LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1313, 16 December 1911, Page 12

LAWN TENNIS.

[BT "Footfadt.T."]

Wellington Provincial Championship and Handicap Tournament, at Day's Bay, January 20, 22, 23, 1912. New Zealand Championships Tournameat at Lancaster Park* Christchurch, December 23, 26, 27, and 2S, 1911. Rangifcikei Tournament at Martou, December 2G and 28. Hawkc's Bay Championship and Handicap Tournament, at Hastings, on December 20, 27, and 28. Pahiutua Tournament, at Fahiatufl, isew Year. . Southland Championship and Handicap Tournament at In\orcargill, December 23, 28, ami 27. Wairarapa Championships and Handicap Tournament, lit .Masterton, on January 20 and 22, l'Jl2. j Davis Cup Contest —December 29, 30, 1911, and January 1, 1912, at Lancaster l'ark, Christc.hurcb,

Davis Cup Contest. Tin- determined cttitmlo of Brookes in * regard to the coming contest is reassurr ing. Jlo is by no means overlooking the ■■ skill of tho visitors, at tho same time he '■ is as perfectly fit as lie was in the Inst 0 contest, and when the Americans meet > liiin thev wilt see opposed to them quite 0 the most determined player that has ever t stepped on to a court. ' Wiih regard to his present play, there s is no reason why he should not be even a better than in 1907. He is but 34, and 2 that is young for a tenuis player, for is not l.arnod 39, and 0. P. Dixon almost 3 the same age? Am' both arc said to !x>. ; playing better thnn ever. The latest copy , of the English "Lawn Tennis Journal t says of Larncd: "A far better player at ) 3'J than he was in the All-England finals at 20." Therefore there is every chance of Brookes winning both bis Single matches, as ho did in 1907. r A'ow as to Heath, lie beat Dixon in 1 England, and Dixon in America was two set* all at 5 —2 and 20 all against Larncd. ( if Death can repeat; the form which enabled him to beat Dixon, he should ccr- ; tainly be worthy of onr confidence against ■ Lamed. j In .Melbourne, in the inter-State match, ! he was not quite up to form, but bv the ■ end of the championship week his'play had ripened into its full perfection, anil by the ctenest and most decisive play lie took a set from Brookes. If he can do that, ho may well do more against the 1 Americans. In 1999 lie defeated Jl'L'ougb- j 1 liti in Melbourne, and though it was in an exhibition match, it was nil out for both. Xext comes A. W. Dnrilop for doubles, nnd of him tho English critics sneak in the highest terms, saying that wherever he or Doust competed tlie doubles were in thru- grasp. "Which is the better, wo cannot say, but of this we are certain, that if they had played together the English doubles championship would luivo gone to them." If that.bo so, surelv then Brookes and Dunlon are better" than Doust and Dunlop, and these being better than Dixon and Beamish, our pair , Imsted to beat Wright and 31. l/outfhlm. The Americans Maurice M'Loughlin \V. A. Earned and Beals Wright-are practising hard 1 for tho matches on Dr bow s private court at Sunnysidc, Christ•church. Ollivier, tho Canterbury chain''.'on, is practising with them, to assist them in getting into form, and thero is a possibility that J. C. Peacock will bo asked to practise with the Americans. Indeed, it is said that tho Amoricans have signified their willingness ta practise with any local players desirous of a game., l'hey are keen after the cup, and good sports. It is also a grand opportunity _ lor tho New Zealand players to obtain fust-class practise prior'to the New. Zealand championships. 'The Wellington Provincial Championship meeting at Day's Day on January 20, 22, and 23, 1912, promises to be a great success. The management nro leaving no stono unturned to make it so. In all, there will be 12 courts—eight on tlie old ground, and four on tho new. Plenty of room will be lel't on the back lines, which, as they now stand, arc tco cramped. The courts themselves will also receive proper attention. The chief events are attracting attention, and already there has been a large entry of weH-knoivn p'layors, and of those visitors from Australia who can spare tho intervening time between the Davis Cup and tho tournament. New Zealand Championships. Quite a large number of players are leaving for Cliristchurch to play in the championships. Peacock has already gone down to obtain practice. Miss JS'uiinolev and 11. Brown are playing together. Miss Nitnneley and -Miss Daird are pairing for the ladies' championship. Jlisses Bath am, Simpson, and Turotn are also to mako the trip. Competitions. Local players were somowliat disappointed last Saturday on account of tho matches being postponed. The afternoon turned out iino lifter all, and an o]>portnnity to play off club events was seized upon. . The Civil Service final resulted in a ' win for ficdward, who beat Lewis 60—25. This was creditable for the winner, who owed i, Lewis playing from scratch. in the finals ot tho combmcd handicap tournament, played at tho Brougham i Hill Club's ground, Lawrence and Miss i Morgan (rcc. G) emerged winners, defeat- . ing 11. V. Howo and Mrs. W. K Hmvo , Itrr 4) bv 42—JO. At one stage the latter i pair yeail 38-32, and it looed M though tha match was a certainty for them, biit ■ Miss Morgan, by accurate placing, pul - ' ed tho game out of the fire, ami, with < her partner, secured a creditabio win. e School Tennis. 2 The public schools' tennis tournament, which w;is concluded on Monday, pro- ( rided some good, play and some close | finishes Kilbirnie School carried off the < lion's share of tha honours, while one J Tiory fell to «vde Quay- This latter 1 was the bovs doubles, tho final of which . was quite "the best and most evenlycouteded match of tho day, Scott and M'Clirr just winning from Giblin and f Brown 30-28. All four played pood i games. Of the girls, Miss J. M'lxrcd ( distinguished herself by winning in three i events. In tho singles, sho had it most- i lv her own way. and won with ease, t She has a remarkably good style, drives r well and places with accuracy. After i W'ltchin" her plav one could not help c thinking that it is of such "stuff" that v champions are made. In the girls n doubles, partnered by I. l'ear, sho was v n"ain victorious without being, a great t deal troubled. In the combined event t she played with Brown, a plucky little b player, and did her share in securing a a further win. c s Tonnis Goods from Slazcnger's, ShefTield, t and Busscv—the beat makers. Geo. Dcji- } ton, H ,W4li» Strost-Axlrt, g