LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 681, 4 December 1909, Page 12

LAWN TENNIS.

• .;.'-; ■-' ; (Br SBBVER.)..'.':' '':. "{. ..,'/,.;;.'. ■TOURNAMENT FIXTURES/ XV:'[ New : Zealand Championships, at Auckland; on : December 27, 28, and 2tf.' ! : : : Hastings Club's Championships: audi Handicaps, at Hastings, on December 27 and'2B. Auckland phampiouship's and -Handicaps, 'at Auckland, on' December 31 and January 1 '" 3, and 4; ..■■.;■ .- ; .. •,--'■• .'■ -■'•-■■ .' ■ .'. Wellington, Handicaps,'at Day's Bay, on January 1 and.3. : '■■ :..■.:.';,..-.."-:,\, :.' Taranaki Championships ; and.-.Handicaps, •: at New. Plymouth, on January 1, 3, and 4. Pahiahia Championships and Handicaps," at .--.- !Pahiatua, on January 1 and '8.-'-'. ■"■/' Hawke's Bay Championships and Handicaps, at ; Danheyirke, on January 21 and 22.; : . . Rangitikei'Championships . and :Handicaps, .at '-■' Marton, oii January.2l and 22... ■.-.,

This .'afternoon's, interclub fixtures "are as. follow:—Shield—Thorndon ;v. \ .-■ Wellington A, Newtown v.'Wellington B,Brougham.Hill v. Victoria College,; Pennant—Petono v.'-.Victoria College A, Brougham 'Hill-,, v.,'Newtown . B Muritai v. Victoria College B, Kilbiinio v. Newtowii A. - ~-',

Tho, first round -in ..the'shield contest will finish 'this: afternoon, when the two undefeated teams, Wellington A arid Thorndon, will,meet— the men at Thorndon and the ladies on the Wellington, courts. If both teams can muster their full strengths, this match should bo.the best of the season.' ; The Welliiigtoii men have been getting: ns much practice as;'possible on grass courts, and thiswill minimise tho slight advantage which the Thorndon 'representatives may derive by'playing'at home. The teams will be evenly matched, providing, that the Wellington team- does not dispense- ' with Fisher's services, as it.did last Saturday afternoon. -..•■■■■..•■'.!"''"■'

.No cup or racket, grade matches will be played to-day. Last Saturday was a perfect day for tennis, arid matches were played in all grades in the interclub competition. 'Easy.- wins in all but one match was the feature. In tho Wellington A v. Newtown match,' nono of the rubbers ran into' three sets. Jeffrey and Lewis woro tho only meii of tho' Newtown team to win a rubber. They defeated Frasor and Ward in tho double after a close game:. The' losers' played an unusual gnuie, lobbing continually, but Joffrey and Lewis answered them by good driving, which scored. Miss Nownian played a good game, especially in the doubles, when her volleying was very effective... Miss Travers was much too,good for Mrs. Naglo. ■■ ':' •.'The'.Victoria-■College men played exceptionally well ■ in their match against Thoi-ndoii.' Prouse and. Weir woro beaten in their singles by Swanston' and Young respectively, -alter, good 'three-sot matches; .but'in: tho double thoy scorcd/a,splendid win. against the, sniho pair. Cleghorn and Taylor also showed good form, winning 'both their singles and double. The Thorndon ladies were,too strong for ; their'. opponents. They, lost only one set, and ,(hat 1 in the: I hird double.. './;', .;' '•■''. ','.'■'■■■.' :• The outstanding features in the Brougham i Hill t. Wellington B watch ; >ere'-.the: good

form shown by Patterson, and the : fine combination of Clarke and Eller in the third double. To ■ underrate an opponent; is tho worst fault that can bo made in match tennis, and tho writer : takes. tho liberty of thinking that Howo.and Watkins were guilty of this fault. The Brougham Hill ladies, although ; not the usual shield team, outclassed their opponents. .' '. There was little of interest, in the cup matches. The Muritai and Kliandallah teams •were tho best matched. Tho Khandallah men failed to win a rubber, but the ladies wore undefeated. MissMackay scored two wins, and the others halved their singles and won i their .doubles..

Intho Potono v. Victoria College match, tho Collegians managed to two rubbers on Duncan's play. Duncan is a handy man in the College, teams. Ho first appcared : this season as first man in tho cup team, then on the following Saturday he played in the shield team, and (partnered with Taylor) 1 defeated M'Lean and Clarko. Last Saturday, ho played fifth in tho cup team, and scored-two wins. Tho Petono' ladies won all their games comfortably., ; . . -..■,, Bidwill''.Street made - a very 'poor stand against Hutt, only winning 2 sets out of the 32 plnycd. : ■-.-- , , ' , Tho pennant match between the Newtown A and B teams resulted in an'easy victory for the A team. Miss Powell played well for'tho B team winning the two sets scored by that team. '.' •• : . ■"-■;'' ~.■; •.' '••'•' ■!■ '. In the racket grade, Trinity B and, Khandallah; played :.an even match; the former just-managed to win the odd set.. Games were.even.. ".•:,.':.■' ■'• .'•:.'.'■ ; . The Victoria College, B team' is hardly strong enough for match play, and Brougham Hilt had .little' excitement, in winning'by. 9 sets.to_nil. - : \. : ~. ■'•, . . . Judging by present,form there is little doubt that the matches between Hutt and Brougham Hill,- Newtown> A and; Brougham Hill, and Brougham Hill and Trinity A, x in_ tho cup, pennant, and Taoket grades respectively, will decide these three competitions. ~ :'■' Players intending to take paTt' jn. tournaments this season will soon have to. send in their entries; During the Christmas and, New Tear holidays there will: be a tournament in each of: the provinces of the North Island. The New ■ Zealand > championships will be the* big attraction, and a large' contingent, of '.Wellington players will: be. journeying north for this- tournament. Several city, players-are lookJhg ;for. partners' for the handicap tournament to be held at Day's Bay. ( • The Muritai Club has lost*' the services of Mr. P. Howden, who has been transferred to' New Plymouth. '■'"'.- .:':.. Mr. T.H.'Jones, a member of the Muritai' Club and ex-secretary of the'association, has accepted; office on the Management .Committee. Mf. Jones has been a hard worker for the sport,, and tho present members of the committee will not lose by his anpointment to fill the vacancy caused by, Mr,. H. A. Robertson's transfer .to Christchurch. : ; . , .