LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1073, 11 March 1911, Page 12

LAWN TENNIS.

(B-J SIPE-MXZ.)

FIXTUHES. Olago Easier Tournament, at Dunedin, April fl, 15, 17. Rotorua Easter Tournament, at Rotorua, April 15, 17, 18. Day's Bay Courts. The allotment of courts at Day's Bay is as follows:— Trinity v. Victoria College 11, nt Day's Bay on Courts 5 ami 6; I'elone v. Brougham Hill 1, on Courts 7 and 8. lien's C grade matches—Kilbirnie v. Brougham Hill I, on Court 9; Victoria, College v. Petoiie on Court 10; Muritai v. Oriental on Court 1. Men's D grade.—Oriental v. Victoria College II on Court 3. Last Saturday's Play.

Last Saturday tho condition of the courts at the Bay called for a postponement of matches which were to have been played there and, consequently, tho engagement, Brougham Hill I v. Victoria, College I has been hold over.

Trinity had little difficulty with Lowei> Hutt, Brown being the only rock in their way. Crewes's performance, in disposing of Kirk, was a very good one, his hard hitting game completely nonplussing the Hutt man, and leaving little room for finenesses.

The match Pctono v. Brougham Hill 11. was an interesting one, and while it was crnsidercd probable that Townsend and Barton would loso their singles, it was nevertheless not anticipated that Parkinson and Duncan wor,ld hold them down in the four sets straight. As a double the Brougham Hill pair were a little the better, but not by much, for in tho final set "a all' was called. Kean flashed into form and avenged his defeat in the first round. His play was a surprise to tho onlookers. Hurley endeavoured ,to get' down to his youthful opponent's level. He succeedcd and was defeated. Had Kean been kept in the team Brougham Hill would have won, but that is Brougham Hill's business.

C grade matches were notable for a score sheet which is the "nearest" thing that tho writer has como across. The reference is to the Khandallah v. Petone match in which the scoros wero as follow, the Khandallah names being given first: —Ilutchings v. Keen, 9 —5; Heennn v. Hope; -I—9; Hodgson v. H. Caverhill, 9—l; Dallard v. L. Caverhill, I—9;1 —9; Hutchings and Dallard v. Kean and H. Caverhill, G —9; Hceuan and Hodgson v. Hope and L. Caverhill, 9—5. This play returns the score as 3 sets to 3, and 33 games to 38, leaving tho result to be decided on aces which were in favour of Ivhandallali by 27-1 to 270. Tho figures, One is inclined to think, should be very nearly a record.

The match Victoria College v. Oriental was well contested, College eventually proving too strong. Robinson, of Oriental, who took both his single and double, was the only mail to win for his side. Kilbirnie won a close match from Brougham Hill 11. Mitchell found Manoy off form at tho start, and rattled on 6 gamos to love. After this, however, the latter settled down a bit, but could not win more than two games. Butcher played a great game with Stringer, and after the first two games—deuce games, by tho way—only let his opponent take 9 aces in seven games. Stringer only took one aco from Butcher's last throe services! The rest of the match was very even and requires no comment. Tho full scores (hitherto unpublished) were as follow:— 11. L. Mitchell v. Manoy, 9—2; Stringer v. Butcher, o—9; N..Mitchell v. Smith, 7—9; Worboys v. Southwick, 9—2; H. L. Mitchell and Stringer v. Manoy and Butcher, o—7; N. Mitchell and Worboys v. Smith and Southwick, 9—B; Kilbirnio winning by i sets to 2; total, 43 games to 37. •

D grade matches practically reached finality on Safcuftky, JohnsOnvillo . winning by default from Victoria I. It should be pointed out that College defaulted at the last moment, and, iiatur-. allyj the Jolinsonvillo. team felt to the full tho appnrent discourtesy shown thqm.

Trinity put on a rather overwhelming score against College TI. Tt read 51 pomes to IG, and, of this IG, Eagar and Mofico accounted for 11 in their singles.

The Ladies' Matches. The'ladies B grade matches lave finished, tho season ending with tho defeat of Trinity by Brougham Hill I. A "eurprise paeljet" was.sprung by the defeat of Miss Rothschild by Miss Crewes, after a fine fight, at 7—fi. Tlio encounter reflected great credit oil tho Trinity player. Mrs. Sampson went down badly to Miss Reid, but the rest of tho sets were sure things for tho elder club, both singles aud doubles.

In the C grade finals St. John's were on their mettle, and inflicted a decisive defeat oil Johnsonvillo, reversing a result which happened earlier in the season, \ylion Johnsonvillo won on eets, but were two behind on gomes. It remains now for Johnsonvillo to defeat Khandallah to put. things "as they were.". Should Khandallah win to-day tlioy will take the trophy in their grade. But it is very clear that there is not much to cliooso between tho three teams. Ladies' B Grade Results, Matches. Sets. Games. •d a • ~ $ t? 1 s a s s Fh f ri l=c<! f? C Petone 7 7* 1 32 10 270 158 Brough'm H. 1 7 6 2* 20 13 258 17t Victoria Col. 8 3 5 30 28 234 280 Bro'h'm. H. II 5 3* 5* 13 17 152 162 Trinity 6 17* 8 34 158 257 'Brougham Hill T lost one by default. •Brougham Hill II lost two by default, and won one by default. ♦Petone won one by default. *Trinity won one by default.

Engagements for To-day. Trinity should defeat Victoria College II with plenty in hand, but, soeing that both are used to asphalt, and that tho match has been put on at the Bay, there may be some curious reversals. Brougham Hill 11, on last Saturday's form, should avengo their previous defeat by Victoria College I. l'nrkes and Co. will have their work cut out if they meet a full team. Petone now have a pood hold on tho premier position in the B grade, but their engagement to-day will bo' watched with interest, as victory, if attained at all, will certainly not be easy. Parkinson has his opportunity to prove his position in the grade. Duncan should win his match. Austin may find Kean a very stiff proposition, unless the latter happens to' bo off his game. The other : single, and mavbe both doubles should go to Brougham Hill I. Altogether it is rather'diftioult to pick the winner, but/oil form, Petone should just scrape in.: In the C grade Brougham Hill I cannot be stopped, even though Kilbirnio win today, which is not likely, Dawson,. Edwards, and company being very consistent.

"Otago First, as Usual——" Although the big southern province has a rather uneuviablo reputation for being first into the fray whenever trouble is brewing, yet it also is first in many other wavs. ° The most recent oxamplo is tho gift i)v Dr. Borrio to the Otago Association of a cheque for .CIOO to bo put on tho credit side of the account in the matter of the association's courts at Anderson's Bay.

The Davis Cup. Entries hove now closed for tho big event, and America, England, and South •Yfriea have challenged. The draw for tho preliminaries has taken place, with the result that America meets South Africa first, and tho final tio is to be played early enough to nllow the challenge to be played off in New Zealnnd not later than the end of next December. Mars Buckley Cup. An invitation has been sent to the New Zealand Association by tho New South Wales Association, inviting entries from the Dominion for the above contest, which will be held at Sydney about April 28. It will be followed by a championship tourney, in which teams from Victoria, South Australia, and Queensland will compete!