Lawn Tennis.

Evening Post, Volume LXXVI, Issue 122, 21 November 1908, Page 14

Lawn Tennis.

(By "Huka.")

The Wellington Association's interclub matches are now tairiy under way j but until the first round has been Completed, the real excitement will not commence, nor will the actual strength of the clubs be known. In the senior competition the Wellington Club gave Victoria College a rather severe beating, and on that performance must tank as first favourites, as the college team was by no means a weak one. JProuse was the only college player to secure a win for his side, and, considering that ho has not been able to devote a great amount of tim-3 at the nets of late, his win came somewhat as a surprise. His game, as usual, was of the iree order, and his dash pulled him through. J. S. Wilson can and will improve upon hi& game, and it can be honestly said thav his display lacked his usual determination and aggressiveness. Brown had always previously proved too good for Beere, and so was again on Saturday, but Beere kept his opponent busy until the last. Salmond, probably as good as any in the Wellington team, proved his worth by beating that sterling player, Wilson. Wilson i» a Hard man to pass, but the exOtago player did it— and o|ten at that. The Weir-CooLe set was a hard and open one, and might have been taken by the former, but for slight evidence of overanxiety. Cooke was out for a win, and merited his victory, which came to him chiefly by his ever-persistent aggressiveness. Had the loser been a shade quicker in dropping to his opponent's tactics, the score might have been reversed. The exCanterbury player will improve as the season wears on. Miss Travers had one of her could-not-go-wrong moods, and hardly gave Miss Van Staveren a winning chance. Still, the latter did well to score four games. Miss Ward was of too much class for Miss Roberts, the latter being kept continually on the run, after flying drives. The doubles all went to Wellington at 9—6,9 — 6, and the score just about indicates the strength of the several pairs. Brown and Salmond should make a good pair, the latter being a really fine doubles player. / Brown will have to be content to keep his position, tor should he attempt to work into his partner's ground the combination will fail. Victoria Colj lege might find it to their advantage to pair Prouse with Wilson, and Beero with Weir. For a hurricane player of tho Prouse sort, Wilson — who can cover almost half of the net — should make an ideal partner. The ladies' doubles also went to Wellington easily. Miss Cock, late of-Klian-dallah, was paired with Miss Williams, and proved that she is quite capable of holding her own in the senior competitions. The combined events were won in a very easy manner by Wellington. The Thorndon-Brougham Hill match did not prove over-exciting, the latter's players being too safe in most of the matches. The Thorndon players fought hard, but in several cases showed plainly that want of practice was their fault. Nicely-executed strokes there were, but they did not land in the court, and ! went for nought. Swanston surely but calmly worked his way against Young, and won. Swanston is just outside of his form at present, but should, with a little more practice, and training, come to the front at the right-moment. He always plays a better game on grass than on the hard courts. Laishley and Smythe were . neck and neck up to "8 all" ; then the former led, 9—8—40—15. He tried to win the set in his usual hurricane style, but failed. Smythe knew his man, and, going for all he was worth, drew level, and snatched victory on the post. His win was loudly applauded. His opponent took his defeat, as usual, with smiling face and joking remarks. Quinnell and Hunter both had wins 'from Sloman and Didsbury. The latter players were not in the best of form, and should give their opponents a much better fight in the next round. Wellington defeated Karori easily. Misses 'Howard and Dimant, two young players of great promise, won their singles for Wellington, but Misses Thomp-' sod and Smythe were almost their equal, and in the double were a much better combination, and had their revenge. Barring the one men's double — Fernie and M'Nicol v. Putnam and j Douglas, which was a surprise win for the latter pair at 9—6,9 — 6, all the other events went to Wellington. Nowtown beat Hutt by 9 sets to 4. The Hutt ladies won their singles, and Miss Ross played well to beat Mrs. Nagle, 7—4, as did Mrs. Wagg to put Miss Clark out, 7—2.7 — 2. Mrs. Nagle and Miss Clark proved too good for Mrs. ,Wagg and Miss Ross in the double, and won, 7—4.7 — 4. The combined events were close contests, each club having a win with little to spare. Biougham Hill A beat its B team comfortably- Hurley, for the B team, beat Marriner (a good win), and Roberts all but beat Lawrence of the A team. Roberts led, B—s,8 — 5, but the A team player then went i for his shots, and pulled off what looked like a lost match : 9—B. Uren and Miss Webb beat a good A pair in Dart and Miss Dempsey, and Hall and Miss Davis caused a stir by putting the other A pan', O'Leary and Mrs. Burton, out, 7—5. Petone won easily from Victoria Club. Hawkins beat Smith, 9—7. The loser did well to get so far. Green and Rutherford had an even match at first, then the former pushed ahead, and won, 9—6.9 — 6. Victoria College got a win in the singles through Mansfield, who defeated Duncan, of Petone, 9—4.9 — 4. Miss Penny was pushed hard by Miss Atkinson. PENNANT. Brougham Hill had a close fight with Victoria College, and jusfc won by 4 sets to _■