Lawn Tennis.

Evening Post, Volume LXVI, Issue 152, 24 December 1903, Page 14

Lawn Tennis.

(Bt Hitica.) Splendid entries have been received for the Now Zealand Championship meeting, which opens at Napier on uoxing Day. The championship ovonts havo filled well, and bo interesting games should result. Nearly Jill the crack players of Now Zealand are competing, and tho only notable absenteo will bo Peacock, of Auckland. Yet ho may at tho last moment be unable to resist tho attraction. The handicap events havo brought forth record entries, and tho winners will be as hard to pick as blackberries in tho winter. There are 28 in the Men's Singles (firet grade) and 32 in the second grade. In the Ladies' Singles thoro aro 68, Men's Doubles 29, Ladies' Doubles 19, and tho combined event shows a rattling record Of 43 entries. Taken all round, tho entries aro really admirable, and the Hawkes Bay Association s oflicials arc to be congratulated upon tho manner in which they have boomed. the meeting. . Tho Wiiipowa .meeting, which immediately follows the championships, on the 31st,Decembcr, Ist and 2nd January, has. attracted a large nmount of attention, nnd tho entries already promise to bo largo. . The .annual tournament of tho Combined Bush Clubs, to be held at Pahiatua, on tho Ist and 2nd January, will attract those players who cannot go us far oh Napier. Eight events uro on tho programme, as 'follows : — Men's Championship Singles and Doubles, Handicap Singles' and Doubles, Ladies' Handicap Singles and -Doubles, Handicap Combined, and' a Men's Junior Handicap Singles. Entries close with C. E. MacShane, at Pahiatua, on Saturday, 2bth December. Pahiatua is about five hours ride by train from Wellington, and any competitors from town clubs will recelvo a hearty, welcome, " - The ninth annual Wairarapa Open Championship Meeting and Handicap Tournament, under tho auspices of tho Masterton Lawn Tennis Club, will bo held on the Masterton Club's courts on Friday and Suturday, 22nd and ilord January. Entries must reach tho Secretary (Mr. N. D. Bunting), at Masterton, on or before Mouduy, 18th January. Thore are eight events, composed of Men's' Championship Singles <best of three sets), Ladies' Championship Singles (first nino games), Men's Handicap Singles (first and Kccond grade), Handicap Doubles, Ladies' Handicap Singles and Doubles, and Cornpined Handicap. This meeting was remarkably well woken of last year, and all tho visitors of then will, no doubt, again attend, besides taking a large number of their chib mates with thorn. The meet- , ing has been approved by the *i.Z.L.T.A. j The Taranaki Lawn Tennis Association j will hold its fifth opon Championship , Mcsting nnd Handicap Tournament, up. proved by tuo iN.Z.L.T.A., on the New Plymouth L.T. and C. Club's new grounds. Vivian-street, Now Plymouth, on Thursday and Friday (nnd Saturday, if necessary), 2l»t and 22nd Jannnry. Entries close on Saturday, the 16th Januury, with Frnncis O. Hume, hon. secietiuy, New Plymouth. Tliete aro tho usual firt cliaininon^hip events on thn I jMograinino (all be*t of three sots), but I Men'o Singles und Doubles aro, advantage

hets, whereas the ladies' events and the combined havo third set advantage set only. The handicap events total live — Mou'h Singles und Doubles. Lndies' Singles and Doubles, and Combined, and will be played under tho point system. Mr. E. Griffiths, Box 38, Now Plymouth, h ttio hon. secretary of the Taranaki Association, and if uny players ouUidc of Taranaki wish lo be informed regarding tho tournament they will bo advised on making application on 7th January. The association claims tho right to alter dates if the courts are not in nrst-claw» order by tho 7th January, and that is the reason for asking visitors to apply on that dato for information. Trouble has arisen nt Woodville in tho local tennis club, re playing tho game on Sundays. Some time ;igo tho opponents of Sunday play carried iv resolution disallowing it, but on Tuesday evening this was rescinded, and one authorising it carried. Should Sunday play be indulged in, several members will resign, but the seventh-day players will content themselves (so it is said) with having carried tho day, and will consider the feelings of the others by not playing. The Newtown Club has got off the Handicap Singles and Doubles for ladies and men, and most interesting mimes took place in all four events. Miss Robinson, (rec. 6), although ben ton in the final of tho Singles, played well right through, and in the second round had a great fight with Mrs. \v imon (rec. 3), the game ending in the former's favour, 51 — 49. Miss" Fraser (rec. 25) won tho final from Mus Robinson, 50—46. Miss J. Glasgow (scr) was beaten in the third round by tho runner-up, 50—46. In tho Men's Singles, ,U. Redward (14) and n. Wilson (18) had a ding-dong go, the former winning, 75— 73. F. P. VVilson (4) defeated Green (ilO) after a great fight, 76—72, and in the fourth round the former" played a wonderful game with E. Redward, who seamed to have an easy win in hand, but Wilson rattled on tho pointa at a groat rato towards the finish, and made it 74 all, then going on won 76 — 74. AI. Franer put C. Redwaru out in the same, round, 75—70, but was beaten in tho final by F. P. Wilson, 75—53. M. Fraser and Rowley (20) beat West and Naglo (scr), 50—43, in the final of the Doubles, and Misses J. Glasgow and L. Clark (scr) won the Ladies' Doubles from Mrs. Wilson and Miss 1.. Christie (scr), 50—41. Details of scores in daily. The best contest in tho Singles' lino seen this season was given by IT. A. Parker and F. Laishley last Saturday on tho Thorndon Courts in the final of tho club's championship. Both players looked fit and well, but from tho start tho New Zoaland champion seemed more at case, whereas Laishley did not settle down to his game at all in tho first set. In tho fourth game of the .first set Laishley got a lead, 40 — 30, but gave a double fault, and the 'set was soon after .called in Parker's favour, 6—l.6 — 1. The second sot saw Laishley going strong, but his forehand troubled him, and what should havo been winning shots wero " outs." Two all ; then Parker got next game, but the ploy was splendid on both sides. Laishley improved, his back hand being really first-class, and he mado it three all. Lo&t named fell away next game, and Parker took iho scoro to 6—5,6 — 5, but had to play for all ho was worth to get tho next two games. Laishloy risked too much, whereas Parker never won the ace required to place him ahead by more apace than^ was necessary. Parker won tiiis, tho second sot, 6-4. Laishley could not get his first corvico in, vet tluougliout ho hit with uncommon ycliomonce, but Parker's all-round ability, consistent exctillencu, and resourceful hcadwork placed him in a winning position. Tho third set saw Laishtoy ntntt off with a double fault, yet he managed to 'pull tho game off, and going on led 2 — love. Parker came up to the not for the first and only timo in tho match, and by some «hort overhead work took third gamo. Latahlcy wan now playing for all lie wnn worth. His hitting was httrd and beautifully clean. He bad gathered all Ilia efforts in a bunch to forco the gamo. Both players now did tho only volleying of tho match. As Laishley improved so did his ecore, as 4—l was called in his favour. Parker gavo a number m " out#," although tho shots were real good ones, mid his opponent won set 6—l. It was do or dio in tho fourth net for Laishley, and ho took first gamo, but Parkor, by heady work, took next two. In the fourth game, Laishtey gave thrco douuio faults, and was twice within an ace of winning. He netted once, und an " out " gave Parker his chance, and lie had two chances to bring off tho winning shot, but failed. Tho excitement was wtcn«o, and on tho third time of Hiking Parker won— «core 3— -1. 4—l4 — 1 quickly followed in' Parker's favour. It was now that Laishley's forehand showed signs of improvement, for he had Parker oh tho gallop from comer to corner, and the play was very fine,' Lniahloy coming up with scoro 2—-4. Another advantage game went to Laishlev on tho third timo of asking— -score 3—4.3 — 4. Tho eighth gamo Sirovided most attractive tennis, but iaishley, when leading 40 — 30, gave ft double fault. Twice ho got witnin an iioo, but Parker, by brilliant work, kept him out, yet failed to win, and -after " Advaritugo, ■ Laishloy," had been called three times, Parker, by a rare combination of force, system, and finish, looked a winner, but was beaten by a vory hot shot, and 4 nil wa« called amidet applause. Parker ran away with next game and lod 5—4. With tho serve it was thought that Laishloy would' mako it 5 all ; but love— 4o was called.' Then the server came with his wonted dash and mado it deuce. Pnrkor's gamo was now more aggressive than before, and ho saved tho situation time and again-'ftt this critical stage Lnishley lost * control through attompting net work/and Parker finished game, wit, and match with a brilliant passing shot— score 6—4. Total score: Parker, 3 sots to 1, 6—l, 6—4, I—6, 6—4. Volleying and lobbing were almost completely absent. ,