LAWN TENNIS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3014, 20 December 1911, Page 63

LAWN TENNIS.

BY SMASH.

A luxurious feast of tennis is promised to those who visit Ghristchurch next week, and from present indications the opportunity is being recognised and seized upon. From all over the Dominion, as well as from parts of Australia and the Home Country, have been received inquiries for seats in connection with the Davis Cup match. The stand will accommodate 3800 people, and up to last week over 2000 seats had been booked. The Davis Cup contest will extend over December. 29, 30, and January 1. Appstite for the more important item will be- whetted by the New Zealand championships, which will be carried out at Ghristchurch next week. It was hoped that the attractiveness of the championships/would be enhanced by the inclusion of the imembors of the Davis Cup teams as competitors. This, however, is now improbable. Brookes, the captain of the Australasian team, bee disapproved of members of his team entering. The probable effect of this decision is, that Otago will bo unrepresented at the championship meeting, for, so far as I can learn, the only likely competitor was Miss, Campbell, Otago's champion, Avhoi was to : have partnered Rioe in the I combined doubles. Rice has communicated his regrets that the proposed partnership cannot eventuate. Tucker and Miss Tucker, of Invercargill, it is said, propose to compete at the New Zealand Championship meeting. White, on whom Otago's faith would, have been pinned, will not be a competitor. Peacook is already in Christchurch, and the practice he is having with Davis Cup players should effectively equip him for the task of defending his title as champion of New Zealand. Ollivier is regarded as his most dangerous opponent. He likewise is- receiving an excellent preparation with fc'tao players who rank among the world's bast. Miss Travers, holder of the New Zealand Ladies' Singles Championship, is striking form, and will stoutly defend her title. Her most formidable opponent is probably Miss P. A. Stewart, of Melbourne, who is coming over to witness the Davis Cup, and is going to play in the New Zealand championships. Miss Stewart is one of the best Victorian lady players. In 19C9 she and Campbell won the Champion Mixed Doubles of Victoria, beating Addison and Miss Addison in the final. She is a very strong net player, and follows her serve m, cutting off the return in the most approved style. She was beaten for the New South Wales Championship, by Miss Powdrell, who is not competing in the New Zealand chamoionshirs this year. Two other Melbourne players—Misses Molesworth and Greenfield —have entered. Mis* Nunneley (says a northern paper) has been putting in a lot of work, and will again" make a bold bid to change-her wins from the thirteenth to the fourteenth. Miss Williams, should she go south, must have a big chance. Thi s week, in a club match for position on the ladder, she played a great game with Miss Travers. The latter took the first set-6—4. but Miss Williams evened gets by winning the second set at 6 —2, and won the match by 10 games to 8. Hawke's Bay lias several good ladies going south; Auckland has a sturdy representative in Miss Gray. Peacock and Fisher will have to be at their best to retain the Men's Doubles, Miss Stewart and partner will give Misses Nunneley and Baird. Hartgill and Williams (Sydney). Travers and Greig, a very hard light for the Ladies' Doubles. Miss Nunneley and H. Brown are playing together in the Combined Doubles, and in the Ladies' Doubles Miss Nunneley and Miss Baird are pairing.

Unpropitious weather on Saturday prevented tint' completion of three interclub fixtures. To date there remains to be completed one match in each round—e.g., Roslyn v. Port Chalmers (A Grade), Balmaoewen v. Anderson's Bay (B Grade), and St.. Leonards v Hauraro (C Grade). The results to date aire as follows : A GRADE.

C GRADE (Second Section).

Hamilton, Miss Mills, and Miss Black, of ICaituna Club, 'ntand taking pai-t in the Southland tournament at Invercargill next week. With Tucker away Hamilton should have a capital chance for honours. In the combined events he will be partnered by Miss Tucker, the younger. As showing the interest taken in New Zealand in the Davis Cup contest (says the Press) it may be mentioned that a, Temuka enthusiast telegraphed a day or two ago reserving 21 seats for a party from that town. Ano)thet" party .is coming from Dannevirke, and others are known to be coming from elsewhere in the Dominion. The court on which the match is to be played will be as near perfection as any court can be. There is a beautiful growth of grass on it, and it is as level as a billiard table. The grass is cut every day, and the court is watered and :ro<lled every sec-D-nd day. If wot ,'weat'her monies on just before the match, the court will be kept dry by being covered with tarpaulins. Lamed, one of the American team, spent last week end at Termuka on a fishing excursion in company with two C'bristchuich anglers. The nor'-westerly weather prevented the sport obtained being very good, but the American visitor showed that he is as expert with the rod and fly as he is with the racquet.

Concerning the practising of Brookes and lifath in Wellington, the following from ar. exchange is interesting:—"They played in a doubles contest against Swanston and Peacock. The latter pair, although beaten, did fairly well. Peacock at times played some brilliant shots, and. Swanston put in good passing drives from the base line. Brookes was master of the situation, and appeared to get on to most- of the returns with very little effort —anticipation was clearly apparent. Heath was more vigorous than but not so accurate as his captain. Afterwards Brookes played Peacock, and Heath had a few sets with Swanson. Both the local men played very well indeed. In one set Peacock secured four games, and although given plenty of racing about, he every now and again beat Brookes by clean, hard-driven shots. A month of such' practice and our New Zealand champion would improve wonderfully. It is in him, but he does not get the sort of practice to bring it out. Swanston shaped very nicely against Heath, and in the last set had him beaten; in fact, he won the set, 6—3. Swanston, after settling down to Heath's attack, evidently saw his opening. Whenever Heath forced his way to the net Swanston passed l him with fine clean hard-driven drives from the has** line The local player did not get his winning aces in so well from the backhand. The practice match showed that Swanston was not far behind Heath, and the same applies to Peacock." WAIKOUAITI v. RAVENSBOURNE. A match between teams representing the above clubs was played at Waikouaiti on Saturday last. The courts were in good condition; but several showers of rain fell during the afternoon, and spoilt the game to some extent. Mr A. Prescott (president of the local club) welcomed the visitors, and Mr Bringans responded. The following are the scores, Waikouaiti names being placed first: Combined. —Townsend and Miss Templeton 9, Bringans and Miss Fleming 7; Fell and Miss Summers 9, Fleming and Miss Portman 6; R. M. Templeton and Miss Bray 9, Gale and Miss Hutton 6; L. Kerr and Miss Townsend 9, Hawcridge and Miss Hawcridge 7. Ladies' Singles.—Miss Templeton 4, Mrs Fleming 1; Miss Summers 6, Miss Portman 2. Ladies' Doubles. —Misses Templeton and Summers 6, Mrs Fleming and Miss Portman 4; Misses Bray and C. Townsend 6, Misses Hutton 1. Men's Doubles. —Townsend and Fell 9, Bringans and Fleming 3; Templeton and' Kerr 9, Gale and Pascoe 5. Men's Singles.—Fell 8, Bringans 9; Townsend 6, Fleming 0. Totals. Waikouaiti 90 games, Ravensbourne 51. THE DAVIS CUP. CHRISTCHURCH. December 14. 11. Rice, one of the four members of tho Australasian team for the Davis Cup match, arrived in Ohristchurch to-day. Dunlop, the remaining member, is expected here next Tuesday morning by the Maheno. R. M. Kidston, who has been selected t<* practice with the Australasian team., came over from Sydney with Rice. J. C. Peacock, the New Zealand champion, camo down from Wellington this morning with the view of practising for the New Zealand ohampioships. Brookes and Heath, of the Australasian team, are putting in regular practice on Mr W. Goss's courts at Merivale, and on th© United Club's courts in Hagley Park. Lamed, Beak C. Wright, and M'Loughlin, tho Americans, are practising steadily on tho courts prepared for their use at Sunnyside. Applications for reserved seats have been received from various parts of New South Wales. Victoria, and Tasmania, Townsvillc. Rockhampton, and Adelaide, and from) all parts of New Zealand from Auckland to the Bluff, and it is evident that the gathering of tennis enthusiasts in Chritchureh during the coming holidays will be verv representative. Sir Joseph Ward and Lady Ward have intimated their intention of being present. AUCKLAND, December 18. Mr W. Dunlop. who is a member of the Australasian Davis Cup team, arrived by the Maheno yesterday. Dunlop left by the Main Trunk exorrss train last evening, and will travel to Christchurch direct. Another passenger by the Maheno was Mr R. Wertheim, a member of the executive of the Victorian Tennis Association. He will play right through the New Zealand championships tournament in conjunction with the Davis Gun contest. PROPOSED ENGLISH TEAM. SYDNEY, December 15. The Australian Tennis Association has received an offer from Mr Wallis Myers to bring a representative English team to Australia next year. The association is communicating with England.

a o a Si 8 6 be m ■ a 6 Kaittuna No. 1 .. .. 3 3 0 320 177 B'slinaC'ew en .. 2 2 0 195 121 ..3 2 1 207 229 .. 1 1 0 99 87 St. Kilcla. •• •• 2 0 2 134 199 Kaituna No. 2 .. '.'. 3 0 3 191 215 Port Chalmers .. .. 2 0 2 124 215 B GRADE Kaituna .. 4 4 0 391 298 Anderson's Bay .. 2 2 0 183 160 University '.'. 4 3 1 365 322 St. Kilda, .. .. .. 4 ;? 1 36S 317 .. 3 2 1 292 208 Roslyn .. .» .. .. 3 2 1 28S 212 . .. 4 2 o 370 311 N.E. Valley .. .. .. 3 1 2 26G 263 Bialmacewen .. 3 0 3 195 305 Hanover .. i . .. 4 0 4 2;)S 385 ■ .. 4 0 4 215 111 C GRADI 1 (jfc'Irat Section) Green Island No. 1 '.. 4 4 0 397 212 Hauraro No. 1 .. 3 3 0 318 188 University '.. 4 3 1 371 817 Kaikorai .. 3 1 2 224 2S3 Hanover .. 4 1 3 279 374 Port Chalmers .. .. 3 0 3 238 274 C&versham No. 2 .. 3 0 8 161 301

Cavers ham No. 1 . 3 3 0 82G 172 . 3 3 0 290 102 Kavonsbourno . 4 1 8 318 S51 St. Leonards . 3 1 2 216 277 NsB. Valley . 3 1 2 228 234 HJauraro Nk>. 2 . 2 1 1 187 174 Groen Island No 2 . . 4 0 4 277 393