LAWN TENNIS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1738, 12 January 1888, Page 2

LAWN TENNIS.

Yesterday afternoon a match at Utra tennio, between Messrs Westoa and Q. Merewether and Measra A. Fooki and Oaygill, which has been on the tapis for two or three weeks was brought off on Mr O. O. Fooks 1 private lawn, and proved very exoltiog. The lawn was m very good order and tho game was witoeuod by a aainbar of spectators who showed keen interest, In the proceedings and ware not sparing In their applause whenever a good piece of play waa shown by either aide. It was decided to- pla7 five satd, the winners of three out of the five to be the victors. Play began about. 4 o'clock, and A.. Fooks, - winning the tos«, took choioa of oourts. The firab set wai one of the best, if not quite the beat, of any played, the games being called— s all, vantage all, and. the deciding atroke was won by Fook« and Oaygill, giving them one sat to the good. For, the •aoond set Weiton and Merewether palled themselves together and the repnlfc , was an easy win, tie gejmas beijag 6—3, The third set they snowed to still greater advantage, quite running away from their opponent!,' the games being 6—l. Messrs Fooki and Oaygill, now saw they must do or die, and rousing themselves up thoroughly ylayed splendidly, the rosutt being the exact reversal of the previous set, winning as they had previously lost, 6—l. Now came the final set and at tho first It appeared an easy thing for Woston and Merewether who ran up to 5 games while their opponents only got 2 But the latter made a grand effort, and the aoore got up to 5 all amidst great applause and exoitemaofc. For the deciding game Weston and Merewether had all the advantage of the light and the former getting his fast service m well every time, *oored game and won the match.

Afterwards Merewether and Otyg'll played a set of singles, the re alt be<nn ia favor of the former by 6 games to 3, Fooks and Weston also ployed a set of singles, whioh resulted In even a closer finish than the doubles, the score at tb> < finish being 5 games all, vantage all, and then game to Fooks.

Asa reso.lt of the above matches we may say that a meeting of the tennis players present was held afterwards and it w»s deolded to have a tournament for gentlemen's singles and doubles Mr 0. 0. Fooks w<is appointed Secretary and Treasurer, and all entries, accompanied by the entrance fee of 2» 6! per maa, are to be m his hands by 6 p.m. on Saturday next. The handioappera— Meisrs Orlsp, Waston and Oayglll, are to publish the handicaps m Monday evening's " Guardian," and the playing off will be bepuu Immediately after. We understand that if the oourt can be got m sufficiently good order, moat If not all the matches will be played m the Domain.