THE GAME IN AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVII, Issue 13, 27 March 1912, Page 9

THE GAME IN AUCKLAND.

(By FOOTFAULT.) Fixtures. INTERPROVINCIAL TOURNEY—At Auckland, April 6,8, and 9. WANGANUI ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIP AND HANDICAP TOURNAMENT —April, 5,6, and 8. CHAMPIONSHIP AND HANDICAP TOURNAMENT, at Rotorua, April 5,6, 8 and 9.

Intending competitors at the Rotorua tournament should note that entries close with the hon. secretary, Mr. Algie, on Thursday, March 28. After a long spell of unseasonable weather tennis enthusiasts were at last rewarded by a beautiful day on Saturday. On all the lawns the club matches were pushed on, and in many instances finals were played. Messrs. Fee and Longuet. who on Monday week journeyed to Hamilton to meet the proposed Waikato Association, reported the result of the conference to the Auckland Association meeting last week. After a long discussion Messrs. Longuet, Fee, and Martin were appointed a committee to draw up a set of new rules to govern sub-associations. It appears as though there were every prospect of the Waikato people giving up the idea of forming an independent association and joining the local association as a subassociation.

The challenge match between Auckland, winners of the second grade competition, and West End, the lowest team in the first grade, took place on the West End lawns on Saturday. The West Enders proved equal to holding their position in the first grade, but in almost every match the games were well fought out. Dr Keith and Quinnell proved too solid for Snelling and Goldsmith in both singles and doubles That consistent pair Milnes and Webster, were again to the fore, winning all three matches in which they competed. The only other win the Aucklanders had was secured by Johns and Andrew, who defeated Smith and Fee after an interesting match.

The West End ladies were successful in all their matches, Misses Gray and Moore showing especially good form. Ow’ing to both clubs being anxious to push on their own matches, the challenge contest between Onehunga I. and Eden and Epsom 111., did not take place on Saturday at the time of writing, no definite date has been fixed. The Auckland team fox’ the North Island Inter-provincial tourney, put in some solid practice on St. Patrick’s Day. In view of the overcrowding on all the town lawns, would it not be a good idea fox’ the association to look round and see if there is a change of obtaining a piece of ground where they could lay down courts of their own? A great deal of grumbling, not only by the non-com-petitors, but by the competitors themselves, has been heard during the past season. The former complain of the lawns being occupied so much that they are deprived of their Saturday afternoon's tennis. The competitors themselves, in many instances, only play on Saturdays, and. every other mat eh day they have to travel. At the very best they get two short matches, and if lucky get a set or two in after these are completed. Now, U the Association had, say, 8 or 10 lawns over which they had control on Saturday afternoons, these Interclub matches could be made Longer. and thus do fax’ more to improve the standard of our players, than the short H up matuhaa at present in vogue. I chink

this matter should receive attention at once, as very soon there will not be any opportunities of getting land within a reasonable distance of town. WEST END V. AUCKLAND. (West End mentioned first.) MEN'S SINGLES. Dr. Keith, 9, v. Snelling, «; Quinnell, 9, v. Goldsmith, 5; Upton, 8, beat Webster, »; Oliphant, B, v. Milnes, 9. MEN'S DOUBLES. Keith and Quinnell, s», v. Goldsmith nun Snelling, 7; Upton and Olplhant, (1, v. Milnes and Webster, 9; Smith and Fee, 6, V. Andrew and Johns, 9. LADIES’ SINGLES. Miss Gray, 7, v. Miss Cooke, 5; XLss Moore, 7, v. Miss Woodroffe, 4. LADIES’ DOUBLES. Misses Gray and Moore, 7. v. Misses Woodroffe and Cooke. 5; Miss Patteson and Mrs Earle 7, v. Miss Calvert and Mis Martin, «. COMBINED DOUBLES. Mrs Earle and Smith, 7, v. Mrs Martin and Andrew, 0; Miss Patteson and Fee, 7, V. Miss Calvert and Johns, 4. West End won by 9 matches to 4—95 games to 78. Owing to both clubs being anxious to push on their own tournament matches, the challenge contest between Onehnnga I. ar.tl Eden and Epsom 111. did not take place o>.i Saturday last. No definite date has so far been arranged. SECONDARY SCHOOLS MATCHES. The secondary schools championships, under the supervision of Messrs F. J. Ohlson and A. L. Sheppard, were continued this morning. Results were as follows:— GIRLS’ DOUBLES. Final.—Misses Moses and Latimer (Grammar School) beat Misses McFarlane and Graham (Miss Bew's College), 6—l, 6 —4. GIRLS' SINGLES. Semi-final.—Miss Wright (Miss Bew's College) beat Miss Latimer (Grammar School). 6—3, 6—2. Misses Wright and McFarlane will play off the final at the Eden and Epsom ground next Tuesday. The final of the Boys' Doubles, between Tonks and Duthie (King's College) ami Ohlson anil Blundell (Grammar School) will be played on Monday afternoon on the Remuera green.