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The Spike: or, Victoria College Review, June 1910

Tennis

page 43

Tennis.

"The ball no question makes of ayes or noes,
But right or left as strikes the player goes."

Omar Khayyam.

The tennis championships opened at the beautiful Avon-side courts on Saturday at 9.45 a.m. The courts were in good order, but the play was, for the most part, mediocre. Canterbury's chances were most favoured. In the men's singles, our players went down in the first round to more experienced men, and a like fate awaited the first men's double in the second round. Neither the Otago nor the Auckland men offered much resistance to Canterbury's attack, and the men's singles fell easily to L. Jennings, and the men's doubles to Jennings and T. D. Smith, of that

"And both were young, and one was beautiful."

Byron.

Victoria College supporters, however, had their hopes of ultimate success suddenly raised by the unexpected result of the Combined Double—Miss Reeve and Cleghorn, and Miss Grace and Jennings. This was, perhaps, the best match in the tournament. Our representatives were on the top of their form, while Jennings was slightly off-colour. The first set, by careful play, went to us: 6—4. We again led in the second set: 4—1 but by a fine effort, Miss Grace and her partner took the set: 6—4. Every stroke was now followed with keenest interest, and at 4 all in the third set, excitement was at concert pitch. We led 5—4, and then Cleghorn took command, and, playing well, won set and match amidst the wild enthusiasm of the wearers of the green and gold. In the final of the combined doubles, Miss Reeve and Cleghorn won from Miss Paterson and Beamish, who had defeated Miss McIntosh and Smith in the semi-final.

Miss Reeve and Miss Grace again met in the final of the Ladies' Singles Championship. On this occasion, by good placing and driving, Miss Reeve showed an undoubted superiority, and the championship went to Victoria College: 9—5.

Our chance for the tennis cup lay now in winning the final of the Ladies' Doubles, Misses Reeve and Tennant being pitted against Misses Grace and Patterson. We thought we might win, but we had underestimated the page 44 prowess of our Canterbury hosts. Their combination, driving and placing were alike excellent, and they well merited their win: 9—4.

The tennis cup thus went to Canterbury College, with three championships.