TENNIS OPENS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 256, 29 October 1934, Page 14

TENNIS OPENS.

GRASS COURT PLAY. COURTS IN GOOD ORDER. PRESIDENT VISITS CLUBS. Grass courts were in excellent condition for the opening of the major clubs tinder the direction of the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association on Saturday afternoon. For tennis the weather was perfect, and for the opening of the season there was a sparkle in the games at most of the courts.

It was good to see the deserted grass courts, on which caretakers have worked for so long, thronged withoieat-froeked girls and fashionably-dressed young men. It was good to hear the ping of the ball on Uic strings of the racquet. And it was good to see the occasional devil-may-care shot of a player as he went desperately for a win in the progressive tournaments which were held at most openings.

One of the first clubs to be officially opened was the Auckland Club at Stanley Street. Here Mr. Harold Clay, a vice-president of the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association, addressed a good attendance, and pointed out that the Auckland -Association was now the leading association in the Dominion. His statement was greeted with cheers.

Parnell's enthusiasm was praiseworthy when the president, Mr. Victor Macky, opened the courts with an appropriate speech. Mr. E. Hickson, president of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association, made it happy speech., as did Mr. Percy Harrison, president of the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association.

Rem'uera, Eden and Epsom, Royal Oak and Mount Albeit clubs were also attended by Mr, Hickson, the New Zealand president, and .Mr. Harrison, the Auckland president. There were larjje gatherings at every club, and play in the progressive tournaments generally was of a standard comparable with the best of the openings of former seasons. A delightful exhibition of the game was given at the Y.M.C.A. courts at Bayfield (which were opened by Mr. E. Hickson), by Messrs. Willard and Sturt and Johns and Morrison. Results :— B GRADE. Marist heat Campbell Park Tiy eight rubbers to two. Unity beat 'Varsity by ten rubbers to nil. C GRADE. Campbell Park beat Carlton by nine rubbers to one. Vauxhall beat Mount Eden by eight rubbers to two. Ngatira beat To Papapa by ten rubbers to nil. D GRADE. Balmoral beat Avondale by nine rubbers to one. Vauxhall beat Nicholson Park by ten rubbers to nil. Ngataringa beat Carlton by seven rubbers to three. Ngatira led Mount Roskill by eight rubbers to one, the remaining game being unfinished. West End beat Prince of Wales by ten rubbers to nil. Melrose I'ark beat Ferguson Park by eight rubbers to two. • Waiata beat Birkciihcail-Northcoto by six rubbers to four. E GRADE. Bayfield beat Grammar by six rubbers to four. Otahuhu beat Balmoral by six rubbers to three (one unfinished).