LAWN TENNIS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 12, 14 January 1905, Page 12

LAWN TENNIS.

(By "Raketc"). The inter club matches were to be contin wd to-day, fcklen and Kpsom meeting Auckland, and West End playing Tarnell. The r-hampionship matches in connection with the Auckland tournament are being proceeded with, and the committee hope to have a gala day on the 30th inst_ when the semi-finals and finals will be played. T. S. Ruddock and Miss P. Gorrie have beaten and Misa Nicholson —a ?reat surprise. The latter pair appeared to have a good chance of annexing the combined championship, but Paterson is evidently right o(T colour, and W. A. Brown has dciented him in the singles, in the semi-finals of the handicap event Ruddock and Miss Gorrie made a veiy poor showing against Keesing and Mrs. Churton. They must have struck considerably better form when meeting the crack West End pair. Dr. Keith is going to make matters very merry in the championships. He has had ones or two tries with Grossman, and appears, on the form shown, to hold him ?afe so far as the singles are concerned. Every stroke of the doctor's is a treat, and, when in his top form, 1 should not. be at all surprised if lie weio. to make Parker move round a bit. T must say that. I have not seen finer placing v\en oa the part of the N.Z. champion. Rice is playing in fine form. He beat A. S. I*. Brown, who is a tough customer, in the championship singles, lie now has to W. A. Brown, and a good frame should result. Kice, however, should be able to account for the. erstwhile West End player. No prettier tennis was seen during the tournament than the display given by the Christchnreh representative.

It is a difficult matter to crilicLse the form shown by competitors at the tournament, as the prevailing conditions did not tend to good tennis. One point. however, attracted my notice particularly, viz.. the experienced players did not appear to use that superior judgment which one would expect of them —in fact, 1 saw games thrown away through this failing. Heady play is a great factor for success at any time, but oa heavy courts it is half the battle. There i.s uo doubt but that lobbiug, especially in doubles, is now a necessity. Mis? C'ooko wns clever at this for a bosrinne.i, and won the ladies' doubles with Miss Martiu. Keesing, who came through in two eve.its, also made good upc of lobs at the ris»lit time. I should like to point out to young players who have cultivated some particular stroke, say the drive, that it is inadvisable to use this on all occasions —at a critical time in the game use your heads, and attempt nothing rash. A well-placed ball will answer, and, perhaps, enable you to win the rally without risk. During the progress of the tournament 1 saw many wild hits made, for which there was no necessity, and which resulted* in disaster. Dr. Keith and (Grossman will probably contest, the iinal of the championship singles, and the /fame should be wortn going a long way to see. If Scherff is in good nick I shall not be surprised to see him and the doctor have a say in decision of the doubles. There is a rumour that Parker may be leaving tlu; colony. If there is truth in this, who will be the champion of New Zealand next season? Echo answers.