TENNIS TOURNAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 324, 16 January 1909, Page 5

TENNIS TOURNAMENT.

SECOND DAY'S PLAY. 1 The Taraliaki Umi Tennis Assoeu'tioii struck unpropitious weather yes'teirilay for the st'cond day of the animal ■tournament. During Thursday night 'heavy rain fell, anil at 11.30, when play should have commenced, the courts were totally unlit for play. The tournament was postponed till 11 a.m., hut it was •nearly noon when a. start was made. The games had not progressed far when rain .set in again. A postponement to '1 o'clock was decided upon, but again 'the officials were disappointed. The ■committee decided to postpone the tnur-■iiaiii-.nit, but asked players to be in readings should the weather take up. ■Before the players luul an opportunity uf dispersing there was a break in the clouds, and during the lull S. J. Smith ■and H. W. Hrowi,, determined to test 'the, courts, and met in the handicap singles. A shower drove them back to •the pavilion, but ten minutes later thev ■tried again. After .the first few stroke's •Hie players appeared to "get their sea-' tigs," and play became interestin". | 'Smith started at 24, mid, scoring well , off his own service in nearly cverv in-. 'stance, went out at 80 with his" opponent at 61. Smith's play was not up ■to his usual form in the opening strokes, I ■but he settled down and played a lino gain*.

• Miss Nunneley and Miss Cave started their championship game in the morning, but had to desist until after lunch. 'Tlie former was altogether too good ■for 'her opponent, who was unable io tope with the vigorous cross-court hits 'that Miss Nunneley sent skimming over 'the net. Miss Powdrell played Mrs. E. vlones, and won a well-contested match ■by o—l, o—o. The game was contested taostly in long drives, the high wind toaking other strokes difficult, almost "impossible. The wind caused a good •deal of inconvenience in many ways, and through it Miss PowdTell lost one i)i her serves. The game was won by superior placing. ' Parker and Fisher strolled up to the ■courts during the. afternoon, not expecting to find play in progress. They were •soon put into work, Parker nicctiug 'Fookes in the oliampion singles, and Fisher playing in the same competition •with N. Caplen. Parker's short dropshots puzzled his opponent, who, nmver'tholess, stuck gamely to his task and •wrested one game in each set. Several 'of the games he brought to deuce by ■sheer hard work. Fisher had not a very 'difficult task in beating Caplen, though the loser showed some improvement on his last year's tournament form. Late in the afternoon, when the courts were playing well and the attendance was fairly large, the committee hunted up Wilding, and the chainipion readily consented to get some of his matches played. His first game was in the championship doubles, when lie and Fisher easily accounted for Powdrell and Powdrell. Immediately afterwards, wit'hout leaving the court, he ■tackled Plearse. The South Canterbury *man was quite outclassed, but played ■pluckily right through. Wilding's 'American, service, seen for the first time on the courts, was very severe 0:1 the 'damp courts, which made it almost impossible for Ins opponent to get a good 'return. Pearse made capital use of his forehand drive. In the second set he •was playing with increased confidence, and won tihree games. At one time the 'score stood at 3—3.

' The ladies' championship singles advanced to the third round, Miss Nunneley beating Miss Thomson, 6—3, o—2. The local player put up a good light against the ex-ohampion. ' Up till about I) o'clock the weather 'conditions were good for the players, though it was too cool for the spectators' comfort. Results:— • MEN'S; OHiAMiPIONSHIP SINGLES. ■ Second round: H. A. Parker beat Dr. ■Fookes, 6—l, 6—l; Jennings boat A. Powdrell, o—3, o—'2; Fisher beat N. -Caplen, o—2, o—4; Wilding beat Pearse, o—o, o—3. MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES. First round:' Taylor and Black heat Nicholson and Smith, 7—5, o—2; Parker and Brown heat Pearse and Morton, 15—3, o—2; Fialier and Wilding beat Powdrell and Powdrell, 0-0, 0-0. LADIES' CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES. •Second round: Miss Nunneley beat Miss Cave, o—o, 0—0; Miss Powdrell beat lira. E. Jones, o—l, 0—0; Mrs. Payne beat Miss V. Simpson, o—o, o—l. Third round: Miss Nunneley "beat Miss L. Thomson, 0-0, o—o. COMBINED CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES. First round: Miss Nunneley and Wilding beat Miss Thomson and Taylor, 6—o, o—3. MEN'S HANDICAP SINGLES. First Grade. First round: S. J. Smith (4) beat 11. W. Brown (owe 20), 00—41; Nicholson (owe 5) beat A. J. Black (10), 00-43; Dr. Fookes (20) beat E. Whitehead (10), CO—so.

Second Grade. _ . First round: Tingey (20) beat King llii), 00—41. Second round: Frater .'2O) beat Tingey (20), 00—37; C. 11. Weston (12) beat ,1. Taylor (15), fiO-50; W. Jones (5) beat S. Smith 1151 00—60. Third round: Thompson (20)' beat Dines (20), 00-43: Frater (20) beat Weston (12), 00—48. MEN'S HANDICAP DOUBLES. First round: Powdrell and Powdrell (5) beat Lewis and Ambury, sen. (20), ,(jo_4(j.. Second round: J. Taylor and King (20) beat Gaukrodgeir and. Broome ,(20),#0—40; Griffin and Thompson (25) beat Jones and Whitehead (15), 00—47. LADIES' HANDICAP SINGLES. First round: Miss Brewster (2) beat Mrs. A. Powdrell (12), 40-37; Miss V. Simpson (2) a bve from Miss Nunneley. Second round: M'iss D. Simpson (0) beat iMiss N. Wilson (5). 40-31; Miss L. ■MeAllum 120) heat Mrs. Parsons (18), 40—38; Mrs. Jones (2) beat Miss E. M. ■Bundle (18), 40—38; Miss Brewster (2) beat Miss Glenn (15), 40-28; Miss Simpson a bye; Mis* Cave a bye from ■Miss Grant. ' , COMBINED HANDICAP DUL-BLES. Second round: Mis. Payne and Taylor 45) beat Miss Grant and 1). Cameron K22), 60-54; Miss Kirkby and Black i(16) beat Miss Clarke and Bradford <2O), 60-51.

TO-DAY'S GAMES.

The following games are set down for 0.30 sharp this morning, weather permitting:— Men's Championship Singles—h. lowdrell v. Brailsford; L. J. Taylor v. H. W. Brown. Ladies' Championship Singles—-Mrs. Payne v. Miss Powdrell. Men's Handicap Singles—Morton v. A. Powdrell; Jennings v. Nicholson. ' As the courts become available the following matches will be played:— Mien's Handicap Singles—L. J. Taylor v. S. Powdrell; Dr. Fookes v. S. J. Smith.

Ladies' Championship Doubles—Hisses Thomson v. Mrs. Jones and Miss Powdrell. Combined- Championship DoublesMiss V. Simpson and lirailsford v. Mrs. Payne and Pearse.

Men's Championship Doubles—Jennin"s and Caplcu v. Fisher and Wilding.