LAWN TENNIS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIV, Issue 2, 12 January 1910, Page 10

LAWN TENNIS.

Ascklasd Proviseisl Meeting, There was another large attendance at the Eden and Epsom Courts last week to witness the finals of two championship events of the tournament of the Auckland Provincial Lawn Tennia Association’s annual meeting. Miss Nunnelley carried off the ladies’ singles, beating Miss Ruby Wellwood in the final, ■ nd the men's doubles championship fell to Messrs. Fisher and Peacock, who again beat F. Wilding and A. F. Wilding

hi the final. Following are adffifcrtial results: — LADIES’ CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES. FINAL. Miss L. Powdrell and Miss A. Gray beat K. M. Nuunelly and Mi*s K. Braithwaite. 6—2. 9 —7. The losers did not offer uiix h opposition in the first set, Miss Nunnelly in particular being off her game. The second set, however, was a most stubborn one, and was only decided after 16 games had been played. With the score at 4—2 in favour of Misses Powdrell and Gray, the opposing pair gradually crept up. principally through the steady play of Miss Braiths waite. and brought the score to 5 all, 6 a!L and 7 all. and then the winners ran out with the two last sets. Miss Powdrell played remarkably .veil on the back line, and had the lion's share of the work at times. In four games Miss Gray did not get a stroke. MEN S CHAMPION DOUBLES. FINAL. F. M. B. Fisher and J. C. Peacock beat A F Wilding and F. Wilding, 3 —6, 6—2, I—6, 6—3, 6—6. The play in this match was to a large extent a repetition of the play in the final of the N.Z. championship last week, except that Peacock and Fisher were more severe and accurate overhead. In the first set, which the Wildings won, it was noteworthy that both Peacock and Fisher tost their services, while the elder Wilding, whose service is comparatively simple, won his service game bv following quickly to the net and volleying. In the second set Fisher was responsible for some very fine play, returning several bails that appeared uutakable. In the third set the Wildings went away with the lead, and won easily, 6—l, the veteran giving a fine exhibition of steady lobbing and net play. The fourth set was exciting, as the Wildings were now two sets to one; but the Wellington pair pulled themselves together, and played Jjetcer than ever. Their service improved, and their overhead work wa more severe: their returns in The first four games ur the set being particularly bril’iant Tbe elder Wilding was now tiring and fne champion, 4 n trying to do more «.han b»s share of work, was heavily o*e“Ut-apped Despite -his plucky efforts, Fisher and r'eaccck won :he jset, 6 —3; and in the fifth set the elder Wading was hardly equal *o tb* strain. Tne two Wellington men are extremely brilliant against anything soft, and they practically had their opponents at thei’ mercy. The finish was thus rather tame, out the elder Wilding played up pluckily to the end, and the champion made frequent brilliant but unavailing efforts to beat back the attack. A. F. Wilding was, of course, to a large extent, handicapped by the comparative weakness of bis partner, and neither his service nor his volleying were up to his best form. Of the winners. Fisher was. as usual.' the more "brilliant-of the two. but Peacock’s- reverse smash, a particularly deadly stroke against lobs, was much in evidence. In Fisher and Peacock New'Zealand -possess two players of extraordinary ability, who only need practice against first-class men to become veritable champions themselves. . t LADIES' CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES* FINAL. Miss Nunnelly beat Miss R. Wellwood, 6 —3, 4—6, 6 —3. In the firs: set Miss Welk wood started so well that she seemed likely to overwhelm her opponent, and led at 3—o. But Miss Nunnelly, who always starts slowly. then woke up. and drove and placed so brilliantly that she won the next six games and set. 5 —3. In the second set Miss Wellwood mixed her game judiciously, and, by using her fine volleying powers, establfehed tbe commanding lead of 4—o. Miss Nunnelly then passed her so cleverly that she was driven u> the back of tbe court. Miss Nunnelly equalised at 4 all, but Miss Wellwood then took the two next games 'and set by bard driving and placing from side to side of the court. In the third set Miss Wellwood seemed to feel the effects of running in to the net. and was hardly so steady as before, aud Miss Nunnelly, who was driving as hard as ever, gave her little chance. The last set went to Miss NunneHy, 6—3. and Miss Well wood is evidently no? yet in the same rank as her opponent, but her fine service and her volleying powers, aided by her service off the ground strokes, should win her many championships in future. LADIES HANDICAP SINGLES. In the semi-final, Miss Williams beat Miss Cock. 6—3, 6 —2, and Mis® Bathaiu beat Miss Cooke. 6—3, 6—3. The final provided a good game between Miss Williams <owe 30 3-6) aud Miss Batham. with the same handicap. Miss Williams won, the scores being 6 —4, 6 4. LADIES' HANDICAP DOUBLES. Misses E. Gorrie and Neville beat Misses Crowther and Barstow in the semi-final. 6—3, 3—6, 6—3, and Mis.se® Bloomfield aud Cumming beat Misses Gray and Wintere, &—6, 6—5, 6—2. Tbe final was won by Misses E. Gorrie and Neville towe 3-6 15). who defeated Misses Bloomfield and Cunt(.receive 1-6 15), the scores being 6-4, MEN'S HANDICAP DOUBLES. The semi-final between Henderson and Heather and Sellar and Robson, was won by the former pair, 6—4. 5—6, 6—4, aud this left the winners (whose handicap was owe 15 3-6) to meet T. R. Grigson and A. B. C. Brown (owe 15 4-6) in the final, which was won by Grlgson and Brown, 6—3, 6-X MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP SI NG LBS. The final provided a keen contest between J. C. Peacock and Harold W. Brown, and the former won after a five set match, which took nearly three hours to play, the •cores being 6 1, 3—6, 4—6, 6—2, 6 3. The match was interesting all through, and the result was open up to the fourth set. the games being two al). The champion lasted better than bis opponent, who. however, put up a game fight, and was warmly eougramiaied at tbe conclusion of tbe laaXcb —

Te Awamntn. The Te Awamotn Lawn Tennis Club he’.d a most successful tournament on Monday, January X for trophies presented by Mrs. Riekit ami Mr. von Sturmer. Throughout the day the play was most exciting. The winners were Miss B. Mandeuo and Mr. R. S. Galbraith. Mr. von Stnrmer i vicepresident). in an appropriate speech, made the presentations.