SEALS WRIGHT BEATEN.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1326, 2 January 1912, Page 7

SEALS WRIGHT BEATEN.

BROOKES CHEERED AT FINISH

STORY OF THE MATCH. '' fey three o'clock f fief 6 was-a'large attendance of the public," but there was more than sufficient accommodation; two ot the stands having a large number fei" Tacant.seats... The.first.sign of the im--pending contest ..was the appearance of five iball boys neatly clad .in white shirts and, shorts, and black' stockings. '•■•:'--• ■• - There was intenso;"eicitsme"ut - when at twenty minutes "to two, the strong, thicket New Yorker : Bcals..Wright,' and the more dehcatelopking 'Australian, Norman Brobkcsj entered .the'arena to a round of applause. •• . . . ' There was a' decided 'contrast'' in physique between the two players., Brookes tell and not. very strongly .-built, impressed one with-the quietness of. lis demeanour, the keenness of the' eyes that lookr out from:under the' peak of'tho tweed cap he wears, and by ed—almost ' that never for one moment' seems to 'leave his face during the easiest or the most severe battle. .'•'.'- ' Beals Wright, much more strongly *et and with much greater energy, looks lit enough to enter the prize ring, and, if it were a matter ..of mere .physique; onewould come to the. conclusioa '. that.. he .must win, but in lawn tenhis'the race "is not always to. the .strong.... There - are other, qualities .that come .in/and the.ee Gorman Brookes possesses in. a verv marked degree. ■- First Victorian Win's. ' The. first set opened miietlv : f„„i, Ptf.« "f tesbifice.and' ST L i ■?fi ;tho i hird ,l* n « Blokes- got the lead through., a. double' fault *semd by Wright,-a, v . won the game with a fine .volley-ainid:.applguso. ••■/,'• "? a In; the fourth game'Brookes had'fci* opponent-.in difficulties,'..but"weight re turned some, difficult, shots. &« however, won tho game 3-M . urooKes ' In the- riext..ganie"Br.ookes's placing deuce was called. :,Fine pfaying b yl"fVifh gavo.-him the '.game,- howove/•-(S Brookes leading,-.and'the. crowd 'cheWei lustily. Brookes won his next -<w Which.-pdtiltd Wright■* Meal IS 00 ' , In. the seventh ganie Wright wm serv ing. He reached and then won the game with a fine smash, 4-3 ' tw"! was successful.in the next game, hi mV 'IS- remarkably accurate 5-3. There wa ? a good rail, "in tKnth game, which Wright won. 5-4 RrrinV™ had the sam-in- the next game a nl™ londly cheered -by bating Wright, three time?, in succession,- by remarkably film playing to .{(Move, when ho put in a l,nt corner serve that, Wright placed into the net. The Victorian .was'loudly cheorrrl on winning the sot. 6-1 •'. J LUECrM Second Set—Honours Easy, This was an excellent beginning, but the matter of physique still obtruded it self on the cautious observer, and he could not go far toward venturinc tn prophesy. Wright commenced the second sot, and Brtokes failed to return hi" K ™: , "Weren't jou ready, Norman?" asked Wright,, and ho served again, his sportsmanlike action drawing a cheer from tie crowd. The crowd cheered again'when Wright won the next shot.: Brookes played rather weakly, and lost this game. He also lost the next game, in which ho half-volleyed prettily, but was beaten by Wright's return of some, very difficult sh<its. . In-the; third game"Wright had his opponent in difficulties, -and won" again— 3-love,'' -Tifteeii-forty" off' BiocWb

service in the next game looked black for him, but ho puzzled .'Wright, with ono fine serve, and then: with some grand placing, and eventually won the game 3-1. Wright then won his. service, and 4-1 was called in favour of America. • . •- , Brookes was now putting several ballsout, but, in the next game, he had « right racing with a fine back-hand.'balf-volley, and another finely-placed shot, ?. ut . , Wright won 'the game"-s—l; \V right- was twice foot-faulted •' -by the line-umpire in the next g'anie, which lie lost, and the score then stood at -in his favour. A fine cross-court-pass, from a difficult return-by Brookes, was cheered, and another good shot bv Wright made the score 30 all. Fine"' play ■ bv. both followed,• and deuce was .'called.' Wright ho\if began tossing, arid Brookes put one out. Wright did ditto/ and the score went back to deuce no fewer than six times. .Brookes was serving, but' could never get the necessary -point to win the game, and, though'he served most difficult shots occasionally, into alternate corners of' the court, he lost the game and the set. Set all. •::-.-■ Subtle Brain and Supple : Wrist.- ,; It seemed as. if it would, be a close thing between the two players,'biit now the subtle brain behind the supple wrist" of the Australian got to work, 'and his easy confidence and brilliance drew forth repeated cheers from the crowd. Wright opened the third set villi the service, and was again foot-faulted' by the line-umpire. The American made a mild protest. He, however, won.-the game. Brookes then won .'his .service,. and "one all" .was called. .Wright |er<>.' ed again, and Brookes playing, badly, .the" former won a love game.—2—l. .'Wright leading. •*,..-■ - "Two all" was called after some very, fine short cross pla>' .by Brookes, ..which' drew torth cheers. He then 30," off Wright's service, and, after, losing a point, woti the gauie.-^!)—2, Brookes leading. Brookes now began to vake up, and won a brilliant game, making the .score 4to 2 iii his favour. Ho passed Wright beautifully in thc_ opening rally of the next game, biit then put a toss'just outside the back-line. Deuce was called, but Brookes beat his man cleverly, twice at tho net. and then led 5—2.. He had now won three games in succession." A passing side-line drive by Wright was applauded, but afterwards Brookes ran his man right but off the court with one shot, and then w ; on the game off his own service. 5—3. < .-..

Brookes passed Wright in the next set very prettily on three-occasions; and won the game and the set, 6— 3. Brookes was', now leading by two sots to one.-. There, were still, however, some i)italins that Baals Wright's form might tell in the. end. ■• . ; The Final Set—Brookes Again.. The fourth was opened with Brookes serving. He had Wright running" frpin end to 'end across' the. court;.''and. beat, him badly. His' placing was magnificent. Wright resorted to tossing, but'it was of. no ;avail, and the Australian won. "Thirty all" Was called, and then 40— 30 in .Wright's favour. The latter then beat his opponent with a cross-court shot; Brookes..returned :.a shot that. would have gono out, and Wright .volleyed- it .back'out:of the Ausrrh r li«n'S l 'real f h'-l ) ;ai.'' : '' li ' Brookes again had Wright running across the court, iit\d the American once. rnore;;';fe'sorte(i '.'to tossing to ;gain time,' and'..enable.him to retrieve his.position.' At this stage there ensiled a very excit-. ing rally, and, in the niidst of it, Brookes' returned a rather soft shot for. hirii, : "Now,he's got him!" cried aii excited' spectator, but it was not so, for Brookes, with an effort', reached the ball, and sent ■ back a. beauty that quite beat his opponent. The rally wits responsible for a piece of the most brilliant play of the match, and it was. greeted with loud 'and continued cheering: -,In the fifth game u right slipped.'at. H critical hioment, and' ■3—2 was called in Birookes's favour.' In the. fifth game .Wright's . racket Slipped from, his .hand at a critical moment, and ho missed what would'have been an easy return, but. when.. Wright had the advantage, Brookes put one out, arid the score was three all. .In the' Seventh game Brookes got to "40—love" off his service, and then put one out, but Wright, trying tho tossing game, again, missed the side line, and 4-f3 in Brookes's favour was scored. Wright slipped and fellCin. tho next game.in attempting a rush' to a. side-line shot from the enemy. Then ensued a. .magnificent rally,, in Which the most-difficult shots were returned alternately, and there was' loud cheering when Brookes Von magnificently. 5—3. ... " " ...'... ",' It was how.all over bar the shouting. The, ninth game had been reached, and Brookes had the service. He iron the first two points, and then Wright resorted to lobbing, but tho' wind took a .very high' toss outside the court. Brookes, cool .aAd determined as ever, pressed his advantage. Ho got in some finely-placed shots, and was ever in the. right spot Jor. the return. Wright, was in difficulties,'and.' Brookes look the .game, the set,: and the match, amid a. great outburst uf cheering.' Beak Wright also received a great ovation. Tho crowd, liked his plucky uphill light, aud his flashes of brilliancy, and he certainly had earned their plaudits. As Brookes walked off the court he was again loudly cheered, and then, for the first time, he took his cap off, and wiped a little perspiration from his brow, while' the stern features relaxed and a pleasant smile lit* up his swarthy face.