The morning call., 1891-07-04
BALL AND RACQUET.
Close Contests at the San Rafael
Tournament.
Brilliant Struggle Between c. P. Hubbard and
Ogden Hofman-A Possible Coming
Coast Champion.

The tennis experts on this side of the bay
looked out at The fog yesterday morning
and felt somewhat doubtful as to whether
the early part of the days play would not
have to be carried on under raw and de-
pressing conditions. The glorious climate
was, however, in full swing in the neigh
borhood of San Rafael. and the sun shone
as brightly and cheerfuily as on the first day
of the tournament. The same light breeze
was blowing again and prevented the heat
from being oppressive. In the afternoon
the usual post-midday wind had its innings,
bat was not strong enough TO interfere with
the players, pleasant change from the pre-
ceding day when the trade zephyr WAS in
vigorous mood and carried several we'll
intentioned lobs just out of court.
There was slight increase in the at
tendance of spectators. enough tennis er-
thusiastS being present to comfortably I'LL
the stand on one size of the court. The ar
ray of empty benches ON the other side was
not an unmixed evil, for late in the day the
sun beat full upon them. and to occupy a
seat there required the enthusiasm OF
baseball 'bleacher."
A STRONG ATTRACTION.
The best set of the day, between Hub
bard and Ogden Hoffman, was played in the
court on that side of the ground, and few
who were especially interested faced the
sun and looked on at the game at short
range. But they seemed not altogether
sorry when Hubbard pulled off the match
and they could cool Off in the shade op-
posite.
1t was a tennis crowd. too, both the ladies
in their summer costumes and the flannel
attired men keenly watching every match
and generously applauding every good
stroke. Perhaps the sympathiZers with the
California Climb nFadOmlnataQ for
though The applause was sportsmanlibe and
impartial, it WIS plain which man the ma
lorlty OF the spectators wished to see sue
coed.
matches, Tobn meeting Tom Magee and
Harry Haleht playing August Taylor.
The former was regarded as a very open
event. Magee has had considerable practice
at Harvard since he pulled through TO the
finals in last years tournament, ana Tobin'S
quality of never knowing when he is beaten.
added to his all-round skin, make him
dangerous opponent for the best players.
The result was for some time in doubt
TOXINS GREAT PLAY.
Each man won set with margin Ofonly
one game in Tobin's favor. TobIn's condi-
ton seemed to tell in the third set, and
Magee could only secure a single game.
Magee played a good game throughout and
used his head well, and was beaten by his
opponents superior placing and accurate
lobbing. Tobin defeated Thomas Magee by
81, 4-6, 6-14
Haight was regarded as having the better
chance in the match with Taylor. but the
prophets were wrong for once during the
course of the tournament. They are old
opponents, and Haight had come out the
victor both at the California Club and the
Olympic Climb tournaments. Taylor played
in his best form. and did his best work with
forward drives and lobbing strokes. Haight,
who seemed to be anxious. played cautiously
and not so strongly as usual and the match
was consequently of careful description,
lit up, however, by two good rallies in the
first set Taylor defeated Haight-7-5,;6 GA.
The next match between George de Long
| of the Olympic Tennis Annex and c. L.
| Hubbard of the Lakeside Club was a walk
over for the Lakeside man. De Long put up
| good game, considering his formidable op-
ponent and showed marked improvement
| over his play last year Hubbard defeated
De Long-6-3, 6-1.
AN EASY VICTORY.
| w. b. Collier was also drawn against a
strong player, Ogden Hoffman, and made a
| better fight than was expected against the
| ODDS. Hoffman, however, easily asserted
| his superiority and took the match by e.,
| "a.
The second set of the first match of the
third round between Sam Neel and A. T..
! Stewart was close struggle, games all'
being called three times before Neel won
l
early showed his weakness at back-hand
! strokes. Neel was quick TO take advantage
| of this and repeatedly sent the ball to his
| opponents left side. His superior placing
and ability TO smash won him the match by
| 6-3, 81.
Gray found Southland Hoffman, who was
! out of form and played loosely, an easy
| quarry. The match was the most one ideti
OF tie tournament, and was won by Gray
by go, 81.
August Taylor and Joseph Tobin were
the next pair, and Taylor, for the second
| time, played in great form, putting no the
best game he had played in the tournament.
! The score of 6-3. rs in Tobin's favor shows
that he had to work to win.
The most brilliant match OF the tourna-
ment so far followed, when hubbard met
Ogden Hoffman. Hubbard was regarded
| DIS the most probable winner of the ALL
corners Tournament, and the match was
watched with great interest after Hoffman
| had secured the first set. Aside, too, from
being the most closely contested match of
the tournament, both men played in the
most brilliant form yet displayed.
SPIRITED CONTEST.
Each of them plays much the same game.
working up to the net whenever he gets an
opportunity. The similarity of style led to
| dashing game in which fast yolleyinr rail-
lies followed each other in quick success
sion. What eventually won Hubbard the
| heat were his chain-lightning service and
superior side-line placing.
The match at first attracted little atIen-
| ton from the spectators, who were watch
ing the TaylOr-Tobin game. But the turn
ing of the score to in Hoffman's favor at
| the conclusion of the third game made the
| spectators realize that the California Gibbs
| representative was going TO make good
| fight The pair then played neck and neck.
| each in turn taking game until the game
| stood all. The spectators gradually grew
more excited over the cl0seness of the con-
| test, and loud applause rewarded every
| point scored. Hoffman then secured a
| game, in which he was striker out, and won
| the first set by 6 to 4.
In the next set Hoffman looked still more
| likely to win the match. Each won game
| and then Hubbard pa ed two more to his
| credit. making the score 81. Hoffman
| won the fifth and sixth games, Hubbard the
| seventh, and Hoffman the eighth, four
| games in all. Hubbard took the next two
| games and the set, and his friends breathed
more freely, for il hao been close call
HUBBARD's BRILLIANT PLAY.
The third and deciding set was less even,
Hubbard. after each player had won
game, taking four more in succession. The
set looked a certainty for him, but it was
not yet over, for Hoffman rallied and won
two more games before Hubbard secured
the set and won the most brilliant and in
teresting match of the tournament by 4-6,
Ga, 6-3.
a surprise, Sam Neel making an unexpect-
eddy good showing against G. F. Gray. Neel
is quite young player and only learned the
game last fail, and the good fight he made
yesterday against his older and more expert
enced opponent proves that he is already
great player and is possibly coming Coast
champion. The first set was stubbornly
contested and won by Neel after games ALI
had been called twice. But the efforts he
had put out seemed to exhaust him and
Gray secured the next two sets easily. GRAY
defeated Neel-6-S, 81, 60.
Two more matches had to be played be-
fore the tournament could be decided The
winners will play W. Ii. Taylor Jr to-day
at O'clock for the Coast chamnian shin