LAWN TENNIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 282, 27 November 1937, Page 21

LAWN TENNIS.

LAST WEEK'S WINNERS.

EDEN-EPSOM AND PARNELL

LADDER GAMES UNDER WAY.

(By HALF VOLLEY.)

Last Saturday saw the commencement of the senior matches in the grass-court competition conducted by the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association. Originally scheduled for the previous, week and postponed owing to rain, it appeared as the week-end approached that they might sutler a similar fate on Saturday last. However, the day broke fine and sunny conditions prevailed, although the courts were soft and slow, but a tricky southerly wind was at times disconcerting. The Eden and Epsom Club have two first grade teams entered, one in each section, and both were engaged on Saturday. The A team won comfortably by twe've rubbers to one against Royal Oak. The B team suffered defeat narrowly at the hand* of I'arnell by six to seven.

Royal Oak were deprived of the services of their first player in A. W. Allen, owing to an injury to hie ankle. The withdrawal of the top player considerably weaken* the whole team, as each player has to move up one place. This resulted in F. Forrest encountering the Auckland champion, A. D. Brown, whose vigorous prame carried him through easily enough. M. T. Wilson and J. T. Mayson both won in straight sets, though neither player was at all convincing. Similarly, Kodney Smith, making his first appearance- in an inter-club match, was not expected to lose a set to hie less experienced opponent, L. Waller, who did well indeed to take the second set at o—4.0 —4. This rubber, together with the two mixed doubles, were the onlyones that required an extra set.

Miss J. Ramsay was absent from the winning team, the two ladies' singles L'oing to Eden and Epsom per medium <>f Miss l'am Cooke and Miss E. Stewart, against Misses M. Wade and Bull respectively. Mrs. Wilson and Miss •J. Edwards (the latter herself an exKden and Epsom player) scored Royal Oak's only victory in two closely contested sets over Misses B. Knight and N'. Whitelaw, who lacked somewhat the form which earned for them the title ■>f Auckland doubles champions in 1930. Parnell Wins Close Match. Parnell just managed to conquer Eden and J]psom B team by the odd rubber in 13, and it was noticeable that 9ix of their wins came in the men's singles and doubles. O. Litherland lost to P. E. Potter in two close sets, played chiefly from the baseline. Potter seemed to have the match well in hand with a set in and a lead of 4—l. However, it wan not until after .1 all was reached that Potter ran out the next game to 40—15.

Youth triumphed when T. H. Lusk and L. H. Watson (late of the University Club) met A. E. McKeown and V. R. Johns, both matches requiring three s*t*7 Enskjf>fei!seVßes~a, good variety of strokes, but does not always bring them into action at the right time. His excursions to the net were nearly alwavs profitable. Watson, too, after the first set, never looked like losing, Johns appearing tlired and being caught inside the baseline with shote to his feet. Both Lusk and Watson have sufficient strokes to go much further and should concentrate on the tactics of the game.

Diamond and Lewis made too many errors in a close two-«et contest in favour of the former.

Miss M. Hall drove consistently on both forehand and backhand to win at fi—2, o—l against Mrs. Wren, who did not appear up to her usual form. Miss V. Brown (Parncll) and Miss J. Hansen had a long struggle in which the former scored a well-merited victory, after dropping the second set at 6—l.

Potter and McKeowif, a team of long standing, were expected to defeat Litherland and Diamond, but the Parnell pair claimed the last set comfortably by o—2. A bright display of hitting was given by Lusk and Mitchell, who never let the veteran pair of X. A. Campbell and A. C. Johns get going. The winners faltered when leading 6 —l and 40— love, to lose that game and the next, but the issue was never in doubt.

Both the ladies' mixed doubles went to Eden and Epsom, although Campbell and Mrs. Glennie came near to defeat at the hand* of A. Broun and Mies B. Hntchings.

Ladder Activity.

Several ladder matches have been played recently, while a number of challenges are awaiting a decision. Three players, too, have applied for positions on the ladder, namely, J. T. Mayeon, who has been placed fifth and plays the winner of A. Porter and J. W. Gunn; S. J. Robinson, who is placed 13th and plays A. E. McKeown; and an exTaranaki player, now a member of the Remucra Club. I. Wylda is placed loth and plays L. H. Watson. J. Stevens wm beaten by V. R. Johns, B—fi. 6—2, who remains "at Xo. fl. R. Smith defeated P. E. Potter, the score being fi—l. 4—fi, fi—2, Smith thus retaining his place at Xo. 8 and has, now challenged J. Stevens. W. E. Butler succeeded in his challenge to Spencer Lamb, winning in straight sots, fi—2. fi—4. and mover* up to 10th position, where he now challenges P. E, Potter. A. S. Broun defeated A. R. Stubbing and assumes Xo. 18 position. VV. T. Potintney has issued a challenge for the last place on the ladder, at present held by J. D. Mitchell. Other matches as yet unplaved are A. D. Brown v. M. T. Wilson;'A. E. McKeown v. S. J. Robinson; L. H. Watson v. I. Wylds; O. Sakhell v. J. D. Bull.