LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 764, 12 March 1910, Page 13

LAWN TENNIS.

(Br SieveeJ

NOETH ISLAND. TOURNAMENT FIXTURES. Manawatu championships and handicaps , at Palmerston North on March.lG and 17. Entries close to-day. Wellington provincial and junior championships, on March 25, 26, and 28. Entries close on March 19. Wanganui championships and handicaps at 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. The vagaries. of Wellington weather are well known, but seldom have tennis players been, treated as were the six teams that journeyed across the harbour last Saturday afternoon. They were greeted on arriving at the Bay by a shower of rain, which, though of 6hort duration, completely spoilt all chances of play on the grass courts. But the old saying about "an ill wind" can be aptly repeated in this case, because no pleasure would have been derived by playing on the Bay oourts in the- bad condition in which they were. What with grass scarcely touched by the mower, and indifferently marked court lines, they wore hardly fit for junior practice, muoh less for a final in senior tennis. As a result, the junior teams on the ground took the initiative and decided not to play, but the senior grade teams appealed to the postponement committee for a. decision. The committee decided to postpone all matches set down to be played at tbe Bay.

The two racket grade matches were drawn to be played on asphalt at Khandallah, and the other at Broughham Hill. Both weTe played, and resulted in Trinity, defeating Brougham Hill by 5 sets to 3 sets (one 6et not being played), and Oriental defeating Khandallah by 7 sets to 2. The racket grade competition will now be closed, as the Trinity team is leading three wins ahead of the runners-up, and only two matches to play if tho round were continued. The winners have an unbeaten record, and have earned popularity in their grade by their sportsmanlike conduct throughout the competition. On account of tho unsatisfactory state of the Day's Bay courts tho final of the shield competition will be played on the Tliorndon Club's courts this afternoon, and tho two pennant matches will'be decided on tho Newtown and Trinity courts. Both Thorndon and Wellington were represented by their strongest teams last Saturday. A. Young was absent from Thorndon, but that team was strengthened by tho inclusion of C. Gore in the fifth double. Gore and Miss Simpson would liavo met Ward and Miss Francis, and it'would have been interesting to have seen how tho junior player would have shaped. Four of the fixtures, drawn for last Saturday, went by default. In the shield grade Wellington B defaulted to Newtown, and Brougham Hill defaulted to victoria College, l'n the cup grade matches, Petone and Bidwill Street both withdrew, and Brougham Hill defaulted to Muritai. Too many matches have been defaulted . vcar > nnd, if the Management Committee could get at tho reasons for this state of affairs, they would have infonna-

tion which would be valuable to tlmm iu tbo summing-up of this season's trial of the alterations in the inter-club competitions. C. F. Qn inn ell, of the Brougham Hill Club, has been transferred to Auckland. Ho has been, during his short stay in Wellington, one "of Brougham Hill's most active members. He holds the singles championship of the club at present, and would have had a good chance of retaining it for another year had he been able to t remain for the play off. He will certainly bo a strong acquisition to the northern association. Several members of the local branch of the Telegraph Department intend visitlug Christchurch at Easter to •. play a match with a team representing the Department there. The majority of the Wellington team will also try their prowess in the -Canterbury Association's tournament. ' Entries for the "Wellington Association's championship tournament will close next Saturday. The tournament will be held on the Thorndon and Brougham Hill Clubs' courts. The senior championships will bo played on the gross courts, and the junior events on asphalt. Already several well-known playors have expressed their intention of competing. .It is almost certain that entries will bo received from C. C. Cox, R. N. K. Swauston, P. H. B. Fisher, J. C. Peacock, P. Laishley, H. Brown, and E. Salmond. The junior events are attracting large entries, and sevefal junior players are looking for partners, especially for the combined events, so intending competitors should make themselves know early. Entries for the Manawatu championship and handicap tournament close today. This tournament is to be held in Palmortson North on March IS and 17, and is attracting good entries ■ from country clubs. Palmerston North Club has won first place in the Country Cup competition for the Manawatu Centre, and will now meet one of the winners of the same event in the Wanganui or Wairarapa Centre. It is expected that P. M. B. Fisher will be a competitor in the Palmerston North tournament next week. ■ The much-postponed match between the two pairs in the final of Day's Bay handicap double, may eventuate this week, woather and other things permitting. It is rumoured that Charles Lawrence is resigning the secretaryship of the Broushain Hill Club.