LAWN TENNIS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 88, 13 April 1912, Page 14

LAWN TENNIS.

(By "I-luka.")

Tennis players anxious for tournament play at Easier time journey North or South for it. In Wellington practice or I club matches only were indulged in. Friday and Saturday wore ideal days, but on tho Monday grass ploy was out of tho question. BROUGHAM HILL CHAMPIONSHIPS In the final of the men's championship singles of tho above club, Lai6hlcy gsvo Hawkins a beating, 6-2, G-4. Tha winner was fairly on his game, and droro splendidly. Hawkins Jed by a fow games in the/ last Bet, but Laishley let himself loose, and by winning five games in rapid succession proved thut he can play up-to-date tennis when inclined. Hawkins by no mean 3 played badly, far from it; ho was eager for a win, and fought th© match out stubbornly, but tho winner's driving and placing was too accurate and fust for him. In the ladies' ckampionship singles, a. new champion has come to light. 1 , Miss Morgan, la6t year's winner, met Miss j Davis in the final. ■ The last-named ladj was right at the top of her form. She put up a real good performance by beatiug her opponent, 95. Miss Davis has been runner-up on more than one occa- ' tfion, and this year has reached the coveted goal. AUCKLAND v. TARANAKI. The first North Island intor-as&ociation cbampionshtp tournament, which v.'as played at Auckland during Eabtor, for 3everar*~reasons dwindled down to a contest between Taranaki and Auckland. Wellington could not get a team together Players were asked to pay their own expenses, and a Northern paper has it that none of the leading players of the Empire City were asked to make tho trip. No 'doubt the local association_ has its side of the story to tell, and ifc is to be hoped that tbo committee of the Wellington Association can show that they worked hard to get a team away. Hawkes Bay could not at the last moment send a team, but they did the right thing in depositing tho entrance fee. The Wanganui Association had its championship meeting oa at the Bamo time, and naturally players Preferred to stay^ at home. Auckland, by. eating Taranaki in the contest, holds the premiership of th* North Island. The score was eight matches apiece, but Auckland was ahead in sets, winning by 18 •ets to 17. In the men's singles Wallace was too good for the Auckland champion— -Dr. Keith. The Taranaki player took the first set 6-2, and although Keith led 4-3 in the, second set, his opponent had him done in the closing stages, and won 6-4. Wallace was good all round, and his shote had plenty of pace. Dickie beat W. Brown easily, 6-3, 6-2. The winner hit with great vigour, and he returned many shots that would have been clean-won j aces for Brown against most players. At | times Brown volleyed^ brilliantly. Weybourne disposed of Quinnqll, 6-4, 6-3. The young Waverley player, who is about 20 years of age, had too much pace for hie opponent, and besides his accuracy was ■ aleo very solid. J. C. Nicholson's place was taken by C. Webster. The former was prevented from making the trip owing to a bereavement. Robson beat Webster, 6-4, 6-3. The former was very steady. Webster hit hard and smashed overhead stuff,, but he waa not accurate enough. , ' ' Mies Gorrie was unable to play for Auckland, her place being taken by_ Mi6S Steele. Great interest wae taken in the match Miss Powdrell v Miss Gray. The .former has nofc been appearing in serious singles tennis since she won the New Zealand championship at Auckland in 1909 ; yet it is quite clear that she is as clever as ever, and with good practice no doubt would give the t best in Australasia as -great a run as in the past. ■ The Patea player' won the first eet, 6-2, and although Miss Gray was playing finely, and led 5-1 in the second set, Miss Powdrell had scored three, more games before- set was called in Miss Gray's favour at 6-4. ,In the final set the New Zealand champion of 1908 and 1909 wore her opponent down, and won. easily at 6-1. It was a great performance. , Hard driving on both sides made it a very strenuous match, but Miss Powdrell hit with greater vigour, and her passing shots had such pace and very fine direction that Mias Gray was forced back from the net, and consequently could not bring her volleying powers to bear. It is to be hoped that Mies Powdrell will bo seen, competing for the New Zealand championship of 1912. Mi&e Cumming made her first appearance as a representative, and beat Miss Brewster,_ 6-3, 6-3. The winner has some fine forcing shots; in fact, some of her 'drives were as hard as Miss Powclrell'a. Mrs. Cooper was too good for Miss Simpson, boating her 6-4, 6*2. The winner's accuracy and volleying were her main assets. Miss Steele had a good, win from Mrs. Van Asch, the' score being 6-3, . 3-6, 7 ; 5. Condition and 6ure placing gave Mi6s Steele* the victory. Wallace and Dickie, a well-known double combination, romped all over Keith and Quinnell, 6-0, 6-2. The losers made several game efforts, but it was a forlorn hope. Wallace 'played most brilliantly. Webster and Weybourne, Tarahaki's second string, beat Robson and W. A. Brown, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4. Had the losers forced the game moro they might have won. Misses Gray and Cumming beat Misses Powdrell and Brewster, fi-1, 6-2. Miss Cumming boro moat ot the attack, but she drove splendidly, and her partner settled everything that came short, at the net. Mrs. Cooper and Miss Steele won, 7-5, 6-1, from Mrs. Van Asch and MI6S Simpson. Mrs. Coooer's volleying was the main feature of th* contest. So far Auckland in tho lead by' on« set. each' aide having ejx. matches apieo*. and Auckland leading in sats by 14 to 13. The combined doubles were started, but had to bo postponed owing to the failing light. They were re-plnyed next day. Taranaki svon tho first two, Jbufcjlast Iho third end fourth, and ' both sides had scored eight matches each. Auckland hung to tßat ono set ahead, aitd victory was secured aftei a close and exciting finish. Mies Powdrejl and Wallace b&at Miss Gray ustd Keith, 8-6, 6-4; Mi*** Breweter and Dickio beat>_M»s. Cooper and Qtiinnell, 8-6, 6- d . Mis® Cuintnmg and Brown beat Mrs. Van- Asch and Wybourne, 6-2, 6-3; and Miss Steele and Robson beat Mi*s Simpscn und Wobstor, 6-3, 6-2. ROTORUA TOURNAMENT. Notwithstanding the attraction at the intor-aj«ociation. matches,, a largo numbei- of Auckland, plavdrs left for' Rotorua before Eoeter,' with the idea of competing in th^ Rotorua Club's tournament. OTAGO CHAMPIONSHIPS. Showery weather delayud tho' tournament, in Dunedjn, and at tho time o£ writing all the final results, are not available; but nows has'como through that Miss Campbell again won tho championship, beating Miss Bloxam, of Cnriatchurch, 8-6, 6-1. Miss Campboll has held ' tho championship since 4896. Just think ! For seventeen years Miss Campbell has been unbeaten fori the . Otago champiouship! That performance is a record. Who will havu tho honour of breaking her record?- • - R. S. Brown was } beaten by A. W. Young, of RoHlyn, 1-6, 6-4, 6-3. This was somewhat of a surprise. Tho final i» likely to fall to Warm, Pearso, of Temuka, but Sinclair, Young, and S. N. Brown ure not yet put of it. Tho men's championship doubles woro completed. In the semi-final, Hamilton and Bundle boat Poarss and Sinclair, 2-6, 10-8, 6-3, and on tho other sido the I Brown brothers disposod of Bray and Wilkio, 6-4, 6-1. In tho final, Brown brothers beat Hamilton and Bundle, 6-4, 6-4, 5-7, 7-5. E. H. Culder and Miss Duthio havo a good chanco in the combined chnmEionship, but Hamilton and Mih« Cnmpell have to b© rcckouod 'with. The Otago executive roso to tho occasion, and, after all, included the combined championship doubles iv the programme Tho committee deserves congratulations on _ its good judgment. Although, its action " was coinntcnted vuoa when tho programme appeared without tho combined event, it did not dovelop cru&s b^ublxmiess, as boiuo bodies would havo dune, but gracefully lopluiy'd tho event, aud, it is to be hoped, v.iiJt gof a jubt reward.

CANTERBURY CHAMPIONSHIPS. At tho limo of writing, this tournament is alho unfinished. In tho men's championship singles, J. S. Wilson boat W. Sheppard, 6-4, 36, 6-1. Those two players are ex-mombeis of tho Wellington Club. Strange that they should meet! A. Borrows beat Wilson in the next round, 64, 6-4. In tho second round, G. Ollivier boat Lieut. Coppinger, 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. In tho semi-final, W. Gobs had taken a «et from Ollivier, when the failing light stopped play. Missi Williams, of the Wellington Club, beat Mrs. Lord (who lately won the Marlborough championship), 6-i. 6-2, in tho first round of the Indies championahip singles. The Wellington player scoured Iho final, » a n ßll y^eating Miss 11. M. Cotton, 6-1, 6-0. The men's doubles fell to Ollivier and Taylor, who beat W. Goss and Butteiwo'rtn, 6-2, 7-5, in the final. Misses upodmon and Souter, a real good combination, won tho ladies' doubles championship,''boating Mrs. Ballantyno and Miss 'Will'ams. 7-5, 7-5. W. Goss and Mifts \Villiams secured the combined championsh l p, beating Sands and Mis» Sputev, 6-2, 6-4, in tho final. In tho final of the singles G. Ollivier beat P. G. Groenwood, 6-2, 6-4. WANGANUI -CHAMPIONSHIPS. So far, only tho ladies' championship ovonts navo beeu completed. Miss Simpson beat Mrs. Jones, 6-2, 6-3, in the final °\ tho singles. In tho final of the doubles, Mrs. He3BP and' Miss Cave beat Miss Wilson and Simpson, 6-2, 6-2. In tho men s singles championship, Addison plays A. Powdrell, and the winner meets Buttorworih in the final. Butterworth and Addison beat Powdroll brothers in the final of the double?, O-o, 6-2, 6-4. Crawshaw (20) plays F. Jones (24) in the final of the handicap singles, A grade. Tho B grade was won by Dr. Gregg (20), who beat W. Joneu sor),- 60-54: Hedditch and Crawshaw (18» beat Izard and Harrison (18), 60-56, in the final of tho handicap doubles. Mrs. Gordon" (5) moetß Miss- Simpson (2). m the final of tho handicap singles. Miss Sunpßon_beat Mrs. Jones (5), 40-26, in the semi-final. Tho handicap doubles was won by Mrs. Gordon and Mrs. Jones !l2) W4OW 40 > 34 e<lt MrS " Irwin and MiSB G ° Uld Although Misses Wilson and Simpson wero beaten in tho championship doubles they gave a very fine display when playing Mrs. Powdroll and Mrs. Pearce, winning the match, 9-7. Mr. A. Haworth, the hpn. secretary, had all arrangements well in hand, and was backed upliy a good hard-working committee. Tho tournament promises to be a great success.