Lawn Tennis

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 145, 16 December 1933, Page 24

Lawn Tennis

By "Driyi."

RANKING GAMES

SOME RISING PLAYERS

YOUNG CHAMPIONS

TOURNAMENT DATES. Auckland L.T.A.—December 23 to 29. Marlborough L.T.A.—December 25, 26, <SJ. Hawera Club.—December 2U, 27, 28. Hastings Club.—December 20, 27, 28. Kotoruii Club.—December 23, 26, 27. Martinborough Club.—December 26, 2T, 28, 29. Marital Club.—Deceriiber 29, 30, January 1, 2. Kelson L.'l.A.—January 1, 2, 3. Wanganui L.T.A.—January 1, 2, 3, 4. Jlauawatu L.T.A.—January 8, 9, 10, 11. Taranaki L.T.A.—January 10, 11, 12, 13. Dannevirke Club.—January 13, 15, 16, 17. Wellington L.T.A.—January 18. 19, 20, 22. Aorth Island Championships.—Kotorua, January 18, 19, 20, 22, 23. Walrarapa L.T.A.—January 20, 22, 23, 24. Hawke's Bay L.T.A. (at Waipukurau) .— January 24, 25, 28, 27. Canterbury L.T.A.—Easter dates. Wellington L.T.A.—Easter dates. The latest series of ranking matches lias produced few surprises, and in the men's section the most important games are still to be played. The absence from Wellington last weekend of N. Smith, the ex-Kotorua player, prevented his games from being completed, and he has yet to play H. McL. Perkins and E. A. Eoussell. On the results of these matches will depend the order of the Wellington team to play for the Wilding Memorial Shield. -Apart from the absence of Smith, things have been going swimmingly. Tho younger playerp have been demonstrating their ability, and B. Howe, ■N. Bedford, M. Ferkins, and K. Dyer all caino out of the series with added laurels. They have gained good wins, and there seems every reason to believe that soon we shall have a group of players of very even ability just below the top men. Bedford won his first set in a match against D. G. Francerecently, and K. Dyer had similar success the day before; So far E. McL. Ferkins has maintained his position ahead of .all rivals for third place, but ho and Koussell are to meet again, and some idea of their merit should be gained, in this second contest. They are both, full of respect for one another, and in their first match did not play up to their ordinary form. Amongst the ladies there have been some changes. The niost notable was the defeat of Miss Nicholls, tho New Zealand champion, by Mrs. H, M. Dykes. These two-players stand at the head of women's tennis in this country today, and are very evenly matched, so that there was no great surprise when the result was announced. But .the fact that Mrs. Dykes is playing so well means that Wellington's task in the Nunneley Casket games at the end of this month should not be very difficult. The same thing cannot be said of the Wilding Memorial Shield games, however, for at present it is impossible even to say what the local team will be. Another -women's match in which there was great interest was that in which Miss Whyto defeated Miss D. Howe in straight sets. Miss Whyte does not seem to have had much practice this season, so she must have got quickly into 'form to beat such a reliable player as Miss Howe, whose improvement has been outstanding. ;