LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 478, 10 April 1909, Page 12

LAWN TENNIS.

(By Inieh-Clcii.) Tho last of tho inter-clnb contests was brought to a finish under most trying circumstances last Saturday. Tho contesting teams for this last championship—tho Pon- . nant competition—wero Brougham Hill and c Muritai. Everything seemed to bo in fa- ' vour, oven to the elements, of tho latter I club, as tho town team, although leading . by ono win through having played ono mors l match, was called upon by tho Shield Coni--3 mitteo to play off with Muritai. The team 3 had also to face the unpleasant jouruoy across the harbour, and moot tho Muritai players on thoir own ground, which was " open to tho full force of tho gale that was 5 blowing. Tho driving sand at times was , simply blinding, and to pit tho two teams against one another to decide which was [ to be champion, in weather that made good tennis out of tho question, was a mistake . Nevertheless it seomingly had to be done, , and tho players did their part without a , grumble. A littlo more importance and consideration might havo been given this final . by delaying it for a bettor day. Time after \ time tho ladies had to allow what would . havo boon easy shots, to got on a decent ' day, to go by without any attempt at re- , turning them, as tho wind simply took charge of tho players. The match was an oxciting ono and tho losers fought bard for victory. All depended upon tho men's doubles, and it looked at one stage a good thing for Muritai. Howdon, who was a giant in himself, being ably backed up by Wright, had Barton and Kean thinking hard from the start. They secured a fine position when leading S games to ■ G, and wore within an aco of match and championsliip in 15th, ICth, and 17th games, but Barton, a great general, who plays with his head, and Kean, ono of thoso who is nover beaten until the last stroke is scored, plugged along up hill with overy confidence, taking game after game until the scoro was called, giving them match, and with it the championship for their sido. Ono cannot help but admire the plucky stand mado by the young Muritai team, and noxt year there should bo even more enthusiasm and alertness in tho club, as it has done well to have a team runners r up in this competition. The winning team has played well throughout the season, Kean, Shorris, and Miss Hogg doing splondid work, 'and Miss Rothschild and Barton possibly in a slightly 'ess degreo through not having played in so many matches as tho others. Barton established a comfortable lead against Howden, which ho maintained throughout the game. Wright got away from Kean with a run, and tho latter, although playing pluckily, was only able to annex one game. C. L. Harton proved moro than a match for Sherris. Miss Hogg, in her single, and Misses Hogg and Powell, in the dqublo, played with greater success in tho wind than did the Misses Low. The combined was very close, just ending 7—6 in favour of Miss Low and Harton. Swanston dofeated Laishloy in tho final of the Brougham Hill Singles. 6—4, 6—B, 6—3. Tho high wind naturally destroyed what would have Keen otherwise a fine match. Laishloy looked like leading fi—4 in the first sat, but was taken unawares by Swanston, returning what seomed a certain aco. Swanston got tho shot by sprinting back, and lobbed it high against tho wind, tho .ball corning down within a few foot of the net. Laishloy might easily have scored with a stop volley, but smashed wildly. Swanston played steadily, and won tho set 6—4. The second set was even going, Laishley showing some good tennis, and despite Swanston's effort, Laishley won after an advantage set. Some very pretty work was seen in tho final set, both players trying to out-general one another at the net. Swanston was the steadier player, and won the sot 6 —3. The day was not a fit ono even to practise tennis, fa'r less play a final of a championship, but both players woro content to finish it. The samo day Howo and Miss Fanner wero i beaten by Lindsay and Miss Archer in tho mixed doubles, after a three set match, tho : losers being twice within a point of match. ■ H. Howe and Miss Rothschild ran Laishley i and Mrs., Goldio into a three-sot go. Tho i former pair led 6—5 in tho third set, but ' ■wero unablo to win the game at the right 1 moment, their opponents, taking threo games i in succession, took thb final set B—6. • Tho senior entries for tho Easter tourna- j mont are very good, and quite a largo num- ■ ber of juniors are competing for the junior ] championship. Seemingly Dickio and Wal- i lace havo not entered, which is a great pity, 1 as with the Taranaki pair in the men's • championship doubles, it would have been a j very fino event indeed. As the event now i stands, it will be a great fight between tho < Bwanston-Peacock, Fisbor-Blair, and Rice- 1 Brown pairs. The combined event will rest between the following pairs: Miss Nunneley < and Blair, Miss Travers and Rice, and Miss i AYellwood and Brown. ( The New South Wales championships, at i which our New Zealand ladies' team intends 1 to compete, starts on April 26, and con- ( tinues until May 1. Tho inter-state match i between New Zealand and New South Wales i has been set down for April 23 and 24; this l allows our ladies three days to get ovor their ( ;ourney. No date has been fixed yet for tho \ Victoria-New Zealand match, but tho meeting of Misses Gyton and Addison; and I Misses Nunnoley and Powdrell will bo f worth going a long way to see. [