LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 140, 7 March 1908, Page 9

LAWN TENNIS.

, (Br iNTER-CtDB.) .'. , - .The - - annual ■ interprovincial - tennis match, between Wellingtonrand Canterbury resulted in; a; win for . Wellington,'ill ; matches to 7.v One match ,was- not., played, 1 which-thus gave Wellington a win, 12 . matches to > 7. Great-interest' was taken in tho, match, and one lady,' Miss Hay, camo-i from Timaru to take part. , Fisher was brilliant, and his tactics quite overpowered Quill in the first .set-' The- Canterbury' mail made a much'better, stand .in the. next two sets,. but- neveryit any time pressed his opponent: ■ Laisliley suffered . defeat, at the: hands of the .veteran, , Dick Harman, who appears, to be. playing as : well as .over The, older player had the game over- and Avon before. tho younger inan had got properly going. Gore, who lias been amongst the first alight for many years, again proved his worth by defeating Ollivier. Tho former took the two first sets, which moant'Aatch, but the latter took the third set at 6—4. Cox and Smytho had -a real hard fight, being set all, but in the third set Cox took the lead and the .final set, 6 —3. Young,'by his steady play and good judgment, took the two'first sets and match from Goss, although the latter secured' tile third set, 6—3.' Kiver . beat Wilsoi. somewhat j; easily:"' The former played a brilliant game, and on the day would have given any of the Wellington "team a good run. Miss Hay played a better, game against'-Miss Nunneley than the score denotes, and against;any other player, who is not gifted-with that 'wearing-.'-.down" ability for which the lady .champion is-' rioted,' the .Timaru lady. .would have shown a much better score.,, Miss Ward's hard drives and stinging..' service .proved too : much for Mrs, Chisnall in the first set, which the Wellington lady took, 6—o. The second set, however, was much more• closely contested, •Mrs. Chisnall taking 4- games from tho winner. Mrs. Penny, an ex-Wellington player, came to tho front and succeeded in. defeating the Wellington provincial champion, Mrs. Hickson, after a very close game. Canterbury won all three mens' doubles, .and., lost .both, ladies' doubles, j Wellington won threo combined doubles, : only one going , to Canterbury. "-■■■■ ■ Cup.—Khandallah sprang tho greatest surprise this season by defeating the best team tho -Wellingtons could possibly put- in, 7 . sets Co 6.. The suburban club had the advantage' of playing on. its• .own,' courts, and this was very great on Saturday,'when it was blowing what the visitors termed a "living gale." But all's fair in love and war, and this was the hardest battle ever' fought' on tho Khandallah courts. Cook, . after playing senior all the made his first appearance as junior, and just succeeded in beating Holdsworth. The game was very even, the latter player giving one. of his best exhibitions of tennis. ■ Ward was at the, ton of his game, and gave Fleming no chance whatever. Jones caused a ; surprise by defeating ;Fernie. This game was. very close, 8 all and Fornie's serve, and looked a sure win for Wellington, but the server failed, and Jones took the final gamo at 50—15. Richardson struggled hard against M'Nicol, but was'only able to take 4 games; the latter showing him'self; much superior. Miss Cock's dashing play - quite outclassed her opponent, 1 Mrs. Piorard, who made but a feeble resistance. Miss Dimant played an excellent game against Miss Batham, at ono timo, having tlic lead, but she was unable to maintain it against this more experienced player, who took the'set, 7—5.' Holdsworth and Fleming scored a most creditable ■■■win,'-9 —3; against Cooke and Fraser. Wellington took both second-and third men's doubles, while both ladies'- doubles fell to Khandallah.

Cockayne and Miss Iv. Clark surprised themselves and their opponents, Fraser and Mrs. Reeves, by beating them, 7—6. Tho Wellington pair were repeatedly within one stroke of game and set, but failed at the critical moment to score tho ace. Cockayne was particularly successful at tho net, and was well backed up by his partner. Shand and Miss Hannah combined Well, and had no difficulty in defeating Mackay and Miss Page. Brougham Hill defeated Newtown by . 9 sets to 4. Howe played his usual resourceful game, and was hardly extended by ..his opponent, Low. AVatkiiis had Sheppard at his mercy from tho start, and was generally his superior all round. The loser is a player iwho has como on well this season, and one

who will no doubt be heard of,next season. Maddox and Lawrenco both won their singles with very little to spare. Both ladies' singles wont to Newtown. Miss : Clark played a strong game against Mrs. W.. Howe, who mado things lively for a Vhilo, but was unable to stand the strain of a long game. Mrs. Low strengthened the Newtown junior team, and her win, 7—5, from Miss Archer was well deserved. Howe and Watkins were too old a combination to be beaten by Low and Sheppard. Murray-and Powell played a very good double, and. disposed of Sampson and Lawrence, 9—4. The Brougham Hill pair do not work particularly well together. Herd and Mrs. Burton had a close go. with Powell and Miss Redward, and just managed to win, 7 —5. Petone defeated Karori by 10 sets to 3. Hawkins, safe and ■ steady as usual,'-' wore' Downes down, and took the set, 9—3. Cornell was not playing quite up to form, and was dofcatcd by Falconer. The latter was in his best form, and with Davies won the double agSinst Austin and Parkinson. The Petone ladies won all: their games by pretty big margins, with the . exception- of the single between Miss Bennett and Miss Gavin, the-former-winning 7 —5.

!' Pennants.—Although Johnsonville defeated: Victoria Collego A by 6 sets to 1, there was only a'difference of 9 games in the totals. This shows how much the College players have improved since the inter-club contests started, and it must be encouraging to tlio team. , May it, shortly be' recording wins'instead of .losses. .Taylor, with a win of 9—l to his credit, scored the win for the College'. ' Brougham Hill B defeated Victoria College B by '5 sets to 2, 2 games going by default. ....

Racquets.—Brougham Hill A won from Kilbirnio by' 6: sets, to I.'. O'Leary had a good will from Hutcliings. Williams played an excellent game against, Croskery, defeating him 9—2. That promising young player Eller, was. : defeated by Dart after a very closely fought out match. Dart is iniproving in ©very match, .and with good, single practice will in time work his way.-into a higher class. Miss Hogg, for. the second season,- defeated Miss Pricey The latter lady lias been very . successful in all her other matches this season. Ellor and Miss Saxon had* their work cut -out .to beat Dart and Miss. Asquith, just managing to get home, 7—6. . .. . Brougham B had an easy -win from Victoria College A, 7 sets' to nil, the closest game being between Morrison ; and' Arden v. Tudhopb and Oram.' Miss Stitt, the Victoria College player, tries hard, but lias one great fault: she does not keep her eyo on tho ball. In fact very few of the players: m tho above match 7 watch the .ball right on to their rackets when making their strokes. •