LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 758, 5 March 1910, Page 13

LAWN TENNIS.

v CBx SebvbbJ NORTH ISLAND TOURNAMENT ■ FIXTURES. . Manawatu championships and handicaps at Palmerston North on March 16 aud 17. Entries close on March 12. Wellington provincial, and junior championships on March 25, 2G, and 28. Entries close on March 19. Wanganui championships and handicaps ut Wanganui on -March 25, 26, and 28. Entries close on March 15. Hawke's Bay ! championships and handicaps, at Napier, on March 26 and 28. Waikato championships and handicaps, at Hamilton, on March 25, 26, and 28.

Last Saturday, for the third time this season, the inter-club matches had to be postponed on account of the wot weather. There aro now only three Saturdays left before Easter, on which to finish the remaining matches. Tho Management Committee has decided to play tho Thorndon v. Wellington A match this afternoon at Day's Bay. If Thorndon should win, then this competition will close. The cup competition will close with this afternoon's matches, which cannot alter tho result of this competition, as the Lower Hutt team has played all its matches without a loss.

The pennant teams have to play two matches each before the second round is finished, and 1 then it is quite possible that a deciding match will have to bo played, as happened last season. 'l'he racket teams have not begun their second round yet, but there is little doubt that the' Trinity A team will defeat the Brougham Hill team, and bo end the competition in this grade. The meeting of the Thorndon and Wellington teams this afternoon should provide a good match. Tho majority of the members of both teams have been practising hard, and it will take a clever judge to pick the winners on paper. About a month ago the Otago Association put before-the New Zealand Association a proposal to establish a South Island singles championship, for a trophy which was presented on the condition that the event would bo played in Dunedin every year. It was understood that this proposal was made for the . purpose, of fostering tennis in the Otago province. After hearing this one is surprised, on glancing over this ' association's programme for its annual tournament, to see a clause which clearly states that players whom the committee grade in the second grade singles may not piay in the championship events. This clause may savo a little time, and may also save the senior players a little exertion; but it is not in accordance with the expressed aims of this association. ; The tournament can hardly be called an open event when a restriction like this is made, which, in the writer's opinion, does not conform .'with' Rule 49 of the New Zealand Association's rules. Tournament p(ay gives , the juniors of the gaino the best opportunities of gaining the • experience which .is essential in the making of first-class players. Intending competitors should note that there will not be any handicap events at tho Wellington Association's championship meeting at Easter, as stated in the tennis columns.of tho local dailies.

■Players' and those interested in the sport are to be well provided for at Easter. Championship tournaments will, bo held in Wellington, Napier, Wanganui, and Hamilton in the North Island, and in Christchurch, Dunedin, Westport, and Blenheim in the South Island. The university championships will be played iii Christchurch. Tho Government Tourist Department has had two asphalt courts laid down in Qucenstown for the use .of visitors. A small charge of_sixpenoe is made for the use of the courts. It is not generally known in the North Island that in some of the South Island tournaments, competitors have to supply thoir own balls for all events. For players who enter for championships and handicaps, this means a tidy little "extra." The New , Zealand 7 Association has adopted Ayres's ball for 'this', next Now Zealand championship meeting. There seems to be. much difference of opinion as to the. qualities of " the different mates of balls known in New Zealand, if one can go by the tournament programmes of tho respective associations. Auckland and Wellington use Sykcs's, Canterbury uses Ayres's, and Otago uses Slazeugcr's. From "Austral"'in the "Referee" comes an excellent suggestion that Australia (no doubt he means Australasia) as champion nation, .should announce' a "champion-ship-of-the-world"' event to bo played at Davis Cup time. Our governing body should certainly find time to give this suggestion its best consideration. It is stated that the gate receipts for tho Davis Cup match, played in Sydney lajt November, amounted to .£1503.