LARNED DOWNED.

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

LARNED DOWNED.

COLLAPSES TOWARD THE END,

HEATH LASTS BETTER. The court, which had been ciit about a little with tho players' shoe spikes, was rolled out, and. at 20 minutes, to four. Heath and the famous Lamed made'their appearances-Heath, young, athletic, .and of medium, height; Lamed taller, and ftfew years older. Both looked'fit. The former had the service, and the first game wont to the American rather easily. He also won the second game from -10—30. Lamed was (as he had been doing in practice) now putting several shots_ into the net, and Heath- also was erratic, but he won the third game,- Earned putting a back-court drive-out.-- A : Ion? driving rally, won by Heath; in tho next game, drew forth cheers. He followed it up with another good win.'but put one into the net. He, ho'rorer, bpat the American by beautifully returning a shot that hit (lie net and tell over "short.— 2 all. _ - ' The foot-faulting Australian line umpire again got to work—this time- on Heath— who lost this game. Earned was-p'laving tho surer game now, and, though well beaten once by a fine toss, ho won t—2. Lamed was passing Heath with cross drives, anil Heath was putling shots out at the side and tho back linos. Lamed again had Heath running about, and it seemed as if be were much the better player. He won the set easily, (;-2, j|. now seemed a ceiUia matcli lor the American. Second Set—"Well Played Heath!" The second set opened with two good services by Heath, which Luned failed to return. Thin Heath played u double fault, but got in another good serve; and finally won brilliantly with a fine cross shot. Heath also won tho next game— 2 love. A .short drop shot by Heath in the next game was applauded, hut he then failed with two half volleys, and-lost the game 2—'l. A Shot into the net, and a double fault by Earned, put him in a bad position in the fourth game, which Heath finished 'brilliantly with a f n if corner drive. H»ath sol to 10 love oil' his own service, and -when-almost beaten in tho 'next rally, won it by a hno toss, i—l.

Applause, and cries of "Well played, ! Heath," followed. Lamed seethed now to slacken off a lot, while the younger player improved greatly, arid was repeatedly cheered for line services, good drives, and an occasional well-played shbrt drop or short volley. He won the next two games, anil the set, to the surprise of everyone, by li to 1.-Sell all. . The Third Set. Larned opened the next set by putting a fairly easy one into the net, but lie passed Heath on the back hand with a good shot. Then there was a splendid rally. Heath returned a difficult ball that touched the net, an.! Lamed rushed U P- '[he Australian tossed the return •beautifully over Larncd's head, who, however, won the first game at the finish with a magnificent fast serve. ti. A u fia ? drive by Lamed was the best, shot in the next game, but he put two balls out in succession, "and 1 Heath won the game.—One all. • Lamed started the next game with'a double fault, but, after some tame play, he won 2—l. Heath won the. next game •from -10-15, Lamed shaking-his head as he returned, what should have been an easy smash into 1 the net.—Two all. Lamed led at the next 3-2, and, then •amused the spectators' by. putting on a Jersey over his shirt, though the'(lav was warm.—"4—2 and Lamed leads." was- called in quick succession. : ' There was,-'at-this stage, a good deal'of'-fh(her tame driving, each player keeping pretty well to the back of the court. The: grimes got to "four all," amidst a burst of applause,..and then Heath, ~ distinguished himself by getting back a hot serve, and won the. rally with a well-placed shot. He also won- this gaihe. Lamed putting A ball into the net. , He did the same with Heath's first serve in the uext game, hut got 40 to Heath's 15, and then won the panie with 'three good shots.—Five all/ . It was, however, now apparent even to the most casual critic that L.triied was not .iii form, and he nbved ate lit the court, and started slowly for snort-placed shots that an active player shoukf have .got to quickly. Those who were "in the know" knew that he was siiffer.ing from rheumatism in, the leg. Hfc had, as a matter cf fact, only decided....to.-play- at ..the., last. ...moment', thinking that he was .sufficiently" recovered after a course of massage, and lit the start felt all right. As. the gamo progressed,'however, he became worse; and it was quite clear that it would have.been wiser to have played M'Loughlin in this •'sihglf. - -...-" ." . "'.'■■■ ~ '.. "'.- "Lpye—3o" was called off. Larncd's'next, service, and then Heath put one but, and another, .into the net, and a toss'outside, : so that "Deuce" was Called. Lamed'volleyed a soft one into the not.attd nut ;ll">. next one into the lietas well—G—s—with the 'Victorian leading.. "'■' Heath now had the service, and ia ft* third shot had Lariia'd badly beaten alter Kinking him travel backwards and forwards across the back of the court.' He got to 10—15, and thou won the game and i'the.set, amid cheering; This ivas rather an unexpected result, though Heath had stated in the morning that he thought that ho could win'. The Final Struggle. The-next set opened with 'a win for Heath after some pretty placing, in. which he beat the American, and after another' of his returns into the net Heath won off Larncd's service. He also won the next game. 2—love. Larned .seemed to be more, lame- th:m over, and people suggested rheumatism, but he-nulled the next gamo out of the fire,-finishing with a difficult serve. 2—l. Heath lost three strokes (lo love-iO) in tho next game off his .own service, and after scoring once lost the'game. Two all. -, Heath earned a round of applause by placing two hot shots in opposite corners of the court, after which he. had Larned beaten badly with' a cbross-the-court shot. Lamed wound up with a double faiilt which gave- ..Heath the game; ■'. 3-r2.' -■ In the next gnmc.Laraed put three successive, shots into the .net; and then put a .hot drive out. 4—2. Heath, with some, good tossing and placing, scored to 15—40 off Larned's serve, and then larned put the last ono into the net, and was_ culled- again off him. '.With Heath serving in the next game ■ the'betting-'Tvas all in favour'of'his'winning the set ,ahd tho match. Lamed was now badly "used up," and it became more than over evident that M'Loughlin should'have: taken his place.' Heath won the game and the.set. , There was loud arid prolonged cheering at the totally unexpected result. . Larned also was loudly cheered for his plucky uphill, fisht-.under difficulties.

Cup Prospects. - It' now looks as if Australasia cannot fail to retain tho cup. A win in the double's to-morrow. must give it to them, but, even if they do not win. the doubles, Brookes is; sure to heatLarned' oil 'his present -form ' easily, and that 'match - would also give Australasia the advantage even if they lost the doubles. Lamed, having started in the singles, : cannot now put another mail in his place .except with' the consent of the opposing side or the referee. It is to be hoped that they will be. generous enough to agree to tho alteration. He is really unfit to play a hard set. Tennis Goods from Slazenger's. Sheffield, and Hussey—the best makers. Geo. Denton, 58 Willis Street.-Advt.