Lawn Tennis. [By Huka.]

Evening Post, Volume LXXIV, Issue 150, 21 December 1907, Page 18

Lawn Tennis. [By Huka.]

COj.IIXG EVENTS. Doc. 26 aud 27 — Hastings Club's Open Handicap Tournament.. Duo. 26th, 27th, and 23th— Kow Zealand Championship, at Ncv Plymouth. December 26th, 27th, and 23th— South Canterbury Championships and Handicap Tournament at Athburton. Dec. 30th, 31st, Jan. Ist and 2nd — Taranaki Championships, and Handicap Tournamput, at- New Plymouth. •lan. Ist, 2nd, and 3rd — Wellingtcu Championships and Handicap Tournament, at Day's Bay. January Ist, 2nd, 3rd, .and 4th — Auckland Championships and Handicap Tourna- , menfc at Auckland. ' January Ist and 2nd — Pahialua, Championships, and Handicap Tournament, at Pahiatua. January 22nd and 23rd — Dannevirko Championships and Handicap Tournament, at Damiovirko. JMaich lOf.x and SOlW— Eawkes Bay I Championships and Handicap Tournament, at Napier. February 19th to March 18lh— Carnival at liotorua. Tonnis Championships. Ecetcr week — Marlborough Chpmpi'pjfships, at Blenheim. Saturday, though fine, was not altogether a perfect day for tennis players, j as on some of the courts the wind interfered greatly with ' the play. Tho matches ended mostly as every one ex- | pected, so far as wins for the teams were concerned. The two exceptions wore Karori v. Khandallah in the 'Cup, and Johnsonville v. Brougham Hill in the Pennant contest. Karori was tipped in "Huka'b" notes last week as a team likely to upset tho calculations of some of its opponents, and thus early has shown its hand. Johnsonville also has sprung to the front, and by its win helped lo keep up the interest in contest. SHIELD GAMES. Wellington ended the second round of tho shielcj competition by a good win from_ V.C In the men's singles all the Wellington players, ,except Brown, won easily. Brown was beaten by Beere after a close match. Beere played one of bis best games this season, but Harold Brown was a shade oIE colour. The Wellington ladies, Miss Travers and Miss Williams, won their singles easily from Miss Van Stavoren and Miss Roberts. Tho winners' drives were hard and accurate, yet it took time to secure tho points, as both tho V.C. ladies were very safe. Miss Travers scored' 36 aces to Miss Van Staveren's 27. Prouse and Beero had a good win from Brown and Cooke, who had paired for the. first time this season. Green and Wilson were too superior for Putnam and. Anderson, -as were Eraser and Fernie for Gowor and Smith. The latter pair kept, levol for a time, but after "4 all" had been called, Eraser, particularly, put in some lino work, and forged ahead. Misses i Travors and WaTd combined well against Misses Van Staveren and Roberts, and : despite great efforts on the part of Miss [ Van Staveren, won 7—4. Mrs. Ilickson and Miss Williams won ensily from Misses Cox and Scott. Fraser and Miss Ward played nicely in tho combined against Smith and Miss Scott, winning comfortably, 7—3. Gowor and Miss Cox had a great lead frbm Fernie and Mrs. Hickson. When the score was announced s—l, V.C., in tho lead, the match looked all over, but when 6—3 was called and V.C. only wanted an ace for mutch, the Wellington pair seemed to wake up. Again at 6—4, Gowcr only wanted an aco on two occasions, but lost his chance. In tho first stages Fornie could do nothing right, but when the real pinch came ho showed what ho was made of, and being well backed, up by his partner, tho situation 1 was saved. Then, going on, they took game after game, and ended up an exciting match by winning it, 9—7. Gowor. might have won had he boon more aggressive when in the load. Smith and Power are both young players of great promise, but reqmro experience, and should study tho finer points of the gamo. CUP MATCH. In the Cup match, JCarori had a royal win from Khandallah on the latter's ground. The former club won by on© sot, but was ono frnmo behind. Smythe had Iloklsworth down, 6—l, but the latter evened, only to see his opponent run ■ away with tho next throe games and match. Downes was too strong ' for Fleming. The latter has hardly done himself justico this season, but may be expected to improve later. Falconer had just enough vim to beat Richardson —and it was knowledge of the gaino that pulled him through.' Falconer is an old Otago player, and ho was a great worker for tho sport in the Edinburgh of the South. He at one, time played for the Brougham Hill senior earn. When" ho gots a little condition, ho should troublp all players that will bo opposorl to him in fuLure matches. Davics fell to Jones. Tho latter could be played higher up in tho Khandallah team with advantage. He is one of tho few players to win all single matches so far played. A young player, eager to learn, with plonty of dash, his backhand could be improved, and his stylo and position must be changed if better results aro lo be looked for in that particular stroke. Miss Thomson is a, strong player, and pushed Miss Cock to tho last stroke. Miss Batham has not, yet struck hor true form, but easily held* Miss Smytho. The latter is a player who will improve with good tournament play. Karori look all, the men's doubles, and thereby surprised their opponents. The pairs wore well put together for an nil-round win. An experienced hand had been at work. Misses Cock and Batham got a shock from Misses Thompson and Smythe, and might, 'easily have been defeated. The combined events were divided, and both woro in doubt to the last stroke. It was a great win (his match, and has ratner ur/set (ho calculations of somo of tho loading; teams. One and all will have lo look to their laurels when they moot, Karori. , I Wellington beat Nowtown easily. Shoppard.played a line game against M'Nicol, winning 9—7. Tho winner is showinglino lorm, and having youth on his side, should go on improving, but he must study the game, as well as practice at it. Miss Clark plnyed a splendid game against Mrs. I'terard, n^ver giving hot; opponent o chanco. Tho winner kept hor alldck directed at her opponent's \\eak points, which !<he dipcovorcd early in the game. MiiK Dimanr, a young player of considerable promise, was just too good for Mies Redward. .Mrs. Pieraa-ct and Miss Dnnant combined w>";I, and wero able to tout their opponents somcuhp.t easily. Wellington won the second ladies' double, and the combined as they liked.. Mrs Reeves again played well, as (lid Miss Howard. Tho Litter is a 1 young playor who should improve 'with good coaching. Brougham Jlill won easily from Viotoria College. All the matches in tho men's siiujlos and doubles -vcro gifts to tho former fetin. il.as Archer was kept going to the lafl by Miss M'Kellar, and Miss Cooko a!»o ga\o tho other Brougham Hill lady, Miss Arthur, all she wanted. The ladu's'^tliublen wan closely contested. The Victoria, CoHo'.'jo pa.ii'," although defeated, pls-jvcl up pl-ickily. fchnilh and Miss HiUor wi'.-o the only Victoria College players to secures a, win— Mairiuor and M>s Murray going down to thorn, after :i close match Liioughain Hill 15. won by 6 sot lo 1 against Victoria (.'oHci'o A , 'but tho Y.O. players put up a \ cry solid opposition. Edward.? won easily fioni l-.iuc-. but Foil just held fciciintlcbury, and no more Northcolu wont down to hi* nipciior, and Tnylor wr!l deserved hi* win. In ll>i> men's double (ho Hronghaia I [ill ra:'r hnd a close oßill, ju t t souming tho \er«!iet. Mibn Hogg had tho best of a good gemo with Mis^s Giljbos, and llio former player partnered with Mips Hurley, had all Mioir work cut out to beat Misses Gibbri and Taylor. Mips Taylor ami Taylor battled hard for Victoria, Collcgo against Miss Hurley and Edward, but ooukl vjot keep up suflieienl pressure to win. PKNNANT GAMES. In the Pennant games .Tohnsonvilio d:acoiniUed the Brougham Hill team by wiuning Uic I hive mcu'a (singles, and tin! men's doubles. Tlio Brougham Hill ladies did thaij; shave, winuinsr their three mat-ch-

es. Dr. Robertson played one of his best game?, boating Hurley easily. Moore got jjoiiig early from Lawroucc, and won comfortably. The latter was clean off, tho wind upsetting his game completely. Howo peamed to bo winning from Bcthunc, when leading 6—l,6 — 1, but the umpire's advice to hia opponent worried him, and ho wont clean to piecc3. An umpire should not "barrack" or advise the players ; it is bad form. Mikso3 Webb and Farmer played well. The former won hor single easily from Miss Wilson, but the latter, with Mrs. Mocrc, made a better fight in The double. Lawrence and Miss Farmer did well to win 7—37 — 3 from Belhune aud Mrs. Moore. RACQUET CONTEST. In the racquet contest, Brougham Hill B learn boat Muritai, on the former's courts, by 5 snts to 2. Smith played all he knew against Howden, who was just 100 strong, but the loser might well have rovcrecd matters, luck being againpl him. The match wa6 in doubt to tho last acri. Williams was too clover for i Wriijltl, whi» seamed to be playing somewhat wildly. Arden had Samson's measure from the I start, and won a good match. Wright and iiowden combicod bolter than Smith and Arden, but the latter would, havo been closer had they been more patient. Miss Harlaind played with unusual confidence, and beat Miss Smith easily. Tho ladies doubles was a oloso mateh — closer chau tho score denotes, but tho play was of a vory quiet nature. Williams and Miss Harrowby romped home 7—27 — 2 from Sanson and Miss Fraser. Williams is good enough for any pennant team in the contest. Kilbirnio added ono mor<» win to jts score by beating Victoria College A teann by 6 sets to 1. Pope was absent from the College team, and Hutchings had to be content with a double — hard luck after travelling- over to Day's Bay. Oratn and Miss Butler secured the only V.G. win, and they did remarkably well to beat Mitchell and Miss Asquith 7—2.7 — 2. Brougham Hill A beat Victoria College B by 7 sets to nil. Runaway victories wero the order of tho day until the combined came on ; then some faint hopes were raised that Victoria College would claim ono match. Miss Atkinson and Tudhopo played all they knew, but could not got more than four games against Miss Milchinson and Veen. GENERAL. The Potone Club ha 3 lost v W. Foe, who was the club's hon. secretary, and one of iis_ hardest workers. Axickland will be the gainer. Mr. Fee was given a great sendoff at the' homo of one of the club's enthusiasts. Austin and Semplp, played a hard challenge match last week — aud tho latter* just won after three hard, sets had been fought. Austin, however, should reverse tho position shortly, as he is a young player who is slowly but surely forging his way to j tho front. Miss Arrowsmith is a player ! oi this season who should be hoard of in S tho near .future. Sho has a good drive, keeps a good length, and is very nimble. Mies Thompson, whilo "not quite bo accurate as Miss Arrowsmith, is also improving greatly. Miss Penny and Wright, and Mrs. Hawkins and Cornell have paired for the New Year tournament at Day's Bay. The Hutt Club's singles, Yainkee oveat', is_ closing 1 in. Hawkins (owes_ 10) looks a winner from amongst the eighteen who nntered. Brown (owes 20) .went down to Hawkins, and' Jackson (owes 10) respectively. Then Hawkins put Jackson out by somo 20 points. Jackson hardly- played up to form. - Hawkins has twelve wins in, 'and has not lost a game ?o far, and tho trophy presented by Mr. Callonder would appear to bo his. The ladies' Yankee event is not co far advanced, but tho final will probably bo fought out between Misses Climio and Jackson. Messrs. B. C. Kirk and O. V. Ellis hairo presented trophies for the men's and ladies' handicap singles of tho Petono Club.' HSvents- arc* to be completed by tho 10th January. Entries are coming in rapidly.' Brougham Hill has the men's, ladies', »ud combined handicap doubles now in progress, and good matches are being played every evening. /