TENNIS

Southland Times, Issue 20446, 26 March 1928, Page 8

TENNIS

GALLOWAY CUP PLAY IN THE RAIN SUMPTER MEETS LINDSAY IN FINAL Conditions were anything but favourable for tennis on Saturday afternoon, and it was found impossible to complete the Galloway Cup competition. The first round, however, was got off despite wet courts, and considering the fact that pools of water were numerous and that it was raining steadily for the greater part of the matches, the play was of a fairly high standard. Mr Galloway’s cup is for annual competition among the first four men on the Southland ladder. Owing to Deaker’s absence the contestants in the eliminating round on Saturday were Sumpter v. Henderson and Lindsay v. Hewat. It had been intended to play this round and the final on the Waihopai courts, but these proved to be under water at 2 p.m., so it was decided to try to get the matches off on the Invercargill courts. These were practically dry when play commenced, but after two or three games rain again fell and within a few minutes pools gathered on the courts and showers of spray departed from the balls each time they were struck. No adjournment was made, however, and the few spectators in the pavilion were privileged to witness diverting if not orthodox tennis. Queen things happened when a ball landed in a pool of water or when three or four strings of a racquet snapped. The players settled down as best they could to enjoy themselves and appeared to derive fun from the vagaries of the balls. Both matches were evenly contested. Sumpter beat Henderson 6-3, 7-5 and Lindsay beat Hewat 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. Further rain prevented finality being reached, and Sumpter will play Lindsay at Winton to-morrow afternoon at 3 o’clock. SUMPTER v. HENDERSON. The first game was a very long one, Sumpter eventually annexing it. By taking the next two he had a 3-0 lead and a four apiece made him 4-1. Henderson’s driving became very severe and the score was soon 4-3. With a lead of 40-love an the eighth game the Wyndham man seemed certain to equalize, but Sumpter rallied, took the game and went on to win the set 6-3. Henderson continued to drive freely. There was little between the players, Sumpter’s volleying, to which he occasionally resorted, giving him points, but Henderson’s fast drives easily compensated for these. The Wyndham man made a few more errors than his opponent and this gave the latter the set 7-5. LINDSAY v. HEWAT. Both men played as much as possible from close quarters, placing their volleys with accuracy. Lindsay interspersed clever lobbing with his other shots and he annexed the first set 6-3. By good placements which kept the Winton man on the run Hewat more than held his own in the second set. It was hard fought out, however, and there were some good rallies. Hewat took it 6-4 and honours were easy. After a brief spell play was continued on a slightly drier court. Neither man forced the pace, the racquets being too far gone. Lindsay by taking the set 6-3 earned the right to meet Sumpter in the final.

DAVIS CUP TESTS. (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) New York, March 23. The Davis Cup tests at Augusta resulted as follows: Allison defeated Wray Brown (St. Louis) 6—3, I—6, 6—3, 6—B, 6 —4. Arnold Jones (Providence) defeated Lott 6—4, 6—3, 4—6, 6—4.—A. and N.Z. Tilden defeated Jones on Saturday 6—3, 6 6—3. Allison defeated Lott 6—4, 7—6, 6—3, 3—6, 7—5. Doeg defeated Wray Brown 6—2, 6—3, 7 B—6. AMERICAN TEAM SELECTED. (Rec. 11.0 p.m.) Augusta, March 24. Tilden, Hennessy, Jones and Allison will represent the United States against Mexico in the Davis Cup. W. F. Cohen, a promising Kansas City schoolboy, accompanies them for experience.—A. and N.Z.