Lawn Tennis,

Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 119, 15 November 1902, Page 5 (Supplement)

Lawn Tennis,

(By Huka.) i H. Rice, last season's holder of the Metropolitan Singles Championship (Sydney), and recently beaten in this beacon s event by Sharp, is new in Wellington, and has been performing with, his racket on the Thorndon courts. Those who have met him regret that his stay in this city is of such snort duration. The Outing contains an interesting article on American development in iawn tennis — "The recent » success of Americans," says the writer, "&eems to point to a national superiority which probably does not exi&t. The English have not made much progress lately, while we have been improving our play rapidly, which is due to the fact that our opponents still rely upon execution as the main element of tiieir skill. Americans btudy tactics first, and sacrifice execution for position every time." Further on the writer admits most condescendingly that some of the best American players "have learned a lob by studying the English style of stroke." fhe Victorian player Saxon put up a fine record at the recent Western Australian tourneys. Jie accounted for alcomers in the Singles (Jhampion&hip j with Kitchen he won the Mens Doubles Championship ; and with ilrs. Kitchen also secured the Mixed Championship Doubles. The dates for the annual Siter-Stato fixtures — Victoria v. New South Wales and Victoria v. South Australia — have been arranged by the Melbourne Cricket Club, in conjunction with the Lawn Tennis Associations of adjoining States. The two matches will be played 8Jm u lta neously on the warehousemen s cricket ground Saturday and Monday, 15bh and l?th November. A ladies' matcli will be included in this year's programme, at the request of the Lawn Tennis Association of (South Australia. The South Australians won the Ladies' Match played at Adelaide last February, but "Victoria hopes to be revenged at this meeting. Even with the higii class of male players at the&e gatheimgs I would direct attention to the fact that matches for ladies are on the programme. The ladies' teams will consist .of four representative playeis from each Slate. The Geraldine Tennis Club (Timaru) opened their new courts last week. A new clud has been formed at Hawera, called the Han era Tennis Club. Mr. J. A. Tun on is the secietary. The Petone Club's new courts in Britannia street v< era opened on Saturday. The club has "about one acre of ground, on which theie are two grass and two asphalt courts-. A new pavilion has also been erected. From all appearances renewed interest has been created, and with practice the members should give a good account of themselves. Mr. P. W. Jackson is secretary, and will no doubt be only too eager now to ar-. range matches with other clubs. The Newtown Club bad a big day last Monday. I have he<ird that some interesting play took place, but so far no account has reached me. Where is the secielary'r The Wellington Club had a large attendance for their field day on the 10th. Air. Wilson gave up the whole day running the events oli, and overy credit is due him for the success atutined. JNo notes yet to hand. The Brougham Hill Club so far has played and won 10 matches this season, but will meet their Wateiloo on Saturday against- the Thorndon Club. I have to thank Air. E. A. Hurloy for a copy of the ciicular letter and rules (just to hand) relating to the Wellington Provincial Lawn Tennis Shield. The following aie extracts irom ike circular : — "It is hoped that e\err affiliated club will enter a team and thus assist a movement which is intended to give a further impetus to lawn tennis throughout the district. . . 'Local districts lying around the 'local centres' of Wanganui, Pahnerslon North, Mastercon, and Wellington will be mapped out so as to allow clubs to play with other clubs in the local district. The winning club of the local district then to meet the club of another local district until the best club wins the final. . . The names of all players in the winning teams of the local centre tournament will be recorder in a register and exhibited at the Easter tournaments held in connection with the Association. . .• ' Local Committees'

will be appointed to cany out the local matches. . . Nominations are to be made to the Secretory, Wellington Provincial Lawn Tennis Shield Committee, 7, Grey-street, Wellington, not later than Wednesday, 19th November, 8 p.m. . . . I am pleased to see that an appendix (6a) has been added, which runa as follows: — "Teams may consist of s>ix men and four ladies if the permission ol the Central Committee be lirst obtained by each club interested.' "'" ' Sitiely the above Avill be sufficient answer to the numerous letters I have received relating to rule 6. Matches are to commence at 2 o'clock on the day fixed for play, and every member of the teams concerned should make a point of arriving on the ground ready to play at that time. Neglect of mis rule often causes a lot of unnecessary waste of time, besides upsetting all arrangements for the afternoon's play. 1 snail be pleased to hear from the Secretary each week as the movement advances. All clubs having any interest in the game will no doubt • enter teams. It may be loss of time re practice to seme of Thorndon's best players, and I think that difficulty could be overcome by declaring them the holders for the Wellington Centre, which means tfaat they would p!ay_ the winner of the Wellington Centre final.' Until the other clubs become stronger this plan might meet with approval, * as without doubt unless something unforeseen happens Thorndon will holcf that shield for some few years. I wish the movement all success. Brougham. Hill won the "treble on Saturday, defeating Victoria College Ist and 2nd and Khandallah Ist. The V.C. A team went down by 9 sets to 4. Graham played a good game, being very free in. his strokes, and is certainly a promising player. He hnd Fraser right out, and it took the B.H. man all his time to notch a win. Wilson, by his hard hitting, beat Howe, who did not seem at home on the strange courts. Richmond beat Amies, but it was a slow game ; both off colour. Gower had an easy win from Beere. The ladies' games weie good. Miss Bathani adopts a moat carele&s style of play, and I am sure had she been more careful, Miss Ward's task would not have been an easy one, although she played rieht up to her best iorm. Miss Pan Staverens don't care style was no good against such a hard hitter as Mira itobmson, and until the former lady puts more exertion into her play she will not be returned a winner. Misses Heath and Roberts did not play well together against Mrs. Howe and Miss AI. Ward (an easy win), the latter pair playing well. Misses Van Staveren and Bath«m had revenge •in the doubles, beating Misses Robinson and Ritchie after a hard-fought set by H game. Richmond and Gr«uum pxayed well against Bell and Fraaer, but the latter- pair could not go wrong, and their first service was simply unplayable Bogle and De la Mare romped over Howe and Marriner because of want of combination in the two last-named players. Taita Club were beaten on. Monday by a Brougham Hill team— lo sets to nil. No particulars to hand. 'I should be pleased to hear from the Taita Club., "Bob" Sim and and a player from London, I believe, are above the ordinary. The excellence of the Khandallah courts surprised tho town players who visited there last Saturday, being quite superior to many in townf The Khandailah team, although it fought hard, was no match for the mixed second and third team from Brougham Hill. Richardson and' Meek played well in their singles, giving Freeman and Ross respectively a hard fight to win. The former pair won the only game for Khandallah, beating Ross and Jessup. 9—7. Richardson will make a good player if he has more experience. Loe and Bethune might have done better against Hunter and Kirker had they practised more together. Baird was the surprise of the town team. He is a player that has come on with leaps and bounds of late. A most enjoyable day was the result of this match. Thanks, glad to hear from you again. Victoria College 2nd went down by 10 sets to 3 against Brougham Hill 2nd. Will, of the former club, played well, and is a coming player. Bee and Brailsford worked hard for their win, and deserved it. Mrs. Pierard had a nut to crack in Miss Griffiths, who, with a little coaching will improve. Mr. and Mrs. W. Howe played a splendid game against Miss White and Thomson. Mibs Hurley, wants practise badly. I stated last week thet Feilding voted against the Pennant Matches. That information was not correct; the Feilding delegate voted for the motion.