LAWN TENNIS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 13947, 2 January 1906, Page 5

LAWN TENNIS.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP MEETING. [From Otjr Correspondent.] WELLINGTON, Jar.uary 1. The New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association's championship tournament at Wellington was almost completed today, the finals of the Combined Championship, Men’s Handicap Double* - and Ladies’ Handicap Doubles heir the only games not yet finished. The weather was decidedly against good play, especially during the morning, for a galo made any degree of accuracy almost an impossibility, and was a deciding factor in some of the matches that under more favourable circumstances would probably have had a dif--1 ferent conclusion. This was especially the case with the match between Dickie and Swanston in the semi-final round of the- Men’s Championship, which the former won by three sets to two. The wind was at its strongest when these players met, and Swanston, who relies largely on line shots, lost ace after aoo •that in still weather would have been certain scores. It was. no uncommon thing to see the ball carried from six feet to ten feet . almost at right angles to its original direction. The Taranaki player by winning this match by three sets to two qualified to meet Parker in the final. The holder had no difficulty in disposing of Laishley’s claims to championship honours by winning three sets straight in a match where he showed wonderful accuracy considering the adverse circumstances that prevailed. Laiehley, on the other hand, could make no headway, and double faults, not and shots cut of court, came in rapid succession. The final of the championship was disappointing from a spectator’s point ‘ view, for Parker never looked like losing. Dickie played a determined, stubborn game, but the fact was too evident that he is not in the same class as Parker. Dickie won the first game before his opponent settled down, but from then on, for that set at least it was a repetition of the Taranaki man running in on every shot, only to be passed by bis more skilful opponent. Game after game was added to Parker’s score, the seventh going to that player after making splendid corner shots—-set to Parker 6-1. The first game in the second set was love game and he repeated this performance in the second game on his own serve. In the third game Parker found himself at the net for an overhead smash for the first time in -the match. He then lost several shots in succession, giving Dickie advantage, but the latter could not win the deciding ace, and the game went to Parker, who also took the remaining three of that set, chiefly by splendid side line placing and Dickie’s inaccuracy—-a love set to Parker. The third and concluding set was commenced by Dickie altering his tactics, coming in l to net only when opportunity offered, and ho scored the - first two games. • Parker played his worst game of the match in the third, but managed in the end to win it, and the succeeding five, winning the set 6-2. His play in the concluding games was of a very high standard. He gave a fin© exhibition in backhand side line snots and sharp, crisp volleying. Parner still stands bead and shoulders above other New Zealand players, and ■his record for this year’s championship is a very fine one.. He played six matches, winning in three sets straight on each occasion, and having only twentysix games scored against him. The meeting between Miss Nunneley and Miss Powdrell excited more than ordinary interest, for twice last season the latter player had taken a set from the lady champion, and after the experience Miss Powdrell had gained while playing in Australia recently, many confidently prophesied that at last Miss Nunneley would have to make way for another player. The match was fully worthy of these two fine'players. Miss Nunneley, abandoning her half-defensive tactics of last year, forced play from the beginning, and her opponent retaliated in like bind. The result was an exhibition of splendid hard hitting and accurate placing. In the first set the score was called two love in Miss Nunneley’s favour, hut Miss Powdrell took the next, only to see her opponent win the two following, which gave her 4-1. By fine crosscourt shots principally, the Taranaki player won the next two games and the score was 4-3 for Alias Nunneley, who won the' following two and the first set —6-3. Splendid cross-court and side-line shots by Miss Nunneley, with plen ■ y of paefr in them won her the first two games of the second set, but Miss Powdrell retaliated by winning the next two, and two all was called.-The fourth game saw both players absolutely at the top of their form, driving and placing with the greatest accuracy, until a weak return by Miss Powdrell, when her opponent held an advantage, lost her the game. The next four games went to Miss Nunneley, and with them the set and the Ladies’ Championship Nov.' Zealand, and on her present form the first place among lady players in Now Zealand, and in her present form bids fair to do so for some years to come. In the first set the winner scored 42 aces to her opponent’s 31, and in the second 36 to 24, or 78 to 55 in the m.atch. The Men’s Handicap Singles, first grade, was won by T. R. Quill, of Christchurch, who started off the 15 mark. The winner deserves every credit for his victory, for he played four matches in this event during the day. Ho met H. M. Gore in the final round, who was picked out early in the meeting as being far too liberally treated by the handicapper, who had given him ten, and he was expected to win this event. The winner was very tired towards the end of his game in the final, but lie stuck to his advantage with characteristic pertinacity, getting home by the narrow margin of four points. Kivcr and Miss Berkeley, of Christchurch, are in the semi-final round of the Combined Handicap, which will be played off to-morrow. In the game between Parker and Dickie, for the championship, the aces scored by the former in the first set were 29 to 15, in the second 30 to 11, and in the last set 28 to 17, or 87 to 43 in the match. [Prr Press Association.] WELLINGTON, January 1. The New Zealand championship lawn tennis tournament was continued to-day. The weather was very unpleasant, a hard northerly gale sweeping across’ the courts all day. The following are details: MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES— Semi-final round; Dickie beat Swanston, 6-1, 1-6 6-3, 7-5. 6-4; Parker heat Laishley, 6-1, 6-4. 6-3. Final: H. A. Parker (Wellington) beat 0. J. Dickie (Taranaki), 6-1, 6-0, 6-2. LADIES’ CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES— Third round; Miss Powdre.l beat ’Miss Campbell 6-3, 6-1. Semi-final round: Mass Nunneley beat Miss Ward, 6-2, 6-3; Miss Powdrell beat Miss P. Gorrie, 6-0, 6-1. Final; Miss K. M. Nunneley (Wellington) beat Miss L. Powdrell (Taranaki). 6-3, 6-2. COMBINED CHAMPIONSHIP. DOUBLES —F.rst round: Fisher and Miss Ward beat K-sdward and Miss -Robinson, 7-5, 6-1; Laishley and Miss Marchant beat Grady and Miss Cock, 6-3, 6-1; Parker and Miss Nunneley beat Stewart and Miss E. Stewart, 6-0, 6-1. Second round: Aitken and Miss Williams beat Goss and Miss Jameson, Parker and Miss Nunneley beat Raver and Miss Berkeley, ■ 6-2, 6-3; While and Miss Campbell beat Young and Mrs Ho.mea, 6-1, 6-3; Bauchop and Mrs Goldie beat Bamfqrd and Miss P. Gorrie, 6-4, 6-4; Fisher and Miss Ward beat Laishley and Miss ’Marchant, 10-8, 6-4. Third round: Swanston and Miss Powdrell beat Smythe and Miss Jackson, 6-4, 6-1; Borrio and Miss Van Stavcren beat Bauchop and Mrs Goldie, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3; Parker and Miss Nunneley beat White and Miss Campbell, 6-3, 6-3. 'Semi-final round: Parker and Miss Nunne.ey beat Borrie and M.ss Van Stavcren, 6-0, 6 0. The winners w:il play off to-—■ arrow with Swanston and Miss Powdrell.

I Tho Handicap Singles, first grade, was won by Quill, who beat H>, M. Gore in the finaj. The second grade fell to R, Garlick, who beat G. Gower. 70-65. In the Ladies’ Handicap Singles. Hiss Nunneley retired at the fourth round. The winners cf semi-finals were Miss Powdrell and Miss lies* who will play ofi to-morrow, morning. The Men’s Handicap Doubles fell to Dickio and Wai'.acc, who won by default from Parker and ’Swanston. Two games have yet to be played in the ladies’ Handicap Doubles. Misses Powdrell and Campbell will meet Mrs Holmes and Miss Jackson, and the winners will play off with Misses Cock and Fleming. There are .also several panics to be played ro-morrow in the Combined Handicap Doubles.