LAWN TENNIS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXX, Issue XV, 11 April 1903, Page 999

LAWN TENNIS.

(By

Volley.)

1 NTER-’VARSITY TOURNAMENT. The entries for the above event have now been received, and the contests will be played on the Eden and Epsom Club’s lawns on Saturday next and the following Tuesday morning. Men’s Singles.—Auckland College, Messrs Coates, Smith, and McCoy; Victoria College (Wellington), Messrs Prouse, Beehre, ami De la Mere; Otago University, Messrs Brown and W. Repa; Canterbury College, Messrs Rice and Cox. Men’s Doubles.—Auckland: Coates and Oliphant, Smith and Pick mere, McCoy and Short. Wellington: Prouse and Beehre, Mitchell and De la Mere, Brailsford and Prouse. Canterbury: Rice and Cox, Stowe and Cook, Chappell and Kissell. Otago: Not to hand.

Eadies’ Singles.—-Auckland: Misses P. Gorrie, Hull and Metealfe. Wellington: Misses Batham, Roberts and Wedde. Canterbury: Misses Barker, Triggs and Wilding. Otago: Misses Crump and MeCahon.

Ladies’ Doubles. —Auckland: Misses Corrie and Metcalfe. Wellington: Misses Batham and Roberts, Wedde and Batham, Griffiths and White. Canterbury: Misses Barker and Triggs. Otago: Not to hand.

Combined Doubles.—Auckland: Miss Gorrie and Coates, Miss Hull and Smith, Miss Metcalfe and McCoy. Wellington: Miss Batham and Prouse, Miss Roberts and Beehre, Miss Wedde and De la Mere. Canterbury: Miss Barker and Rice, Miss Triggs and Cox, Miss Wilding and Stowe.

The trophy is a handsome silver cup, which was won last year by Canterbury College.

EDEN AND EPSOM LAWNS. The following finals were played last Saturday. The courts were rather damp on the back lines, but otherwise in fair order: — Men’s Championship Singles.—i.ir J. P. Grossman had a somewhat easy victory over Mr C. Heather, the sets being three to love, and the games 6—2, 6—3, 6—2. From the commencement of this club’s tournament it was seen that Grossman was likely to prove a formidable nut to crack, and it was a pity that he did not enter in the Auckland championship. Mr Grossman also annexed the handicap event, beating T. S. Ruddock by 6—3, 6—4.

In the Ladies’ Singles Miss S. Rice secured the coveted honours for the third season, beating Miss P. Gorrie B—6,8 —6, 6 —3. In the first set Miss Gorrie had the lead, her volleying was good, and seemed at one time likely to earn this set, but Miss Rice’s steady work and good lobbing was not to be denied.

In the final for the Combined Doubles Miss S. Rice and Mr A. F. Billing (owe 30) beat Miss Towle and Mr Sharnif® (rec. 3/6) 7—5, 6—3.

The only event unfinished is the Ladies’ Doubles.

At Parnell Mr Scherff beat Mr Dargaville in the Handicap Singles, this being the only match played, owing to the dampness of the courts.

There is evident intention on the part of those having the welfare of lawn tennis at heart to push the game forward to the position it should occupy. With thia end in view the Wellington Lawn Tennis Association have recently con-

sidercd the question of the present organisation of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association-, and have passed tile following resolution: ‘-That steps be immediately taken to requisition the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association to hold a special meeting to discuss the object of that association having a fixed centre, with resident delegates.” There is no question that this is a move in the right direction, and should receive the support of all the affiliated associations. At the present time the association only meets once every year, and this meeting is held where the annual championship tournament takes place, so that very often only a very few of the delegates ean be present. Even the secretary is unable sometimes to attend. It will readily be seen, therefore, that the supporting influence that should be attached to the meetings of the association is lacking, and the game must suffer in consequence. 1 understand that Wellington is prepared to produce a secretary and sufficient delegates to represent all the affiliated associations. Unless this proposal is adopted we must be prepared to watch the decline of what should be one of the most popular athletic sports. May it not lie so.

At a meeting of the Ngaruawahia Lawn Tennis Club, held at Ngaruawahia on Wednesday last, the secretary reported that the arrangements fox- the open tournament at Easter were well in hand, and that besides a large number of country players there would be 12 to 14 competitors from Auckland. The secretary of the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association (Mr A. F. Billing) wrote stating that the club’s application for affiliation to his association had been granted. It was decided to accept Iris offer- to receive town entries, and they will close with him on Wednesday next at four p.m. The visiting players will be entertained to afternoon tea each day, and a concert and dance will take place o'l Easter Monday night, whilst picnics on the Waipa river can be arranged. Those wishing to return to town for Tuesday morning can catch the train leaving Ngaruawahia about twelve o’clock on Monday night.

A correspondent writes: "Under the heading of ‘Lawn Tennis in England and the Colonies’ an Auckland paper published an interview with Mr H. A. Parker a few weeks since. In this Mr Parker is represented to have said: ‘This season I gave Miss Nunnelly 30 and beat her.* This is not quite correct, hence the explanation I now forward. Miss Nunnelly and Mr Parker played four sets on the Thorndon courts, Wellington, on January 15, each winning two, so that Miss Nunnelly might equally claim to have beaten Mr Parker. On adding up the games I find that she was one to the good in the four sets, therefore the slight advantage was on her side. I merely send this correction in fairness to Miss Nunnelly.”