TENNIS.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 19, 21 January 1913, Page 5

TENNIS.

TARANAKI CHAMPIONSHIPS. In the concluding day of the Taranaki Tennis Tournament, Ollivier easily disposed of Wallace in the final for the men’s championship singles, 6—3, 6—o, 6—3. in the combined championship doubles, Mm Wallace and Wallace accounted for Miss M. Thompson and Dickie, 6—l, 6—l. The final for the men’s handicap singles (B grade) went to F. A. Bamfield (20), who beat Ryder (scr.). In the A grade Pqwdrell (5) beat Lee (25) 60— 51, 60—57. In the handicap doubles Powdrell Bros. (5) beat Cowan and Evans (.10), 60—43. In the ladies’ handicap doubles, Mrs Birch-Johnson and Mies Bundle (10) beat Mrs Payne and Mrs Jones (scr.), 50—34. The combined handicap doubles went as far as the semi-final only, but in the men’s championship doubles, Dickie and Wallace beat Ollivier and Griffiths, 7—9, 6—l, 6—3. 1 Local players at the tournament were Messrs L. Curtis and J. H. Thompson; the former disposed of several opponents, but did not get into the finals. THURSDAY’S MATCHES. The following will represent Stratford Tennis Club in its match against Eltham on Thursday, on the latter’s courts :—Messrs Cameron, Anderson, Crawshaw, Fussell, Curtis, Marshall, Wilson, Thompson; Mosdameg Robinson and Budge; Misses Mackay, D. Mackay, Wake, Wilson. A drag will leave Davy’s stabljgs at 1.15. The following will represent Stratford v. St. Andrews, at the former’s courts: —Messrs W. D. Anderson, Wright (2), Jones, Vaughan, James, Macalister, Munro; Mesdames Rennoll and Anderson; Misses M. Mackay, Bayly, F. Wake, and Anderson. Match to commence at 2 p.m. Those members unable to play are requested to notify the Secretary. The St. Andrews’ team to play the Town Club’s B team will he:—Messrs H. W. Douglas, J. F. Anderson, W. S. Syme, H. Chadwick, A. Patrick, N. Templer, C. H. Croker, N. W. Jennings ; Misses Brayshaw, Clegg, Petrie, O’Leary, Morison and Hignett. TENNIS BOOMING. The following remarks by “Footfault,” in the Sydney Daily Telegraph has a general application to the game in our Dominion as well as on “’tother side” ;

There can be little doubt that the present year will be one of the best that lawn tennis has yet experienced in New South Wales. It has been given a great stimulus, in the first place, by a visit from a team, representing the English Lawn Tennis Association. It is the first English team that has paid a visit to Australia, and it is to be hoped that it will not be long before another one is here. If success holds out any inducement for the future team, then the temptation should be very great. The team now here has had wonderful success. Its first win, that of the Davis Cup match, was naturally the greatest, as die possession of that cup is the highest ambition any nation can aspire'to in the tennis world. Following that win up by decisive victories over Neyv South Wales, Queensland, and New Zealand in succession, it already has a wonderfully good record. And in addition to the temptation, of success is that of pleasure. The inemhers of the British Isles team “are enthusiastic as to their enjoyment of the trip.

From the point of view of the individual members of the team, the trip is an admirable one in every way. From the English Association’s view, it is satisfactory to know that the main object of the visit—to secure the blue riband of tennis—has been achieved, and also that the financial results are better than could have been hoped for. From the local associations’ points of view, the one thing that looms far larger than any other is the immense amount of good done to the game, and the stimulus the international matches have given to public as well as the players. Some idea of the interest that the English team is creating may be gathered from the huge audiences that witnessed their play here. Already there is the promise that the attendance will be much larger at the match this week against Australia. Another good guide is the influx of new members into the New South Wales Association due, no doubt, to the desire to obtain the privileges of membership for the forthcoming contest. If France or Germany can be persuaded to send a team, the visit would be of no less interest, i and would do an equally large amount of good. Country week has practically finished. When one considers the class of tennis that the country visitors displayed on their first visit three years ago, and compares it with the brilliant expositions of to-day, one is inclined * to marvel at the revolution in form that country week has done so much to bring about.