LAWN TENNIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13650, 18 January 1908, Page 8

LAWN TENNIS.

CLUB FIXTURES. February —Auckland v. West End, Devonport v. Eden and Epsom, Onehunga v. Parneli. The fourth round of the inter-club matches will be played off this afternoon. Devonport meet West End, Auckland try conclusions with Onelmnga, and Parnell play against Eden and Epsom. Great interest is taken in to-day's contests by local enthusiasts. West End should have no difficulty in defeating Devonport, but the ladies' doubles seems, on paper, a sure win for the Store club. Eden and Epsom will probably win ' verything against Parnell, though I expect Mowbray and Hunt will make a good fight, of it with C. Heather and A. T. C. Brown in the B men's doubles. The B ladies' doubles should be a close contest, though I think the Eden and Epeom pair will win. With the exception of the ladies' A doublet, Auckland should prove to bo too strong for Onehunga. „ For the second season in succession Dr. Keith and A. S. C. Brown staved off all opposition, and annexed the men's doubles championship of Auckland. The final, last Saturday, attracted a fair number of spectators to the Eden and Epsom lawns, in tho hope of seeing a close finish, but in this respect they were disappointed. Tho game was one-sided and tho winners for the most part had everything their own way. The second set was the closest. When the score stood 4— it looked as if the West End pair -were going to maike a fight of it, but they did not rise to the occasion. Keith and Brown won 6—4, and the final set was taken very easily, 62. Great credit is due to Keith for the win. Ho was right on his game, and altogether too clever for his club mates. Brown played a forceful game, and was very severe on any short stuff sent up. His smashing was hard, though not always well directed. Paterson seemed to be nonplussed by Keith's tactics. Ho was responsible for a little brilliant work during the match. Upton did not play up to championship form; his driving was particularly weak. Had the losers kept closer in, and forced tho gamo more tho result would have been closer. The winners only had ono sot scored against, them in tho series— by Hickson and Turner, who were the on fv double who really gave them a decent go." This is tho third occasion on which Brown has been a pair-holder of the doubles championship. As anticipated, W. Brown and Miss Udy beat A. F. Billing and Miss Martin in the semi-final of the combined championship. Miss Martin is comparatively a new player. Billing upheld his reputation as one of our best combined exponents. The final will probably be closely contested between W. A. Brown and Miss Udy, and_l>r.: Keith and Miss Urting. Billing and Dr. Bamford put up a good performance by annexing the men's handicap doubles from the owe .15 5-6 mark. They have been playing together now for some time and understand each other's play well. •This stood to them. The runners-up, Stewart and Thompson, brought off some excellent work at different periods of tho game, but on the whole were too erratic, and wero often badly out of position. F. M. B. Fisher, whom Parker describes as tho best all-round man in the Dominion at tho present time, was having a "knockup" at Mt. Eden last Saturday. Ho had a single with Grossman, and afterwards partnered with this player, and had a friendly go against Keith and Brown. Fisher's form all round was excellent, though he apparently was now playing for exhibition purposes. His reverse American service was a regular stumbling block for tho local men, and his drive just dropping over the not was also very effective. Our best plavere are clearly a lot behind New Zealand championship standard. The Wellington representative was very pleased with the Eden and Edsohi courts and considers they are ' second to none in the Dominion.