LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 158, 28 March 1908, Page 9

LAWN TENNIS.

(Bv Intur-Clvd.) For tho first time this season all matches wero' postponed on account of tho wet weather. Tho iiitcr-oluu matches started on'tlic last Saturday in October, and tho weather continued perfect uptil tho fixtures were practically completed. It is to bo hoped that all the remaining matches will bo played off, oven though the results will not displace tho leading team. ■ The pleasure of playing the contests should be sutiicicrit to make a team anxious to 'play it right out. ' Tlifi good done by these intor-club contests is obviousthey have brought young players of clubs, such as Jluritai, Kilbirnio, and Johnsonville, into contact with players in many instances of more experience, and on the whole tho tyro has done well. Eagerness is shown by many to delvo deeper for more improvement, and the sport will bo benefited, as these young players - are naturally all anxious for more iuter-club or tournament play. Looking through the play as a whole this past season one can scarcely say that there are many coming champions, but for all that the general play , has shown much improvement, and probably during the next few years players will arise who will, not leave the present holders in undisputed possession of their honours. ! ' - The threes rounds in the senior contest have been ajjreat success, and the continuous; play, kept'the enthusiasm up. The principle, feature of the winning team was its strength in lady players. The quartet would have probably given victory to any'club, as. the ladies alone in most cases could account for six matches. The Wellington Club has a happy knack of keeping its ladies always up to concert pitch with the best possiblo practico, and well deserve, the win even' for that alone." This Club .will remain holder of Shield honours for many; years if. some of the other clubs do not wake up and bring their lady players on. There is tho material in all the other clubs, and it only requires bringing out by judicious management. ... •J Some disappointment! was expressed. when it was. found that Brougham. Hill and Wellington .would not have to play off a''tio in the Cup contest. These, t'vo clubs having met twice and each scored a win .by the narrowest of ( margins, .wero running level, each with one match 1 to play, against clubs-that they had defeated ,'on previous occasions. Here Khandallah rattled ir. a surprise by beating Wellington, after an intensely exciting match, and consequently the' Brougham Kill team was not required to play Wellington off for' tlio junior championship. ' The performance of the Khandallah'team, Which secured third place this season, has been most meritorious. Having littlo more than a bare team to work- upon, it has kept, all engagements,, and has not qn any occasion' defaulted a single'.set, and has indeed had hardluck in losing to Wellington and Brougham Hill in the first round. It was a case of; being defeated by 7 sets to 6 each time;, and some of the sets lost would have been victories had a player's luck not been.clean out. .Brougham Hill, the winners, .practically played the same team throughout the' season, but, ]ike Wellington, had a' largo, field to draw from wdien there, were any vacancies to fi11.;.. /' ' ' ; Karori-team promised well, but/after caus-' ing a flutter hy giving Petono a good-run and beating Khandallah, died away towards tho end of the second round, probably from lack of practice. This Club was unfortunate in losing the services of 1 Miss Thonipson, ■ a lady who . hat] done good service, for them in tlie first round. . '■ . ■' • ' - Tho-Petone team also started well, but failed from some unaccountable reason to keep ■up to;, the mark. Kirk was; again persuade by some ; , of tho enthusiasts, to. play for. his Club, and 1 after shaping very well considering his want of . .practice,' he suddenly ceased playing, and was. next heard of play-, ing 'at Otaki in the country competition: Ha.wkins arid Cornell, well backed up by, the; ladies,, did their best to stem : the tide, but,..the task y/as too much to expect from a .team, with such a weak tail., • . ( Newtown's team had several young and promising players, and it' certainly- improved as:the .contost wore'pn. ' ' ! ;Vv Tho Victoria Collego team, solely composed of young players, battled pluckily, but . did not meet with great success. It is to bo hopqfl that all teams Will be eager to compete in theso inter-club matches next season; and continue to show tho improvement'in their play which has been, so obvious this season.

..The'.following coitments upon that champion, 'H. L. Doherty, will bo of interest,: and probably' benefit 1 , to players—and there 'are, many of thcniT-whb make hurried "swipes" at everything that comes, along* entirely regardless of their position in court. Any'-.'ob-: servant player who has ever watched Hi L. Doherty must have been impressed by the facts—among many others' that .make for , success—-that he never seems in a great hurry, to win his points, that lie never tires of .giving. his opponent a chance to lose, and that ho 'never.;.misses any shot that ho ought to win. .In other,words, whether by design or intuition, his defence aud, offence are invariably regulated according to position. Beforo it is .too late it is, v.'cll to remind Easter tounis enthusiasts that entries for the championship and. handicap events for "the Easter mooting that : is being held by the Broughanl. Hill Club close next Saturday, April 4. Five courts will be available for play," and alroady .it is known that most of the players holding 'New Zealand champion-" ship houours will be competitors at the meeting. .Besides the valuable, trophies already 'given as, first prizes', it-'is also'intended to' give suitable second prizes iu all handicap events where 20 or moro entries are received. A good contingent of Taranaki, Hawke's Bay, and Christchurch players is expected, as well as several ■ prominent players from tho upcountry clubs, of,-.the Wellington Association.