Lawn Tennis.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 98, 25 April 1908, Page 14

Lawn Tennis.

(By "Huka.")

The weather at Eastor worked havoc with all tho tennis tournaments, and none -wore completed by tho Easter Monday night. Tho southern meetings do not seem to have suffered as much as tho local one, but possibly the entries wero not so large. The Victoria College team is not having quite all its own way at tho University, championships hold in JLJuiiedm.. The Canterbury players seem to bo giving the V.C. representatives uiobt trouble as far aa tho retaining of the championship is concerned, but iSundle, of ptago. dastroyed Baere's ohancc in Iho singles, and then Jennings, of Cantorbury, beat Bundle. Miss J. Scott (V.C.) again »vao successful in tho ladies' championship, but Miss Morrison (Canterbury) made an excellent race of it, only being beaten 9—7. Tho ladies' doubles waa won by Misses Scott and M'lntosh (V.C), but Cantorbury, repres3ntod by Misses Grace «nd Patterson, fought hard for a win, only being defeated 9—7.9 — 7. The Auckland pair, Misses Utting and Taylor, did not nj.iko such a good light against the winners as was expected, and the > V.C pair won the final, 9—4.9 — 4. Miss Uraco and Jennings (Canterbury) beat ' tho holders, Miss Scott and Prouso (V.C), 6—l, 6—5. Tho holders did not play up to their usual form. Tho Auckland pair, Mi&s Utting and Oliphaiit, took a sot from the Canterbury pair At tho Otago championship meeting, R. S. Brown (holder) was just too good for Pearse, of Teinuka. Pearso took the first set fairly easily, only to see his opporiont~ do likewise in the second. A ding-dong go was seen in tho final set; 6 all was called, and thon Brown went out, 7—5.7 — 5. Miss Campbell boat allcomers in the ladies' championship singles. Miss Campbell won the Otago championship for tho iirst time in 18U6, und has retained it ever since. Her record for tho Otago championship is the aumo as Miss Nunnoloy'a for the Now Zealand championship — namely, thirteen successive wins. Tho local tournament held by tho Brougham Hill Club has been drawn out owing to Saturday being wet. Tho club was hampered by not having enough courts for tho largo number of entries received. The championship matches took up a lot of timo owing to so many matches running into three sets. Tho sensation of Hhe meeting wa3 tho defeat of Miss Nunneley, the New Zealand champion, by Mis 3 Ruby Wollwood, of Hastings. Miss Wellwood has been looked upon ; a6 a player who would give allcofnors a good tight,, but few cxpeoted to ' see her defeat' s the champion this year. Miss Wellwood is steadily improving in her play, and this success will naturally spur her on to greater efforts. All the New Zealand ladies have been anxious, of course, to try and b.°at Miss Nunneley — and Misses Powdrell and '1 ravers have been very near it — but the honour falls to the Hastings player. Miss Nunneley has been playing sinco 1895 in New Zealand, and this^ is her first defeat by a 1 Now Zealand player. The men's championship singles worked out to the fourth round with Cox, Poaccok, Fisher, and Swauston. Cox won from Laishley easily, tho latter only showing occasional glimpses of anything like true form. Cooko played a fine gamo against- Peacock, and all but took the second set. Fisher boat Veen easily, and Swanston won from Smythe, but tho ' latter gave him as much as over ho wanted in the second sot. Cox was all out to boat Peacock in the semi-final, and 'it would havo beon a treat to have seen a five sot go between this pair. Cox was more aggressive overhead, and that practically gavo him tho match. Fisher ran clean away from Swanston in tho first set, taking a Jove set, but the latter settled down to his gamo in the next, but could not quito get there. Eisher, as usual, wa9 saving splendidly, and just pulled the match off with a win, 6—5, in the second set. Tho final was set down for to-day, and it is expected that the Masterton player will bo returned winner. Cox only played two matches on the Monday, and it seems a great pity that tournament committees do not give visitors the preference when playing off tivenls, especially when they havo to return home at a givon time. Tho local players can bo brought together at any time, and as it is tho visitors that lend extra interest to a, tournament they should bo more considered than thoy usually are. Of course, ihoso running a. tournament havo a hard task, but often the overlooking of some little points like the abovomentioned does not assist to encourage visitors lo attends The ladies' championship singles was full of interest; good matches woro played in all tho rounds. The Misses Hughos ore players who will do better when thoy havtf had a little more exporience at tournaments. Miss R. Hughes was not in tho best of health, and broke down badly on Monday. Consequently all her matches unplayed went by dnfault. Mrs. Howe played very steadily against' the above-mentioned player who took the first set, 6—2.6 — 2. The Pahiatua. lady has somo fine winning shots, and scored repeatedly with well--placftd side-line drives. Mrs. Howo just managed, to win the second sot, 6—5, and, going on, ' took the final set,6— 3. Miss Hughes failed badly in condition in j tho third set. Mrs. Goldie and Miss L. K. Hughes had a hard fight, and alI though the former took the match, 6—l,6 — 1, 6— ; l, she had to work hard for every point, and moßt of the games were advantage ones. Miss Ward went to third round, beating Mrs. Howe,. 6—2,6 — 2, 6—2, the latter lady played steadily and £i d "£" to two games in each set. Miss Travers met Miss Nunneley, but although sho fought hard, could only secure four games against hor victor's twelve. Miss Nunneley, held her perfectly safe, scoring 6^ — 3 in the first set, and winning all the way, 6—l in the i second. Miss Van Staveron and Mrs. Gold io had a hard three-set go, but tho former lady lasted the longer. She took the first sot, 6—l, but Mrs. Goldie took tho second, 6—2. In the final set Miss Van Stavoron went, to tho front early and won, 6—2. Tho remaining matohes will bo coinmonted upon next week. I Messrs. Howo. O'Loary, Kean. and Lawrence worked hard against heavy I odds to get tho tournament through, but ! tho bad weather on Saturday completely beat them. It was hard luck. By tho latest news to hand, Cantorbury College has captured the University tennis championship, defeating tho holder, Victoria College, by 15 points to 10. Jennings and Bain (Canterbury) won the final of the men's doubles! boating the Otago representatives, Bundle aud Power, 6—4, 6—o. Miss Grace and Jennings (Canterbury) also, took tho final of the combined championship, boating Miss Ward- and Gowor (Otago), 6—l,6 — 1, 6—2. Jennings was a tower of strongth to Canterbury. The ovorthrow of the V.C. team comes somewhat as a surprise.