LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1629, 21 December 1912, Page 11

LAWN TENNIS.

[By "Itoomcw.'!

THE COMING "GO" AT HASTINGS. New Zealand Championships—Hastings, December 26, 27, 28. Australasian Championships—Hastings, December 30, 31, January 1. Hastings Club's Championships and'Handica'ps—To follow Australasian in?The ltangitikei Fifth. Annual Tournament— Marton, December 2G, 27, and 28,1912. Hawke's Bay Championships and Dannevirke Club's Handicaps—Dannevirke, January 4, 6, and 7. Taranaki Lawn Tennis Association Championships and Handicap Tournament—At New Plymouth, on January 16, 17, 18. Wairarapa Open Championships and Hasterton Club'e Handicaps—Masterton, January 22, 23, and 24. Wellington's "Best" Getting Ready. By this time tennis players generally will have cast off tho everyday feeling of, uncertainty with regard to the necessary time that should be devoted to tennis, and will look forward to at least several days' hard play in tho tournaments. Whenever possible the local first-class players havo secured practice. J. C. Peacock, 'Swanston; Eisher, and H. Brown have ."religiously" appeared at the Thorndon courts, engaging in both singles and doubles play each day. R. N. K. Swanston during last week was playing exceedingly well. Peacock is also in fine form, and appears to be remarkably well trained. Fisner and Brown likewise are right up to concert pitch, and should do well. Of course, if players are to play to advantage against the British Isles team, they must necessarily be "fit," and to attain this fitness in such ! a variable climate is no easy matter. Our representative team—OlHvier, Peacock, I'isher, and Swanston—will do well when the test is made, and should, worthily uphold the traditions of New Zealand as sportsmen. Unfortunately for them, so little first-class practice is available here. Could this drawback be overcome, there is no doubt that they could walk into any court in the world with o certain amount of assurance. Tho Invaders from the British Isles,

One will look forward with considerable interest to the result-of the first match which is taking place in Auckland to-day and on Monday. After-this- match, as is well known, the Englishmen will journey overland to the Australasian . 'championships at Hastings. Hasting during next week will of course be the Mecca of the tennis world. Very suitable arrangements have bsen made to meot the requirements of tho players. The Hastings enthusiasts have spared no time or trouble in order to ensure the complete satisfaction of all tho competitors. Grandstands have been erected, upon, which seats may be reserved at a cost of 10s. for the full sis days' play, or 2s. 6d. per day during the tournament. There is no fear that tho courts (6) will be in anything but first-class order, and everything.points toa most successful meeting. The. championships will attract immense attention, and it is difficult to pick tho winners on the men's side. Miss Travers or Gray, of Auckland, will in all probability meet in the final of tho ladies' championships. Miss Hart-gill, too, will have to be reckoned with. Amongst others who have entered for tho championship events are Misses Travers, Gray, Hartsrill, Rnird, R. Wellwood, Van Staveren, Mrs. Mnddison, and . Mrs. Van Asch; Mpssrs. Ollivier, ' Pcacnck. FishT, Swmicton, Brown, Goss, Tipping, Webber, WhiteParsons,. Margoliouth, .''Richardson,, and Rainbow. Club Play—Men's Grades. Tho inter-club' competitions were advanced another stow on Saturday last, in extremely hot weather. Tho men's senior match, Wellington v. Victoria College, was again postponed., but will take place this afternoon, weather .permitting. In the men's junior grade, fairly close finishes resulted, that in the Bona Bay v. Victoria College being won byi Rona Bay by the narrow margin of seven games. De la Mare hit his proper form, and obtained a handsome win over TJ>w?s. but fell, playing with Reed, aftei a 8-set go in the doubles, to his singles victim partnered by Howden.. Playing for Kilbirnie r. Johnsonville. Mitchell was not- up to form, apd went down easily in his single in the first set to Moore, to the tune of a love set. Picking up somewhat in the second, he narrowly escaped making a 3-set match of it. Worboys played- well, and came romping home with a loss of only one against Bouhl.

Th<v» two players combined well in the doubles, when they defeated an almost ' equally good pair. Moore and Mills. K. Henderson, for TCamri, played a really Rood game, beating. Fathers, of Vic- | torn College, who is no mean opponent and a possessor of .a dnntrerous servo. Ho was also victorious in the doubles. In the men's third srame, an exciting content between Brout/hnm Kill and Wellington took place, Wellington emerging on the rirrht side by tramm Sfoured in the inst double. Qninnell played well in defeating Hunt, who; puts a fair amount of pace on some of his shots. Grace, of Brougham Hill, possesses .a good free style, and should como on -well. • Th« Ladlos' Matches. . In the ladies' senior grade, Newtown v. Brougham Hill, a few surprises toolc place. Mrs. Nagle, more by good luck than really good play, beat Miss Davis, who could not command the ball as is her custom. Miss "Robinson also defeated 'Miss Morgan in the 6eoond set. Miss Morgan was found to be lacking in her effective shot's. Mias Robinson beating her on several occasions easily.- After this Miss Morgan retired. Mrs. Bell succumbed to Mias 'Williams, managing to secure only three games. In the doubles, however, she played up betteT, and with Mrs. Nagle secured a narrow ■win. In the ladies' junior: pade, Newtown led handsomely ripht through against IVinity. * Miss Jenkins, for Trinity, was tins only one to secure a set for her team, Tho remaining ladies' matches were of eomewhat ordinary character, and call for no oomment.