LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 265, 1 August 1908, Page 9

LAWN TENNIS.

(8yT.1.R.) CIVIL SERVICE TOURNAMENT. Tho detailed results of this meeting held on Arbor Day have already appeared in Tub Dominion. Tho tournament was a distinct success, and will probably be made an annual event. Winter is hairdly the most suitable time for tho tournament, and, following the custom of the various departments who have annual cricket and football matches, tho promoters of tho tennis meeting should endeavour to get Ministerial approval for their outing, and have a day specially set apart, whereon all competitors would bo granted a holiday. ' CHAMPIONSHIP. { First Round. Hawkins evidently laid himself out to score every;possible point, with-tho rosult that s Lewis:went under 12—love. Such an action, was directly opposite to that of Hunter's, who allowed his younger opponent to score a few-games. Anderson and Esam had a hard tussle, and had all tho othor matches been so prolonged the tournament would' , never have, seen finality. Towards the finish Anderson took things more seriously, and won a well-fonght match, 12 —8. i Esam surprised everyone by his fine efforts. Watkins had little difficulty in defeating J. H. Clark, 12—2. Tho latter had a chance of winning a couple more games, but failed badly. His service was the strongest feature of his play/ . , P.'Clarke and O'Leary, as was fitting for such old opponents, had an enjoyable set-to'; the former, eventually winning after a remarkably even game. 12—D. As Herd was unablo to. take part in the whole day's outing, ho had a short round with Cockayne, who led 5—4, when tho former had to leave.

Second Round. . , Anderson's .display against Watkins was disappointing, and there is not the slightest doubt he" was quite out of form Ho played rather well for a while, but was all at sea when Watkins started to bustle him; and ho had to be satisfied with four games. Anderson is.tho right stamp of player, and a couple of seasons with good sound practice should see him develop into a really fine player. .. v : :-c, Cockayne was playing ,at his best, and earned his four games against Hunter, who, however, was not pushed, and took things very easily. ' Clarke and Jones played a most uninteresting set. At 9—B Clarke missed his chance to again get level, but failed after leading 40— love, and did not get another gamo. Semi-Finals. The semi-finals of the championships resulted in two capitally contested games, but in each case victory ultimately went to tho player with tho wider experience. Hawkins played soundly throughout tho day, as is evidenced by a glance through tho results, hence Watkins's feat in winning seven games was no mean one, and had ho mado a moro conspicuous opening it is quite possible ho might have won, as ho afterwards showed fine form, and was very aggressive. With 3—l, and 7—2 against' him, his chance was practically nil, but a determined stand brought him tlireo successive games, and the scoro to o —7. His opponent then put in a similar effort, and increased bis lead to 10—5, from which stage play was about divided, Hawkins winning comfortably, 12 —7.

In the other sot Hunter, by dint of his greater experionce, was first to ■ show up prominently, and soon led, 3—l. Jones, by hard driving, soon got on level terms, after, which each player won game and game about, until the score was, 6—5. Hunter was then leading, but his opponent spurted, and winning two games in succession led, 7 —6. The paco then began to tell on him, and his last chance disappeared when ho failed to level at 9 all, after leading 40—15 on his service. Hunter forced tho game, and had no difficulty in reaching the- coveted 12 games, apparently without much effort. Pinal. As was only fitting,-tho final grought out tho two ■ best competitors at the meeting, and, for the second time during tho day, Hawkins had very littlo. difficiilty in defeating Huntor. The latter had to ■ make the running though, as the Petone .mail adopted safety tactics and took not even tho slightest risk. Hunter's overhead work, usually so effective, failed badly and was a factor in his downfall. Hawkins ■ was quickly off tho mark and led, —2 —o, only to see his adversary notch tho following two games, and thus get on level terms, Hunter continued to attack, and, by good net play, was in front at 4—3, but tho successive spell was a disastrous ono for him, as Hawkins finishing up a break of five games led, B—4, and thus put the issue practically beyond doubt. Huntor died hard, and succeeded in making the scoro'7 —9, but tho effort was too much for him, and Hawkins, still as' safe as ever, managed to draw away again and won, 12—8. HANDICAP. Tho handicap event was responsible for somo fine tennis, and also a wonderful reversal of form by two or tbreo of the playors. This was most noticeable in tho cases of Jones and Esain who,- with very big handicaps, shaped very - indifferently. S. J. Sampson, who did not take part in tho championship, probably showed tho best tennis of tho day, and, when all is said and done, was unlucky to lose to Watkins in tho final, although tho latter performed splendidly under adverso circumstances. Watkins had a hard row to hoe from start to finish, and in tho semi-final,' and afterwards tho final, never appeared to have even an outsido chance. Anderson was badly defeated by Sampson, to whom lie concedcd ton points, tho scores being, 60 —36! Comment is hardly necessary. Hunter could niako no headway against Hawkins, as was also Lewis's experience with Sampson. J. H. Clark, on tho 36 mark, was fancied, but wont down to Anderson iu an advantage game (Gl—s9). P. Clarko was even poorer than in tho classic event; Cockayne was fairly consistent, but Watkins was playing too well to give him a chance' with a start of only 17;