LAWN TENNIS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 15, 12 April 1911, Page 9

LAWN TENNIS.

By

ROMULUS.)

WELLINGTON. Brougham Hill Finals. H. V. HCWiffi FINE RECORD. Three championship finals were played off at Brougham Hill on Saturday Ist April, in the presence of a large muster of members and visitors. A feature of the afternoon’s tennis was the unprecedented success of H. V. Howe, who established a record for the club by winning three championship finals in one day.

Howe once more upset calculations by defeating Hawkins, who is never the same player in his meetings with Harry Howe. The latter has not had nearly the same opportunities for practice as Hawkins, but after the first set he was the only man on the court. At the beginning of the concluding set Hawkins was done, although he put up a good finish, and Howe continuing to play confidently won the match 3— 6, 6—l, 6— 4, and the championship for the first time. A more unexpected result still was that in the Men’s Doubles, Howe Bros, defeating Laishley and Hunter (the club’s first double), after the latter pair had captured the first set, 6—love. The Combined Doubles went to H. Howe and Miss Rothschild, the latter of whom is a really good doubles player. Following were the results: — MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES. H. V. Howe defeated L. W. Hawkins, 3—6, 6—l, 6—4. MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES. Howe Bros defeated F. Laishley and J. Hunter, o—6, 6—4, 6—3. COMBINED CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES. H. V. Howe and Miss Rothschild v. L. W. Hawkins and Miss Davis, 6 —4, 6—4. R. H. Nagle—Newtown Champion. The final of the Men’s Championship Singles of the Newtown Club was decided on Saturday week when the holder of the title, R. H. Nagle, succeeded in defeating E. Y. Red ward, 6 —4, 6 —2; and thus is club champion for another year. Nagle was expected to win as he has had fairly Tegular practice this year, whereas Rediward, Lindsay and Coy are confined to an occasional single they manage to work in at the courts. The winner joined the Thorndon Club some time ago, and has been much keener of late, so that in all probability this will be his last' season at Newtown. The match under review was not marked by any great brilliancy, as Nagle was evidently disposed to take no chances, and an idea of the game may be guaged from the fact that Redward himself was responsible for whatever aggressive play there was. The final of the Ladies’ Championship was started, Mrs. Nagle and Miss Clark being the competitors, but as they were very evenly matched, darkness arriveTT before the game was concluded. The score was set all, and 3 all in the third set. Consequently a replay was necessary and the match was set down for decision during the week. The correct semi-final results were: — Miss Clark v. Miss Robinson, S—6. 6—l. Mrs. Nagle v. Mrs. Grady, 6—4, 6—l. Petone Club. The suburbanites who have had the most successful season in the history of the club, winning two of the inter-club championships, concluded a Men’s Handicap Singles event last week with the following results: — First round. —Andrews (22) beat IT. Caverhill (30), 60 —56; Kean (23) beat’ A. Dunean (scr.), GO—42; Parkinson"(owe 10) beat Austin (5), 60—46; Hope (25), beat Foster (40), 60 —55. Second round. —R. Thompson (38) beat L. Caverhill (35), 60 —51; Andrews (22) beat Kean (23), 60>—56; Parkinson (owe 10) beat Hope (25), 60—48; A. Thomson (40) beat Phelan (35), GO—47. f Semi-final.—Andrews (22) beat K.

Thompson (38), 60—57; Parkinson (owe 10) beat A. Thomson (40), 60—55. Final.—Andrews (22) beat Parkinson (owe 10), 60—40. Miscellaneous. Victoria College’s team in the New Zealand University Tournament to be held in Auckland at Easter, will be chosen from:—D. 8. Smith, S. M. Cleghorn, J. B. Parker, C. H. Taylor, A. T. Duncan, Mrs Bogle, Misses J. Seott, H. Mclntosh, I. Tennent, and A. Atkinson. Mr Geo. 8. Pratt, many years secretary of the Newtown Club, returned to Wellington on Sunday week, after a month’s leave-of-absence, during which time he visited Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart, and New Zealand’s Southern cities. Mr R. 8. J. Beere, well-known in tennis circles in Wellington, leaves for England on Thursday, 20th April, having been selected as an officer of the New Zealand Coronation contingent. Rod Heath, the great Victorian player, who has gone to the Old Country to compete in all the famous tournaments, played in the international championship at Col d’Azure, Cannes, and reached the final, where he was defeated by Rahe (the German crack) 6—4, 6—4, 7 —9, Next issue will be the last occasion on which Lawn Tennis Notes will appear this season. The championship tables for the various inter-club competitions will be published for the benefit of the many players who doubtless would like to preserve some record of the season’s performances.

AUCKLAND.

Last Saturday was a perfect day for tennis, and no doubt so far as a large number of players ’ are concerned, will have been the last day of tennis for this season. A few players are keeping in form foe the Rotorua tournament, for which the majority left by Tuesday evening’s express —and will probably see the season out with the remaining club players on Saturday week. Most of the clubs have signified their intention of ceasing on the 22nd inst., so that top-dressing may be taken in hand at once. Some of the courts are in a very sad condition, and will need very careful attention at the hands of ground superintendents to give them a chance of recovering. Taken as a whole, the courts have not been in such good condition this year as in previous years. In reviewing the events of the season now closing, one is not struck by anything of a startling nature. Most things have gone along in the ordinary way—a few matters in an extraordinary way—and some have not gone any way. There has been no tournament held here of any kind, but this probably, is not the fault of the Association; there has been no Taranaki match, no player from Auckland was a competitor at the New Zealand Championships, and no player has established any pronounced superiority over the best local players. The only redeeming feature seems to have been the promise shown by Duthie. This youthful player has all the attributes of a champion, and should he practice in the right way and receive encouragement and assistance from the older players, may yet worthily represent this district. Quinnell and Swainson have proved themselves undoubted acquisitions to Auckland, if not only by their winning the double championship, then by their live interest in the game, and their keenness at all times. There are at present several young players of promise in Auckland, as well no doubt as elsewhere who are handicapped for want of instruction. In ihis respect tennis suffers ns compared with other sports, which have their coaches. No one doubts the great advance rn the standard of play amongst cricketers here since the advent of the “coach,” and no one doubts but that there woidd be a corresponding increase amongst tennis players were the young players to got proper instruction. The day’ of the tennis coach, however, does not appear as yet, and one must be

content with watching one’s superiors and “taking a leaf out of their book” at present. Amongst the lady players, Miss Gray maintains her undoubted superiority, but while several others have shown themselves to be players of average standard, no one has showed signs of more than ordinary ability. THE NEXT SEASON. In a few weeks’ time the clubs will be holding their annual meetings and electing officers for the coming season, Next season, with the Davis Cup contest, and a prospect of a large championship tournament, and the advent of many fine exponents of the game, will probably be a record one in the history of tennis in New- Zealand. Members will therefore do well to see to it that their best representatives be elected as delegates to the Association, and the Association will require to use a good deal of discretion in the appointment of its executive officers. EDEN AND EPSOM. At Eden and Epsom on Saturday last, Grossmann and A. 11. C. Brown defeated W. A. Brown and Morpeth in the double championship, 6—3, 3—6, 6—2, 4—6, 6—2. The game was started late and was finished in the dark. The winners w-ere most aggressive, Brown in particular. Their volleying, too, was better than their opponents. The play throughout seemed to be characterised by lack of enthusiasm, owing, no doubt, to the thought that the match could not be completed in time. Grossmann (0 —15, 4 —6) defeated Young (scr.) in the final of the handicap singles, 5—7, 6—4, 10 —8. Grossmann was repeatedly foot faulted, a decision which quite upset his game. The following are the winners of the club championships for the season: — Eden and Epsom. 11. Morpeth. West End. Quinnell and Swainson. Parnell, T. R. Grigson. Devonport. R. Grainger. Mount Albert, T. Gardner. Remucra, K. Duthie.

ROTORUA.

The club tournament which has been in progress lately, was concluded last, week, when the following games were played:— In the men’s handicap singles final, G. Vimpton (scr.) beat French (30) 70— 43. In the men’s championship final, Melville beat Empson 6—4, 7—5, and 6—3. In the ladies’ handicap singles final. Miss S. Simpson (owe 10) beat Miss Murray (receive 12) 50—28.

FEILDING.

On Saturday last at the Feilding tennis court, Mrs Evans beat Miss Shannon in the final of the local championship. Mr Davey beat Mr Lawson. Mrs Evans and Miss shannon were defeated by Mrs Harding and Miss Hare in the ladies’ doubles. Mrs Evans xf'ss Shannon are to play oil on Sa Aijigay next for the ladies’ handicap singles.