LAWN TENNIS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue XI, 14 March 1903, Page 720

LAWN TENNIS.

By

VOLLEY.

The Auckland Lawn Tennis Association has arranged for the finals in the championship events to be played on the Eden and Epsom Club’s courts on Saturday next, 14th inst. An invitation has been sent by the Eden and Epsom Club to the other local clubs inviting their members to be present, and as the matches are likely to be well contested there will probably be a large muster of all interested in the game.

On Saturday A. 11. Brabant met C Heather in the Men’s Singles Championship, and won after a very exciting match, the games being 6—2, 5—7, 7 —a 7 —5. Heather seemed likely to annex the third set, having the score 4 —l in his favour, and even reached 5 —3, but Brabant scored the next four games. In the last set Heather reached, but never passed, Brabant.

A. F. Billing played P. Scherff, and won by three sets to one. There is no doubt the loser would improve his game considerably by running in on good balls.

The final now rests between A. F. Billing and the winner of A. H. Brabant and T. Ruddock. This latter match will be played during the week.

Miss A. Nicholson defends her title to tha Ladies’ Singles Championship against Miss A. Gray, and should the latter be in good volleying form she will doubtless give Miss Nicholson some trouble.

In the Combined Championship Miss E. Gorrie and A. H. Brabant meet Miss D. Udy and A. F. Billing, and the chances of victory are generally allowed to be very even.

In the Ladies’ Doubles Champoinship the Misses Michelson (West End) meet the Misses Gorrie (Eden and Epsom), and a very elose finish is anticipated. Miss P. Gorrie’s volleying will doubtless assist her sister’s steady back-line play.

At a meeting of the committee of tha Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association it was resolved that the delegate to the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association should be instructed to bring up the question of the status of placers in championship events competing against fellow-representatives, and to recommend a residential qualification of at least three months.

The Oamaru Club will hold its annual meeting at Easter time. Quite a number of Christchurch players intend taking part in this excellently-conducted tournament.

The ninth inter-State conies: between Victoria and South Australia was commenced last week. Of the eight previous matches the issue in every instance has been in favour of Victoria, but this year South Australia’s ehances look well, for their opponents will not be a truly representative team, and Dr. Harbison, an ex-Vietorian representative, has settled iu Adelaide, after three years’ play in England.

There seems to be a good deal of dissatisfaction about the way in which the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association carries out its duties. A long letter appeared in the Wellington “Evening Post,’’ suggesting that the Association should have fixed headquarters and a local abiding-place. This suggestion is certainly a good one, and should meet with the attention of all clubs interested in the welfare of the game.

The members of the Parnell Club played a representative team from tho warships lately in port, and although the local players won by eight matches to four, some very exciting games resulted.