LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1034, 25 January 1911, Page 8

LAWN TENNIS.

THE PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. FINALS DECIDED. A SPLENDID TOURNAMENT. (From Oar Special Correspondent.) Mastorton, January 24. The concluding day's play of the Wellington Provincial Association's championship at Mastert-on was as successful as that of tlio previous' days. The' arrangements wore complete, and reflected great credit on the honorary secretary, Mr. Selanders, and his willing committee. Tho oppressive- heat was somewhat tempered' with a slight breeze. Tho attendance was large, aiid great interest centred in tho play of ' the champions. Tho Champlon3. Men's singles—H. A. Parker. Ladies' singles—Miss Nunneley. ' Men's doubles—C. C. Cox and G. G. Aitkcn. Ladies', doubles—Misses Nunneley and Simpson. . , Combined—P. M. B. Fisher and Miss Wellwood. Handicap Winners.Men's A grade . singlesf-L. Bonuington. Men's' B grade singles—A." Caselberg. : Ladies singles—Miss Simpson. Men's. A grade' doubles—Lawrence and Kean. ■ - Men's B grade doubles—Hendry and Hebnnton. ; Ladies' doubles—Misses Caverhill and Walters. , Combined —H. A. Parker and Mrs. Hulnie. The meeting undoubtedly has been one of.'tho' most,'successful credited to Mastorton, and it .would bo a good idea 'in view of the Davis Cup next year, if .the' experiment wero repeated. . The courts arc ideal in situation, and are sufficiently large for matches to be jilted up' td time. 11l the semi-final of the men's championship singles, Fisher effected a surprise by winning the second set fromParker, tho scores being . .6 —2,' 2—6,' 6—4. Fisher ..undoubtedly played a good game, and had Parker'in difficulties on ihaiiy occasions. He ; was : varying his play well, but seemed to lack ability to drivo homo his winning shot. Parker, as is customary, was very sue-, cessful with his side-line strokes. It is a pity that Fisher cannot spare time to get systematic training,- as it is en- , tircly owing •to lack of it that keeps him from' the championship: ' Ollivier and Bonnington, two Christchurch.players, fought put the "lower half." Bou- , ningtqn retired with the score 6—4, 3—2 against - him, in view of the- fact that lie wished to save himself for tlio handicap singles, which, by-the-by, he ultimately won. - -,

The final between Parker and Ollivier did. not furnish a close match. Ollivier played well, but Parker's long experience. servc'J him in .good stead, despite the fact that he /was tired" with tho Jong'day's-work; "He won easily/ This is the first timo Parker has wou a Wellington championship. Ollivier Will bo playing on -Saturday for Canterbury against-Wellington,: and this'will probably bo- his- last : appearance-as 'a Canterbury "representative, in view'of the fact that ho will tako up' land at Wanganui.. His departure from Canterbury will-be an undoubted loss to -tho province. It is hoped he will be able to got tho practice 'at Waiiganui that will enable, him'to keep xip his form. In tho men's championship doubles, Parker and Brown had no difficulty in beating Cowan and Soundy. In tho final Cox (Dannevirko) and Aitkcn (Masterton) had a meritorious win from Parker and Brown, the scores being <~0, I—6, G—l. In the first set -it scorned, likely that . Parker and Brown would prevail, but t-li'o work of tho others was very solid and they finished up a good game with.-a vantage set'as above. .In- the second set, Parker and Brown came on, and, as often happens, there was a strange reversal of form, further emphasised by the scoring in tho final sets. The, win of. these.-two players was very popular 'indeed. Aitkeii's overhead work,'contrary to the usual thing, was excellent', and tho."combination was much- better than, .in their match with Fisher and Swainson.'' It is indeed a pity that these two placers caiiiiot live nearer together and so get more practice. '

In tho ladies' championship singles, Nunneley, .who was obviously at 'a painful disadvantage, through an injury, to her foot, beat Miss' Hartgill with comparative ease, 'though in the', second set tho latter player- gave mucli promise. In tho last game Miss Nunneley showed a sporting spirit by correcting a wrong decision of the umpire given in her favour. This shows that tho ex-champion is not one of those whoso policy is to win' at all costs.- The match.in tlio final between her. and Miss Travers was almost a boil-over, as the scores indicate. Miss Nunneloy seems to .havo. recovered her old vigour. In tho ladies' championship. doubles Misses Nunneley and Simpson gained a meritorious win from the present Dominion champions, Misses Wellwood aiid Travers. 'The first t'hreo games' \vere won by tlio champions and it seemed likely they would mako no race of it. In tho fourth game Miss Simpson won her servico. after a. large number.of deuces. This, gamo was the turning point of the match. , , ' .

■ Miss Wellwood was not at. her. best and appeared to bo. suffering from' a surfeit of championship meetings. However, with Fisher, sho scored a- fine victory over ParkeT and Miss Travors in tho cpmbincds.' -

In tho men's handicap singles .(A grade) Bonnington, playing with extrcmo ' accuracy,' beat Brown' 'in the semi-final.' Bonnington-had been much fancied for this event.' -In the lower half Donniston effected a surprise by beating Swainson, and he followed this up. by disposing of tho much-favoured Blmidell. Ho, however, found his Waterloo in Bonnington in tho final, the latter proving oven more steady than in Jiis match with Brown. ■ In tli'o men's handicap doubles.'Lawrence -aiid Rean had a good win from Goss and. Ollivier. .

. Miss Simpson, in tho ladies' singles, put up a . splendid performance and won the event.,, Tho handicap doubles was won by Misses Caverlnll and Waters, who will bo 'heard of in the future. ' Parker, with Mrs. Hulmo as his partner, won the combined handicap doubles, tho handieappor ' underrating Mrs. Hnhr.o's ability. With tho exception of the men's B grade singles, tho handicapping, as proved by tho scores, was extremely good. At the conclusion of tho tournament tho Very Rev. D'ean M'Kenna, president of ; tho Masterton Club, presented the trophies won in the. tournament. Ho pointed out, amidst cheers, that Parker, the winner of'.the' championship,' had, by his win, , scored his hundredth, championship.- Miss Nunnoicy had secured tho right to retain the cup presented by tho Wellington Association. Masterton had never seen such an array of first-class" players as at this t-ournament, and tho Masterton Club was pleased at tho encouragement given by tho Wellington Association in granting them tho provincial' championship meeting. They wero also indebted to the Dannevirk'o Club for having changed the dato of its meeting. . _ . , Hearty cheers wore given for the successful competitors, for tho secretary (Mr. Sclariders), and for the, president.

.''CHAMPIONSHIP. PLAY. ■ MEN'S SINGLES. Semi-Finals.—G.: Ollivier beat L. Bonnington, 6 —4, 3—2. (Bonnington retired.) H. Parker (N.S.W.) beat F. M. B. Fisher (Wellington), 6—2, 2—6, 6— 4. Final.—H. A. Parker (N.S.W.) beat G. Ollivier (Christchureh), 6—2, 6—l. LADIES' SINGLES. Semi-Final.—Miss K. Nunncley beat Miss Hartgill, 6 —l, 6—4. Final. —Miss K. Nunncley .(Wellington) beat Miss Travers (Wellington), G—l, 6—l. COMBINED. . Final. —F. M. B. Fisher and JJiss Wellwood beat H. Parker and Miss Travers, 6—2, 6—4. MEN'S DOUBLES. ' Semi-Final.—H. A. Parker and H. W. Brown beat A. Soundy and D. Cowan, 6—o, 6 —o. Final. —C. C. Cos (Daniievirke) and G. G. Aitken (Mast-erton) beat Parker (N.S.W.) and Brown (Wellington), 7—5, 1-6, 6—l. ■ LADIES' DOUBLES. Final. —Misses K.. Nunneley and M. Simpson (Wellington) beat Misses R. Wellwood (Hastings) and Travers (Wellington), 7—5, 6—3. HANDICAP CAME 3. LADIES' SINGLES. Somi-Final. —Miss M. Simpson (10) beat Miss L. D. Hughes (10), SO —43. Final.—Miss ,M.. Simpson (Wellington), 10, beat Miss A. Perry (Master.ton), 35, 50—42. LADIES' DOUBLES.' Second Round.—Mrs. Hulme and Miss Dixon (25) beat Misses. F. and W. Perry (20), 50-38. " Third Eound.—Misses Simpson and Williams (nwe 10) beat Miss Hartgill and Mass Hartgill (20), ,52—50. i Semi-Final. —Mrs. Hulnio and Miss Dixon (25) beat Mrs. Evans and Miss Robieson (30), 51 —49. . Final.—Misses Cavcrhill and Walters (Wellington) beat 1 Mrs. Hulme (Blenheim) and Miss Dixon (Wellington), 50—45. : . . MEN'S SINGLES. - A Grade Third Round.—M. E. Denniston (35) beat J. G. Swainson (scr.), 70—63. Seriii-Finals.—M.-E. Denniston (35) beat J. L. Blundell (25), 70-63; ; L. Bonnington (scr.) beat H. M. Brown (owe 10), 70—46. , Final.—L. Bonnington (Christchur'ch), ■scr., beat M. E. Denniston (Wellington), 35, 70—6S; : MEN'S DOUBLES'. . '' ' . .A Grade. • ' . Semi-Final.—Ollivier and Goss (owe ,25) won by default from Heaton and' Waddington (25). . 1 . Final. —Lawrence and Kean (Wellington), 25, beat Ollivier and Goss (Christchureb), owe 25, 70—60. B Grade. • Semi-Final.—A. and J. Caselberg (15) 'beat C. Gawith and G. Sutton (scr.), 70-51. , ■ Final.—W. Hendry and D. Hebenton . (Mastorton), 10, beat A. and .J. Ca-sel-berg (Masterton), 70—66. .... COMBINED. Third Round. —Cox and .Miss Hartgill (owe 15) beat Goss and Miss' Williams (owe 15);50 —45; G. G. ■ Aitken and ■ Miss M. Simpson (owe 5) beat T. Maunsell and Miss Bell (10), 50'—42; Parker and Mrs. Hulme (scr.) beat Soundy and Miss L. K. Huglies (10), 50—32. ' Semi-Final—G. G. Aitken'an'd Miss Simpson (owo 5) beat Kean and Miss Caverhill (20), 50—44. ; 1 in hit:

Final.—Parker and Mrs.' Hulme boat G. GvxAitkon"'and Miss Simpson, .'oO-j-i 44. . ' '•: