LAWN TENNIS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXVI, Issue VI, 9 February 1901, Page 247

LAWN TENNIS.

(By

“Vantage.”)

This week will see all club tournaments in full swing, but unless more favourable weather is experienced it will be difficult to get the whole of the events off before the close of the season.

The inter-club matches seem fated to an indefinite postponement, which is very unfortunate, as they would, £ am sure, prove of the greatest benefit to lawn tennis in Auckland. Owing to the absence of Misses Govrie and Rice, the two vacant places in the Eden and Epsom team were filled by Biss and Coates, and a better selection could hardly have been made. Miss Biss has been steadily improving during the last two seasons. and in a double plays a really strong game, particularly in the right hand court. Her forehand drive is not excelled by any lady in the club, and her backhand returns are low and accurately placed,while both are made in graceful style. With a little more power in her strokes, and greater agility on the court, Miss Biss would have a very good chance for the club championship. Migs Coates plays a hard hitting game, and is rapidly advancing towards the front rank of Auckland lady players. She is »ery active, but is inclined to be rather reckless at times. Her forehand strokes are good and severe, but her backhand requires a little attention. The other members of the team have not been altered. The West End Club team remains as originally picked.

but the Parnell Club will be considerably strengthened by the inclusion of D’Arcy, who was out of Auckland on the date originally fixed for the match. I am glad to see Miss Mowbray’s name in the team. She is taking the place of Miss George, who is unable to take part in the matches.

Amongst those who had generously given trophies to the West End Tennis Club (particulars of which appeared in my last notes) the name of Mr A. Kohn was inadvertently omitted. It ig worthy of note that -this gentleman has been most generous,

»ot only to the West End Club, but also to other athletic bodies, in the naatter of prizes, thus showing the keen interest manifested by him in all outdoor sport a

The West End Club have rerei’ed all entries for their matche* this sear non —13 pairs have entered for the Handicap Combined Match, 24 for the Men's Handicap Singles, and 8 for the Ladies’ Handicap Singles. Many interesting matches should be the result, judging by the interest taken and evinced by the steady practice indulged in by many (especially the new) members of the club. The competitors are anxiously awaiting the handicaps, which are now being adjusted by the Handicapping Committee (Messrs A. IL Brabant, A. A. Davies, and H. Burton).

For the Championship events, only Mrs Gentles and Mrs Newell have dared to attempt to wrest the Ladies' Championship from Miss A. Nicholson. For some years past this ivent has produced very few entries, and it certainly does seem a pity that some of the younger and more energetic members do not exhibit that spirit of emulation without which it is impossible to gain honours in the tennis world.

The Men's Championship Singles has produced a field of eight. The draw for the first round is as follows: —A. Davies v. B. Baker, J. C. Peacock v. J. Paterson, A. Goldie v. H. Gentles, and H. Burton v. A. H. Brabant. From the above, it will be seen that Peacock and Brabant are certain to be in the finrl unless, perchance, Paterson can effect a surprise in the first round by defeating Peacock.

AU matches in the first round of the Eden and Epsom tournaments are to be finished by Saturday, the 9th inst. No less than seven events are in progress, and the players may look forward to a busy time. The Club Championship for ladies will be a very open affair, and it would be difficult to select the winner from Misses Gorrie, S. Bice, D. Eice, A. Stewart, and Mrs. Chapman. Personally. lam inclined to think Miss Gorrie will secure the title, but she is rather short of practice, and it is quite within the bounds of possibility that one of the other four ladies mentioned may effect an upset. Being the holder of the Association Championship, Parker wiU not compete in the club event, which should be won by Hooper without any difficulty. On the other side of the draw C. Heather and Vaile will probably have a sharp contest to see who is to have the honour of competing in the final. Allan Brown has shown considerable improvement this season, and I should not be surprised if he makes Bice work hard to beat him in the first round. Brown makes his back-hand strokes in good style, but his fore-hand lacks length, and he does not time his volleys well. In spite of these shortcomings, he bids fair to become a strong player with two or three seasons’ experience. At this stage of the proceedings it is impossible to forecast the winners of the handicaps, but I shaU probably have some remarks to make about the players in these events in an early issue. Probably the most promising lady player in the club is Miss M. Towle. She plays in a very neat style, and has a good overhead service. She is quite young, and if she improves as she has done up to the present is sure to make a name for herself in the lawn tennis world.

Mrs. Blackborne, one of Victoria’s leading lady players, has been in Auckland during the past week. Although quite out of practice, it is obvious that Mrs. Blackborne is an adept ot all strokes of the game. She serves hard overhead, and her second service is almost as severe as her first. Her off-the-ground strokes, both fore and back-hand, are fast, well placed, and low in their trajectory. Some of her back-hand volleys are regular “ stingers,” and quite ala Diddams. In good form, I feel sure she eould owe 15 to anybody in New Zealand except Miss Nunneley. Mrs. Blackborne is also an enthusiastic golfer, and played on the links at Greenlane during her stay.

Now that it has been definitely decided that the Championships are to be held at Auckland this year, it behoves our local Association to get everything well in hand at an early date. The first qoastion to be decided

is which club is to have the management of the meeting, and this being done, the next step should be to appoint an energetic secretary and assistant secretary. I would also suggest that early enquiries be made as to the present location of the scoring boards, which until quite recently have been part and parcel of every tournament. Mr. Vaile’s idea of an umpires’ association is a capital one, aud Aucklanders should not miss this chance of putting it into effect for their own meeting this Christmas. Details like these go a long way towards making a success or otherwise of a meeting, and some of the above matters require prompt attention.

The unfortunate Masterton Lawn Tennis Club has drawn a hornets* nest about its ears with a vengeance. When the death of the Queen was announced on the 24th January the Wairarapa Championship Tournament was in full swing. An adjournment of two hours was made, and then play was resumed as several visitors who were taking part in the matches were tied to time. The players were requested to desist, but refused for the reason given above. A considerable crowd had gathered round the ground by this time, and some hissing and hooting were indulged in, but as the players appeared in no way disconcerted by these tactics, some of the more aggressive spirits in the crowd produced a length of hose. This had the desired effect, and the players considering discretion was the better part of valour, bolted for the pavilion. The courts were saturated with water, and on emerging from their shelter several of the competitors were greeted with an involuntary shower bath, while one was actually immersed in a neighbouring creek, losing his watch in the process. The action of the members of the club has been very unfavourably commented on in the Wairarapa press, more particularly as several of them are well known residents of the district, and it is quite unsafe to admit the soft impeachment of being a tennis player anywhere on the Masterton side of the Eimutakas.