matches played 5, won, 2, lost 3; rubbers for 10, against 20; game© for 133, against ISO. Oriental* —Matches played 5, won IJ, lost 3i: rubbers for 8, against 22; games for 125, against 182. Victoria College—Matches played S, won 0, lost 5; rubber's for 8, against 22; games for 116, against 189. *Wellington and Oriental match, w«a a tie-yalso tho former’s match against Victoria College was won by default, thus accounting for 6 rubbers and 79 games. to nil. GENERAL NOTES. J. C. Peacock, the New Zealand chain, pion, intends to get in some practice at' Christchurch, , and as ho has been invited to play with tiro members of the American team (challenging fox - tho Davis _ Cup), should be in lino fettle for tiro New Zealand championships commencing to-day fortnight. Ho has been playing brilliantly this season, but has had to lake things easy lately owing to a cold. E. N. K. Swanston is also ixr splendid form and has probably .never played better tennis. If Swanston. can. make it convenient to attend tho New Zealand meeting, tho championship should be retained locally cither by Pea- . cock or 'himself. Ollivier should bo seen out this year for tho first time in tho Now Zealand tournament, and probably some of tho Australasians. Tho writer tips ll.', Rico to be a competitor. The semi-final of ■ tho men’s handicap singles—Civil Sendee tournament—vraa decided on the Nowtown Club’s courts on Tuesday evening. Result: E. Y. Rodward (Crown Law Office) (owe 2) v. C. A. Jeffery (G.P.0.) (scr), 63—61. This was a very oven match and. proves tiho handicapping to have been pretty correct. The final between the two Nowtowners, Itedward (Crown Daw) and F. A. Lewis, scratch (Public Works Department), was sot down for Thursday evening. A. G. Duncan (the ex-Petono player) made a good impression in Auckland and was a member of tho West End Club’s senior team. The ’’was” is explained. by tho following note in an Auckland paper of November 29th: "Tho West End Club are very unfortunate in losing Duncan. , That . .player has receives! a -good' appointment at Napier, and loaves this . week.” In addition to tho Brougham Hill Club 1 events now nearly completed—at least the handicaps—several of tho , other clubs have started their toumamonta and are making good progress therewith, notably Thorndon (championships). Nowtown, Eona Bay, and Muritai (handicaps). Owing to pressure on space this week no results could be insari.ed, but later .issues will contain the various results. ■ ■ ' 1 ' Two of the Davis Cup defenders, N. E. Brookes and E. AV. Heath, arrived in Auckland by the Maheno on Sunday. They arrived in Wellington by tho Auckland express on Tuesday, stayed over AVodncsday, and left for Christchurch by -tho Maori on AVodncsday night. B. M. Rico arrived hero by tho Moerakj direct from Sydney on Wednesday, while A. AV. Dunlop, .who idem his way out from" England, will ’arrive at Auckland on December 17th, barely a fortnight before hostilities commence. TAho Americans arc practising strenuously .at Christchurch and aro rapidly becoming acclt matised. Brookes and Heath had a practic* ■ match with Peacock and Fisher at Thorndon on Tuesday afternoon, and provided those present with something to oat huso over. .. . This afternoon will see tho conclusion of tho shield competition—men’s and ladies’. Tie; matches are those posix pdned on tho opening day (October 2»th). but cannot affect tho position of tho leading teams, Victoria College (men’s) and AVeilington A (ladies’). It has not yet been decided whether a second roundl is to be played or not, and as throe teams are level as. regards number off matches won in tho men’s competition—• is the Championship to bo decoded on rubbers, sots, and games or a play-off ■between tho three leading teams required? “ LAST " HORSE ’BUS

At 7.48 p.m. on October 25th, tho last ol the horse omnibuses owned by the London General Omnibus Company loft London Bridge for Moorgate-street on its final journey. At four minutes past 8 it reached the terminus, and an epoch in London life came to an end. ; . _ ■ There wore fifteen omnibuses on this.' service, tho last of tho General Company’s horse-drawn fleet. They were all withdrawn on the date mentioned, and tho last of them all to leave London Bridge was omnibus No. “P.P.O. 2511."' ■ The coachman was Mr Baggot, aged fifty-six, an omnibus driver of thirty-two years’ experience, whose Christian names are Frederick William, but who is familiarly known to front-seat outside passengers as “George.’’ The conductor was Mr Alonzo Wainwright, also generally addressed by the travelling public as “George.” The two horses were about teu years old, Irish bred, useful still. Triumphant Motor-Omnibuses. In the yard of the London Bridge Sta tion motor-omnibuses were snorting triumphantly when “X’.F.O." turned round to sat out on its last journey into the limbo oi forgotten things. lint no air of sadness marked the occasion. For an Englishman and an Irish horse never know when they are beaten, and the withdrawal oi the last of the ‘General” horse omnibus services coincided with tho inauguration of a now horse omnibus service by one of the firms belonging to the Omnibus Owners’ Association.

A red-faced conductor, with a yellow omnibus, one of the sanguine souls who keep life in lost causes, was full of hope and confidence, “The day of the horse ’bus done!” lie exclaimed; “why it’s only just beginning. We have got fourteen 'buses starting on this service to-day, and thci-c will be as many more as there's room for.”