Lawn Tennis.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 45, 22 February 1908, Page 14

Lawn Tennis.

[Br Huka.] COMING EVENTS. February 21st and 22nd — Waipawa Open Handicap Tournament, nt Waipawa. March 4th, sth, 6th, 7th— Rotorua Championships and Handicap Tournament, at Rotorua. March 19th and 20th— Hawkes Bay Championships and Handicap Tournament, at Napier. Easter week — Marlborough Championships, at BlenheimApril 17th, IBUI, and 20th— Brougham Hill Opon Championship and Handicap Tournament, at Brougham Hill courts, Wellington. April 17lh, 18th, and ZOtlv-Gisborne Open Championship and Hanuicap Tournament, at Kaiti, Gisborne. April 17th, 18th, and 20th— Canterbury Championships and Handicap Tournament, at Liuwood Club's courts, Chrietohurch. April 18th and 20th— Hamilton Club's Open Championship and Handicap Tournament, Hamilton. April 18 th and 21st— Inter-University Championships, at Kaituna Club's courts, Dunedin. April 17th 18th, and 20th— Otago Championships and Handicap Tournament, at i Otago, Kaituna and adjacent courts, Dunedin. Usually the most common expression ] heard at tennis gatherings when matches aro on is "Who won?" but on Saturday, players and spectators alike seemed to forget that most important item, and remark instead: "Isi^ it. hot!" And hot; it was; anywhere, everywhere, except in the sea, it was hot. Those who had to play on the asphalt courts suffered most, as it was hot both overhead and under foot. At Day's Bay, . the players had some comfort in looking at green lawns and the caretaker of tho grounds deserves a word of praise for tho fine condition in which the courts havo been kept during the scorching weather that we havo passed through during tho last two months. Tho play in tho 6onior events was most noticeable for tho downfall of threo representatives lately picked to do battle for tho province against, Canterbury. Laishley, Young, and Wilson went down to Morr,is, F. P. Wilson, and Prouse respectively. Morris has now put Laishley out twice this season, and if inter-club match form is anything to go by (and it should bo some guide for present form), tho latter has hardly earned his place. Of course, in form he deserves a place, but he has not, shown any of his true form this soasdn." Young had a bad cold, and started badly against Wilson ; towards the end he was beating his man, but lost on the post. the day, the player in tho best condition won, but Young, free frpm his cold, should win every time. J. S. Wilson ran away from Prouso at first, buf> tho heat troubled him, and ho went off a shade against the V.C. player after tho sixth game. This was most noticeable when the Wellington player had the service, as he lost tho seventh, ninth, eleventh, and fifteenth games on his service. Still there is very littlo between these, two, Wilson probably being the more experienced and the better man against strange players. In tho Shield matches, Wellington put the result of , the championship beyond doubt by beating Victoria Colloge 11 sets to 2; 99 games to 63. Wilson led Prouso s—l, then tho latter took six games in succession, four of which were advantage ones. Wilson secured tho thirteenth, but that was his last chance. Prouse won a. good fight 9—6;9 — 6; 53 aces to 44. Five van games were played. Brown was too severe for Beors, although the latter led 2—l,2 — 1, but as soon as tho Wellington man settled down, the event was over. Match 9—3; 51 aces to 32. Beere can/ hit hard if ho likes, and his idea of going for safety without paco has killed his game. A while back he had good pace and brilliance, as well as considerable accuracy, and gavo promiso of better things. The Beero of old .would win moro games than he does now, and it is to bo Hoped ho will try tho experiment. Greon and Anderson kept level up to "3 all"; then tho former advanced to 8— 3. The third and fourth games were advantage, and the sivth _ was a very long one, Anderson winning it, after scoring 19 aces to 17. The lltn game saw Green threo timos within an aco of match, but Anderson, with groat heart, staved him off, and managea to scoro four games in succession. In tho sixteenth garao he led 30—15, and looked like making it 8 all, but Green took three aces in succession and match 9—7; aces 75 to 68. The loser is an improving player, nnd should take somo catching next year. Jackson beat Richmond 9—4, but was pressed by his opponent in tho early stages. It was "3 all," then 5—3,5 — 3, 5—4 in Jackson's favour. Richmond up to that stage had won on his accuracy, which then went off a »hade, allowing his opponent to get in and win as above. Richmond played well considering that he has had little time- for practice of lato. Miss Williams and Miss Van Stavern played a closo gamo for a time ; in fact, tho Victoria College lady led at 3—2. Tho former took command, and led 5—3,5 — 3, but every point was well fought for, and it was only after a long vantago game that Miss Williams won the set, 7—4;7 — 4 ; aces 45 to 34. Four vantago games were played. Miss Ward -won 7—27 — 2 from Miss Roberts ; 34 aces to 16. Tho former's service was splendid, and the losor could only scoro threo acos in the wholo of Miss Ward's six sorvico games. Wilson and Brown led Prouse and Beere B—l.8 — 1. The latter then camo to light, and took h'vo games in succession but it was too late. Tho fifteenth gamo went to Wellington and match 9—6.9 — 6. Green and Jackson led 15—1 from Anderson and Richmond. Nearly every gamo was closely fought for, but tho former pair wero too clover, and won 9—4.9 — 4. Seven vantago games were played. Putnam and Smith led Fraser and Cooke 4—l.4 — 1. Tho latter pair tried hard to oven, when the Victoria Collego pair led them 7—6,7 — 6, but it was beyond them. With 40—15 in the fifteenth game, they still had a chance, but lost it, and game, which meant set to Victoria College 9—6.9 — 6. Five vantage games wore played. Mrs. Hickson and Miss Ward, although hardly playing so well together as usual, ■won from* Misses Van Stavern and Roberts 7—4. The match was even at 1 "4 all" ; then the Wellington pair, by hard work, secured two games in succession at game 30. The last game was a long one, first one and then the other haying the advantage, but the Wellington pair jusb won it, and match as above. Miss Travers and Williams wore far too severe for Misses Scott and M'lntosh. The latter pair played up very pluckily, but could only secure two games to their opponents seven. Mrs. Hickson and 1 Cooke wero pressed by Miss Scott and Putnam up to "3 all," and although tho Victoria College players worked hard to win, it was not to be. Wellington led 6—3,6 — 3, and woo match 7—4.7 — 4. It just took Miss Travers and Fraser all their time to keep Miss M'lntoeh and Smith from winning. Victoria, College led "2 love" and 3—2.3 — 2. \Vellington then won three games in succession, and led 5—3.5 — 3. With score 6—5 in Wellington's favour, and 40 — 30 in tho twelfth game, matters became interesting again, as Victoria College scored well, and got vantago in. Had they secured- the next point, it would havo made it " 6 all," and with Smith's service tho next gamo would havo been ono of suspense, as ho had secured all his former service games easily. But Wellington went for that game, and won it splondidly. Match 7—5.7 — 5. Miss M'lntosh played very pluckily. Brougham Hill, with four players drawn from lower grades, were all but beaten by Nowtown. Thwaites did not turn up for Nowtown, which, according to rule, gavo two matches to Brougham Hill, but tho latter allowed Brailsford to play in the last combined (although ho had "playod a single and defaulted with Thwaitcs in tho double). When tho teams wore "6 all," it looked like giving tho match away, but, strange to say, the two Brougham Hill juniors played for all thoy wero worth, and pulled the match out of the fire. Morris played his • bost match of this season, and won fvoin Laishley by superior play. Tho Kewtown player won all his soriices, a? did Laishley, until hPoro was called B—7, but Laish'loy was all at sea with his last service, and Morm took p, lovq game, and set 9—7;9 — 7 ; 49 aces to 44. The winner hit hard right through, and repeated!; pasted LajsElsyy as the

latier ran it. Tho win was full of merit. Hunter and Redwood wero disturbed constantly in their mateh — changing of umpires (through the scorers being called For their own games), balloon ascpnt, etc. Hunter lod 5—3, but Rodward evened; thon tho former hit out, and going for his shots ovcry timo ran out at 9—5; 59 aces to 48. ScAon vantago games wero played. After "3 all 1 had been called, Wilson went ahead, and led 6—5,6 — 5, and 7—7 — 4. Young ovoned at '"7 all," and was within an aco of taking next game. '"8 all" was called after another vantage gamo; thon Wilson won 9—B on his service. Seven \antago games wero played. Brailsford went strong against Quinnell in the early stages of this match, hut after ,,"3 all," tho latter was too accurato both overhead # and off the ground. Tho seventh, eighth, and ninth games were heavy advantage ones. Quinnell took tho twelfth game and match o—3; aces 52 to 38. Young ard Laishley won the double from Morris and Red ward easily, 9—4. Thoir knowledge of position gave them the advantage. Quinnell and Hunter wero all out to win from Wilson and Low ''Three all" was called; Ihen tho former pair got to 7—4. Wilson battled hard, but lost too many aces by hard driving over the base lino. Brougham Hill led 7—6, and it was all over, tho two next games being secured by them. Match 9—6. Miss Glasgow and Mrs. Goldio had tho longest match played at the Bay last Saturday. Tho latter played well, and her driving was hard and well directed. She led 4—l, and was 40—15. A bad fall shook her up severely, and Miss Glasgow won the sixth game after deuce had beon called eight times. By steady play and good lobbing, the Nowtown player wore her opponent down, and evened at "4 all," and then led 5—4. Tho Brougham Hill player brightened, and started driving from corner to corner, and evened by winning her acos with good Btnashcs when she had worked her opponent out of position. Miss Glasgow took tho next game, chiofly by good length lobs, which her opponont left each time, thinking they wore going out, but they landed about tho lino. Tho last gamo was of tremendous length ; in one sot alone, the ball crossed the net_ twenty-six time*. Miss Glasgow won this gamo, scoring 22 strokes to her opponent's 20. Match 7—5; aces 55 to 51. Mrs. Grady led 4—24 — 2 and 5—3 from Miss Morgan, but the latter player played up splondidly towards the finish, and took four games in succession. Mrs. Grady wanted on two occasions one aco in tho seventh gamo to give her a lead 5—2, but through ovor-anxiousriess just failed. Miss Morgan ropeatcdly won with a good length drive, which had plenty of cut on it, but she can still improve her game by being quick and lively on tho court. Match 7—5; aces 39 to 37. This young player has won all her singles sinco she was given a place in the senior team. Misses Glasgow and Robinson romped all over Mesdames Goldie and Howe in the double, winning 7—o; aces 31 to 13. Mesdames Grady and Low, after losing tho first game to Miss Morgan and Murray, wont ahead, and led 3—l and then 5—2. Tho lattor pair thon took two games, but lost tho tenth. They fought bard for tho elovonth, losing it aftor an advantage game. Match 7—4; 39 aces to 32. Mr. and Mrs. Low wore too good for Mrs. Howe and Veen. Brougham Hill led 3—2, then Nowtown took five in succession, throe of which were vantage gamos. Match 7—3;7 — 3; 45 aces j:o 39. Veon showed little life, not being severe enough for a combined double. Low was quick and lively at the net, and was ably backed up by Mrs. Low, who is very safe, and has a good idea of the combined play. The last combined, which looked a gift to Nowtown, was played bctweon Miss Robinson and Brailsford and Miss Murray and Clarke. The lattor pair, to overyono's surprise, not only held thoir opponents, but soon led 4—l.4 — 1. Chiefly by Miss Robinson's good play, the sixth and snventU gamos went to Newtown. Score 4—3, Brougham Hill leading. Clarke was putting in some great work, driving and smashing for all he was worth, and being woll backed up by Miss Murray, took game and game with tho Newtown pair, and scored mutch at 7—5;7 — 5; aceß 37 to 30. Clarko is of tho brilliant class, and when ho knows a bit moro about tho game, will bo a vory valuable player to anj team, but he has a lot to learn yet, and is worth being coached.