LAWN TENNIS

Taranaki Daily News, 15 December 1924, Page 4

LAWN TENNIS

INTERPROVINCIAL MATCH. WELLINGTON BEAT TARANAKI. •SUPERIORITY IN SINGLES, DIFFICULT CONDITIONS. The annual interprovincial lawn tennis fixture between Wellington and Taranaki took place at the New Plymouth Club’s courts on Saturday, and resulted in a win for Wellington by ten matches to five. A strong gale was blowing, making matters extremely difficult for the players. Some splendid tennis* was witnessed, nevertheless, giving spectators an indication of what might have been expected had there been no wind. In the doubles, the honours were even, but in the singles the Wellington men showed a marked superiority, winning five out of the six matches. The final result was:—-

Matches. Sets. Games. Wellington ••••£,.•• 10 21 171 Taranaki .5 13 J5l

Tennis enthusiasts throughout Taranaki had been anticipating the match with interest for a considerable time, and with the courts ■in splendid order after the recent rains, it was confidently expected that there would be sparkling exhibitions of tennis and a large attendance. Unfortunately, throughout the day, the courts were swept by a high southerly gale, which seriously interfered with play, the (ball itself being apt to play peculiar pranks, despite the best efforts of the striker, who was frequently baffled and beaten by the wind. In fact, as one Wellington player remarked, he had never played under worse conditions. It was particularly unfortunate that such conditions should have prevailed, as the New Plymouth Club had spared no pains to ensure the success of the match, having placed the courts in perfect order, and but for the Wind some fast play would have been Witnessed. As it was play at times was of a • high standard, the players being frequently applauded for brilliant shots. The attendance was adversely affected by the weather, tjrough under the conditions prevailing it must be considered as good. Though not its full strength, Wellington had a strong combination in France, Smythe, Salmond, Young, O’Brien and Ellis, while Taranaki was represented by its strongest six in Wallace, Dickie, Webster, Nicholson, Foden and* Grant. EVEN PLAY IN MORNING. Play in the morning proved very even, six doubles matches being decided, and at the luncheon adjournment each team had Avon three matches. Immediately after lunch the singles were decided, and here Taranaki fell badly, winning only one out of the six, thus giving Wellington a lead of four. As the Wellington men Avon two out of the three concluding doubles, they won Avith a clear margin of five matches.

France and Smythe, the top Wellington men, came through without a defeat, and thus contributed largely to Wellington’s success. In his singles with Wallace, France proved too good for the Taranaki man, who Avon only one game in the first set, though, vantage Avas called tAVo or three times in some of the other games. The second set proved a great struggle, each winning in turn until the score stood 5—4 in favour of the Wellington man. Wallace made a desperate attempt to pull the game out of the fire off his opponent’s serve, but after deuce had been callfed four times the game went to France, and with it the match.

The match betAveen Smythe and Webster was full of incident, each player driving well. Webster Avon the first game off his oavh service. Smythe lost off his own service, giving a couple of double faults, and Webster led at 4 to love, the fourth game proving a strongly contested one. Smythe won the next tAA’o, the last being a love game. V ebster Avon to lo\'e off his oavii service and led 5—2. Driving and placing beautifully, Smythe won the next three and evened up. The next two were keenly contested and provided soma stirring rallies, but Smythe won them both and the set after appearing to be in a hopeless position. Smythe started the second set Avith confidence, winning five games in succession. Webster then made a powerful effort to retrieve the position, and won the next three, but the ninth and the match Avent to Smythe. FORCEFUL DISPLAY.

Probably the keenest contested doubles Avas that between France and Smythe and the New Plymouth pair, Webster and Nicholson. This provided a splendid display of forceful tennis, Nicholson in particular volleying well. The Taranaki pair were leading 3 2 when Wellington took the ne?Tt two games and led 4—3. The Taranaki pair won the next three games and the set, though in tlie tenth game off Webster’s service the visitors were leading by 40—15. Tn the second set the scores Were even. 2 all, when Wellington Avon the next three and led The local team came again and brought the score to 5—4, but the tenth game and set went to Wellington. The Taranaki pair appeared to have a great Avinning chance in the final set as they led 4—2, but France and Smythe were not to be denied*, and, taking the next four on end, Avon the match. The match between Smythe and Fiance and Wallace and Dickie in the afternoon was watched Avith keen interest, but though the local pair made a good fight and played some pretty shots, the visiting pair Avere just too good. France and Smythe had no difficulty in defeating Taranaki’s young players, Foden and Grant. Nicholson was in splendid form, and easily accounted for the Wellington player, Salmond. The match between Dickie and Young proved a triumph for youth. Dickie led in the opening set by 5—2, but the young M’ellingtoii player stuck gamely to the Taranaki man and ran out a Avinner S—6. Tn the second set also Dickie led 3—l, but Young took five on end and Avon the set G —3 after some splendid rallies. A CLOSE CONTEST. One of the closest contested sets of the day was that betAveen Foden and O’Brien, each playing steady tennis and being evenly matched. The game ran into three sets and lasted over tAvo

hours before the Wellington man ran out a winner. Nicholson and Webster also proved too good for the Wellington pair, Salmond and Young. The Taranaki pair won the first set comfortably by 6—12, but in the second set the Wellington men reversed the position, winning by 6—3. The third set <fi3ened in the visitors’ favour, and they led at 4— 2, but thereafter the Ncav Plymouth pair, playing spdendidly, won the next four on end, giving them the match. Wallace and Dickie also defeated Salmond and Young, winning comfortably in the first set by 6—3. In the second set the Wellington pair led 5—4, but the Taranaki champions took the three last games and the match. Foden and Grant were defeated by Salmond and Young, but three sets Avere necessary for a decision, Avhile the New Plymouth pair Avere also narrowly defeated by O’Brien and Ellis. DETAILED RESULTS. The details of the matches played are as follows, Wellington being represented first in each case:— Singles. France beat Wallace 6 —l, 6—3. Smythe beat Webster 7 —5, 6 —3. Salmond lost to Nicholson 2—6, 6 —3. Young beat Dickie B—6, 6—3. O’Brien beat Foden 6 —B, 6—4, 7— S. Ellis beat Grant 6—4, 6—2. Doubles. France and Smythe beat Wallace and Dickie 6—4, fl—4. iSalmond and Young lost to Webster and Nicholson 2—6, 6 —2, 4—9. O’Brien and Ellis beat Foden and Grant 6—4, 6 —4. France and Smythe beat Webster and Nicholson 4—6, 6—4, 6—4 Salmond and Young beat Foden and Grant 2—6, 6—3, 6—l. O’Brien and Ellis lost to Wallace and Dickie 2—6, 3—6. France and Smythe beat Foden and Grant 6—2, 6—l. Salmond and Young lost to Wallace and Dickie 3 —6, 5—7. O’Brien and Ellis lost to Webster and Nicholson 4—6, I—6.

INTER-CLUB COMPETITIONS. SPORTSDALE BEAT METHODISTS. (From Our Oavh Reporter.) Stratford, Dec. 13. A very strong Avind across the courts Avas blowing to-day, when the Sportsdale tennis team defeated the Stratford Methodists on the latter club’s courts by 16 sets to 3. Details of the play are as folloAV, Sportsdale players being mentioned first in each case:—• Men’s Singles. —Malfroy beat Berg 9 —3; Anderson beat Richards 9 —2; Young ‘ lost to Anderson 6 —9; Lyons boat Davies 9 —6; Freeman beat Boon 9 —3; Jefferies beat Seyb 9 —o. Men’s Doubles.—Anderson and Malfroy lost to Berg and Richards B—9;8 —9; Young and Freeman beat Davies and Boon 9 —7; Lyons and Jefferies lost to Anderson and Seyb B—9. Ladies’ Singles.—Mrs. Smith beat Miss Gatton 7 —2; Mrs. Gabites beat Miss Thorpe 7—6; Mrs. Hill beat Mrs. Boon 7 —-0; Mrs. Curtis beat Mrs. Rowe 7 —l. Ladies’ Doubles.—Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Gabites beat Mrs. Gatton and Miss Thorpe 7—o; Mrs. Hill and Mrs. Curtis beat Mrs. Boon and Mrs. Rowe 7 —3. ( Combined Doubles. —Anderson and Mrs. Smith beat Berg and Miss Thorp 7—l; Malfroy and Mrs. Gabites beat Richards and Mrs. Gatton 7—3; Young and Mrs. Hill beat Boon and Mrs. Boon 7—4; Lyons and Mrs. Curtis beat Davies and Mrs. RoAve B—2.8 —2.