LAWN TENNIS NOTES

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIX, Issue 25, 21 December 1907, Page 30

LAWN TENNIS NOTES

(By the Man at the Net.)

Much the most interesting of the in-ter-club contests on ’Saturday was the fight between West End and Eden and Epsom; and, contrary to most people’s expectations the Ponsonby Club secured a most substantial victory. The A men’s, A combined, and A ladies’ matches were played at the Eden and Epsom lawns; B men’s, A ladies’ and B combined at the West End Courts. In the B men's doubles, Hickson and Morpeth (W.) met Collins and Mair, and defeated them 3-6, 6-0, 6-0. The first set was easily won by the latter pair, but the play on both sides was at first of the poorest description. Hickson then suddenly struck form, and being fairly well backed up by Morpeth, won the two next sets without the loss of a game. Collins and Mair did not combine well, and were evidently short of practice together. The former volleyed well at times, but, generally speaking, the play of this pair was third-class. Hickson played a very solid game, placing and lobbing with discretion and seldom missing a chance to kill. In the A ladies’ doubles. Miss Nicholson and Miss Metealfe, after losing the first set, won the next two and the match fairly easily against the two Misses Gorrie. The last two sets were won by superior stamina on the part of the West End players. The Gorries played one up and one back, and this method was entirely unsuccessful. Miss Nicholson was too clever for Miss P. Gorrie at the net, who does not volley well enough to kill, and who is easily passed. Hence her partner had to bear the brunt of the play in taking lobs and drives at the back of the court in a stiff wind. There could be only one result, and very soon she was showing signs of distress, -while the two cleverer players, Miss Nicholson and Miss Metealfe, romped home in the last set. In the B combined doubles, Miss Hull and Turner had no difficulty in defeat-: ing Miss Holland and Goldie .by. two sets straight. Turner’s cuts were altogether too forceful for Miss Holland’s back hand, which is not of the strongest, but she stuck to her work pluekily, lobbing at times with great judgment and effect. Miss Hull is rather a better player than Miss Holland in o double, and used her head in a way that is unfortunately uncommon with lady tennis players. Goldie played a good game, putting tremendous energy into his work’ but he was iip against a tough proposition, and, although his overhead wortt was really’ good, he was outgeuerafled by the other pair. On the Eden and Epsom lawns the chief interest naturally centred round the Men s A match. But Paterson and Upton never gave the other pair a chance. In combination, in strokes, in tactics, and in general knowledge of the game. A. S. Brown and W. Brown were far inferior to the West End players, who won a very tame match. 6—2. 6—l. The ehief credit of this handsome win should go to Paterson, who plaved a very sound and effective game. There is no man here who shows better judgment in picking a ball to volley, and on Saturday be made very few mistakes. Upton was good off the ground, and far better than usual overhead, while both he and Paterson lobbed very well, and employed that useful stroke whenever it was necessary. The Eden and Epsom pair failed largely through lack of combination, and through indecision. They were seldom in the right place, and were often found at the back of the court when they should have been charging for the net. A. S. Brown ran in better and volleyed better than his partner; ami both of them occasionally brought off brilliant strokes. But in almost all the essentials of the double game, including the service, they were inferior to the West End players, and suffered accordingly.

Dr. Keith and Miss Utting put up a good fight against Billing and Miss Udy, The doctor is rapidly picking up his form, and should play well at the tournament. Miss Utting deserves great credit for her steadiness under trying circumstances. She beat Billing frequently at the net, and gave promise of making a first-class combined player. As to the Eden and Epsom pair, they are certainly our best combined team, and 1 exported them to win by more than 6—4, 6—4.

The Ladies’ B match was a good fight, and the West End pair scored a very creditable win in two straight sets. Miss Davis and Miss are less brilliant than either Mrs. Mair or Miss Buttle, and on paper they had not much chance. But they stuck to their work pluekily, and won by getting more balls back than their opponents. After all, that is the only way to win at tennis. On the whole, then, West End won the contest with a liberal margin of points to spare. 1 congratulate the winners heartily, and I hope that their success will dispel the idea that Eden and Epsom necessarily has a monopoly of the championships. It is a had thing for tennis for any one club to maintain its ascendancy too long, and the West End victory should kindle interest in the interclub matches anew. In the Auckland-Parnell contest, Parnell won four matches out of the six, losing only the Men’s A and B matches. 1 must say that I hardly expected Gillett and Hudson to beat Le Sieur and Simpson, 6 —l, 6—l. But the Auckland volleyers appeared to have a day off, and while Gillett plays a very steady and clever game, Hudson is always liable to demoralise the opposition with his hard cuts. Another victory (hat rather surprised me was the win scored by Black and Cooke over Hunt and Hanna. Here again it was a ease of superior steadiness. Hunt is still too rash and erratic in his methods, and be is liable to lose matches against anybody who will take the trouble to keep cool and go on returning trfc ball. Onehunga had to be content with one win against Devonport. securing the Men’s B match on the third set. Richardson and Hannah played a fair game against the Howarths, and the score (6 —3, 6—3) shows that the Onehunga pair are improving with their experience of strange players. What should have been the best match of the afternoon, the Ladies’ A. was spoiled by the unfortunate absence of one of the Misses Fallwell. I would very much like to see these ladies play Mrs. Cooper and Miss Harvey, but I think that Mrs. Cooper’s volleying would be too much for them. On present form, however, 1 fancy that the Onehunga pair could give any other ladies’- team here a very good game to win.

I aih sure that all the tennis plavers in the country will be glad to hear that His Excellency the Governor is now an active member ’of the Auckland Chib. Lord Phinket has been practising on the club courts during the week, and was present at the inter-club matches on Saturday. I hope that the interest His Excellency is displaying in the game will induce him to extend his patronage to the Tournament at New Year.