LAWN TENNIS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2809, 15 January 1908, Page 65

LAWN TENNIS.

BY RACQUET.

The game appears to> be booming- all over New Zealand. There were- no less , than six championship tournaments played in the Dominion during the- holidays, outside of the New Zealand championships. In each case the entry was large, and the general standard of play was. very good. In the South Canterbury tournament, played at Ashburton, the Otago Clab had five- players in the finals, and only secured one win — viz., in the Ladies-* Champion Singles, which was won by Miss W. Hielop, who beat her olubmate, Miss E. Jackson, in .the final— 6 — 1, 6—5.6 — 5. C. G- White went very- near to winning the Men's Championship, being beaten on the last set, by G. Ollivier, 6^-4. Unfortunately, White gets no practice on grass, and hi* style of ylay is undoubtedly best suited to asphalt. Ollivier is a player who has mad& rapid etridesr during the present year. -He took part in the Exhibition tournament,, and only succeeded in getting past the first round in the Handicap S-ineles. This year, after playing in Ash? burton, he went straight to Wellington, and ran up to Swanskin, the winner of the Wellington championship. Those who know say that he will be one. of the top notchere in the Dominion before many seasons are past. A. E. Friedlander (Otasro) is a player who is usually very fortunate in tournaments. If he does not win the- event he always reaches the semi-finals Or finals. At Ashburton he lost to B. Manning in the final by 9—3.9 — 3. Miss W. Hislop, besides winning the ohampionship, was runner-up to Miss Souter in the Handicap Slingles. The interest in the N.Z. Championship was not so great as in the Exhibition year. "This can be accounted for by the absence of Wilding and Heath. Parker, who is in a class by himself, had little difilculty in again winning the coveted honour, besides annexing^ the championship combined event with Miss Powdrell. Sfiss Porwdtell is a keen tennis enthusiast and a thorough sporf. She enters for • every New Zealand tournament, and al- . though she usually only reaches the final stage sha .takes . her beating with a true sportsmanlike- spirit. The combined was the only event she jwon, while she was runner-up to Miss Nunneley "in the Singles, and also (with Miss Gray) to Misses Nunneiiey and Baker in the Doubles. In th© Taraaaki- championship, however, she had a good innings, winning -three evenfe — viz., Ladies' Championship Singles, Handicap' Singles* and Handicap Doubles with Miss Gray (Auckland). The biggest surprise of this tournament was the- downfall of Misa Nunneley Jo Miss ' Kejletfc Baker (Sydney) in the Ladies' Championship. This is the first time Miss Nunneley has been beaten in a. championship event in New. Zealand>~*nyhow..-§ince

1895, — and only on some four occasions has she had even a set scored against her. The most curious part is that Miss Powdrell, who has been trying for- years to win the New Zealand championship, and has always found Miss Nunnelev the stumbling block, had no great difficulty in winning this event from Miss Baker in the final. Without detracting from Mies Baker's win, Miss Nunneley must have been considerably off her game. Miss Baiker's strong point is her volleying- at the net, and this .must have to some extent caused her to lose nerve. Nevertheless, great credit is due to Misa Baker for her meritorious win. The final of the Men's Championship Doubles was not decided until five sets and 48 gamea had been played. Dickie and Wallace (Taranaki), the winners, wen the first set 7—5,7 — 5, lost the next two 2—6,2 — 6, S—s,S — 5, and then annexed the next two 6—3,6 — 3, t — 4, and the match. Their opponents, Fisher and Peacock, are players of great experience, and should be, with practice, the finest double combination in New Zealand. Dickie and Wallace, however, have played for many yea-rs together, and are hard plodders. They play until the last game is lost or won. Their combination with long- association ie very good, and this gives them a big advantage. The Wellington and Auckland tournaments were both great successes. Christmas week seems to be becoming" the popular time to hold these events. Wellington and Auckland used to always hold _ them at Easter, but then met with such invariable weather, and they decided to change. The only objection to Christmas is the clashing with the New Zealand championship. Tho best player in each ©vent usually goes fco the big tournament, and thus is deprived of winning his own provincial championship, which is in many cases only won by a moderate player. The North-East Valley Club played a team from Alexandra on the' Valley courts on Saturday, 4th inst., and succeeded m registering- a win by 18 games. The members of the town club were stronger in the single events, but the country team as a whole played with much.- superior combination in the doubles. The Valley also played a match at Oamaru during the holidays against the Meadowbank Club, and suffered defeat by 14 games. The St. Kilda Club journeyed to" Lawrence at New Year to try conclusions with the local club, the latter winning- by the narrow * margin of 11 games. The visiting" team were most royally entertained, and strongly recommend the trii- to any town club desirous of having a good outing. There is every likelihood of a return match being played- at St. Kilda on Anniversary Ijlimpson (St. Kilda) in his single with R. Moore appeared at one stage, to have everything his own way. the r^.ore standing 6—26 — 2 Moore, however, by steady and consistent play, 'cpradually overhauled the score and won 9—6. ... Miss Jeffreys, first lady player m the Lawrence team, plays a nice open game, her driving to the' back line 'being very effective. Miss Jeffreys and Moore made a fine combination, land won their event ca Bar'th was playing rather ' well during th MSes C Barth and M'Callum likewise were in good form, the former player_s volleying: at the net being very effective a: times. The grade matches will be restuned on Saturday next, and from now onwards towards' the end of the season the clubs will be busily engaged completing their club events. " , A team from the Valley Cluh journeyed tc Oamaru on New Year's "Day and played a team from the Meadowbank Cub victory resting with the latter by 14 pomts. Scores: T.^ a ' Singles.— Mfes Mi lex '(lt> befti Jta Scott (ST.), <£-*; Miss Mom«m (J£) lost fo Miss Murray (V.), 1-6; Miss OngteW beat Miss Davidson (V.), 6-4; Miss Franklyn (M.) beat Miss Steven (V.), 6—o. Tadiß=' Doubles.— Mfsses Miller and Fronklyn (M.) beat Misses Scott and Murray (V-h 6 3; Misses MolHson. and Ongley (M.) beat Misses Davidson and Lefevre (V.), 6—o. M«n's Doub'es.— Bee and Familton (M.) lost -to M'Geever and Gray (V.), 2—9; Me.drum end Warsaw (M.) beat M'Greever and Pollok (V.),' 9—7; Finch end Kennedy (M.) lost tot Gray and Potfok (V.), 3-6. Men's Singles.— Bee (M.) lost to M'Geev.er ty\ B—9; Familten (M.) lost to Gray (V.), 3—9; Meldrum (M.) beat PolJok (V), 9—3. "Cambiiied Doubles. — Bee and Miss MiEeß (M.J beat M'Geever and Misa Scott (V.), 6—2; Familton and Miss Murray (M.) lost to Gray and Miss E. Murray (V.), I—6;1 — 6; M«ldrum and Miss Mollison (M.) beat Pollok and Miss Lefevre- (V.), 6—5; Warsaw and Miss Onglpv (M.> beat Morrison and Moss Davidson (V.),' 6— 3. " Totals: Moadowbank, 88; Valfey, 74. THE AUCKLAND CHAMPIONSHIPS. AUCKLAND, January 12. The remaining: fina's in connection with the recent lawn -tennis championship tournwnent were decided! yesterday. In the- Mfen'tf Championship Doubles Dr Keith »nd A. S. C. Brown beat J. Paterson and 8. Upton, 6—l,6 — 1, R — t 6—%6 — % la the Men's Handicap Doubles A, F. Billing and Dr H. D. Bamfard- (owe 15 and 5-6) beat J. H. Stewart and H. G. Thomson (per), 6—4,6 — 4, B—6. This- wits a. fairly even game. The semi-fhrt.l of the Combined Championship Doubles resulted in W. G. Brown and Miss D. Udy beating A. F.~Billing and Miss E. Martin, 6—3, 3—6, 6 £ The final will be play«d next Saturday.