LAWN TENNIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11544, 1 December 1900, Page 7

LAWN TENNIS.

Tho Eden and Epsom Club is holding a special general meeting on Saturday afternoon, to consider the recommendation of tho committee that the club should register under tho Unclassified Societies Act. This should prove an advisable step, as the membership is a large one, and the majority of our athletic clubs have taken upon themselves the privileges and responsibilities of j bodies corporate. The question all lawn tennis players have been asking 'during the week is:* "Can Peacock beat Hooper in the championship on . Saturday?" As is well known, the great match will take place on the Eden and Epsom lawn, at about half-past two this after- : noon, and should provide a first-class exhi- | bition of the game. Peacock first came into ! prominence at the New Zealand Championship Tournament, held at Auckland in 1897, ' whore he made a very good stand against ' Parker in the semi-final. Since then he has I been steadily improving, until now ho standi I quite in the front rank of New Zealand J players. At the last championship meeting, ! held at Palruerston North, Peacock beat the i then champion, Cox, in fine style, and made j Hooper go all the way in the final, although ! the latter wa- in his best form. Peacock's j backhand is the finest in New Zealand, and ' his volleying is severe and clean. He is, moreover, a most game player, and may be relied on to last out to the finish. "When both men are fit we consider Hooper is slightly superior, but unless there i? considerable improvement on the condition and form displayed by him last week against Brabant, we should not feel very surprised j if tho West End champion effected an upset this afternoon. The retirement of Vaile and Best from the championship leaves the semi-final at the top half of the draw to bo fought out between Ruddock and Rice. The latter is tho stronger player, and will, we think, get into tho final. Bamford meets Parker on Saturday, and although tho former is a most promising player, ho cannot expect to do more than make a stand against his hardhitting and experienced opponent. This match will take place at Mount Eden, bofore the big event comes off. Mr. H. A. Parker has received tho following telegram from Mr. Wilding, of Christchurch, and has handed it to us for. insertion:"Team of very best representative players in Victoria leave Melbourne December 12, for our championship meeting." An Aucklander who has recently returned from a trip to Melbourne has also informed us that the Victorian team intends travelling northwards after playing through the championship at Christchurch. This should afford a good chance for the local association to arrange a match against the visitors, as by this means all Auckland players and those interested in the game would have a chance of seeing tho play of tho Australian cracks. Hooper's collapse against Brabant last week came as a great surprise, and was an object-lesson to aH cur players on tho absolute necessity of keeping in condition. In Hooper's case the matter can be easily explained. A rrell of 10 months from the game, and the want of practice, owing to the rainy weather at the beginning of the season, prevented him from gettine fit in time for the first round, but we understand since then he has been walking hard and swimming, in the expectation of a hard go with Peacock. Miss Seherff and Miss Stella Rice meet next Wednesday, on the Eden and Epsom lawn, in the second round of tho ladies' ! championship. As the Parneil Club has only 1 opened a few days, Miss Seherff is rather ! short of practice, and we therefore consider i that Miss Rice, who is keeping a good I length, and placing her returns with great accuracy, will prove the winner.