Lawn Tennis.

Free Lance, Volume II, Issue 80, 11 January 1902, Page 19

Lawn Tennis.

I have noticed a few of the tennis players passing through Wellington, homeward bound from Auckland. A most enjoyable time they had in the Northern city, although the weather was not all that it mi°-ht have been. Wellington, in Mr. Fred. Laishley, only just missed the championship, after a most exciting game. I wish Mr. Laishley the best of luck in the future. So Miss Nunelley has once again proved herself too good for the other lady players, winning the three championship medals, viz., the singles, the combined with Fisher, and the doubles with Miss Van Aseh, who is greatly praised for her steadiness. The Ashburton players were greatly disappointed in the weather, which quite spoilt the pleasure of the tournament . J. C. Peacock, of Auckland, was m luck's wav Won the men's singles brilliantly, after showing no form to warrant high expectations and, along with Fisher, won the championship doubles from owe 40 against rather weak opposition Congratulations to ''Darn" Fisher upon liis success. Although playing as a Chi-istchurch representative, he is a Wellington boy, being the youngest son of Mr Geo Fisher, M.H.R. Players admit that altogether the standard of play was lower than at last •^ ear's tournament. I see that an Auckland critic says — Laishley plays a pretty game, and when against a base-line player it is a treat to watch him, but Peacock's aggressive game smothered many of his finest shots " Nicholson, of Wanganui, showed that ho is> a very steady young player, but wants more sting in his work. However, he is coming on fast and will make his mark by and bye A good judge, in reviewing the general form of the meeting, says — Directly we leave the "top-notch ers," of whom we had all too few, there was a lamentable drop. The play of the majority of the young players is very mechanical, and shows a great lack of head-work ; in fact, it is clearly apparent that a very great number of them have a much smaller knowledge of theory than their small stock of practice.

A tennis tournament also came off at Hastings, during Christmas week, and was much enjoyed by many Hawke's Bay players.