LAWN TENNIS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16661, 17 February 1922, Page 8

LAWN TENNIS

THE WILDING SHIELD, WELLINGTON V. CANTERBURY. Teams of four men representing the Lawn Tennis Associations of Wellington and Canterbury began a match thi9 afternoon at the United Club’s courts for the Anthony Wilding Memorial Challenge Shield. The teams are:— C ANTE R BURY W ELLINGTON. (Holders.) (Challengers.) G. Ollivier „ R. N. Swauston P. G. Greenwood E. Salmond F. S. Wilding J. B. Parker C. G. Aitken E. 1). Andrews The conditions of tho shield are that the first and second members of each team shall play one another in the singles, and that the third and fourth shall do the same, while each pair (as nominated) shall play each other pair in the doubles, making eight single* and four doubles, the bent of three advantage sets. The first match for the shield resulted: —Canterbury, 165 games, 21 sets, J(J matches; Auckland, 112 games, 8 sets, 2 matches. In that contest, W. Goss took the place of F. 8. Wilding, who was suffering from an injury to his leg. The present match la especially interesting, because it will have a bearing on the selection by Mr J. C. Peacock of a team of six New Zealand players to visit New South Wales in April. Salmond and Andrews competed in the last New Zealand championships, but neither got into the third round of the men's singles. Andrews, however, won tho hoys’ championship, and later on took the Wellington provincial championship. Parker is a young player of promise. Swanstop, a well-known Wellington player, has frequently done well in championship mutches. To-morrow’s games we:-r-No. 3 Court. 2 p.m.—Salmond v. Greenwood. 8.80 p.m.—Swanaton v. Ollivier. G p.m.—Salmond and Parker v. Wilding and Aitken. No. 2 Court. •2 p.m.—Parker v. Wilding. 3.30 p.m.—Andrews v. Aitken. Ollivier and Greenwood. FIRST DAY'S PLAY, SWANSTON v. GREENWOOD. Swanston and Greenwood played on No. 1 court. Good placing gave Swanaton the first game oft his own service. Swanston took the second without trouble. The third went to deuce twice, and then Greenwood having found his length, won two aces In succession. Greenwood served with sting in the fourth game and drowlevel. Play was erratic in the fifth, which finished in Bwanston's favour. Then Greenwood double-faulted twice. A net cord shot and a powerful drive wfth cut gave Swanston the game. Ho was now leading 4-a. He took the seventh partly through Greenwood’s mistakes. Advancing more to the not. Greenwood won the eighth. He also won the ninth. At this stage •'Swanston’« corner drives were just missing. Swanston 6-4. The tenth went to deuce. Greenwood serving. Swanaton gained the next ace and then Greenwood double-faulted. The first, set. therefore, ended Swanston 6, Greenwood 4. WILDING v. ANDREWS. Wilding (Canterbury) defeated Andrews (Wellington), 6-2, 6-1. The school boy champion had a variety of good strokes, but he never struck a good length and he was sometimes erratic.