LAWN TENNIS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 30, 4 February 1905, Page 12

LAWN TENNIS.

\ (By "Kakcte."} t It was most" unfortunate that rain in jterfered with the tournament finals 01 'Monday. Interesting as the play "was, £ j much better display would no doubt ha.v< 'been given on dry courts. Dr. Keith, ii J particular., did not relish the conditions jln the inens doubles he had a bad cramp and "was of little use. In the championship singles Dr. Keith having easily disposed of Billing on Saturday, was expected to win from Rice I The latter, however, went off with I rush, winning the first two sets.. S—6 J6 —4. Dr. Keith won the next two. 6—3. 17 —5. There were some fine rallies, but j the balls being heavy, play waa mostlj I from the back lines, and neither took any ! liberties. Little volleying was done, as I the players 3butd not get to the net quickI!y on the slippery ground. It is a great ipity we could not see this match under favourable conditions. Our young players could learn a lot from a game like this. When the final set was started interest was very keen, but the rain set in heavily and stopped play altogether. As Rice had to leave for he South on Tisesday it was decided to leave the result as a tie. Rice has improved greatly since his last visit to Auckland, and shows fine judgment, especially in his passing shots. He is to be congratulated on his performance against such an experienced exponent of the game as Keith undoubtedly is. Miss D. Udy annexed the ladies' singles championship, defeating her club mate, Miss A. Stewart, in the" final. 6—3. 6—o. The new champion has a more powerful style, combined with accuracy and judgment, than any of her opponents in this event, and she thoroughly deserves the honour obtained. On a dead ground her well-p]aced drives arc practically unplayable, aud at the best of times she makes a lot of trouble for those opposed to her. I hope that next season we shall see Miss Udy taking part in the New Zealand championship meeting. The ladies' doubles' championship went to Misses Gray and S. Rice. In the final the North Shore pair (Mrs. Cooper and Mrss Harvey) did not get going at all until -well on in tbe second set. After making a great effort they were defeated. 6—2, H-β. The winners play well together, -vritli great accuracy, Miss Gray being specially good with her volleying. Miss Rice makes fine use of her pefc stroke along the side, which is discon- • certing to her opponents:, and gets them iout of position. Mrs. Cooper is not playing up t-o her last season's form. The final of the men's doubles was to be played to-day. Paterson and Longuet meeting Baniford and Brown. When rain j stopped operations on Monday the score [stood set all. aad 5 —3. the West Ender3 j leading. I certainly consider that both I these pairs were lucky to get into the ; final, as, on form, several other combinations should bold them safe. Nevertheless. I must congratulate these players ion the position they now hold. Bamiord and Brown have played nice tennis right through the tournament. Billing and Miss Udy defeated Keith and Miss Holland on Saturday after a close fight, 9—7, B—6, and on Tuesday J morning won the final from Bice and ! Miss Kice. Miss Udy was again in fine j form, giving her partner many chances at the net by her placing and driving. Billing -was steady, and showed improvement in his volleying. The winners have ■now played together for some time, and I make a lormidabJe combination, euuportj ing each other in every way. It is practically certain that the nest \ New Zealand tournament will be held in \ Wellington. This should give our local \ player=. a chance of competing, and it is Jto be hoped Auckland will be well represented when the time comes. I hear that the association is arranging i for an inter-club banner. Eden and Ep- ! som will, without doubt, be the first to j have their name inscribed thereon. j The umpiring in the recent tournament was very good, and few complaints were heard. It is pleasing to be able to chronij cle this fact, as so much depends on having a competent man controlling the game, and often at such meetings the growling is loud and long. The joint honorary secretaries of the Australasian Lawn Tennis Association have forwarded a challenge to the AllEngland Lawn Tennis Association to play for the Daris Cup. New Zealand has joined the Australasian Association, hence the challenge. The cup is at present held by All-England, and the match should take place in June.