Lawn Tennis.

Free Lance, Volume VIII, Issue 383, 2 November 1907, Page 20

Lawn Tennis.

An ideal day favoured the Wellington Association for the start of the inter-club contests on Saturday. The results are as follow: — SHIELD. Wellington defeated Newtown by 11 sets to 2 (103 games to 70). Brougham Hill defeated Victoria College by 7 sets to 6 (87 games to 76). CUP. Brougham Hill defeated Khandallali by 7 sets to 6 (81 games to 88) — the advantage m games being in the losers' favour. Wellington defeated Karori by 11 sets to 2 (96 games to 94). Petone defeated Victoria College by 13 sets to nil (105 games to' 35). PENNANT. Brougham Hill A defeated Victoria College A by 7 sets to ml (57 games to 8). Johnsomville defeated Victoria College B by 7 sets to nil (57 gaones to 17). BACQTJET. Brougham Hill A defeated Victoria College B by 7 sets to nil (57 games to 15). Kilbirme defeated Victoria College A by 7 sets to love (57 games to 8). * • • The T.bomdon Club's courts were opened on Saturday, without any formal ceremony. There was a fairly large muster of players and visitors, but, on account of matches starting on that day, several of the club's cracks were absent, Fisher, Peacock, Laishley, Young, and Smythe all being engaged in the inter-club competitioins. It is to be regretted that Thoraklcxn are again boycotting match tennis, and their action can only lead to ome possible solution. The time has arrived when all affiliated clubs must enter for the Association's 1 competitions, and a motion, to that effect will certainly be tabled at the next annual general meeting of th© W.P.L.T.A. Dilatory clubs would then fall quickly into line, otherwise they could cry off and join the unaffiliated ranks, the result of which would be to debar a club's players from participating in tournament tennis throughout the colony, whether club, provincial, or colonial. It is the Association's turn to move, and they should not hesitate to checkmate these mutual admiration institutions, such as Thomdom. and Hutt. The decision of the Shield Committee to play three rounds in the majority of the contests was not received with universal favour, and the Management Committee made an effort to have the position reconsidered, but a motion to that effect was lost by 5 votes to 4, three of the five consisting of members of the- former body — Messrs. Beere, Green, and Lawrence. Whilst not agreeing with some of the reasons of the "agitators" for objecting to three rounds, I must admit the proposal is somewhat sensational. One round, as played last season, does not provide quite enough match tennis, and it was that fact which caused the annual meeting of the Association to recommend two rounds. That would have been sufficient, especially in view of the very large number^ of entries, but, for apparently trivial reasons, the Shield Committee decided that an extra round was the correct

thing. The members of that body*re young and inexperienced, and Appear to have lost their heads, otherwise they must have realised the absurdity in jumping from crane extreme to the other. Had all these matches to be contested m town, my objection would have been put aside, but, as more than half are allotted to Day's Bay, several teams will have difficulty towards the middle of the season in fulfilling engagements. However, I trust that, mow the Committee have given a definite decision, they will stick to their guns.