THE GAME IN AUCKLAND

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVII, Issue 9, 28 February 1912, Page 10

THE GAME IN AUCKLAND

(By FOOTFAULT.) Fixtures. fNTER-CLI’B COMPETITION —March 2 ’ and 9. INTERPROVINCIAL TOURNEY-At Auckj land, April 0,8, and 9. ’WANGANUI ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIP AND HANDICAP TOURNAMENT 3 —April, 5, <>, and 8. IDT AGO ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIP AND HANDICAP TOURNAMENT—ApriI 6, 6, and 8. Auckland Championships. With the Men’s Singles over, the results of the championship events are complete. ; The West End trio. Miss Gray, Dr. JCeith and Quinnell put up a great perorraance. Miss Gray not only retained her position as champion -ingles . player, but, partnered by Miss Gorrie, was suctessful in again winning the Doubles. Dr. Keith, by defeating his club mate. in three sets straight, aecomiplfehed the unique performance of winkling the event without the loss of a set. 3le appears as keen as ever, and, unless p player come along who can play the i’lean hard volle’ying and smashing game, the Doctor will again prove equal to rapturing this event. With Quinnell jDr. Keith also secured the Doubles. j The Combined Doubles went to the jfredit of the Eden and Epsom pair, Mr. bnd Mrs. W. A. Brown. AUCKLAND SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP. WON BY KEITH. The finals of the Auckland Men’s Championship Singles was played between Dr. Keith and Quinnell on Saturday afternoon at the West End Club’s courts. This game ’Was Hie only one remaining unplayed of the Auckland Provincial Championship Tournajnent played at Remuera last month. They had commenced to play on a previous occasion, hut had to cease after Quinnell bad annexed the Hist set, owing to approaching darkness. It was then decided to re-play the game from the beginning hurt Saturday afternoon, but the state of the weather caused It to lie postponed again. The weather on Saturday, however, ■was perfect for tennis, there being only a slight breeze, which served to keep the players cool without hindering tlieir play. U battendance of spectators was small. r rom the first Keith asserted himself, «nd annexed the tir.t three games In a rather eaaey fashion. lie kept Quinnell on the run. his placing from overhead shots being noticeably accurate. Quinnell annexed the tw,, following games, but only got another before Keith ran out. B 3. The next set ran mn.-h the same war. In It hough Quimiell not only nut up a better iiglit for each game, but also pm one more to his credit than In the pier-ding set. Neither was playing very fast at ;I nv stage of the game, airhough Quinnell indulged |u a drive or two. which as often ns not went wide. Keith was very steady, and twed slightly more iggre-slve tactics than I* usually hl- cn-toiii. Things were now looking had for Qutnnell. hut he stuck to the game plmkilr. end although generally Just a lit lie behind, managed to I ring up 3 . I. Here, liow♦ver. Keith ran in iy from him. easily taking the mxt two garni*, r. 3 Quinnell. however, shon.wf hl. pluek and fighting quality- by making the last game the bard*rt fought of the lot Dents- Mas railed Several Hue-- even though the advantage went generally to Keith. The latter was not to be denied, and evulually won bi.

second stroke In succession, the game, the match, and the title of champion player of the Auckland province. The game was a splendid exhibition at a certain kind of play—that in which driving and fast .play was second hi importance to placing. Quinnell, although beaten, put up a good enough fight to extend his opponent, in fact, a good deal more than the scores suggest. Perhaps he made a mistake in acting so much on the defensive, leaving, to Keith the unaceustomea task of attacking—a task which he performed with great skill. As a rule, Keltn worked his way up to the net, and war able to pot the alternate side-lines in sue cession, much to QiiiiineH’s discomfort. When in difficulties, his lolis were very effective, serving him all the better, because Quinnell was not so hard on the overhead work as he has been at times. Keith also kept a. splendid length, which was more than his opponent managed to do. In short, Keith gave the impresston of having command of the game from the first, and his display of tactics was such as would delight the heart of an enthusiast. On his play he certainly deserved the honour lie has won. Inter-club Competitions. THE FIFTH HOUND. The fifth round of the inter-clubs took place OH Saturday, under ideal weather Conditions. In the first-grade competitions, the Eden and Epsom Club, by defeating Parnell, are now in an unassailable position, having obtained a lead of two contests over the Parnell Club, and only one more round to be played. The Auckland Club should prove the winners in the second grade competition. Although there are two rounds more to be played their opponents are not considered strong enough to upset their unbeaten record. The concluding round of the “A"’ Section of the third grade competition was played on Saturday, and here again the Eden and Epsom players were to the fore. By winning all their matches they now play off with Birkenhead, the winhers of the ‘B" Section. EDEN AND EPSOM v. PARNELL. The above match was played on the Parnell lawns, and resulted in a win for Eden and Epsom by 8-5. Owing probably- to the unseasonable tennis weather experienced during the last ten days, very inconsistent play was shown by most of the players, especially the Eden and Epsom men. . In the Men's Singles, W. A. Brown had a comfortable win from Mowbray. 9-3. The match at first appeared as if it would be a close finish, as Mowbray led .3-2; however, he seemed to fade away, and did not win another game. Morpeth created a surprise by beating Hanna, 9-0. Hanna was expected to make a good fight, but seemed completely off his game, and gave his opponent no trouble except to hit the balls back over the net. A. S. C. Brown beat-Henderson; 5 all was called, and then Brown, with good net work, won the remaining games. Coates had a fairly easy victory over Hunt; he led 4-1, and then Hunt, with good volleying, brought the score to 4-all, but Coates was too steady, and. playing witli good judgment, won easily by 9-5. Parnell won both the first two Men's Doubles; IV. Brown and Morpeth, after their easy wins in the Singles, were expected to win. but Mowbray- and Coates played throughout steadily and consistently, and. obtaining the lead from the start, maintained it, and won 9-6. In the second Doubles, Hanna and Henderson beat A. Brown anil Hunt, 9-8. The winners played well for a start, and brought the score to 8-5, Hanna playing much better than in the Singles; then the Eden and Epsom pair took a hand, and, after several close games, 8 all was called. Parnell, however, managing to win the deciding game. The double between Baker and Ralph against Billing and Cooke was a dose call, although the Eden and Epsom pair won 9-6. Six all was called, and then a long struggle set in for the next game, which Eden and Epsom won, and they then pulled off the next two. In the Ladies’ Singles, Miss Cumming had a very substantial win from Alias Gorrie, 7-3. She played with good judgment all through, and made some veryfine cross court and side drives. Miss C ooper, for Eden and Epsom, beat Miss Steele, 7-5. This was a very good single, both ladies played well, Miss Cooper being brilliant at t’inifs, arid the match was in doubt until the last. Miss Cumming and Miss Steele again scored a win over the Kden and Epsom first doubles. Miss Steele played her usual steady game while Miss Cumming WM again brilliant. Miss Gorrie played

well, but received but little assistance from her partner, Mrs. Brown, who appeared to be in very poor form, finding the net far too often. Parnell won by 7-1, very few of the games even going to deuce. Eden and Epsom had easy wins in the second Ladies’ Double, and both Combined. being far too good for the opposition. Second Grade. Eden ami Epsom were without the services of their leading pair Cooks and Thompson, but nevertheless had a comfortable win over the West End player.?. The Devonport-Onehunga match resulted in an easy victory for the Shore players. Robson and Ewen retained their unbeaten record. The Onehunga lad, Robb, and Ohlson proved equal to lowering the colours of the veterans, T. Macky and Kallender. Parnell found at the last minute that they were unable, owing to several of their players being absent, to get a full team together, so had to default to Auckland. Third Grade. The Remuera players proved too strong for the Shore representatives. Larner had a close call from B. Macky in the single. The games were very well contested until the Shore player led 7—6, when Larner, becoming more accurate with his drives, secured the next three games in very- easy fashion. The winner has a nice free style, and more should .be heard of him in the future. One thing- is very certain, however, amt that is, he must read over very carefully the rule in regard to foot faulting Richmond played in very good -form and made no race of it with R. Macky. The first and second men's doubles were very evenly contested. The Shore pair, Balfour and Macky, went off with a great rush and led s—l, but here Young and Gray put in their say and, by good combination, eventually' won the match 9—7.

Miss Handley scored a win against Miss AL Payton, but not before some long and interesting rallies had been played. The Shore first ladies also proved to be too strong for the Remuera players. Here and There. A very successful At Horae was given, by the Parnell ladies on Friday afternoon. Aliss Barstow and Aliss Cumming carried off the first and second prizes in the “A” Division, while Aliss Foote and Aliss Al. Walker proved the winners of the *’B” Section. Local players are now looking round to see Where they, can obtain some tournament play at Easter. Nothing definite has so far been heard as to whether the Rotorua Club intend repeating their meeting this year. Should they- have any doubts as to entries they may rest assured that they can rely on a goodly number front Auckland players. The Wanganui Association are holding a championship handicap tournament, during Easter, and any local enthusiasts desirous of obtaining a good outing should keep this meeting in view. Hamilton v. Cambridge. Tiie return match between the Hamilton and Cambridge Tennis Clubs was played at Cambridge, and the Hamilton Club proved victorious after a closelycontested match, several of the sets being won on the last game. Tiie following are the scores, Hamilton players being mentioned first:—Ladies’ Singles. Aliss Wilkinson (2) v. Airs. McCarthy (7); Aliss Thorne (4) v. Miss Cox (7); Miss Carruth (7) v. Aliss Swayne (0) ; Aliss G. Tompkins (7) v. Airs. Niccoll (1). Ladies Doubles. Misses Wilkinson and Thorne (6) v. Airs. McCarthy and Aliss Cox (7); Alisses Carruth and Tompkins (7) v. Aliss Swayne and Airs. Nieoll (4). Combined Doubles, Aliss AVilkinson and James (3) v. Mrs. McCarthy and Cox (7) Aliss Thorne and Jordan (5) v. Aliss Cox and McCarthy (7) ; Aliss Carruth and Dodson (7) v. Aliss Swayne and Foster (1); Mias G. Tompkins and Farrer (9) v. Mrs. Nieoll and Hursthouse (2). Men’s Singles, James (6) v. Cox (9); Jordan (9) v. Roberts (3); Dodson (6) v. McCarthy (9); Farrer (9) v. Foster (2); Cavanagh (9) v. Hurstbouse (8); Luxford (9) v. Nieoll (8) Men’s Doubles. Jordan and James (9) V. Cox and Rola-rts (6| ; Dodson and Furrer (9) v. AleCarthy.and Foster (5); Cavanagh and Luxford (2) v. Tlursthouse and Nieoll (9 ). Totals: Hamilton, 11 sets, or 124 games; Cambridge, 8 sets, or 101 games.