LAWN TENNIS.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1265, 28 May 1896, Page 27

LAWN TENNIS.

Further particulars in reference to the tennis match New Zealand v. New South Wales, played on Friday last at the Sydney Club Courts, show that at 11 a.in., when the game commenced, the ground was decidedly soft, which interfered to a considerable extent with the play, but after tho luncheon adjournment there was a marked improvement in the state of the courts.

In the singles. Hooper and Collins opened well, both winning their first rounds two sets to love, and Hooper, continuing to play with remarkable precision, got through the second round with equal success. In lact, tno feature of the day’s play was the apparently easy manner in which Hooper disposed of two such formidable opponents as Dr Hughes and Tiley. Contrary to expectation, Collins shaped much better in the singles than in the doubles, though be played a line game right through. Parker and Gore both began unsteadily in the singles, each player losing lii.s first round. 'J he secon l round, however, was hotly contested, Parker securing one more game than Hughes, whilo Gore treated his opponent in a like manner. In tho doubles, the two Wellington men, working splendidly together, carried everything before them, defeating each pair of the New South Welshmen without the loss of a set. The play of the New Zealanders was acknowledged by onlookers to have been a vast improvement on the form shown by t hem in tlie championship events during the previous week, and this is easily accounted for by the rough journey they had just travelled. A week’s steady practice on the Sydney grounds had worked wonders. Tho following are the scores : SINGLES. Tiley beat Parker, (s—l, (5—9. Hooper beat Tiley, (s—o. G —ss. Collins boat Mansfield, (5 —t, (5—3. Hooper beat Hughes, G —l, (5 —5. Newman beat Gore, G—2, G—4. Collins boat Newman, 4—(5, G—o. Parker beat Hughes, G —l, 5—G. Gore beat Mansfield, (5—2, 3—G. Totals: New Zealand, 9 seth ; New South Wales, 7 sets. DOUBLES. Hooper and Collins beat Newman and Hughes, G —3, 1 —(5,0—3. Parker and Goro beat Mansfield and Tiley, 0-4, 0-4, 0-4. Mansfield and Tiley beat Hooper and Collins, 3—G, G—4, o—o.0 —0. Parker and Goro beat Newman and Hughes, G —l, G —4, G—3. Totals : New Zealand, 9 sets ; New South A Vales, 3 sets. Grand totals (singles and doubles) : New Zealand, 18 sets ; New South AValos, 10 sots. As to the standard of play of tho Sydney men generally, the Now Zealanders found little or no difference) between the best men of the two colonies. The great point in favour of tho Australians is that for every first-class man New Zealand can put in the field they can find half a dozen who will all play a fine steady game, hit fairly hard, keep a good length, and are not afraid of a long rally. For hard smashing, however, and lor taking advantage of opportunities to make a winning stroke, sorao of the New Zealanders can give t horn points. As for the ladies, though many of them play graceful and excellent tennis, not one is an\thing like strong enough to hope to vanquish our lady champion. Miss Nuunoloy’s fore-hand drives along the side lines are too much for them altogether. Miss Nunncloy and Messrs 11. F. Gore and J. U. Collins returned by the Mararoa .yesterday morning. The other members of the New Zealand team return by the next boat. The New Zealanders speak highly of tho kindness and hospitality received at the hands of the Now South AValos Association. As a result of the tour, both New South AValos and Victoria will mako an effort to send representatives to the next New Zealand Championship meeting to be hold in December.