LAWN TENNIS

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11657, 23 October 1923, Page 3

LAWN TENNIS

HANDICAP TOURNEY

MONDAY’S WEATHER HAMPERS CLTJBS.

BROUGHAM HILL RESULTS. Wellington weather was far from being the ideal of tennis players yesterday. A gusty wind upset calculations and rendcied net play speculative, 6kies were overcast and the temperature was certainly not at summer heat. Nevertheless there were many players to be seen on the courts of all the principal city clubs, and also across the harbour on the Eastbourne Council’s new courts. The muster of players was not so large as it would have been under better conditions, and some clubs whioh meditated running ; Yankee tournaments decided to abandon tho idea. AT BROUGHAM HILL. During the morning the wind ‘dew with increasing violence, but in the afternoon it moderated to a degree. Thus on the only club courts where muck match play was seen (Brougham Hill) most of the encounters took place after lunch. Here the handicap tourney was advanced somewhat, though there were few long-drawn struggles. r ihe eliminating rounds were continued, and in only one instance did the handicapping prove awry. The most noticeable match of the day wa* that in which H. V. Howe, member of the senior team, and doubles champion of the club, repeatedly met defeat at the hands of R. Perkins, just out of the schoolboy stage. Ferkins, an elder brother of the schoolboy champion, was steady without being brilliant, while Howe showed the effects of a hard day’s tennis. A LEAD OF EIGHT. Fezkins, whose handicap was 20 points, was conceded eight strokes by his opponet, Howe being on 12. The youngster commenced to serve, and at once bolted into a lead, winning eight points on his delivery. Howe took the first point on a beautiful back-hand volley after working Ferkins out of position, but lost the next seven points in a row. He netted twice, was twice passed cleanly, drove one under, and one into the net, and was beaten by a sideline drive. Perkins then double faulted, but took the next point with a volley, and the score was 28—14 on the change-over. Howe scored heavily during the opening stages of his services. Two nets and two outs gave him the first four points and he took the fifth with a well-judged toes, which Ferkins failed to hit. Three outs, however, cost the older player the following points, and though Howe gained the ninth stroke on an orror, he was beaten by a drive which the youngster put over and service finished 20-32. FHRKINS SCORES HEAVILY.

Palpably tired, Howe lost the first point against service on a baU which he let go. Ferkins then netted, and retrieved his error with a neat placement. Six points went to him in succession on his opponent’s nets, mostly on service returns, and two outs cost Ferkins the final strokes. The change-over thus saw the score 23-88, and) the conclusion ot Howe'ii *ei\ rice put the result beyond doubt. A net and an out by Howe and Ferkins added two to his tally. The boy then took five points in a row; three on placements, and though Howe made a certainty >y{ a sharply-angled shot and took the ninth and tenth points on outs, his service closed with the score 28-46. Ferkiris wps digging up everything, and Howe’s judgment was at fault. Several times he let balls go which dropped well inside the court. The final service saw Ferkins # run to 48-29, when Howe took four points, one on a beautiful backhand smash. But the youngster was not to be denied, and a raking drive of fine length gave him the match at 50-33. Following were the results:— MEN’S HANDICAP SINGLES. First Round. Dr. Smyth (26) beat A. T. Scott (30), 50—46. Second Round. W. Hay (12) beat R. Toomath (26), 56-41. Paul (26) boat Middleton (22), 50—45. Fisher (24) heat Allardyoe (26), 50—35. N. Wilson (10) beat Wearne (24), 50—37. Ralph (24) beat Jenkins (24). 50—44. R. Ferkins (12) beat H. V. Howe (20), 60-39. HEN'S HANDICAP DOUBLES. Second Round. Fisher and Kuch (20) beat Port and Paul (28), 50—44. LADIES’ HANDICAP SINGLES. Mini Tracy (scr) beat Miss Smedley (20),

VICTORIA 00LLECE OPENING DELAYED. The Victoria University College Ten nis C3nb, which was to commence the Reason yesterday with a Yankee tournament, was forced to postpone tho event. The courts, which were recently topdroesed, have been proved to be ra ne£d of re-topdressing before they will be satisfactory, consequently the tournament fixture was abandoned 1 . The opening of the dub will thus be put back for a considerable period, beyond the November examinations in any case.