LAWN TENNIS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 203, 25 February 1914, Page 7

LAWN TENNIS.

AUCKLAND v. TARANAKI. HATCH ABANDON" ED. The fates were unkind to tennis players yesterday, when a mateli between Auckland and Taranaki was begun on the New Plymouth Club's courts. The morning was line but dull, tlic conditions being ideal for tennis, but rain act in early in tlie afternoon, and the match had to be abandoned when Auckland bad won seven games and Taranaki six. Of the three, ladies' singles matches which were interrupted by rain Auckland was leading in two and Taranaki in three. The rain then appeared to have set in, and the courts became very sodden, and as most of the Auckland players had to leave New Plymonth by the boat last night, the mateli was declared a draw, in favor of the visitors.

The" arrangements for the match had been taken well in hand by the home club, and left nothing to be desired, so it was unfortunate that so enjoyable a match should have had to be abandoned.

The most striking features of the day's play was the defeat of the New Zealand champion, Miss (Iray, at the. hands of Miss Brewster, and of Dickie and Wallace, the redoubtable partners, by McCutcheon and Goldsmith. THE GAMES. The first men's singles match of the day, between Nicholson (Taranaki) and Goldsmith (Auckland) proved very interesting. The game opened quietly. Nicholson held back, playing a steady game, and Goldsmith made the pace slightly warmer, leading 3—o, and then I—2. At this point Nicholson took the aggressive and forced the play more, placing well, and frequently working Goldsmith out of position. lie won the. remaining games of the set, which ended fi—4. In the second set Goldsmith made a fine effort to recover and won two games, but Nicholson kept going and the Auckland player could not stand against him, Nicholson winning tke match on two straight sets. A good game resulted from the meeting of Miss Gorrie and Brown (Auckland) and Miss Bundle and Wallace. The Taranaki pair proved too good, winning the first set o—4, after a close contest, and the second 7—5.

Snelling (Auckland) proved the victor over Thompson, who lost a plucky match, the Auckland man winning by 6—2, 9-7. Auckland bad an cany win when Misses Simpson and Thompson met Mrs. Cooper and Miss Steele. The latter pair left their opponents no chance, and won two straight sets, fi—l, G—2^ Taranaki made no better snowing when Mrs. Pearee and Miss Cross lost to Misses Itarstow and McCoriniek, who scored fi—-2 and C—o.

The defeat of the New Zealand lady champion. Miss Gray, by the Taranaki champion, Miss Brewster, was one of the surprises of the dav. Miss Grav took "the first set. G—4, "after 4 all had been called, and Miss Brewster returned the compliment in like fashion in the second set, making it set all. The New Plymouth lady, by dint of hard hitting and careful placing, secured thq initial two games in the deciding set, when Miss Gray won the following three, and led later by 4—3, Miss Brewster, however, was determined, and winning the next three games—two after deuee had been called—won the deciding and and the match. 4—o, fi—4, o—4.

Another surprise packet was the detent (if Dickie and Wall.iee by SfcCutchcon and Goldsmith. The Aucklanders opened out. leading by 4—2 in the first set, and winning it by o—4. The redoubtable champions tlien struck form and evened up matters by taking the next set, 6—2. Then the Aucklanders made the next set 5 all and won the following two games, and with them the match, amid great enthusiasm. The match between Miss Barstow and Miss Rundle was very evenly contested, and deuces were many. The Aucklander finally won two sets out of three. Mrs. Cooper, of Auckland, outclassed Mrs. Pearce completely in two straight sets, m which the Taranaki player only won one game. - Keith's match with Dickie saw tlie Taranaki man playing in much better form than he had shown in the doubles with Wallace as his partner, and hy superior tactics the Aucklander was beaten in two straight sets.

Wallace also scored an easy victory over liis opponent, McGulcheon, in the singles, and made it sultry for the Auckland man from the start winning bv fl-1, fi-2.

The match between Miss Steele and Snelling (Auckland) and Miss Simpson and E. W. Griffiths was more evenly contested. The Taranaki pair won the first set. ((—-4, but the second was longer in doubt, finally going in their favor, 7-5.

Mrs. Cooper and Miss Barstow "walked over" the Taranaki pair. Misses Simpson and Thompson in two straight sets, in which the losers only won three game^. Brown and Robson, of Auckland, were taken well in hand by Nicholson and Webster, who lost the first set, but easily won the next two. Following are the detailed results, Auckland players being mentioned first in each case:— LADIES' SINGLES. Miss Cray lost t» Miss Brewster. 4—o, 0-4, o—4. Miss Barstow beat Miss Uundlv. !l-7, 7-9, 6-2. Mrs. Cooper heat Mrs. Pearce. o—4. 6-0. Miss Gorrie v. .Miss .Simpson. Miss McCormick v. Miss Cross (Auckland leading) and Miss Steele v. Miss M. Thomson (Taranaki leading), unfinished. MEN'S SINGLES. Goldsmith lost to Nicholson, 6—4, o—2. Snelling heat Thompson, 6—2, 9—7. | Keith lost to Dickie. 6—2. o—2. I McCutelieon lost to Wallace, o—l. 0-2. MIXED DOUBLES. Miss Gorrie and Brown lost to Miss Bundle and Wallace, G—4, 7—5. Miss Steele and Snelling beat Miss Simpson and Griffiths, o—4, 7—5. LADIES' DOUBLES. Mrs. Cooper and Miss Barstow beat Misses Simpson and Thomson, 6—l, 0-2. Misses Steele and McCormick beat Mrs. Pearce and Miss Cross, 6—2, 6—o. MEN'S DOUBLHS. McCntcheon and Goldsmith beat Dickie and Wallace, o—4, 2—o. 7—5. Brown and Robson lost to Nicholson and.Webster, 3—o, o—l, 6-2. At Hawcra on Saturday the local team defeated Kltbam by eight sets to six. Manaia defeated Kaponga at the former place on Saturday hy 135 points to 100.