LAWN TENNIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 61, 13 March 1929, Page 17

LAWN TENNIS.

A ROUND OF THE CLUBS. ATTRACTIONS FOR EASTER.

The chief interclub fixture last Saturday was the final of the B grade (playall) competition at Stanley Street between the Parnell and Campbell Park teams. Parnell won by the fairly comfortable margin of seven matches to three. The grass surface, of course, proved to be a factor in favour of the success of the city club, but it is appar- i eut that even apart from this they are the better team. Miss Rukutai carried off the honours as far as Campbell Park were concerned, winning both her single and double, while Porter won his single and was a little unfortunate losing his double, in which he was partnered by Rostgard, 6—2, 5 —6, B—6, to Clay and Boardman. Parnell will now meet Remuera No. 1 in the final to decide who shall hold the association's Pennant for the B grade. The Remuera Club. The club matches of the Remuera Club are now fairly well advanced, though the match committee will _ have to hurry things on if the matches are to be completed by Easter. In the men's singles A. C. Stedman should now almost certainly be the winner. He meets Entwistle in the final, and under ordinary circumstances should win. as his shots should prove too severe for even En-

twistle's persistence to avail. The preliminary rounds of this event certainly proved surprising in more than one instance. Martin's win over Bartleet, who was generally regarded as having easily the best chance, was a very creditable performance. Bartleet's tendency to lapse into errors late in the season proved to be his downfall,- and Martin's steady play gave him a win in straight sets. He was beaten by Entwistle. (i —3. o—2.0 —2. in the following round. Sturt had a good three-set match against Griffiths (who, it will be remembered, recently won in a Ladder match played between the same two players). This time Stint proved victorious, 4— 0, C—3, 0— 3. Ho played Stedman last Saturday, and the 'Varsity player won from him in straight sets, 7—3, o—2. G—l, playing brilliant tennis. Stedman is now the favourite for the chamuionship

The ladies' singles now lies among ■ Miss Macfarlane. Mrs. Scott-Watson and Mrs. Shroff, Miss Ramsay having been beaten last Monday afternoon by Mrs. Scott-Watson. Parnell Doubles. An excellent doubles contest was seen at Parnell on Saturday when A. H. S. Lamb and W. A. Home' beat R. J. Coates and C. C. Chalmers in a four-set match in the iinal of the men's doubles championship. Lamb and Home started at a great pace, and won the first two sets by a comfortable margin, being on top throughout. The standard of tennis, however, was good, Coates and Chalmers being persistent, but not quite able to win the rallies. Coates and Cl'sihn-irs rallied in the third set, and obtained a lead of 4 —l. The other pair evened at five all. but after a long tustle the set eventually went to Coates and his partner. Coates and Chalmers led again by 4—l in the- fourth set, but Lamb and Home set up an attack which was not to be denied, and won an advantage set. Coatee' wonderfully accurate lobbing was a feature of the match.

Eden and Epsom Matches. Several interesting matches were played at Eden and Epsom on Saturday, ili&s D. Xevvton caused something of a surprise in defeating Miss P. Miller, o—4, t> —0. The game was a base-line duel throughout. Miss Miller apparently failed to realise that tin , way to beat Mis» Xewton is by attacking and taking She tried to out-steady her opponent, who proved her superior at the steady gains. , . Aliss Newton thrives on medium-paced drives to the base-line. Her encounter with Miss ltamsay in the final -should provide an interesting conte-t. Mis? Ramsa;- will have to produce her best form to win. The final of the men's doubles championship also produced some excellent tennis. V. N. Hubble and A. M. Nicholson defeated V. R. and A. C. Johns in a five-set contest Hubble and Nicholson played excellent tenuis, winning tlie nr>t two sets, being on the top of their game. In the third set the lighting capacity of the Johns brothers revealeU itself, and they won the third, li —l. The fourth set was an excellent display, the players having had a rest, and new balls having been provided. Nicholson and Hubble had two match points during this set, but V. R. Joh-.is won one ot them with an aced service, while Hubble smashed the other out in an endeavour to finish the match. Johns and Johns took the set, 10—8. The fifth set was also even going, but Nicholson and Hubble took the lead all the way. and had several more match points before finally winning, 9—7, after a great display, the score being ti —1, B—6. I—o, S—lo, 9—7. Easter Tournament. The following are the Ea>ter attractions of which the writer has received notice to date:— Auckland.—Birkenhead and Northcnte handicap tournament, coinnu'iK-injj Fri-

day, 29th. This is a handicap tournament, but includes a junior championship (under 21) among its " Hamilton.—Waikato championship sfctf handicap tournament, commencing Friday, 29thu There is a complete championship and handicap programme, fourteen events beiug included hi the programme, which runs even..to boys' and girls' championship singles. Thi* is. always a most enjoyable tournament, and special arrangements are being made by the local entertainment committee to make the tournament a sueeesful one from the point of view of visiting play- j dr. I Whangarei. —The North Auckland Association's championship and handicap tournament, commencing Friday. He "eh 29. This programme contains twelve events, the only difference between it and the Waikato programme being that the Xorth Auckland handicap singles events are not divided into A and B grades. Xapier.—The Hawke's Bay A<soviation's championship and handicap tournament has also an extensive programme and commences on Friday, Alarcfc 2!>. (.hri&tcliurcll. —Intei-l niver*ity Tournament: eommenoes Saturday, Maici/ 30.

(Bv HALF-VOLLEY.]

THE NUNNELEY CASKET.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. Monday. I The Wellington 7,awn Tennis Associhtion to-night received a challenge from the Canterbury Association for the Xuni neley Cas-ket.