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Tennis Notes

In point of numbers, the Tennis Club last year maintained its usual satisfactory position, but we regret to say that the quality of the play has not been as high as in past years. We unfortunately lost, from various causes, three members of our Senior team, and the end of the season found us bereft of the shield, which we had held for the past two years.

Owing to the inability of the Association to procure suitable courts, the usual inter-club competitions were not held last year, but after Christmas a system of inter-club challenges was introduced, by which the holders of the championships in the various grades might be challenged for their supremacy. The first challenge was by Wellington for the Senior Championship, when our representatives succeeded in repelling the attack. Fathers obtaining a good win over Jefferies. However, later in the season we were badly beaten by Brougham Hill, our players being very much out of form.

The men's Junior team played two challenges, one against Brougham Hill, and the other against Petone. In both matches we were beaten by a narrow margin. The Third Grade played one match against Brougham Hill, which they lost; and the Fourth two, one against Brougham Hill, when they succeeded in wresting the championship from that club, and the second against Trinity Church, which they also won.

Our ladies' teams played two matches, a Senior and Junior, the former against Lower Hutt, the latter against Newtown. In both we were sadly outclassed. We end up the season, therefore, the proud possessors of the Men's Fourth Grade Championship.

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At the Easter tournament, our representatives, as was expected, met with little success. We must congratulate Canterbury College on their wonderful performance, in that all the finals but one were fought out between their own players.

The Club competitions have not been carried on with much interest, owing to a great extent to the fact that many of our players are away for so long during the summer school holidays. W. H. Stainton has won the Club Championship and the Professors' Shield.

The courts were top-dressed at the beginning of the season, but the usual trouble has occurred with number four court, a coating of mud having been washed on to it by some of our torrential rains. Something should be done to remedy this.

Tennis is still being played by some throughout the winter, and should the weather be suitable some profitable practice should be put in.