LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 86, 4 January 1908, Page 10

LAWN TENNIS.

<■ (BY INTEH-CLUB.)

The New Zealand Lawn Tennis' Championship Mcictingj just concludcd at Now Ply-: month,.has been ono of tho most successful and enjoyablo tournaments' yet held. This is the.first yoar that'the Now Zealand championships havo.' been played .off by ' thomsolves, and the arrangement' has'prayed such a decided , success that there. seems ' littld. doubt that future, meetings ;will bo arranged, on similar lines. The management lias bion all that could bo desired. Of 'course -thero wore not the blbcYs /which; always seem: t6 occur ' when championships" and ;handicaps. / are, run in conjunction; l Sixty •games,* played, on five courts 'in three- days, did-not mean ;■ that any ,of the " competitors " were . overw6rked. ' ■ particularly, sbemed' pleased with tho : nqw, arrangement, for. wheij; they were .comfortably seated to, Watch:'..a ■battle between two champions fought outy" thoy did not immediately have to Watch' a ' second-grado handicap '(so, dear./to the",'budding enthusiast) pliyed off. : '..v. !■

Tho standard! of'.thq ladies' play was vastly superior to that: witnessed in; previous tournaments, : and IMisscs /Ward, Powdrell;; mid lAVellwood have '• all improVed sinc'o the last, ; Jiaster tournament they' at. WcU : lington. , Miss Tram's was, ; not' 'playing'.'at her best, but better things expected of hor in the Tdranaki. meeting, Misi.Hitcllmgs bas not played up to expectations, .and.. !f could hardly bo picked to roprqsent New i Zealand against -No.w : South. Wales as; orio. ofl the six stronges"t. : .ladios..''..Ti)b selectioii win-, niittee has had ample, time'ilo pick 'the tda.m';. but the sixth.'lady':ivill .be hardest of "all!'to' choose. ' .' -" . . ' : .....v-.-'"-.'

' Thel men's 'singles"produced two surprises.-. The first was C.. C. Cox, of Jlasterton," falling to Peacock i ;ahd ; 'Peacock in turii being i defeated by * Quill>, ? -'.Tho latter' in duo course" was disposed of;-by Parkef in' an lininfercsti ing game, 1 Parker practically "'givihg his' 1 6p- : ponpnt the first : set. . This was so obvious that the crowd lost interest .in the game. The t linal. •of the men's doubles was tho! finest exhibition'of tennis yet seeni in New/ . Plymouth. , ,Tho play of '«U /four:, nien, 1 .'Dickie, Wallace,''Peacocky and -Fisher?was,-,ii; .treat to ( watch/JiDickio f.-was-'a-';' .priwerr-.e.f> strength, and .• Wallace, -; . being . mortf .'agile,eovered ;more ;thiiii his,-',share..of .thbJ court-. . The way, these two players returned,'-.their' .opponents' smashes called.; forth great itp-; plause from "tho onlookera. "P.cacocic ; and 'Fishar work-ed spleiididly togotiier,: tho' lat- • ter.making some"..'wonderful'retons.'^of.balls which whilst peacock,; who had,;evidently^■recpyered; from the'tryi'ng. gamp-iib haii'against Cox in tho morning,' backed his up; in fmo. ctyle, and the' W®!l' n Stpn pair only accopted 1 defeat after .'a five set _ match ;had-' been, played. ■ The younger pair are to bo lieart-' ily. congratulated'v upon; r their '.victory;'over • theso ex-champions. - ; ; 'V ; Parker and,-Miss; Powdrell.-y. Fisher and-; : Miss Niinneley. bad a.'oloso. go in_ the. first the second set.going-fairly,'easily .to .Fisher,; and Miss, Nunneley.v owing- chiefly- .to' this.: lady's excellent: lobbing,-, and-;Parker!s : erratic, •smashing. The third set saw many ,;long hard, returns . . two,-ladies, ;;whokept on driving'at one another until one of : tho men cut across and intercepted.the. drive ; with a short .drop shot. Parker who was ,tho 'most- successful with' these;,tactics .dook' tho .final set and'match. •'y . I;-! Miss Nunneley's . .record remains ..unbroken —thirtoen years NewVZealand championiiaiid the best ladies do dangerously near her.yet—this lady-lsxlrive is as 'deadly, as-.overv-. . and will no doubt.; remain tho tßrror :b£-„all'.' would-be champions for. %iany -years'': yet. :•;'

i The hospitality I ,''.&tcridc'd;' ; to s.tKe'- 'visitors by-.tho New Plymouth: people'has.'been liidst'' lavish.. , Tho Association gavb : ' ,a,-'md£t en-;' joyable' : evening bfilivened.by/ iriusio, -daiic--ing, _aifd tho pr;®sntation pf-'theiprizes" byi£hoPresident's wifo, ''Mrs , .' ; Honi©:''': Cheers'; wero" given heartily visitors... Mr. Fisher 'in returning, 'tharikj' took tho: opportunity of presenting- Jlr'. J. Paton, 'secrotairy, •:ahd - ; ''Mr./Hr; : Stdekbr, i ;..his': popular assistant; with* -avt'okbii' of rtgarSd' from tho .visiting! players. -Ths. : day •, after : - tho tournament, tho players wero taken , out in drags and'/motor-cars' and'-held- a' picnic' in 'one of'the .inost" beatitiful. bit 4: bf. 'Native bush within;'driving distance. '' •'. '. .

r ' -. Taranaki for '.tho; first wonr tlib, much-covoted banner, beating Wellington.by one point, and'-no doubt thatynext year. tho «lub will work harder to retain this.honour.