LAWN TENNIS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 February 1921, Page 3

LAWN TENNIS.

AUCKLAND v. TARANAKI, THE NORTHERNERS WIN. The annual interprovincial tennis match between Auckland and Taranaki took place on New Plymouth Club’s courts yesterday. The weather was not favorable, there being a rather cold wind, whilst occasional showers compelled temporary stoppages of the games. Nevertheless the whole series of matches were played. The courts, despite the hard week's tennis, placed very well, a tribute to the care bestowed on them by the club's custodian (Mr. Revell).

The match resulted in a victory for the Auckland team by 13 matches, 30 seis, and 259 games, to TaranakVs 6 matches, 17 sets, and 213 games. Auckland’s lady players proved superior to the local ladies, but the Taranaki men proved more than equal to their opponents, winning 5 of the nine matches. In this connection it is interesting to note that Auckland’s three leading players (Bartleet, Robson and Sims), who were chosen as New Zealand representatives, were defeated by Wallace, Nicholson and Dickie respectively. The visitors were hospitably entertained to morning and afternoon tea and lunqh on the courts. The ladies committee, of which Miss D. Simpson is secretary, was responsible for the arrangements, which were excellent. Dr. Leatham, president of the association, was present during the day and welcomed the players. He presented the prizes won at the tournament. The majority of the Auckland team left for home by the Rarawa last night, and the remainder leave by the mail train this morning. Details of the play are as follows: MEN’S SINGLES. In the men’s singles honors were easy, each side winning three games. There were some splendid matches, notably that between Bartleet (Auckland) and Wallace (Taranaki), which the Taranaki man won in two out of three sets. In the first set Bartleet won 3—l, but Wallace won the next four games, and led s—-3. The Aucklander, however, did likewise and won the set 7—5. The next set was easily Taranaki’s Bartleet only winning the sixth game. The deciding set was hotly contested. Wallace led at 3 nil, and Bartleet, winning the next two alternate games, brought the score to > —3 in favor of Taranaki, when Bartleet again levelled up, but the Taranaki man won/the next two, and th© set and game. Dickie (Taranaki) also played fine tennis, lowering the colours of the tournament champion, Sims (Auckland). The Aucklander led in the first set 3 nil, but thereafter play was more even, the set ending in his favor 6—3. Dickie won the first two games of the next set,- but alternate games carried the score to 5—4. Dickie won the next game and the set. In the final set seven games were played, Spins only winning one. Nicnolson (Taranaki) beat Robson (Auckland) after a fine game. The Aucklander established a led of 4 nil in the first set (one game running to nine deuces), and won by 6—3. In the next set they were even at all, but Nicholson then gained the upper hand and ran out at 6—3- The final set was keenIj contested. Nicliolson won the first three games, but lost the next three, and Robson led at 5—4. The New Plymouth man won the next two and led at 6—5. The last game was a very long one, bur. Nicholson gained the final two strokes, winning the game 7—5, and the set.

Snelling (Auckland) and Archer (Taranaki) had a very long struggle. In the first set the Aucklander gained the advantage 7—'s, but in the next, after keeping even to the seventh game. Archer won the last two games and the set 9 —7. In the final game Snelling led s—l, when Archer drew up to 5—3, but lost the next game and the match. E. W. Griffiths (Auckland) beat C. B. Webster (Taranaki) after another keen contest. The Aucklander led off in the first, two games, but Webster evened up at 3 all, and neither had any advantage to- six all. Then Griffiths won the next two games and the set B—6. In the next set Webster won the first two, and led 3—l, but Griffiths won the next three, making the score 4—3 In his favor, finally winning the set 6—4, and the match. H. E. Webster (Auckland) and Wybourne (Taranaki) also had a keen contest, each winning a set, 6—4, but in the last set, after being 2 all, the Aucklander ran away from his opponent and won the set 6—2. Results:— E. 1. Bartleet lost to A. G. Wallace 7—5, I—6, 5—7. H. L. Robson lost to “J. C. Nicholson 6—3, 3 5—7. ' A. W. Sims lost to C. J. Dickie 6—3, 4—6, E. W. Griffiths beat C. B. Webster B—<>, C—4. H. E. Webster beat R. D. Wybourne 6—4, 4 6-2.-H. W. Snelling beat K. G. Archer 7—5, 7—9, 6—3. LADIES’ SINGLES, Auckland won tite four matches in the ladies’ singles, though in some of the games there was little margin. This was particularly the case in the match 'between the leading pair, Alias Payton (Auckland), and Miss Brewster (Taranaki), which ran to three sets. Miss Brewster won the first 7 —5,» and lost the second by 6—2, after her opponent had established a lead of 4 nil. The final set was contested to the last stroke, some beautiful play being witnessed. Miss Brewster won the first game, and Miss Payton the next two, and then each player alternately won two games until the Vcore read 5 4 in Taranaki’s favor. Miss Payton won the next three and the game. Miss Simpson (Taranaki) and Miss McCormick (Auckland) .also played a close game, there being very little difference between the players. In the first set they were 5 all, when Miss McCormick won the last two, the Aral one running to several deuces. In the second set Miss McCormick led at s—l, but Miss Simpson pulled upjj«nsidera'bly, and at the conclusion was oniy2 down.

In the first set between Miss Macfarlane (Auckland) and Miss Rundle (Taranaki), the New Plymouth lady only won one game, but in the next set she fully extended the Aucklander, who won on an advantage set. The game between Mesdames Marshall (Auckland) and Smith (Taranaki) ended in favor of the Aucklander, who had matters by no means her own way. Results:— * Miss Payton beat Miss Brewster 5—7, 6—2, Miss Macfarlane beat Miss Rundle 6—l, Miss McCormick beat Miss Simpson 7—5, 6—4. MrS. Marshall beat Mrs. Smith 6—3, 6—4. MEN’S DOUBLES. In the men’s doubles Taranaki won two of lite 3 matches. Robson and Sims (Auckland) beat Wallace and Dickie in two straight sets, after a game that provided some fine tennis. Taranaki led 2—-1, and then the Aucklanders won the next three gaunes, Taranaki doing likewise apd leading with 5—4. The Aucklanders, however, again won three successive games, and took tl:e set 7—5. The next set also went to the Aucklanders, who won by 6—4, after the board had shown 3 a«l. There were some great rallies during

this game, rousing the enthusiasm of the spectators. Robson’s serve proved very difficult. Nicholson and Webster (Taranaki) defeated Griffiths dnd Snelling (Auckland), winning the first set comfortably by 6—2. In the second set the game was much closer. Taranaki led at 4—2, but. the Aucklanders bad evened up the score at 5—5, finality not being reached t'.l the fourteenth game, when Taranaki wen B—6. Archer and Wybourne (Taranaki) defeated Bartleet and Webster (Auckland) in a game which ran to three sets, ’me scores were 2 all in the first set, but the Auckland pair won the next four games and the set. In the next set the Aucklanders never tad a look in, the Taranaki pair getting home 6 love. The final set proved a close contest. The Auck- ! hinders led at 4—3, but the local pair won ‘ the next three games, and tte set 6—3. 1 Results

Robson and Sims beat Wallace and Dickie 7—5, 6—4. Griffiths and Snelling lost to Nicholson and Webster 2—G, 6—B. Bartleet and Webster lost to Wybourne and Archer G—2, o—6, 4—6. LADIES’ DOUBLES. In the ladies’ doubles tte Aucklamjyrs also won both games. Misses Macfarlane and McConmick (Auckland) proved too good for Misses Brewster and Rundle (Taranaki), winning in two straight sets of 6—3 each. Tn the first set the score was level at 2 all, but Taranaki only gained one of the next five games. In the next set the Auckland ladies established a lead of 3—l, but Taranaki won the next two games and evened up. Then the Aucklanders won the next three games and the set. Miss Marshall and Miss Payton (Auckland) beat Mrs. Smith and Miss STnipson (Taranaki) in two straight sets. Results:— Misses Macfarlane and McCormick beat Misses Brewster and Rundle 6—3, 6—3. Mrs. Marshall and Miss Payton beat Mrs. Smith and Miss Simpson 6—2, 6—3. COMBINED/DOUBLES. In the combined doubles Auckland won three out of the four sets. Nicholson and Miss Brewster (Tarajiaki) beat Robson and Miss Macfarlane (Auckland) after a great struggle. In the first set the score was Auckland 3 and Taranaki 2, but the Aucklanders had the better of the concluding stages and won by 6—3. In the second set Auckland won the first two matches, but Taranaki won the next six and tbe set. The final set provided a long sustained struggle. Taranaki won the first game and Auckland the next. First one side and then the other won a game until the score read 8 all. Then Taranaki won the last two games, the set and the match. j Miss McCormick and Sums (Auckland) deji

feated Miss Rundle and Webster (Taranaki) after a game which ran into three sets, there being very little difference between the pairs. . Miss Payton and Griffiths (Auckland) had no difficulty In accounting for Miss Simpson and Dickie (Taranaki), winning in two straight sets, the local pair only scoring one game. Mrs. Marshall and Bartleet (Auckland) also defeated Mrs. Smith and Webster (Taranaki) in a game that went the full three seta. -AffAr lAadlM In the first lit B—2 |

! Taranaki won by 6 —3. Auckland won the - J next 6 love, and the third set by 6 to 2. ■ ■ Results:— I I Robson and Miss Macfarlane lost to Nichol* i 1 son and Miss Brewster 6— 3, 2—6, B—lo. > | Sims iind Miss McCormick beat Wallace ! i and Miss Rundle 5—7, 6—4, 6—4. Griffiths and Miss Payton beat Dickie and Miss Simpson 6—l, 6—o. Bartleet and Mrs. Marshall beat Walter ! J and Mrs. Smith B—6, 6—os 6—ft