THE MATCH.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1327, 3 January 1912, Page 7

THE MATCH.

BEALS WRIGHT AND PARTNER, AND HOW THEY FELL. -After a brief i'iraoek-up"'Bsais: Wright commenced tho service. Dunlop pukthe nrst ono over the—back-line, and then \v right failed to send, back ■Brookes's re- ,;,, ' put another out, ™ Wnght served a double fault. 15-40. ihen_ Dunlop put a high one out, but "right put tho next one into the net— Ganlo to tho Australians. .... ..< ■.-... Brookes beat the boy with hlS'sMVfcrind Dunlop, with a fino smash, won the second ace. M'loughlin put the next underthe net.. \Vnght got a fine smash on to Dunlop s knee, and, after 'a-few ' shots, il Loughlin won the'game for the Americans with a pretty shot, amidst applause. in the next game, after a beautiful rally that included some quick volleying and brilliant play by M'Loughlin, the Americans won tho first rally. A double fault by Wright .followed, and eventually the Australians won through Wright hittin»' one out of court; ■ ° .. ° There.was soine'high tossingin the next rame-tiLI M'Loughlin; beat Brookes down the side nil—and then Jh-2 in,'faV Australfi ifras.caJled; ".' -' •'■-. •' " : " lii the sixth; game v three--tosses in 'successionby the. Americans; went out, and. 1 the-.colonials -won'..;-1—2.. In the next game 31 loughlin had both Dunlop • and Brookes puzzled wi.th his fast break serve M Loughlin subsequently.scored a double lault. The young California!-,'however, Mat Dunlop with a fine volley, making the score IH-0 all; but he put the next one out. 4ft—3o. B.rook-Da put" the sucweflinr return out, and 4—3 was called. iitteen all"-was called ,in the next raniOi and then a crossyolley by Dtinlop and another.by Brookes; beat the Americans- badly, amid cheers. • "Five—four" was called, with Australia still leadin" '■_.u Loughlin returned a high toss, which Dunlop smashed beaiitifullv across" tho court. 40-30 in Affsiralia's favour was railed, and M_'L_o;ug;h.!in'.p.fi.t. the last ono into, tho net. The_ Australians won the game and the set, β-i.

Second Set to America, There had bc-en'somo very fine play for an opening set, arid tho spectators were kept up to a high pitch of interest. M toughliri-tejantlie second set witHa fino second serve that puzzled Brookes. \- nice half-volley was killed by M'LoughJin, the ball rebounding from the "round high over the opponent's'head, and far beyond the :back line. Brookes- beat Hneht prettily, and shot after shot was applauded till" "one-all" was called.' In the next, game America led, 40—15, and then put one oiit. Beals Wright finaily smashed ono on to Brookes's racket, and tfori the game—"2—l. America leads. . Brookes smashed another chestnigh shot over and across the net'close in, and the Australians won the fourth game.—2 all. ' •; ; '■ • . ,The fifth game included ■ a : . hot win-ning-serve from M'Loughlin, and he smashed another finely, bringing the store to 40-30 in favour of Australia 40 all" was called, and then 'M'Loughlia beat Dunlop badly with a stinging corner servo, and hit the back-line with nis next return, • giving the Americans the lead.—3—2. In the next pam-o M'Loughlin beat Brookes again, but Wright put a ■ poor shot out. A bplendid tossing' rally was won. by tho Australian?, amidst cheers, and Brookes then aofc Wright badly with a side-line shot.—3 all. An easy ono from Brookes was smashed hotly bv tho CMifornian, biit Brookes beat Wright with his next. After some brilliant pjav, America won the next game on ■MT/oiiKlilin's service, 5—4, and America, ltd again. Brookes manooiivifd with some nice volleying till.he got Wright out of place, and then pas?ed him prettily, and, owing to , mistakes by the Americans, Australia won this game rather easily.—s all. "Love, 15" was railed off Wright's service, and thon Dunlop put two shots out. Subsequently M'Loughlin, with a fiuick volley, boat the enemy, and tho Australians, putting ono out, lo't the frame, 6—5, and America wore leading once again. It was a ncr-k-and-neck race, with the vounit Australian playing a parlicularlv flashing game. Brookes being sure. Beals Wright occasionally bringintt off some fine shots, and Dunlop upholding his reputation as a doubles nlayer. After ,r prvtty rally, in which Brookes recovered splendidly from a bad position. Bunion now misjudged a eood length ball, whicli hv left alone, only tn soo it full well within the line. Wright won tho next phot, find with it the game and tho set for his side. ■ . This brought the senre to set all, and Ihe crowd, who wanted the- Americans tf> vin, cheered loudly, and then settled down for further e-xcitemcnt. Third Set to Australasia. M'Loughlin began with. the. third ..servo in the. third set, and won the first ace with a brilliant smash. He beat Brookes with his next serve, and again with a not'return. Then Wright smashed, one that tipped tbo not.and rolled over, this giving a love game tb America, . ; The play continued to-be .'of a. very high standard. "A-pretty rally' of -short shots ensued, and Dunlop drew forth

cheers by beating the Americans' with a lovely toss over their heads. After another fine rally, in which the Americans scored, "one all" was called. In the third game, Wright serving got to 40 love, and the Americans won easily, 2—l. America leading. .. . , In the next game "40 Iov6" was called, and Wright put one wall out, a love game to tha Australians making it 2 all. 3—2 was soon called in America's favour, and then there was a. brief respite while Jl'Loug-blin changed a shoe'.V' . Dttnlop served a double fault, but beat Jl'Loughlin in. the nest rally, and Wright put one- out Then Brookes rushed across, the net, and smashed' a hot one back quickly. Three all, and more cheering. In the next game 40—30 was called in America's favour, and a net ball made it 40 all. The score went back to deuce, but Wright missed a half volley, and Brookes put one into the net—deuce again. Duulop repeated the performance, Wright missed, and deuce was called once more, but the Americans eventually won. I—3, America leading. A pretty net-volleying rally, won by the Australians, was cheered. Two tosses by .Jl'Loughlin went out, and Brookes put one into the net, but won tho gdme by a nice middle-line shot that passed both opponents prettily, and 4 all was called.- Brookes's judgment in leaving balls alone that were apparently going.out was greatly admired. It was a ding-dong go. A pretty volley by M'Loughlin, off a hot return, won the next game for America, amidst cheers. M'Loughlin got a lucky ono over the net, Brookes just reached it and held it on the end of his rackrt for a moment, but could not get it over even with a second effort that amused the crowd. Dunlop earned cheers, for volleying a. low hot j shot back; over the net, and, off one of M'Loughlin's fierce drives, he scored prettily again, and "5 all" was called. The excitement became intense, and enthusiasts began to see a close finish looming ahead, and the issue in considerable doubt. There was some glorious play in almost every game. 6—5 found, the Australians again in the van. In the twelfth game, Brookes had the serve, and the Americans failed to get level again, so Australia won the set, and were now two sets to one. It had, however, been a battle royal so far. ■

Final Set—Australasia Again,

After a brief spell the players got going again. In the next set Jl'Loiighlm served with the wind. His serves-were bouncing , high, and coming off the- court'" fastiBrookes mflde. a" wonderful ■shot", with a twist of his racket at close- quarters; Dunlop tossed a volley out at the finish,and the first game went to the-Americans.

The Australians lost tho second game badly! In tho next Dunlop volleyed a hot" drive that came on to his - racket in a wonderful way. It was .one of those brilliant shots -winch' ho- often- does,""and the' crowd simply'' shouted -wifK-- 'delight; A hot volleying bout at close quarters won the third game for the Australians amid"cheering. Brookes then won on his servico, making-the score 2-all. ■"■ • ■' ' ■- '■ After."-some high tossing," IFLoughlin smashed" oao finely, but the "Americans failed with the game, though it was M'Loughlin's service. Thero was a wonderfully' fine rally in the next game, each player doing fine work, Dunlop being particularly brilliant, while Wright recovered marvellously. Brookes ended it by putting ono into the net, but the tine play made the onlookers' again yell with delight. "•■■'"-•— ■ : .'i ..-.:;; It now ieemdd to.be a question "of Australia getting- this', set iu case:; Dunlop"' might not be in good enough.training to last out u more battle, butM'Loughlin ala was not now sustajning the brilliancy with which he began. It was perhaps expecting too much of him.to do so. . -.-

4-2-Australia leads," was called; Dimlop should have loft one in the next game to Brookes, for, in taking it, he got out of place and was beaten by Wright. 1-3. and Australia still leadin? A hot smash by Dunlop, a hotter pa - inK drive by M'Loughlin, a grand cross volley by Brookes, another hot drive by M Loujjhlin—quito untaksal)le—were features ol tho next game, which was wou by America. -J all. ■ -

The boy, who had slackened a little, ost his next-serve, and gave Australia the load again. 5—4: ■- -.- -..-. ; It was now Duulop's turn .to'serve,-and the Americans might havo hoped io win it, and mate the score oven once :moro, but it was not to be. They made mistakes, and lost a love game, the set and the match. '

There was loud cheering, everyone being delighted with the brilliancy of the play Thn Americans received a speciollv warm ovation, ami many sympathised"- with them in this their third defeat. Thpv had, however, been outplayed, and, though there are still two Singles to be decided tn-mnri-"- . •-. coveted cup must remain in Australaefo,. . ■ • •