TENNIS TOURNAMENTS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 86, 4 January 1908, Page 7

TENNIS TOURNAMENTS.

' -4 — r WELLINGTON ASSOCIATION'S r . MATCHES 3 SOME-BRILLIANT PLAY.

1 Far and away the most' brilliant match s tbat has yot marked the present tournament of tho Wellington Provincial Lawn Tennis Association at Day's Bay, was wituossed by bub a handful of spectators yes- ? tcrday. This was the contest between Mrs. llicksort and R. N. IC. Swanston and Miss E. Williams and W. Goss in the semi-final of the combined championship doubles. Mrs. o Swanston and Hickson won by 9—7, 2—o, n 6—2, but thero was not that difference be- |. twoen tlio sots which tho scoro indicates, as d many of tho games were very hotly and evenly h contested. Both ladies at times made some e brilliant cross-court drives, and' tho general h standard of play was unusually high, n Mrs. Hickson and Swanston won tho first . 'game somewhat easily,,their opponents scori' ing only two points. In tho next ganio. o however, Goss. serving brilliantly, and aided iv by tho skilful .cross-court driving of • his i- partner, made a stronger fight, though his iv side failed to' secure tho winning point In 10 tho next game Mrs. Hickson, nerving against 1- the wind, could not give sufficient paco to x- her serves to mako them troublesome, and Goss, driving with great vigour, got in somo splendid finishing shots, the game ending in his favour. Miss Williams, serving it against the wind in the next set, kept her m oppononts in difficulties by her break, and, 'o winning tho game, made the result two all. n. Swanston won tho next game easily, his opa ponents gaining only one point. The sixth i- game was a very stubborn contest, each side ly winning alternate points, but Goss. by artful net tactics, thoroughly perplexed his opponents, and made the result three all. His sido won tho next game fairly easily, but liie eighth was a protracted contest, in which every point was hotly disputed. Goss's activity at the not was very noticeable, but '!) his opponents secured tho necessary point, when (leuco had boon called four timcß, and made tho games four all. In tho next gamo, in Swanston's service, Swanston lost first point but won tho noxt five, games 5—4 34 beiflg to the oredit of bis floss^

wh'o.at this stago was very activo; his. volleynip lxiing very powerful and smashing very sovero, rophod By ..winning 1 tho next -gamo, >-.. fivo all being called. Mrs. Hickson did not put; sufficient power into her servos to ;mcet..;; •with success, and Goss was quick to kill-any--thing resembling soft 1 stuff.". '-.This gnino' co Miss Williams and Goss secured,-lind .thuß th obtaincd-tho-load for tho first-.timo'in-thls co set. which !ended < 6—5 in. their-'favour/.Miss. Si Williams's serving, at this stage was rathor Ti faulty, and,, aB Swanston was .making very., 81 few mistakes! and'his. partner was playing very safely, they ovoned, 6—6. Seven all u. was willed, and-on Mrs. Hickson's scivico m tho fifteenth, game made: it B—7,8 —7, their ]1( opponents being only able to sceuio one. point in this - ghmo. hi tho next gftmo Miss. al ■Williams could only notch Ono point, so skil- w ful-was their adversaries' piny, tlio set,resulting ill a,win for Airs. Hickson and Swan- : In tho second sot Miss Williams, -- and Goss had, a runaway victory,- C—2, the .- .Wellington pair only, scouring: tho-Mstigamo/ al and tlio livst but ono. In tho third sot Swanstony 'with great and' ppwcrful-; •hjttingj won his service ehsily;-. -This waS-re-:- -gj vorsed in the second game, but .only after. It douce had been.called sbven, times., r,The. ex-;.; ; il oitement: of lino rallies and clever..passing, shots : by both sides called forth considerable ■» applauso. ' Goss, by a beautiful smash, succeMed in winning -tho necessary point, games Vv oho all being, called. 1 .Mrs;-. .Hickson noW. bogari, to serve iwith'-'a' : little tnoro" life,-the g improvement .being specially:marked m tho. a next'garao, which sho won 6—o, games two - h to one being called. Miss -Williams, " iiig' her opponent's examplo,j had- av runaway victory in the next game,'makiiig-.gamek 3rs. • Goss'was now a_ little inaccurate-in fljis.'smash-. 1 fii •ing and volloyiiigj whilo his partner was-.play-; .V ing brilliantly,' beating Swanston i at. tbe> net - •;]> on. several occasions. Tho Wellington- pair. ;ii were,however,. sufficiently, r gtr6ng.;io'. With l :. " stand opposition, and • won . tho .last thrco v games and tho set and match;- 2~6,-- • .6-2, , < Tho semi-final • of ; the moll's, championship doubles saw Aitkon and /.Ghra. bcat.-.Prolise I and. Beero by 6—2, 6 —3. ::-The losers wero C too wild in their play, * In tho final round Aitkoii'iand Goro beat /, Hunter and Howo by Tins gamo j ■ was 'productive of many good'rallies, but tho , groater experience. of Aitken-:and .Gore gave lj them the advantage, and-their plaoingvpf. the ,f ball was almost faultless. Hunter ■ and Howe- s played' dp well in the secondVset,; but fWet'e 1 -a practicallj;: beaten all ■ tho''-way. . ' > "f The winners .of tho Men's- -Handicap- .* Doubles, Keeling, and Hawkins; (rec. fid), j had no difficulty in overcoming ,tlieir ,-op-. , position except iiv the' l ' final s r.p.und>; ./ -. ultimate' victory against : G6ss ;and;!',olliyierl ;/ (scr.) was duo to careful, rather-, than. brilliant,, play. '<■ ' .- •' , In'i tlio r semi-firial of the LadiosV Champion-, ~j ship!-' Doubles,. Mrs.: Hicksoii,.; ! ..j Williams easily outplayed Mrs. Grady. rmd ,] j Miss Clark.. '. The-driving,:_of- thov,'winnqrs. j was' almost without fault, and they had their, ,( opponents practically at, their, mercy 1 sets falling to them«easily, 6—2,.. < In the final ot-the. jien'S first grade, H» V. Howe \ancuiishcd . L. _\V.- HawkinS .-(red.: 10),:tC0-7t-51,,' tiiore.bj. .| repeating his . success ag.iitlio.,r _ PctoaX©:- ,-| player in tho first round of the Cup matches. , ( in tho final of tho Ladies' Handicap j Singles, in which Miss l'\ Scott (ioo. »10)- < beat -Miss K. M'lntosh (rec.. 23),. .50— j both competitors played'.a very, .steady, gamo.. I Tho final of tlie. Ladies' Handicap.-Doubles < was a'runaway victory for-the,rOisters,;.Mißs, i I'onny and Mrs; Hawkins, {rcc. 16), against .. Misses.Marchant and Hickson (sci.;),.,^)— 25. ; The result may bo set: down; t0..-.contmuous ; lobbing winners, as-•against--hard, : graceful, but- too faulty driving oil thp part of their opponents. 1... .' ■ . In tho Combined Handicap Doubles, linal„ i round, Miss K." Wilson and W Callcndu (rb0.,20) boat ! Mr. and■ Mrs Grady (icc 12), after a good game, 60—43. ..Tho -. who,were, nt a disadvantage as regaids o\peiiftnco, showed excellent pliicmg, and were not, afraid to drive. - ■ . ;In -. the finalof • the Men s -Baiidicap , Doubles, Keeliug and Hav>kins (rcc,. lo), r .keeping well in to. the u,v.ts, .kept Goss :and: -j ' Ollivior (scr.) on the ru'nl'rand worn fairly. - onsily- by 70—61. Keelipg's play'all. through the tournament has been, surprismglj good. The following arp. the detailed results, of yesterday's play.—MEN'S CHAMPiONSHIP DOLBLES ( - Second Round.—Aitken - and : Goro beat., Swanston and Sloman, 7 —5, (>—2. Third Round.—Hunter and Howe beat ' "Ellei- and' Clarko by default; Aitken and G6ro beat Beere and Prouse, 6—3, 2—b, Filial Round.—Aitkon and Goro beat ! Hunter and Howe, 6—2, C-t4. ; ~w ; LADIES' CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES: ■ Second Round.—Mrs. Hickson .and Miss . E. Williams beat Mrs. l Grady and Miss E. . Clark; 6—2, 6 —l. ' . COMBINED CHAMPIbNSIIIP DOUBLES. Second Round. —Miss Jlnrchant and 11. M. Goro beat Miss M'lntosh and R. St. J. : , Beorcy G—4, 'o—4. ' ' ... Third Round.—Mrs. Hickson and R. N. K. Swanston heat Miss'E. Williams and W. Goss, 9—7, 2—6, 6—2. • MEN'S HANDICAP SINGLES. i , ' FIRST GRADE. i Fourth Round.—H. V. Howo (rec. 13) bent i J. Hunter (rec. 10), 60—17; L. W. Hawkins s (rec. 10), beat T. It. Lawson (rec. 25), 60—/ Final Round.—Howe (rec. 13) beat Haw--kins (rcc. 10), 60—51. , MEN'S HANDICAP DOUBLES., ' s Third Round. —Clark and -Eller - (rec. 20) c .beat Grady and Murray (rec.. 20) 70—G7. ' ; Fourth Round.—Keeling and Hawkins . (rcc. 15) beat Clark and Jiller (reo. 20) by de- • fault, Goss and Ollivier (scr.) beat Anderson i and Gower (rec. 16) 70—60. , Final ltoiind.—Keeling and Hawkins, (rec. s 15) -beat Goss and Ollivier (scr.) 70—61. • LADIES', HANDICAP SINGLES. C' o Fourth Round.—Miss F.'Scott' (rec. 16) beat Miss Morgan (rec. 12) 50-r-41, ' , - ■ Final Round.—Miss Scott (rec. 16) beat Miss K. M'lntosh (rcc. 23) 60—46.'-" LADIES' HANDICAP DOUBLES. ' Fourth Rouiul. Miss Penny and Mrs. Hawkins (rfic. 16) beat Mrs. Grady and Miss Clark (rec. 8) 50-28. i" -

COMBINED Second Round. —Mrs. Hawkins, and ' B. Grcon (rcc. 10); bent Miss A.-iiWilliaras and F. Ellor (rec. 15) 50—44. Miss M; E. Cox and G. .I'.itken (owo 5) boat Miss;'Parmer and J. Hiintar (rec. 10) 50—37. ■!* ■ . Third Round. —Miss Hickson and H. A. Keeling (rcc. 10) beat Miss 31. K. Cox and G. Aitken (owo 5) 50—38, ..Mr.•■■■and Mrs. Grady (ree. 12) beat Miss Clark and'A. Lr Tiiko' (rcc. 10) 50 —47, Miss Murray J.T. Watkins (rec. 12) beat Mrs. Hawkins and B." Grcon (rcc. 10)'50^-4 1. . ..; Fourth Hound. —Miss lv. Wilson and N;' Callendar (rcc. 20) beat Mr. and Mrs. .Grady (rcc. 12) 50 —43, Miss Ilicksoh and Keeling (ree. 10) beat Miss Murray aiulJ.T.; Watkins (rec. 12) 50—44. " ■/ TO-DAY'S EVENTS/ 7 . :: The following events will, bo/ completed to-day at the Tliorndon Courts; play com-: moncing at 2 p.m. :— _ Ladies' Championship Singles. ■' In ; this ovent an exciting finish is expected. ' Both players belong to the Wellington Club,,and o;i the result of this contest will depend very largely their prospects of inclusion in the proposed Now Zealand v.' Nfcw. South Wales Ladies' lnter-Stato match. Men's Championship Singles. Combined Championship , Doubles, final round. . . ... Men's Handicap Singles.—The semi-final will be played botween jlowo and Swanston,. and the winner of this match will afterwards meet Ollivier. Tlio final should prove very interesting.