LAWN TENNIS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 240, 13 November 1914, Page 2

LAWN TENNIS.

ASSOCIATION COURTS. In the interest of tennis players and the sport generally in and around Christchurch, it is to be hoped that the movement on foot to establish association courts in the city will meet with due support. At present, subscription lists are in the hands of the secretaries of the various affiliated clubs, and it is understood that promises of support are many. If the amount guaranteed by November 25 should reach £4OO. all will be well, and the preparing of the courts will be commenced speedily. The suggestion is to put down 12 asphalt courts at the commencement and later augment the number by putting down eight more —f our asphalt and four grass courts. When all this comes to pass, there should be no need to make use of Lancaster Park when the more important contests are being held. ~ JUNIOR COMPETITIONS. In the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association's Junior A grade competitions, the St. Albans Club is so far unvanquished, it having proved victorious in the four matches which have been, decided. South Christchurch and Opawa }iave still to be met, however, and better tennis should be seen then than has prevailed in these matches, Opawa, South Christchurch, and St. Albans be-' ing the three outstanding teams ed. South Christchurch and Opawa have already met, the match resulting in a draw.

La"st Saturday's play was disappointing all round. St. Albans gave Lin- ! wood a very severe beating. • TJie Linwood team should have been mueh i strengthened by the inclusion of Field, M he was sadly off his game, and Baines scored an easy victory. Henley played a .steadier game than Denton, and obtained an easy victory, the latter being somewhat ''off . colour.'' Meredith-Kaye.was too much for Webb he returning almost everything, . and making very few mistakes. .Moore gave Fisher a good run, playing a steady and consistent game, but the St. Albans player's more mature experience brought " him through comfortably. Moore has improved a lot lately, and should do well with a little more match experience.

Canterbury College put up a very -poor fight against South Christehurch, ! although the absence of Bauchop would in some measure account for this. Berry and Dickson had no. difficulty in beating McCarthy and Harkness, while | Deavoll got in a love set against Rowe. Reid managed to secure five games from Hawkins, which was not a baft perform-, ance, as the latter takes some beating I when he is,in form. . ;

In tho Opawa v. Avonside match, the former team had no difficulty in coming through ,with a. substantial margin, to its credit. Garland was run closely by Sherris, but O 'Connell secured an easy win over Malcolm, chiefly on account of: his accurate placing. Harman had a comfortable win against McGill, and Willis easily, beat Green, owing to his m6re mature experience. Green has improved much of late. He has a good style,' and with in ore match practice should do well! To-morrow's games should be some of the; best yet played, as Canterbury College and Linwood, in one game, and St, Albans and South Christehurch, in the other, should run each other closely. Opawa, however,' will probably secure a comfortable win against Addington.

THE B GRADE. Already B grade teams are "being talked of and arranged for. Opawa and Linwood will probably enter two teams each, and the various other clubs are expected to furnish much the same entries as they did last year. It is regrettable that, sufficient players cannot be induced to leave the grasp at-the United Courts on Saturday afternoons to take part in the competitions, and it is to be hoped that players eligible for the B grade competition will not take up the attitude assumed by the A grade players.' At Linwood, Christiansen is becoming more dependable, while Jackson and Sheppard are also showing up, and generally there should be no dearth of com : petent B grade players in this club. At Avonside, Wood is developing into a strong player, but he would do better if he were able to take net. Green has also improved much of late, and when he steadies down a little should do well.

Opawa has no lack of. young players, notably Burnett, Gledhill, Patterson, and Collins, all of whom should soon show to advantage.

ASHBURTON TOURNAMENT. Arrangements are now in hand for the Ashburton Club's tournament at Christinas, the days fixed being Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday, December 26, 28, and 29. There are excellent grass courts at Ashburton * and the tournament has always proved popular, so it doubtless will do so again this year. . 's"t A REVIVED CLUB.

Tennis promises to boom at Lyttelton from now on, no fewer than.three new clubs having been established. The old Lyttelton Club, unfortunately, had to be wound up, but early this season a club was formed in connection with the Methodist Church, and was granted the lease of the Municipal Courts. In the interests of the majority of its mem* bers, the club limited its membership to 60. Soon afterwards, another club was formed with a strong membership, taking the name of the Te Whaka Tennis Club. This club shares the lease of the Municipal Courts with the Methodist Club. About a fortnight ago a third club was formed by the parishioners of the Holy Trinity Church, it being decided to put down two courts, the mem* bership of the club to be confined to members of tho Church of England. It is understood that the Te Whaka- and tho Methoodist Clubs are to affiliate with the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association, great interest being taken in the game at the port at.present.

Brookes and McLoughlin are, without much doubt, two of the finest servers ever seen. Fine as their ordinary service is, they both possess a sort of. superservice, which is reserved for the tightest places, such, as for instance, when they are within an ace or two of losing their own service games, il'it the course' of their match with eacll other, each pulled service games put' of the fire in this way several times, and on one occasion McLoughlin, when 15-40, served five balls in succession which were absolutely unplayable. Brookes did the same against Froitzheim.—English '' Lawn Tennis Journal.'' p