LAWN TENNIS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume L, Issue 304, 28 December 1907, Page 2

LAWN TENNIS.

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIPS. SECOND DAY. The New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association's championship meeting was continued yesterday at New Plymouth. As ' on the previous day, the weather was splendid—bright and clear, with but the faintest breeze. There was again a largo attendance during the afternoon, anil the various games provided ;; ...,.;,i deal of excitement. The rclYeshimmttent did smart business. It is but due to the management to again compliment the responsible officials upon the excellent arrangements, They are being assisted in no small measure by the competitors themselves, which in itself is a very pleasing feature. Competitors have no desire to revert to the old system of conducting handicap events at the championship meeting. That system, whilst it had its uses in I the earlier days of the game, has now been outgrown, aud it has been left to the Tnriuiiiki Association to demonstrate that the championship meeting can stand by itself. The elimination of the handicap events, of course, conserves the vigor of the first-raters, who would otherwise have more matches to play, and often in more rapid succession. in t/he. men's singles the best game of the morning was provided by Cox , and Peacock. Cox lias always rolled, on his accuracy, and whenever they have met during the past season has managed to defeat the ex-champion, but yesterday Peacock was less dashing than

usual, and played very carefully. Cox put. in some pretty plav, notably hi, beautiful dropping volleys, and fre ipiently won the ace. His service wa, accurate- as usual. Peacock, however

got away from the start, ami kept the lead until (he third set. Cox made it • j— •>, but Peacock brought the score to , 5—5. Amid ijoiue excitement Cox went on and won the set, 7—5. 'Then Cox J tired badly, 'and Peacock played steadily k at him, pulling oil' the fourth set, and ' winning the match. The surprise of the day came in the ' defeat of Peacock by Quill. The latter ' played above the form displayed in ; the previous games of this tournament, and made few mistakes. Peacock was '• plainly tired by bis encounter of the morning, and was unable to reply to Quill's Mashing drives. Quill consistently played up to the net, and pressed home (lie advantage, winning an exciting match by careful and dogged work. Quill is a much improved player, having benefited considerably by his recent Australian experience, llis American serve considerably heckled his opponent, and, whilst shotting in an unexpected manner, gave him every chance of getting up to the net. Put it is a very exhausting service, and the Canterbury man found later in the day that this match cost him a good' deal of strength. The principal interest centred in the meeting of If. A. Parker and F. 11. 11. Fisher. Fisher took the first service, but Parker made (he Jast shot of the game, placing beyond his opponent's reach. The score crept up in Parker's favor, 2-1, 3-1, 3-2, -1-2. 5-2, 5-3. The final game of the set provided clever tennis, some of Parker's sharp and short croSs-court strokes being returned by almost superhuman ell'ort on the part of Fisher. The latter was sending down a tricky and varied service, but Parker got right on to it, driving Fisher to the back of the court. One of the most telling of Park.r's strokes was right down the sideline, the ball shooting along the grass with almost imperceptible rise. Parker was securing his 1 advantage by head-play, playing until ■ lie got his 'opponent out of position, and 1 then sending down the winning shot. He ' was able by this means to tire Fisher ■ down with very little exertion on his 1 own part. Fisher was giving the Vic- ' Lorian champion some little trouble with 1 his short drop volleys, but Parker exer--1 cised his man too much along the back • of the court and tired him down, (I—3. Parker led oil' in the final set, but Fisher was improving, winning the fourth ; game by tossing up a high back-hander, , which Parker essayed to smash, but he . misjudged it on account of the sun, ■ At 3—2 Fisher led for the first time in the match, Parker taking his re- , venge in the next, a love game. Nice ) play by Fisher caught Parker out of , position, and he led at 4—3. The next 5 game was a lengthy one, each player securing vantage in turn, but Parser's . long drives down the side gave him the 1 game. Fisher was lucky in securing the j next. The score then ran 5—5, (i—s, 0--IS, 7—(i, 8-K, giving Parker the t game, set, and match. ■j Dickie succumbed to Fisher in three sets straight, though he stuck gamely .. to his task. I'isher, however, had too . many changes for him. .Miss Wellwood and Miss Ward played , a stubborn match in the ladies' singles, (he latter winning on her fine lift drives. ~ Mis--, I'owdrell's victory over Miss 1 Travel's was the result of some fine play, the winner's long drives and backhand work giving her the advantage. ~ The last match of the day provided j soia." very attractive tennis, Fisher and Peacock defeating Parker and Quill. . The lirst set was won by Parker'and" Quill, Peacock being very inaccurate. As [ he improved Quill's play fell oil', and , Fisher and Peacock took the next three J sets, leading all the way. The final set was anything l m t up to championship form.

RESULTS. The following are the results of Friday's matches:— .Men's Championship .Singles (present champion. A. F. Wilding).—Third round: Parker beat Sinythc, U—l), (i—2, U—l; Fisher heal Dickie, U—3, o—2, (i—4; Quill boat Didsbury, o—l, o—3, 0—1; Peacock heat Cox, 7—5, ti—l. 5—7, ti—t. .Fourth round: Parker beat Fisherj (i—3, «-.'), 8—(i; Quill heat t'eaeoek. 7—5, 7-5, (i—2.

Ladies' Championship Singles (present champion, Miss .\uniielcv). Second round: Miss Ward beat .Miss Weliwood, 2—«, «-3, u—3. 'Third round: Miss Fowdrell heal Miss Travers. 'J—J, (j-3. championship Doubles (present champions, Cox and I'arker).—Second round: Dickie and Wallace beat W. A. Brown and I'earse, li—l, d—2, (j—3 ; j|.' W. lirowu and Cox beat Smylhe and Didsbury. (j_4, 0-4, li-3 : Fisher and Peacock beat Barker and Quill. 3-0, li—2, o—l, «—4. Ladies' Championship Doubles (present champions, .Misses Xuiinelev and Baker).—Second round: Misses l'o'wdrell and <<ray beat Misses Travers and Ward, ti—l, ll—l,

Combined Championship Doubles (pre jsent champions, .Miss Powdrcll anil A F. Wilding).—Second round: Diekie am] Miss Maker beat Wallace and .Miss E Dickie, o—l, o—4; Barker and Miss I'owdrcll beat Cox and Miss Ward 0-0 «-!!, U-4; Fisher and .Miss N'unnelcv beat Cooke and Miss llilcliings, 0-4 0—1: IVarse and .Miss Cray beat Brown and Miss I'dy, (1-3, 3-0, (i-2. Third round: Parker and -Miss Powdrell beat Dickie and Miss Baker, o—2, 0-1; Fisher ami .Miss Xunnelcy beat Pearsc and Miss Cray, o—2, o—l.. TO-DAY'S CAMES.

The c-liaiiijiiuiisliip mutelies will be resinned this morning at 10 o'clock, when Misses Xuiineley and Miss Ward meet in the senii-liiml of the ladies' singles, the winner to meet Miss I'owdiell in the afternoon, Diekie and Wallace will play Brown ami Cox in the men's doubles at 11 o'clock. Fisher and Peacock have ; 'o play Swa'uson and Swninsoii, and the j winners of these two matches contest 111-' linal after the luncheon adjournment. In Ihe combined doubles the linal is in be played. Parker and Miss l'ow..di'idl meeting Fisher and Miss Xunnelev. All other finals are fixed for the after- j noon. Another large attendance is assured to-day.