LAWN TENNIS.

Press, Volume XLV, Issue 7242, 31 December 1888, Page 6

LAWN TENNIS.

NEW 7EALAND ASSOCIATION

MEETING.

[press association telegram.]

NAPIER, December 30. The weather yesterday was perfect, and the tarf in wonderfully fine condition. There was the largest attendance of the meeting. In the morning the most interesting event was the final round in the Ladies Singles. Misses Gordon and H. Hitchings were both in admirable form, andplayed with vigor and certainty. Miss Gordon won the first set, but in the second Miss Hitchings rallied, and wnen five all, six all, and then seven all, was called there was great excitement. Both ladies were about done for, when Miss Gordon won the next two games. In the Ladies' Doubles Miss Sutton was scratched, leaving Miss H. Hitchings and Miss Gordon winners in that event. In the Combined Doubles Miss Gordon and Wilding found little difficulty in disposing of Miss H. Hitchings and Kennedy, who had previously defeated Miss Hitchings and Marshall. lv the Handicap Singles, No. 1, C. Gillies easily beat M. Feawick, owing entirely to the heavy handicap of the latter, and C. D. Kennedy beat the younger Gillies without much difficulty. In the final round Kennedy became completely exhausted and collapsed. In the second class Brandon won after disposing of Fatvkner and S. B. Kennedy, the latter making a hard fight. The final round of the Championship Doubles, played immediately after lunch, was too one-sided a game to be very interesting. In the first two sets Marshall was so nervous as to be practically useless. Kennedy deserved and obtained great applause for the pluck with which he stuck to the game, and the really brilliant play he exhibited at times. Had he had a partner equal to his own form a most exciting race would have resulted. In the last set Kennedy and Marshall pulled themselves together, and won the first five games, but this did not prevent the Christchurch men from winning after a rather more exciting finish. The Championship Singles, final round, commenced at 2.45, and were finished shortly before 5 o'clock. M. Fen wicks play in the first two sets was superb, his nard drives and splendid volleying being a treat to see. His brother's play seemed weak in comparison, and he especially appeared to disadvantage at the net, his volleys being often Jvery feeble. He did not seem, however, to be in the least disturbed by the start his brother had made, and with the third set began working hard to retrieve his position. In the second game M. Fenwick made a gallant stand with a splendid piece of backhanded volleying, such as probably no other player in the colony could equal. After that, however, lie seeroed to lose his head, misjudged stroke af terstroke, andsmashed wildly into the net, P. C. Fenwick inning easily—6—l. In the fourth set Minden was more collected, but could not prevent his elder brother pulling it off—6—4. In the fifth set Minden won three games to two. but again became excited, and the final struggle was intensely exciting to the spectators. Minden worked with extraordinary vigour, calling all his wonderful volleying power into play. Each had six games, ard P. C. added a seventh, but Minden tied him again, and P. C. took the eighth. Minden then served, and made the first three points, but P. C. : brought the score up to deuce after a most exciting struggle, and then added two more pointf, thus winning the finest match ever played ia the colony. The championship cup now becomes his absolute property. Three hearty cheers-were given For the victor. Afterwards Mrs Russell distributed the prizes, Captain Russell making a few appropriate remarks, .today's scores were as follows: — Championship Singles. ,

P C Fenwick beat M. Fenwick 4—6. 4—6. β-l, 6-4, j>-7. Handicap Singles, No 1.

C D. Kennedy (received 2— bieques) beat G.J. GMies (received J-15,1 bisque) 4-6, 6-3,6-4. C Guliea (received 2 bisques) beat SL Kenwick (owed 4-30) 6-3,6-0. , C; daiies.beat C. D. Kennedy, 6-3,6-0. No. 2. . C. S. Brandon (owed, i-30) beat W. Favtkner Kennedy'beat'W. F. Andereon (owe J--1 O. S. Brandon beat S. R. Kennedy, 1-6,6—6, 7-5. ' . . i CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLE 3. Harman and Wilding beat Kennedy and Marshall, 6-2,6-0,8-0. Ladies' Singles. Miss Gordon beat Mies Hitchings; 6—4,9—7. Combined Doubles. Miss H. Hitchings and Kennedy beat Miss Hitching* and P. Marshall. 3-6,6-4,6-4. Mfestiordon and Wilding beat MiS3 H. Hitchings and Kennedy, 6-1,6—3. Scratch Handicap Doubles. A P Chapman and E. Boddmston (owed 15) boat G. Marshall and P. Marshall (owed J —ls). "hi. Nedwill and Cottcrill (received J— ls) beat Ha raway and Robinson (owe 15), 6-2,6-3. Chapman and Boddington (owe 15) beat C. Gillies and Anderson (owe 15), 6—4, 6-t4). Chanman and Boddington boat Nedwill and Cotterill, 6-0. The two latter then rctiied.