LAWN TENNIS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7676, 8 April 1903, Page 1

LAWN TENNIS.

+ mm. (By VOLLEY.) The finals oi tihe championship events in the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association's tournament were partially complete- at the Cranmer Square courts pn Saturday la-si, t'-h-e heavy rain during the week having made the grass courta at Lancasft-r Park quite unlit to play on. Most cf the events were p-ayed, but tho Combined Doubles Ch.'.mpic_i_ip was not compieted, on acccuni of the rain. In the Championship 'Singles Harmaai, as was expecttd, came out on top, but not without a hard tight with Borrows. The latter -howed something of his best form, getting 'his fprehand drive in with a good deal of pace, but was not quite so successful with the 'direction. His back-band was safe, and he got some pretty cr-oss-court shots to his opponent's left that either scored or left him with Tin open court fcr the return. His g-am-o was one of the best : he has i'hown. this season, being second only to that against Kiver in vhe somi-final of his olub championship. Harman set the pace for bis oppon_n>i, hitting h-Hr-d from the back lice, but ihis most deadly stroke was straight down the line from a short return or a weak second service. Ho did npt get the opportunity ihe general. y does for Borrows keeps his sETvice very low. Harmon's forehand driving was good, having the very important virtue of being well placed, and with a less active player -against him, would bisvc had -a, much easier win. The ECore3 wsrc — Harman 6-0, 5-7, 6-2, 6-8, 6-1. The Men's Doubles .'C3._inpions.-hip produced something of a surprise when W. H. Kiver and -W. Goss boat F. ... . B. Fisher" and F. Wilding. The watch was commenced a week ago, on ihe gras3 courts, and was di.ooii'tinued when each bad a set in, but Kiver and Gross took two out of the three remaining se.ts, and the matc-h.. The whine'rs deserve overy credit for their wiri, especially as they were not supposed to have ' the slightest, chance, even by their -most sanguine supporters. Goss played a great game; his gjound shots were fast, and placed with excellent judgment,' some short -and across court would ha-M demoralised the very best opponents* His volleying and smashing were as tempestuous as usual, but in this match weie deaelly in their accuracy. . Kiver played a good sound game, with t-he exception of his -overhe_irl work, which was very erratic; but his performance suffered in comparison -with the mere s Showy game of bis partn-tr. Fisher was not up -lo.ioiiii. His vo.. eying was-. hi 3 best point, but bis ground '.-hots found the netioo often. Wilding had to stand the greater par: of .he work on his side<- for his opponents g-vqjpFiaher as lktie to do .as possible, but 'uhejSpitiless- -severity of their returns told its tale' in the end, though he played gamely till the last stroke. _ne scores were — Kiver and Goss 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5. The Ladies/ Champion-hip Doubles was a fine exhibition for' one .set, but the second was -a walk-over fot Misses K. van Asch and Jameson against Miss Nicholson «ud Mrs Bickertdn, aod as ihey had just won the first also, Ihey tock tho match two a.+s straight. There was nothing to choose between them, at first, all four players returning and placing with splendid accuracy, but in the second e-ot the losers could not manage toigct a- g-amc. Scores— Misses Van Asch and /Jameson 9-7, 6-0- . _• The Ladies' Singles Championship was p.ayed between Miss. Nicholson and Miss Jameson, when the former won, 8-6, 6-3. She had a bad position in both sets, the first standing at 5-3 against her. and her opponent got? a good lead In the opening of -tho second set, but s'h. played tip against t'hes^ odds and managed to win. both' sets. Her '. -fcr eh and is a difncu.i shot to play, keeping low and generally landing well hock in the court. She kept most ol her shots cr.; her opponent's backhand, varying it wiilh a well-n.'B.ced -hot down the side lines. Her own backjhand is weak for a player of her m/crit, -and giod practice on tliat side wouid make Miss Nicholson r, first-class player. Miss Jameson, has- made more improvement this season. Her forehand is much faster, and her backhand -shot .is a distinct advance on .the weak return of moet lady players. She is one.of the few ladies who make use of iho volley, though her efforts in this direclion Were not fruitful with the bc3t r-rsults in this match. But a little more confidence witththis shot, which can -be gained only by practice, will enable her to ho.d hsr own- against' the best. H. A. Parker, the Singles eh amnion of New Zealand, vtas .present at the Cranmer courts en Saturday! last, and played- several- game 3 with -local p.&.y.er3. He was not in form at all, though at time 3he showed what might be expected from him when properly tuned up. His serve into the right court is particularly awkwaTd, striking nearly half-way 'between tihe service-'.ine and the net and cutting outwards over the " side line, so working his opppnent off the court. His hard fprehand hitting of a ye-r or two hack 'has .ee_ re-pia-ced"by a much slower shot, hut witti more a'ttemion to place. Hia -smashing* showed he has not/.lb£t his blace as ore of the most deadlyiplayers in New Zealand in, the this department of the game . At -a meeting of the Canterbury Lawn Tennis AssociatioiK one of the committee speke very strongly pf the unnecessary reviling pf the Association by some players who had 'been Bcratchedi in the championship Tournament. He -said that if men who gave their time and energy in ihe interests of the game weTc subjected io such annoyance as the com-miltee had experienced, players would find ■ themselves in the position of being un-ble to find anyone of standing willing to take up posi-tions--that, in any case, were most unenviable.