LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 187, 2 May 1908, Page 9

LAWN TENNIS.

The concluding matches of the Brougham Hill. Tennis Club's'tournament were run off ; last' Saturday in perfect weather. There was a good attendance of spectators, and tho games were, watched with, keen interest. . Fisher and Cox met in the final of the 1 Men's Championship Singles. The Masterton man was most fancied, but possibly owing to the train journey in the morning he failed to play quite up!, to form, white his opponent/ ■Fisher, was 1 plr.ying at his. best, and took the match, 6—4, 6—4. , In the second round of the-Men's Championship Doubles,. Smythe and' Brown took \ the first set, 6-f-2, from Cox and Fisher; and made a very good stand in the : second set, but by this - time Cox; and Fisher : had got ■ properly' going; they madejew mistake's,' and gave their .opponents no opportunity, taking the last set, 6—2. The Howe, Brothers retired'after playing one set against'the abovomoutioned pair in. tho third. 'round.: The final, S\vansJ;on and Peacock v. Cox and Fisher, was ail exhibition of very fine tennis. Poacock was responsible for somo magnificent drives, and he was well backed up by Swanston, whose clean, volleys and excellent placing are always a pleasure to watch. ' This pair led in both sets'! but failed at the critical, : moment to secure the necessary games. Cos r and Fisher,worked well together, the latter . making some truly marvellous left-handed- , returns.. The match was won by Cox and Fisher, G—s, '6—4, :but in a five-set match ~, tho: losers would in all ..probability stand-the best chance. . . Mrs;. liickson and Miss . Ward won the final' of the' Championship Doubles by : default from Misses 'i'ravers and Wclhvood, after' taking' the. first set, G—4; V '.'Through.'a series,of defaults in the top half > of -.. tho , Combined Championship. , Doubles, Smyths and Mrs. Hickson had tho unusual experience of getting into the final without having played ono match, then- meeting Peacock and Miss Ward. The first set was very < even going,' both ladies driving hard at; one another, -and dexterously, avoiding,'the : mail at the net. The first set went to' Peacock and Miss Ward, 6—5. But in' the ' failing light Smythe. and Mrs!, Hickson made -'little / resistance iii tho sec'o'nd set, which went against them,' • Brown 'and Miss Traydrs defeated Quinnell aiid Mrs. Goldio in-the second round, and fell in turn to Peacock', and Miss ' Ward, as also did Howe and. Mrs. Howe. < -, .There.lias been niticli heartburning at:the/ ' ■ way partners slip one' another up at touma- '/ ..ments-j.an'd, strauge to say, the ladies are tho worst offenders.. Surely when'«■■ pair enter together, they aro in' honour bound .to keep '■ their, engagements,, or give somo valid reason , for not doing so. Players'wild-so heedlessly, spoil their partners' chances will find them- - selves loft alone and parlnerloss, no matter how gqod they, may bo at the. game': ' •, V Tho 'ladies', handicap double was won by. : . Miss; Van Staveren and Sirs. Goldie, (rec. 19),. who defeated. Miss Clark , and : Mrs. .Grady (roc. 16)j 50—39, in the final. The Newtown pair were not playing up to .'•form, in this . match,' or a very much 1 closer game' would' havo ; been' thq- result. .'The Misses, Bock 1 : played steadily, to. reach the semi-final,' as also did-.Miss K. Wilson and Mrs. Murphy, who'came through from the first round, after being pushed very closcly by Mrs. Brown and V Miss Veitcli. . •' \ ■Tho handicapping in the combined doublea: was particularly good, : there being quite a.number of.advantage games. Kean and Miss • -Powell, (rec., 85) camp through, to > the final a iiyo or- p. ■ match' 'by ."default, and these defeated Powell and Miss P. E. Book (rec.;32),' 50—42.- The winners well deserved their : victory., . Kean , has shown.'great;improvement ,during:'tho tournament. ', :• Miss Veitcli (rec. 35), winner of the ladies' 1 handicap singles, played, very - steadily,"-aiid- . . in .turn disposed, of Miss Arthur, Mrs. Grady,: : Mrs. Goldie, and-Miss Howard.m.the final,' 50-41. ,"•• - ( .• Bart and Powell won the men's handicap doubles,'but'wero hard pushed by Howden aiid Sanson "in the' third round, while- the . .Wyborrio Brothers;' the -runncrs-up, 'only , feated Howo ani WatMns. by three, points'in tho semi-final. - : ,>■ ■ ,I)art, after a, close game with C. Gray in the first round (just pulling it off, ,60 —57), won comfortably, right up! to the final, where ho defeated Veeiij 00—40. - At, tho conclusion of Saturday's, play tho ' • trophies 'were,' presented ■, to the successful, competitors by Mr'. G. N. Goldie, -vice-presi-dent of'tho club, who, thanked -the 'visiting ' players, for tlifcir patronage, and also thanked . tho city '.and' suburban • .clubs ] for- the hearty, ■" manner, in which they had supported, the tournament/ - Mr. C. •A. Lawrence,! secre- r tary, and-Mr. A; Howe, treasurer, ably as-' • sisted by Messrs.' Sampson, O'Leary, and Kean, carried tournament through most. . successfully, ' considering ' The . two last-mentioned committeo, menvhad a ■ most, arduous;'time', carrying :'on tho events at,the Wellington Courts, but emerged from tho ordeal with flying colours. , : The New Zealand secretary, Mr. ,G. N.Goldie, has been . appointed referee, but could, only, attend-on the. .first-day,' owing to .' .being called out: of town on business. During ■: his, absence Mi\ C'. C. Cox, of Masterton, acted on his behalf. : , i: , ; ' Victoria 'College, after winning , the Univer,sity championship, at jiuckland: last year, has . i just .been .'defeated by' tho . Canterbury Col-, lege at Duncdin. : I',-oase was quite expected to-win-,, but- Jennings;.'of Canterbury,- proved -. ■ his stumbling-block.. Tho Victoria:. College :. ! ladies .did- very, well, Miss Scott winning tho: :: 'singles,:-.and;, partnered with'. Miss. M'lntosh, .: 1 'securcd'.tho • ' ' V. .. The. New:, Zealand, Lawn Tennis, Association decided 'at a meeting held yesterday week to, use-tho Sykes .ball .at the noxt 'Now. Zea- . land: tournanidnt'... The .ball, seems.) a. trifle.;' heavier, than' so far,'-it appears to . meet .with the' approval; of-:,tho', ■ players who have tried it. . • .

. (By .iKTEn-Ctx-B.)