New-York tribune., 1912-01-03
HOPE FOR CUP VANSHES
Wright and Mclaughlin Beaten
in Lawn Tennis Match.
PLAY IS FIERCE AND FAST
Brookes and Dunlop Rise to the
Occasion and Australasia
Keeps Davis Trophy.

Christchurch.' New Zealand, Jan. 2-All
chance of the American challenging team
lifting the Davis Cup vanished to-day with
the defeat of Maurice f. Mclaughlin and
Beals C. Wright in the doubles. The fiery
young Californian, who was here two years
ago, and the ex-champion. who was mem-
ber of the team Of 1905 fell before Norman
L. Brookes, the Australasian king OF the
lawn tennis courts, and his partner. A. W.
Dunlop in four hotly contested sets Tho
score was 81, ST. rs, 6-4.
BY this victory the Austrslasians scored
the third point OF the series OF five matches
the first two by the results of the singles
yesterday, and the additional point by the
doubles to-day The third challenge OF the
Americans has been as successfully met as
tho previous ones. Even so, the two
matches i'm the singles. in which William a.
Larned will meet Norman f. Brookes and
Peals Wright face Tod Heath, will be
played on the courts here tomorrow.
Again the weather was fair for the dou-
bles match to-day and from all parts of the
island there was a great turning out OF
lovers of the old game. Brookes received
a tremendous ovation when he came on tho
court for il is the impression that only
for his perseverance in preparing the fore
most Of the Australssians for the American
invasion and his wisdom I'm playing the
mon there might have been different
story to tell as 10 the outcome of the
n atChes.
Throughout the contest the spectators
were treated to some of the most daring
smashing and volleying that has ever been
Witnessed I'm this portion Of the world.
, Brookes and Wright, both OF whom swing
the bat with the left hand. engaged in some
marvellous rallies. 1t was the Australian
who shaded tho American oftener In the
twlnklng bits of work. He seemed to time
his shots to the fraction of a second Then
his eye was as true as hunters. Brookes
rarely missed through any bungling OF the
stroke. He was remarkably steady, and 1t
was only overhead that he displayed any
weakness.
Even i'm the opening set il was evident
that the defending pair had taken the
measure of the Americans. 1t was Brookes
who was up to the net In the volleys, ana
he took the returns hot Off the bats OF botn
Mclaughlin and Wright easily as a
waffle turned from a griddle. In fact In
all four OF the sets the position at tho net
was left largely TO Brookes, and he ac-
quilted himself nobly.
Upon the occasion when. under the drec-
tion OF Wright, who acted as the general
lssmo on the American side, there was
concerted lobbing attack, Brookes retired
alongside of Dunlop in deep court. There
was then no doubt that Dunlop had
profited by his year In England and his
long series OF tournaments during the last
season. He was fully as formidable as the
great Anthony f. wilding, who, with
Brookes. won the trophy for Australasia in
1907 and has always defended until tho
present series.
The smashing OF Dunlop rather had the
effect of making McLoughiin's overhead
strokes. flashing and effective though they
were at times, appear weak. II was the
sort Of playing that discouraged the Ameri-
cans. for although they really scored the
second set after once at deuce by a capt
tally managed lobbing attack, still Wright
soon came to the realization apparently
that it was a losing game, and so fell back
upon volleying and driving to dislodge the
defending players from court position
II was Mclaughlin who seemed TO come
through the match with the greater snare
Of the honors on the American side. IL
was he who the more readily handled the
bad breaking service which Brookes used
and to which he impaired puzzlinS twist
TO the ball. Then. as the game progressed
he did not show the signs of waning physi-
cal strength as did his famous partner.
In the second and third sets there Is no
question that the Americans were dam
gerous They brought out every atom OF
nghting spirit in the two Australians. who
realized that the cup was not safe until the
third point had been scored. Dunlop from
the base line, made number Of smashes at
critical times by main strength and he was
in the forefront of the rallies until Nc
Loughln and Wright had been overcome
in the third set at 7-5.
That was where the tide Of the great
match turned. Wright fought eamely
enough, but he had not the same force as
earlier In the contest. II anything, Nc
Loughlin entered into the fray with flercer
spirit. But the mighty Brookes beat them
back until the hope of lifting the famous
I ,rophv had heen eNtinguished for this year.