LAWN TENNIS.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 5230, 21 March 1904, Page 5

LAWN TENNIS.

INTERRR OYINCTAXj MATCH. WELLINGTON DEFEATS CANTERBURY. lb was extremely unfortunate that rain should have fallen on Saturday. It. was altogether'opposed'to the pleasant: success that tho annual fixture between tho Wellington and Canterbury, i-eprar; sentiativo lawn tennis players generally is.: Friday’s ill-omened raid continued into Saturday, and up till midday there woro no indications of a break. Tho ram-clouds then began to divide away to the south, and the prospect became a little brighter. There was no olionco i of playing the games on tho gra-ss comrte at Thomdon, 6t> tho alternative; playing area—-the Brougham Hill_ Club’s:; asi>halt courts in Lloyd street—tvefeutilised. Men were employed to sweep the surface water away, and at. about 2 p.m. the courts became playable; .and a start was made. Damp spots wore numerous, and the “way” of the balls was somewhat checked in a puzzling manner,: particularly on No. 4 court, where_ the damp lingered longest. : For the first time since the respective provinces have possessed associations, tho Wellington representatives anno out victors, and the result may he token,, as a fair criterion of the form shown on Saturday afternoon,, tliaugh: tho- -uh-' seasonable teiiipci-aruTo and fitful wind occasionally nullified, some . Creditable bits of; play-. Wellington won . caghtoear ' sots (177 games) to Canterbury's five seta (112; games). In the men’s singles , the, visitors failed -to ■■: win a: sot. but, with the exception, of one ’ case, r:1 icy wore all well contested, particularly the bouts. between , Laishloy; and ; : Harman, and Young and Borrows. Tho for- : mer pair were four all before I)re Wellington, player, forged; ahead’.;: Stnmgo to say, however, of the three sets of men’s doubles played the visitors scored two wins, Laisldey and SwansUm being tho only successful ; dub, f ; : ;The (“local ; ladies wore successful in five of the sbe sots of singles got off. In tho doubles the “ beskirted locals ” scored in two of tho throe seta played. Of the five sets” of combined doubles, Wellington won four, a surprise being effected by Swaur, ston and Miss Word being beaten ou, tlie post by Aitkon and Miss Harmon. Laishloy acted skipper for Wellington and Goss for Canterbury.

The umpiring duties were carried' out' by Messrs Amies; Denniston, Rirker, DidShury, Goldie, Hurley, Robiespn and other noble fellows. 'Some of them were lowered from their elevated perches with blue faces and stiffened limbs, and were only revived by tlio comforting afternoon tea that was dispensed to all and sundry. DETAILS. The following arc tho results of the games,- tho Wellington players being mentioned first in each instance:— Men's Singles.—LaisJdcy v. Harman, 9—7; Adams v. Goss, 9—5; Young v. Borrows, 9—B; Gore v. Aitken, - 9—l; Swanstcii v. River, 9—C; A\ ilsou v. Quill, 9—7. Men’s Doubles. —Swan-ton. and Laisnley v. Hannan and Aitken, 9—4; Adams and Wilson vt Quill and Borrows, 7—P; Goto and Young v. .River and Goss, 7—9.

Radies’ Singles.—Mrs Holmes v. Mrs BaUantyne. 7—2; Mrs v. : Aliss Nicholson, 3—7; Albs Travers v. Miss Jamieson, 7—4: Miss Glasgow y. Miss Miller, 7—l; Miss Williams y. Miss *.-. Baldwin,.? —1 ;-Miss Ward v. Aliss Harman, 7—4. Radies’ Roubles. —Misses Ward , and Glasgow v. Airs Ballantyno and Alias Miller, '■ 7—4;l Mesdamcs Holmes and Marchbanks v. Misses Jamieson and - Nidbokon, 2—7; Misses Williams and Travers y. Alisscs Baldwin and ilarmau, 7 Combined Doubles.—Raishlcy and Miss Travei-s v. Hannan and Aiks Nicholson. 9—2; Swanston and Miss, Ward v. Aitkcn and -Miss Hannan, - 8— Wilson and Aliss Glasgow y. Quill and Aire Ballantyno, 9—B; Adams. and Mi&s Holmes v. Goss ami Miss Mailer, 9 Young and Aliss Williams v. Borrows and Aliss Baldwin’, 9 —3. THE BROUGHAM HTLR CLUB. ; - It is -understood that tlio: Brough art Hill Club baa completed a new lease of that section of land occupied by itH courts in Rltoyd street, and tliat in con- : sequence tho grounds are to bo made more attractive than in the pasty - a con-, summation to which no objection , will,, bo taken. Tho Brougham Hill Club is ’ one of the moist go-ahead clubs in tho city, being blessed with, a group of cner-, gelio ■ officials imbued y with plenty of b; genuine i enthusiasm for tho sport. The , ciub has probably the largest memborsbip and has played more matches thm season than - any other ! club in the pravinco. THE SHIELD CONTEST. Tho semi-final match in connection with tho shield contest will bo played at Wanganui between , the Wellington - and Wanganui Clulx-i on Saturday week. The winner: of this -match-, will, then tweet.-;* the redoubtable Tliorndon Club in t’bo play-off for the shield. Tho Tliorndon Club holds a unique position fa tho local world of lawn tennis. The leading players of the club are acknowledged to bo more than a match for miy other individual r- club ~ in the, ; province. Knowing ■'' and ■',, i-i admitting: ■ this, it was deemed expedient to keep the club out of tho shield contest until, the- very' end,, as its inclusion:,: would -have robbed ‘the contest of much of its ! interest. Consequently it lias been fought, out for the honour, of see-,., ond place, with a fighting chance * cl even gaming first honour.-,. To tennis - players the boating of tho Thorr.doa ; Club in the final match-.trogld bo 1 vUR-,-if sooting tho apple-cart.” still tho elements of, chance and luck have to bo taken; irife';' i «>itsidcratioa: in' every, icpaj'U; of sport. ’ .