LAWN TENNIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 13950, 5 January 1909, Page 8

LAWN TENNIS.

AUCKLAND TOURNAMENT.

the semi-finals.

A strong westerly breeze blew across the Eden and Epsom tenuis courts yesterday and with a cloudy sky interfered somewhat with tho third day's play of the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association's tournament. A largo number of matches \rero got off in spite of tho disadvantages. As anticipated a close match took place between S. Upton and C. Nicholson, the Now- Plymouth player, the former winning after a hard fivo sets match, which lasted about two hours and a-half. The semi-finals have been reached in the combined championship and ladies' handicap doubles. The only event completed so far is the men's handicap singles, second grade. This was annexed by A. Hannah, of the Onehunga Club, after an interesting struggle with W. F. Whyte, of the Auckland Club. The tournament will be continued this morning at 9.30. Any finals incomplete by this evening will in all probability bo finished on Saturday afternoon next. Tho following are tho particulars of yesterday's play: — MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES. SECOND BOUND. T. R. Grigson boat P. M. Hanna, 5—7, 7__s, 6—2, 6—3. Tr is was a close thing for the first two sets, then the winner had little difficulty and scored mostly off Hanna weak backhand. . , , R. P. Hunt beat F. S. Shirnffs, 2—6, 6—o, 5_6 ; 6—4, 7—5. An interesting game was witnessed. Hunt's steadiness gave him the slight advantage. Shirriffs attacked well, but was rather erratic. - C. Nicholson (Taranaki) beat A. Richardson, 6—o, 6—2, 6—3. The issue was never in doubt. ' A. S. C. Brown beat W. A. Brown, 10— 3_6 ( B—6, 06, 6—3. This match was played in tho morning, and it was a hard, interesting struggle between the two club mates. . The volleying of both was very fair and attractive. Alan Brown's tosses against the wind swerved a lot and broke up W. A. Brown's smashing. The wind interfered with the loser's side-line drives. A. S. C. Brown meets Grossuiann to-day, and should ho retain yesterday's form he will probably win. J. P. Grossmann beat A. P. Billing, 6—4, B—6, 6—4. Both players appeared to be off their game, tho strong wind affecting their style of play. J. Hunter (Wellington) beat E. Hiekson, I_6, 6—4, 3—6, 7—5, 6—3. This was a clqso contest until two sets all wore called; thereafter the visitor had the largest supply of energy and took tho concluding set with apparently little effort. L.' "A. Longuet beat N. A. Duthie, 6—2, 6—l, 6—2. A comfortable win, but the promising young Parncll player hardly did him»elf justice. j " THIRD BOUND. / S. Upton beat C. Nicholson (Taranaki), 6—2, 2—6, 4—6, 6—l, 6—4. The scores indicate about tho difference between tho two. The best tennis of the tournament was witnessed in : this match. Nicholson's off the ground shots were very good. He volleyed more than his opponent. Upton was up at the net more than usual. He played a much harder game than against Keith on Saturday. The light was bad while the las,t set was being played. Upton is now in the semi-final, and next meets the winner of the Grigson-Hunt match. J. Hunter (Wellington) beat L. A Longuet, 6—2, 6—l, 6—2. The visitor is, in fine condition and experienced little difficulty in disposing of'the local player. Tho Wellington man is in the temi-final and next meets the winner of the contest Alan S. C. Brown i v. J. P. Grossmann. - MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES. SECOND BOUND. Heather and Mair beat R. P. Hunt and P. M. Hanna, 6—l, 6—3,' 6—2. P. S. Shirriffs and H. E. G. Smith beat J. Hunter- and H. Henderson, 6 —4, 6—3, 6-3. ""■ Dr. H. Keith and A S. C. . Brown beat S. A. and L. A. Longuet, 6—o, 6—l, 6—2. THIRD BOUND. J. P. Grossmann and E. Hiekson beat H. Morpeth and G. H. Baker, 6—2, 6—l, 6—3. •Grigson and Coates took a set (64) from Dr. Keith and Alan Brown. The match was then postponed owing to the bad light. LADIES' CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES. , ~ FIRST BOUND. Miss A. Gray a bye from Miss D. Udy. COMBINED CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES BECOND BOUND. Dr. Keith and Miss Woodroffe. beat Billing and Miss T. Walker, 6—o, 6—3. R. P. Hunt and Miss Cooper beat H. G. Thomson and Miss I. Walker. THrBD BOUND. F. S Shirriffs and Miss Harvey beat W. A. Brown and Miss D. Udy, 6—3, 3—6, 6—2. The downfall of last season's combined champions comes as a surprise. Shirriffs hit out well and was splendidly supported by Miss Harvey on the back line.' Miss Udy has not been playing much lately and was not at her best. Brown's play was mediocre. Shirriffs and Miss Harvey are in the semifinal and a close fight should result in their next match, when they meet Dr. Keith and Miss Woodroffe. Dr. Keith and Miss Woodroffe beat Mowbray, and Mrs. Freeman, 6—2, 6—4. E. Hiekson and Miss A. Gray boat R. P. Hunt and Miss Cooper, 63, 6—o. The winners are now in the semi-final and meet S. Upton and Miss G. Gorrio. S. Upton and Miss G. Gorrie beat H.' R. Cooke and Miss M. Walker, 6—2, 6—2. LADIES' HANDICAP DOUBLES. Misses Bloomfield and Cummings (receive 15) beat Misses Winter© and McGoe (receive 1-6 15), 9—4. Misses Cooper and P. Gorrio (owe 15 1-6) beat Misses Crowthcr and Maeklow (scratch), 9-5. Misses Walker and Kenny (receive 2-6 15) beat Mrs. Freeman and Miss Cooko (owe 3-6 15), 9—l. Misses; Taylor and Cairns (receive 15) beat Mrs. Cooper and Miss Harvey (owe 40), 9—7. MEN'S HANDICAP SINGLES. FIRST GRADE. THIRD BOUND. R. G. Coates (owes 15) beat H. W. Cooke (owes 2-6 15), 9—7. H. Morpeth (owes 15 2-6) beat R. Taylor (scratch), 9—6. Dr. J. Keith received a bye from H. McCoy. J. R. Grigson (owes 15 4-6) beat R. P. Hunt (owes 15 2-6), 9—B. A. Richardson (scratch) beat H. G. Thomson (owes 2-6 15), 9 —6. L. J. Taylor (owes 15) beat P. M. Hanna (owes 4-6 15), 9—4. The winner is now in the semi-final, and meets the winner of tho Smith-Nicholson match. H. E. G. Smith (owes 15 2-6) beat C. Heather (owes 30 1-6), 9—5. C. Nicholson a bye from E. Hiekson. MEN'S HANDICAP SINGLES. SECOND GRADE. THIItl) BOUND. W. F. Whyte (owes 15) beat R. O. Gardner (owes 3.6 15), 6—3, 6—4. A. Hanna (owes 15) beat W. Nolan (owes 4-6 15), 6—2, 6—5. FINAL. A. Hanna (owes 15) beat W. F. Whyte (owes 15), 6—3, I—6, 6—3. A close finish. The loser's off the ground strokes were good. Hannah's superior play at the not enabled him to win this event. LADIES' HANDICAP SINGLES. SECOND BOUND. Miss Cooper (owes 4-6 15) beat Miss Basley (owes 2-6 15), 9—2. Miss McGee (owes 4-6 15) beat Miss G. Gorrie (owes 30). Mrs. Freeman (owes 15) beat Miss M. Walker (owes 15), —2. Miss Williams (owes 30 4-6) beat Miss Cairns (receives 3-6 15), 9—2. Miss Fear (receives 2-6) beat Mrs. Mair (owes 3-6), 9—4. THIRD BOUND. Misp Cooke (owes 4-6 15) beat Miss KerrTaylor (receives 2-6 15), 6—2, 3—6, 6—l. Miss Cooke is now in the semi-final. Miss Fear (receives 2-6 15) beat Miss Cooper (owes 40), 9—7. COMBINED HANDICAP DOUBLES. SECOND BOUND. Dr. Keith and Mrs. Keith (owe 30) beat Mowbray and Mrs. Freeman, 9—4. THIRD BOUND. C. Heather and Miss P. Gorrio (owe 30 4-6) beat Rev. Parry and Miss Cairns (receive 3-6 9-8.

Dr. and Mrs. Keith (owe 30) beat W. A. Brown and Miss E. Udy), 9-6. H. W. Cooke and Miss Bloomfiold beat Jl. R. Cooke and Miss Walker, 9—3. FOURTH BOUND. C. Heather and Miss P. Gorrio a bye from W. F. Whyte and Mrs. Allen. A. Goldio and Miss Williams (owo 302-6) beat IT. W. Cooko and Miss Bloomficld, 6—l, 6-4. Goldio and Miss Williams and Heather and Miss Gorrio aro in the somifinal. MENS HANDICAP DOUBLES. SECOND BOUND. Mowbray and Duthic a bye from Hudson and Black. ._ 0,. . _. Billing and H. W. Cooko (owe 15 2-6) beat Longuet and Longuet, 9—3. Sl.irriffs and Smith (owo 15 4-6) beat Moipeth and Hiekson (owo 15 4-6), 9-8. Mair and Heather a bye from W. A. Brown and Upton. „, Grigson and Coalos (owo 30 3-6) beat 1»>lor and Taylor (owe 15 4-6), 9—5. HUNTLY DEFEATS PUKEKOHE. Blavcrs representing the Huntly and rukekoho Lawn Tennfs Clubs met.for tho first time on the local court (writes our Huntlv correspondent), when tho looa players wcro victorious by a substantial Scores were as follow, the Huntly players being mentioned first: — Gents.' Doubles: S. Glewon and C. Green v. Tangioni and Johns, 6—l, t>—i. C. Gloeson, sen., and E. Clinch v. Cooper and Roulston, 6—2, 6-0. Combined Doubles: S. Glccson. and Miss Rusten v. Vangioni and Mrs. \ angioni, 9-8: C. Green and Miss B. Herd v. Johns and Mrs. Johns, 9-1; W. Poole and Mas owllorn v. Cooper and Miss Osborne, s—i); &• Clinch and Mrs. Swain v. Koulston and Miss Bilkey, 9—l. . _ x , „ Ladies' Doubles: Misses Rusten and B. Herd v. Mrs. Vangioni and Mrs. Johns, 3—9 ; Mrs. Swain and Miss Skellcrn v. Misses Osborne and Bilkey, 9—2. Totals: Huntly, 68; Pukekohe, 34.

Tho balance-sheet in connection with the Drvis cup international match between Australasia and America matches (says the Referee) shows that (ho amount derived from the sale of admission tickets was £1202, and the total expenditure was £269. This left £933 to be divided equally botween the American and Australasian Associations. From the Australasian share tho following aro deducted:—Gift to American players, £5; cost of international dinner, £42. This leaves a balance of £420, of which tho Victcria Lawn Tennis Association receives 10 per cont. (about £42) for tho use of its courts. The United States National Lawn Tennis Association gets a sufficient amount which should cover the expenses of tho team to Australia, and as a large profit must have been mado on the preliminary match against the British Isles, which was witnessed by 17.000 people during the three davs, there should be no financial difficulty about sending over another team next year. The Taranaki tournament, originally fixed for New Year, has been postponed until January 15 and 16. The New Plymouth people hope to get entries from Wilding, Parker, and other crack players. An effort will bo mado to play the annual interprovincial match, Auckland v. Taranaki after the tournament at New Plymouth.