LAWN TENNIS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17245, 11 January 1924, Page 10

LAWN TENNIS.

NEW SOUTH WALES v. WELLINGTON. SECOND DAYS PLAY. VISITORS BEATEN. Pitii Pbess Association. WELLINGTON, January 10. After being down by one match at the end of the first day’s play Wellington had a- complete and somewhat unexpected victory over the Nov? South Wales touring tennis team yesterday, winning five out of six matches and thus taking the rubber. It is tho first provincial team to defeat the visitors. The second day’s play showed a great improvement. The standard of play all round was higher and the local men ■were more confident. Peach, however, suffered a slight injury which troubled him. Reid was badly tired at the finish. The final scores were Wellington, 8 matches, 19 sets, 165 games; New South Wales, 5 matches, 14 sets, 153 games. Poult.on, who had to put himself under doctor’s orders at the end of the first day's play, was not available, and bv mutual consent his single with D. G. France was cancelled. Goodman filled in in the doubles. Beyond that the contests wont off very well, and the Wellington men thoroughly deserved their win. SINGLES. L. Franco always had Reid thinking in his singles with the first man of the Australian team. Reid strove for a net position all through and punisiied any short chops by Franco severely. He was, however, not always quick enough to cover the straight shots and France, mixing his game well, varied short passing shots with lobs and sharply angled drives to his opponent’s feet. The result was never in doubt, and France won, 6-1, G-2, no more than reflecting bis superiority on the day’s play, Reid made some good recoveries, taking five points in a row once by his service and smashing, after having been down 0-40; but ho was forced into White-Parsons, after letting Peach have it all his own way in the first eet, which the Australian won 6-2. ran out a winner, 6-4, 7-5. Peach led 4-1 in the final set. He lost four games on end. In three of those he 6cored only one stroke. Wheeler, meantime, defeated Pike. 6-4, 6-4. in a base lino contest, in which the Wellington man proved slightly steadier. DOUBLES. There was some first-class doubles play, and some very dull patches iu the match between L. Fruuce and D. G. France and Reid' and Pike. The former pair had to fight all the way for the first set, though they held a slight advantage; whereas the Australians were decidedly superior in the second, in which they led 5-1, and won 6-3. Jn the two last sets the local men went ahead at 5-3, when Pike lost his service after a long and olo&e struggle in which honours were even, and rau out winners, 6-2, 8-6, G-3. Barkman and Wheeler similarly outplayed Peach and Goodman. 0-2, in the first set, but wore beaten by canny play in the second set. At a similar score tho third set wc-nt to the Wellington pair, 6-3, on their opponents’ errors. Some good work by Barkman and Wheeler’s reliability finally told. Reid and Pike beat White-Parons and Parker. 6-4, 6-1. after a good first, set. in which tho Australians led 5-1, slumped, and then asserted themselves. DAVIS CUP. By Telegraph—Prosa Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. NEW YORK. January in. Australia's challenge for the Davis Cup has been received. The challenger has requested a longer interval between the final and the challenge rounds and the United States Lawn Tennis Association officials have intimated that every consideration will bo given. It is indicated, however, that tho matter must, bo carefully examined since it would G,volvo the schedule of national event? »nd . 3 Iso participation i-u the Olympic Ga-mes.