LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1061, 25 February 1911, Page 14

LAWN TENNIS.

* (Bl Side-line.) Days Gay Courts Allotted. Petone v. Brougham Ilill 11, on Courts 9 ami 10; Brougham Hill I v. Victoria College I, 011 Courts 7 and S; St. John's v. Trinity, on court No. 5. Last Saturday's Play. After the close game which Trinity put up against Brougham Hill on the previous Saturday, last week's defeat at the hands of Petone was almost astonishing Eighty-two games to 36 leaves such a big margin between the teams that something other than pure merit must account largely for Pctone's win. It is admitted, of course, that Petono is much the better team, but that Parkinson is' better than Crewes to the tune of some 53 aces to 36 is unbelievable after Crewes defeat" of Sampson. Both Correll and Swinburne took a set from Duncan and Austin, in each of which five all was called; otherwise, everything went to P-;tone. It has bceD stated that there is a slight difference in. the level of either back line> on the Petoue courts that one is just' lower than the other. That would bo noticeable, and enough to put a player off .his game for a while. But the probability is that the winners of the first round were just ,'a little bit moro than .'on their game," and the others vice versa. Petone have yet to beat the Brougham Hill teams, and, on present showing, it seems as if they will do to. Brougham Hill II ran away from Lov.er flutt with more to sparo than Petone did from its opponent. Both Kirk and Clero put up good opposition to Townsend and Barton, but otherwiso tho team was very weak, and should not oven have got as many games in as it. In the: C grade, Brougham Hill I had things much its own way, and well keeps hold of its lead. Dawson and Jack have not made n very strong double, and suffered the only defeat for their side by 9 —3. Edwards and Jack won their singles with very little to spar?. I'cuDiie ran avray from Oriental very easily, Ward taking tho onjy nttitch for his side from Phelan. at 9—7. ' Khanibllali comfortably deposed ofBrougham Hill 11. Tho approaching end of tho matches in this grade is to be divined. from tha lack of interest shown by some of the team*. As soon as a team knows that it is out of the running it seems to specialise in showing w;hat iuay bo called tho "professional spirit," by defaulting or in some way 'refusing to recognise its obligations to those teams still interested. In tho D grade, Johnsonville is still head and shoulders above tho rest. The games taken in play from Oriental wero 38 t" 12. ■ „ x , . The two Victoria College teams played very close games with and Brougham Hill, the first team winning by two games with sets even, losing the sacoiid by four games, sets again even. Events in the Ladies' Matches.

Tho ladies' match, Brougham' Hill v. Victoria Colloge-B Grade—proved a vory easy will for the eldeT club. Collego only took 15 games. Trinity won their match from Brougham Hill 11. Tho firit round in tlio C Grado was finished by tho Kilbirnio v. Oriental fixture. The results are Miss Chrisn >v. Miss Miller, 2-7; Miss Spraggon v. Miss Buchan, 7-0; Hiss Worboys v. Miss Sheldon, 7—G; Miss Pinknoy v. Miss.Mil■ler G—7; Misses Chvisn and Snraggon v. Misses Miller and Buchan. G-7; Misses ■\Vovbovs and I'inkncy v. Misses Sheldonand Miller,. 4-7. Oriental won % sets to 2; 40 games to 02. Both teams wevo unfamiliar with grass "lay, and Ivilbirnio did veTy well to play «P so gamolv. Oriental have already run very close to both St. John's and hhandallah, who aro aow. in the finals. . ,• • . ■ ' The flutes'for the Ladies' C Gradolaro as I follijtf!— *n""';' 1 --. ' ' Matchcs. Sets. Games: ' \

h ® 1« i! "S' i 5 ' « C J 3 o O be o M ■' t P 4• Pn St. John's 8 7 1 37 11 30S 203 IChundallah ... 8 7 1 33 15 .90 lirttoiT"!!::: s I I Oriental' 8 4' 4 30 18 272 244 Sir™.'. 1 -7 i* l 532 171 m Kb&lfU* - 3

•Victoria College lost two games by default, one each to Trinity Church mid Kilbirnio. j: ' , V Tlio first three teams aro being matched in tlio final round. It is rather regrettable that Potone and Oriental are not also included. The first match has been played between St. John's and Xhandalfah at Khaiidallah, tho latter winning after a closely-contested match in which the result was always in doubt. Miss Willans again saved lier side, winning her 'single at 7—o, after threo other singles had gone to St. John's. Miss Horrell was too strong for Miss K. Uark. The match between Miss Tavendale and Miss Clark was a very close call.. At one stage Mis; Clark had the game well in hand, the St. John's lady not being able to negotiate her lons drives. Ihen Miss Tavendale "took hold," and, servin<' well, wore Miss Clark dottn. Miss Tavendalo's first servico is very fast and true, being brought down from well overKhandallah won on its doubles, playing mostly from tho back line, and only going in "to tho net when ' the occasion warranted. Miss Willans. and Ratham combined well, and drove with judgment, the latter avenging her loss in tho singles, which was a close "go. . The Misses Clark were seen in totally a different light when they got together, and had littlo difficulty in winning their double.

The Palmerston Tournament. Another very successful meeting was finished this week, and tlio I'almerston Tenuis Club is 110 doubt well pleased with its venture. "With entries totalling about 230, tlio financial sido of tho tournament will' bo an assured success. That stronghold of tennis, the Waverley-Patea district, sent down a strong contingent, of whom Wallace and- Dickie took tho men's doubles, beating (in tho- final) l'ishcr and l'rouse, li—o, ,o—2. Dickie also reached the final in the singles, losing- to Fisher. ■ Powdrell; 'won tho handicap singles. Miss Hartgill takes the ladies' championship back to Hawke's -Ray, beating Miss Simpson—Masterton's handicap winner—in tlio final. Miss Hart-, gill also won from-Miss L. K. Hughes, who was so well placed at tho earlier tournament in the Forty-mile Bush district. In tlio doubles with Miss Williams —who has well completed an eventful holiday—and Miss Hartgill were again successful, and also in tho combined doubles with Fisher, thus practically "scooping the pool." Palmerston has certainly not lost anything by postponing tho meeting from New Year, and it is pleasing to note the presence of Pahiatua players, whoso tournament would certainly have been injured on tho earlier dates.

The Matches To-day. Tho men's B grade matches will possiblv bo decided. to-day, -although it is early to sav so. But there is a possi-J bilitv of both Brougham Hill teams goinß 'down, and then Petone will have a run through. Should Petone be beaten further results will be keenly watched. On account of the withdrawal of Lower Hutt from the C grade, the postponed match, Kilbirnio v. Brougham Hill 11, will be put on, and will be played, at Kilbirnie. Brougham Hill I wins from Tlluritai by default. It is very regrettable that the Muritai players do not pull together better. In tho D grade, Victoria College I will havo to play up to make headway against Johnsouvillc. In the ladies' matches Petono and Brougham Hill I will probably, win their events from Brougham Hill II and Trinity. This being, tho last series of tho second round, a play-off will most likely be necessary. The second match of the 0 grade finals is between .Tohnsonville and St. John's, and the outcome is difficult to foresee, but .Tohnsonville will havo a hard row to hoe to beat St. John's on their own courts. Should St. John's win, and the next match (Khandallah v. .Tohnsonville) go in favour of .Tohnsonville, the position will be in statu mio, which tho management. has no doubt forseen, , 1