The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-10
NEW YORK AGAINST QUEBEC.
SKILLED PLAYERS IN a VERY SHARP
BITILE AT RACKErS.

Mnhon OF the New York club IL Defeated by
the EnEIIshmnn, Harry Boni.es, IN ~ Match
ofFive Gnme.-some Fine rIay AppiHuded.
Tho game OF rackets has been familiar TO
the wealthy patrons OF English sports in this
city for the past quarter Of century. tho Now
York Racket Club being an old-tme institution
OF the metropolis, but ii is only lately that the
racket players of the city have been in posses
sion OF such a model club house for recroatiyc
exercise as the New York Racket Club owns.
The handsome new match court Of the club was
yesterday tho scene of tho most important
match at rackcts that has been played in this
city since the championship contests between
Gray and Faulkes in tho old club court in Thir-
.toenth street in 1867. Since that time the
racket players in this city have greatly i'm
proved in their average play, and now our
leading amateurs can readily discount tho OK
perts OF ten years ago.
Rackets is played with n short bat and a small
ball the bat being similar to the one used in tho
old game OF battledorc and shuttlccock only Of
much stronger material. A court is requisite
10 play tho game in. and tho players stand. ono
10 serve" tho ball and tho other to return It.
Tho former bats the ball to tho end wall Of the
court. and the other has to bat it back again
from the lower end Of tho court. and he must
return 1t 30 that 1t strikes the end wall on the
1y. else tho player serving 1t scores an ace. II
on this return Of the ball tho inner court player
should fail to again return 1t. he loses his
hand" and thus the gamo goes on until one
OF tho players scores fifteen points or aces
and that ends the game. series of best two
out Of three games. or more in proportion. con-
Btitutes a match.
Tho contestants in the match Of yesterday
woro tho professional players or markers OF
the Quebec and tho New York Racket Clubs.
The Quebec clubs marker Is Harry Boakes. an
English player well known IN the club courts
of London. He is an able Instructor In the
game and one OF tho most expert players Of tho
day, John Mahon is the marker OF the New
such decided mpro S ' in his play S that i
pocame desirable 10 test his ability with another
club professional; hence the match with Boakes
AS II was impossible 10 make II public con-
test, the assemblage gathered to witness il yes:
teTday included only members OF the club and
court galleries were crowded with members.
among whom were many gentlemen Of wealth
and influence In the commercial and social cir
The two men entered tho court at o'clock in
the afternoon. and after the settlement OF tho
prolimnarics play was called by Mr.. Allen.
who marked for the match. and the referee Mr..
la Montague, md the umpircs. Meesrs. sautter
and Smith, settled themselves to. watch the play.
Boakes won the toss and served the first ball,
ace lie Vas then 0 neatly ally put out by Madon.
who 10 turn was forced TO retire on blank, tho
Sa snege9y 9nSnsg o w S9 a we'll Ss iS S
tended to on both sides and the returns We're
ssharp and declsye neither side scoring In
ner ball. and scored an ace and on a sharp cut
IN return he made another ace. and then gave
Score Score Tho fourth innings was was marked By
blanks. both handling their rackets in good
dian marker by to o. and as he added four
aces by pretty returns in the next innings the
contest began TO look one-sided. Mahon, how
ever. next began TO score noes. and by some
very effective ~ ,r services he made three Ihs
leading by 8 10 8, and this load seemed TO have
demoralizing effect on Mahon, who In the
next four innings added only one ace to ms
favor at the end Of the tenth innings. In the
eleventh INNINGS Boakcs II ran the game out with
ball Of which Mahon was able to return. and
that , Boakes returned iI again counting an ace
ssS sScn ........ .... 5StdSfo 81;
Tho second. game. was begun ut once and
Boakes led on with four aces. scored boy pretty
sent 70 him by yahon elected hearty, applause
returns and difilcult cross-country" balls h,
and then exceeded his score BY O. The result o
the first innings was. Mihon .. Boakes 4, Boakes
in turn rallied for the lead and getting fouI
nces to Mahon's one. he went 10 the front hy !
tot Once more Mahon rallied. and by fine
eighth innings The score stooi!t is 10 IS. MahoI
chose to S"t for iIye aces and ON the " try on
In the winner 10y the following score:
s sSisS' t iaq idd5fqd Ill
This was encouraging for tho New York rep
resentAtive and IL iel 10 the third game heinI
watched with special interest. 1t proved o. b'
a close contest IL was opened with blanks OF
both sides, after which Boakcs went To the from
by 3 Ito o. and at the end Of the sixth innings h.
led by 10 to >. Then Mahon made some verl
pretty play both in service and returns. and Ia
Boakes's 2, leaving the totals at 10 to p IN Ma
some close iIshting. hui Boetes had rather III
best oil II ana IN hls eleventh innings he ran III
S S5aa" 3 J q ii
Boakes'- success in this game had some
what depressing cnect on Mahon who fell o.
20 score aces in The third innings whic
practically gave him the game In the neN
four innngs Mahon scored 9 70 Boakcs's :
'tcll-ae' work. and the result WAS that BOake
ended the game in the eighth inning with
well-m9ade aces - His service in ihis game wa
very elective Tho score was as follows:
s ssSon z Q ) o . -
The last game Was short and sharp. Boakc
opened with good four on which Mahon calle
him aud wont four better. thus making the high
est single inning score Of the match. This wa
rather too much for Boakcs. and he went In fC
spurt. and topping MHhon > score Of cigl
camo in an easy victor by the appended score:
nns sHsa .......''......-..ss S9 =
Total aces Boakc. 70 M,hou. o.
Tho table showing the aces 10y service and r.
turns in all the games IL az follows:
Ao1ss,o, ~ R.nr. M,
RsESs ( So go go i il 'eq 99--ssSS
Thcumpircs had worry easy duty to pcrforr
and the referee had nothing 10 do but 10 wat
!he game and take notes OF tho Canadian
points OF play in read ness for his private tri