LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1277, 4 November 1911, Page 12

LAWN TENNIS.

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OPENING OF THE MATCHES. Wellington Provincial Championship and Jlnndirap Tininiaincnl, at Day's Bay, January 20, 22, 2M, 1912. New Zealand Championships Tournament nt Lancaster Park, Christchurch, December 211, 20, 27, and 23, inn. Davis Cup Contest-December 20, HO, Kill, mid .Inniiary 1, 1012, at Lancaster Park, Christcburch, Tho Start Lost Saturday, A successful start was mado with tho in(er-clul) compeliticws last Saturday afternoon, when all the matches with the exception of tho Ladies' Pennant and Men's Racket grades wcro proceeded with, and some very even contests wcro provided. The two mentioned grades will follow suit this afternoon, and all will than be in full swing. Mon's Shield Grade. The match in the man's grade between Wellington A and Brougham Hill, played on Wellington courts, which was conducive to good tennis, resulted in a win for the former by the narrow margin of fivo games. The singles in each case ran into three sets, nnd produced some keen play. Harold Brown proved too much for 11. V. Howe, beating him C-2, 3-G, 6-1. Brown's low-hand drives wcro bis strong point, as was also his volleying. The strangeness of tho courts no doubt upset Howe, who generally is a bard man to beat, always playing a good "heady" game. The Ward-Laishley match was the feature of tho afternoon. Both players ucro in good form, and each game was evenly contested. In the second set especially point and point was well fought out, Laishloy occasionally showing his o!d----tiinc placing and driving. in thu final set game and game all was called with Ward playing strongly until tho score stood ut "i all." Then Laishloy, by steady placing, to outpace his opponent, and ran out winner, G—J. Tho score was £--G, 6— i, 6—4 in Laishley's favour.

The M'Nicol v. Sampson match was intereslintc, M'Nicol obtaining some very fine backhand shots. M'Canl was a little too much for Laurence on the dny, and just inmajred to beat his man G—.'f, 5—C, il—4. M'Canl was playing well, but Laurence did not quite find his game until the second set, when he got in some good passing shots. ' In I lie doubles the Wellington men split up—M'Caui playing with Brown and M'Nicol with Ward. Both matches were good. Tho scores (Brown a.ud M'Cnul v. Howe a.nd Laishley, G— i, fi- 3. ana Ward and M'Nicol v. Simpson and I/aurenco (3—G, i— C) about indicate tho form of the pairs. Brown and M'Caul combined well, and deserved their win, but the Brougham Hill pair did not quite seem at. home. Ward and M'Nicol foil to Sampeon and Laurence. Tho former pair were not quite good enough. The Ladies' Matches, The ladies' match, played between Wellington and Brougham Hill, produced Eomo fairly good tennis, although tho score hardly indicates it, Wellington having won by S3 games to U. . Miss Travel's, as was natural, beat Miss Morgan, 6—3, G—l, but, although defeated, Miss Morgan played well. Undoubtedly this lady has somo very fine shots, and, if she would undertake tho game seriously, and look for good practice, she might stirpriso herself. Miss Williams was much too /rood for Mrs. W. E. Howe, beating her 6-0, 6—l. Miss Archer was not quite in form in her match against Miss Cock, and went down, 3-C, 3-0. Miss Cock was playing well, and, apparently, keeps in good practice. Mrs. Goldio was just too strong for Miss Davis. The latter, however, played 'well throughout, and, although beaten, G—s, 2—G, I—G, she nevertheless gave tho winner a rather anxious time. Tho Wellington ladies .were on top in each of the doubles, and proved themselves a strong team. Misses Williams and Cock beat Misses Archer and Dans, 4-0, 0-2, 6 —*; Miss Travers and Mrs. Goldio beat Miss Morgan and Mrs. Howe, G—i, 2-G, 8-2.

The Cup Competitions, Victoria College played well all Tonnd in defeating Petone, the winners of last year's enp competition, by 89 games to 81. Each game ran into tlio full three sets, and the play was marked by great evenness all through. In the first single, Parker, by good play, beat Austin, 4—G, G—4, G—3. In tho double, however, playing with Do la Maro against Austin aiid Curtis, they met rooro than their match, losing, 3—(i, G—3, 3—G. Parker, on tho form shown last year, when he won tho Victoria College championship, and on this year's form also, should bo put up into tho College Shield team.

Brougham Hill rather galloped over Trinity. Triui'y's best man (Crcwes) was not in anythiiijr like form, and, although Townsend would probably always beat him, the game should havo been more oven. Townsend iron, o—l, G—2. If tho latter player wcro to put moro length and driving power into his game, it would certainly bring him up to shield form right away; as it is he is an exceptionally strong defensive player, and places with good judgment. Xean was not quite up to his usual form, and fell to Fathers. Venn beat Swinburne, 0—1; G—l. Both doubles were won by Brougham Hill through better combination.

Ladies' Competition. Trinity's win over Brougham Hill was somewhat of a surprise, but the latter team was weakened at tho last moment, which accounts for tho result.

Pctouo again has a strong team in tho Hold, and disposed of Victoria College without any diliiculty. The Newtown and Khandallah match was more closely contested, while Wellington v. Oriental tied, rubbers and games being equal. This afternoon's matches should bo full of interest. Players would do well to remember that play starts sharp at 1.45 p.m. Some Other Matters, To Mr. W. A. Larned (says the American "Lawn Tennis Journal") has como the honour of being the first American champion since liichnrd D. Sears to win the titlo seven times. He accomplished (lie remarkable feat on Monday, September .1, trained to tho minuto, before n gathering that swarmed over tho historical ground and surpassed in numbers, in enthusiasm, and perhaps in brilliance any similar outpouring in tho 31 vears during which 1 tho championships have been played, and on this historic bit of turf meeting tho fiercest onslaughts of Mnuiico E. M'Loughlin, tho winner of the All-Comers and administering to him a straight set defeat. It was a marvellous match, tho brilliance and impetuosity of youth in 'M'Loughlin being pitted against maturity of judgment and purpose in Larncd, backed by tho soundest of technique, tho clearest of conception, and an ability to successfully co]K> with every effort'put forth by his adversary, and to meet and almost overwhelm him by a combination of sheer speed and sustained brilliance. At the annual meeting of tho New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association, tho question of the Mastcrlon protest against tho dates fixed for the Wellington Provincial championship was brought up. It appears that the Masterhnn Club wired the N.Z.L.T.A. direct instead of according to the rules approaching it through the Wellington Provincial Association, The matter was ultimately referred to tho Management Committee.

.An "eleelrie. hotel" is to be erected in Taris, at a cost of several millions. Domestics, it. is said, arc to be almost entirely superseded by automatic devices, includinc an automatic dininE-tablc to lje served by motor-opera led appliances.

Amorican workers, according to a consular report ismied by (lie English Board of Trade, put more energy into their work than Kuropean workers, but wear out sooner and break down, llieir places beins taken by younger men. 'I'liesa younqor men are usually iinmifrrnnts, whose leisurely movements at: home are

"speeded up" ill America (ill they too ln'como rapid workers, ami in their turn wear out. Wlwthor this fast or work is euuswl by an oxhilnrnline climate or by the "rush for wealth" (ho report does not discuss-