LAWN TENNIS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXX, Issue 134, 3 December 1910, Page 14

LAWN TENNIS.

(By "Huka/'i Last Saturday saw all the men's senior teams engaged — it was an ideal day for play, yet if anything .a shade too hot for competitors who had not gone in fox- training. Even now it is clear that the inter-club matches are started before players are in anything like form, and after looking at the matter carefully the writer is of opinion that it would perhaps be better to wait until after the New Year before starting interclub events. Clubs would then, have the time to -run off their handicap events, and, generally, players would have more time for practice. Looking at the competitions graded below senior and junior events, the idea has been suggested that these competitions could well be done without. There are two sides to the question : the first is that the players > competing in . these events claim that they are as much antitled 'to play in matches as are their club mates of higher grades. Tiit> other side i», do these matches improve these payers of the lower grades? It has been noticed that the , players in the lower grades are . content to simply hit the bull back over the net time after timc> without the idea of going for a winning shot, and hope by so doing to win the point in time 'by the failure of the opponent. ( Taking that a» true, it can be argued 'that the first thing a tennis player must do -is, to -'get the ball back, over the net, and into the courts." Accuracy is thus obtained, then pace, and placing will follow in time. It has been said that such play as is seen in the lower grades will never bring out champions. If champions are there they will soon emerge fron. the ruck, and win their matches, without waiting for thpir opponents to net the bail out or into the net. "Until the time arrives when players anxious to perfect themselves in the game can become members of a club where games can be, played with professional coaches, such as are to be obtained in England and on the Continent of Europe, then such matters as the advancement of the young players will remain a hard problem to solve. One thing is certain; the young players of late years have not come on, .otherwise how do we- find such players as Swanston, Peacock,/ Fisher, Cox, and others, who have been at the top of affairs for years, still able to -repel the attack of the, younger players with the greatest of ease? , With, the ladies it is much the same, but they have shown more advancement as far as new good young players are concerned than have tne men. Coming to the matches, they resulted much as was expected, Thorndon, Wellington, and Brougham Hill each winning against Hutt, Victoria College, and Muritai respectively. Peacock never gave Hawkins a look in,, and the Hutt player could not secure even one game in the two sets. Peacock meant business, and possibly remembered the time when he slackened in his game at Brougham Hill and Hawkins beat him. Smythe, who is playing well, has Cornell secure, yet the latter made a good light, securing three games in each set. Callender was the only Hutt winner, and he had a close call against Prouse. Putnam was all out to win the second set from Kirk, 5 all being called. Thorndon won the first double with ease, but Callender and Kirk made it 5 all in both sets before going down to Putnam and Prouse. Wellington won all matches except the Eller v. Smyth single. The latte* player gave Eller more than he expected—won the first set after 5 all was called, and going on took the second set at 6—3. Brown beat Beere easily, and Salmbnd defeated Cleghorn, although the latter managed to secure four games in the first set. Jeffrey at first looked like losing to Bauchop, but the second and third sets were sure wins for the Wellington player. The doubles went to the Wellington pair. Brougham Hill, without Hunter, beat Muritai by four matches to two. Muritai seems fated to never get past the two-match wins. Laishley ended his single quickly against Nagle, winning easily. The winner is beginning to show some of his old form, but wants a lot of hard play against some stronger player than himself to bring him to his best. Jones played number two, and for once lost his single, but he could hardly be expected to beat such a player as Harry Howe. In fact, Jones did well to get the five games. Albert Howe had Wright's measure from the start, and made ©very game a winning one. Lawrence looked like beating Lewis at first, but the latter evened the sets; then a ding-dong battle took place for the final. Five all was called, and it was anybody's game right up to the last. Lewis lasted long enough to just win. Nagle and Lewis beat Laishley and Lawrence easily in the double — combination did it. Howe brothers had no difficulty in putting Jones and Wright out. JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP. In the junior grade the Petone team lowered Brougham Hill's colours, and practically put them out of the winning position. Only one set divided the teams, and, taken altogether, the two teams are of about equal strength. Sampson started well, and won the first set easily from Parkinson, but failed badly in the next two. Dart all but saved the position in the first set against Austin, five all being called, and had he won that set it is almost certain that it would have meant the match to his side. It was a good fight; all did their best, and the winners deserve all credit for their plucky stand. Thorndon ladies, by their win from Wellington, show clearly that the grass players are still considerably superior to the hard court ones. All the singles ran to three sets, and in each case the Wellington players took the first set. This shows that it was not the the change from the hard courts to the grass that caused defeat. The real reason, as it appeared to the' writer, was that the Thorndon ladies were in better training, except, perhaps, in the single Miss Cock v. Miss Batham. Misses Nunneley and Travers had a hard-hitting contest. The former led, 5—3,5 — 3, and looked a winner, but the Wellington player put in some deadly work, crept up, and won a very fine set indeed. She took three games to love on the next set, but condition began to tell, and,, ; besides, Mifig. Nunneley alter-

ed her game, mixing the pace, which soon told in her favour. Miss Travers 'sent down some most brilliant shots, yet failed badly with a lot of easy ones, and the ex- New Zealand champion was never in trouble after the third game in the second set. Miss Travers was slurring her backhand shots badly on Saturday, through not getting correct position, and pace without placing will never beat such a fine player as Miss Nunneley. The latter mixed her game splendidly, resting herself at critical times as only a champion knows how to do, and she should, with some good hard practice, be in as fine form as she has ever been by Christmas. The battle was a good one, and both played pluckily. Misses Cock and Batham had a severe match. The former took the first set, and was twice within an ace of th& second, but her opponent with some clinker drives to the back-hand saved, and, going on, pulled the set out of the fire. _ Both were rather exhausted when starting the third set, and although the tennis had been good, the players were in no fettle for a three-set go on such a hot day. Miss Cock lasted longest, and won the third set, 6—4.6 — 4. Miss Batham ended the match with a double fault. Mrs. Goldie started well against Miss Simpson, and won the first set, 6—3 ; but it was seen that condition would stop herein the remaining sets, and so it proved. In the second set the score was even until 4 all ; then Miss Simpson forged ahead, and won, 6—4,6 — 4, her opponent being tired out. Miss Simpson was mor» benet'ti-d by the sh^rt spell after the second set, and playing well won the final, 6—2,6 — 2, her opponent never having recovered from her exertions of the first set. Miss Atmore took the first set, 6—4,6 — 4, from Mrs. Holmes, but the latter player's experience was too much for her youthful opponent in the other sets. Mrs. Holmes had summed up the weaknesses of her opponent, and quickly ended the match by winning 6—o,6 — 0, *6—2.6 — 2. Miss Atmore, nevertheless, did well, considering that she has few games on the grass and has plenty of time to improve her game. Experience will do a lot for her, as she has some good strokes. The doubles went to Thorndon ; Misses Nunneley and Batham combined too well for Misses Travers and {Jock, the latter pair not taking position at all well. Miss Batham did well at the net at times, but the other players kept religiously to the base line. That is what spoils a ladies' doubles A good pair who can play at the net, or even one of the pair, brightens the play up wonderfully. Mrs. Goldie and Miss Atmore were led by Mrs. Holmes and Miss Simpson, 5—4,5 — 4, but with a good effort made it 5 all; after that they were never dangerous. The Thorndon courts are playing splendidly this season — better than they have done for years. Very few men were at the courts on Saturday, but there were shoals of ladies, all eager for play, and some of them, with a few hints, should make flood players. The Wellington championship meeting will be held at Masterton on the 21st, 23rd, and 24th January. Sevan grass courts will be available for play. The Masterton Club will also run Lne usual handicap events, and competitors can depend upon having a real good holiday, besides having good tennis-. Mr. A. R. Sclanders is the hon. secretary, and entries close with him on the 13th of January. ' TENNIS IN VICTORIA. Stan Doust has won the Victorian championship, beating Dunlop, £> — 1, 6—B, 2—6, 6—2, 6—2, in the final. In the Doubles Dunlop and Heath beat Spence and Addison, 9—7, 6—4, 6—o. Miss Addison won the ladies' championship singles and Misses Stewart and Westmoreland took the doubles. In the teams match Doust beat Blair, 6^ — 3, 6—2,6 — 2, and March also beat Blair, 6—l,6 — 1, 3—6,3 — 6, 6—3. Heath beat Parker, 6^ — 3, 6—2,6 — 2, and Dunlop also won from Parker, 6—2, 6—4. Dunlop beat Rice, 7—5, I—6, 6—2; Marsh beat Addison, B—6, 6r-2 ; Spence beat Kidston, 6—4,6 — 4, 6^ — 2 ; Jones beat Fraser, 6—l,6 — 1, 6—36 — 3 ; Heat beat Rice, B—6,8 — 6, 6—26 — 2 ; Doust beat Addison, 7—5,7 — 5, 7—57 — 5 ; Spence beat Jones, 6—3,6 — 3, 7—5;7 — 5 ; and Fraser beat Kidston, 6—o,6 — 0, 6—2.6 — 2. The doubles resulted as follows : — Dunlop and Heath beat Kidston and Jones, 7—5,7 — 5, 7—5;7 — 5 ; Dunlop and Heath beat Parker and Doust, 3—6,3 — 6, 6—3,6 — 3, 6—3;6 — 3 ; " Dunlop and Heath beat Rice and Marsh, 6—2,6 — 2, 6—o6 — 0 ; Kidston and Jones beat Blair and Fraser, '2—6, 6—3, 6—4 ; Parker and Donst beat Blair and Fra&er, 6—3,6 — 3, 6—o;6 — 0; Rice and Marsh beat Blair and Fraser, 6—^3, 6—l;6 — 1 ; Parker and Doub*< beat Addison and Spence, 6—l,6 — 1, 6—2;6 — 2 ; Rice and Marsh beat Addison and Spence, 7—5,7 — 5, B—6;8 — 6 ; Addison and Spence beat Kidston and Jones, 6—4,6 — 4, £> — 2. Victoria won seven singles to New South Wales's five, and as New South Wales could only secure five matches out of nine in the doubles, Victoria unexpectedly secured victory by 11 matches to 10.