The Spike: or, Victoria University College Review, June 1923
Tennis Club
Tennis Club.
The Tennis Championships were commenced on Saturday morning at the Otago Lawn Tennis Club's Courts. Victoria once again modestly retired to the side lines early in the contest, and generously allowed the other three Colleges to monopolise the limelight. Heigh-ho! It's many a weary year since V.U.C. looked anything like acquiring that Tennis Shield. But it's a long road, etc.
Hee Burns characteristically missed the boat at Wellington on Thursday night, so we had to rearrange the team somewhat. But why, when the manager came home in the "wee sma' 'oors" to Selwyn College and found Hec's telegram awaiting him—why did he consider it necessary to wake up the Tournament Delegate from his refreshing and innocent slumbers?
In the first round of the Men's Singles, Russell Young was unlucky. He had to play Entwhistle, of Auckland, and was doing well for a start, but as he had to rush away immediately after the game in order to box in the preliminary rounds, his game suffered somewhat.
Hollings found Smyth, of Otago, too solid a proposition in the second round, but he put up a good fight. Smyth was beaten in the final by Seay, of Canterbury, after a great fight in the second set.
In the Men's Doubles there is little to chronicle beyond the fact that Young and Gibb survived the first round. This event proved an easy win for Canterbury in the persons of Seay and Loughnan.
In the Ladies' Singles, Miss Gardner won her first set, but succumbed in the second round. Miss W. Partridge, C.U.C., created a surprise by defeating Miss B. Knight, the former champion.
In the Combineds, so far as V.U.C. is concerned, there is nothing to say.
In the Ladies' Doubles, Misses Thwaites and Sheppard had a win in the first round. Another surprise victory was that of Misses Henry and Pragnall, of O.U., over the Misses Partridge, of C.U.C.
The Tennis Shield went to Canterbury and Otago, each with two wins. Auckland had one win.