LAWN TENNIS

Evening Star, Issue 14308, 5 March 1910, Page 2

LAWN TENNIS

The local Association'* A (trade Banner bn» again been won by tin- Kaituna Club, who are in lie cnngratul ded on (heir success in retaining it. Considerable disappointment ha? been expressed by players that Kaitumi and Otago are not to meet again, and X»alnuiccwen were also looking forward to another meeting with Otago. Even if Otago beat both Kaituna and Balmacewen in return matches it would not alter the destination of the banner. It. is somewhat untV.ilnnate that the Match Committee should have closed the competition prematurely, as the matches unplayed were causing moro interest than any hitherto played this season. The Otago Club lost two matches, being beaten by Kaituna and Bahnacewen by the small margins of three and five games respectively. In both matches Otago was without several of its best players, notably White, against Kaituna, and Ewen in the’Bahnacewen match. Moreover, the club's strongest ladies were unable to play. Players were looking forward to games between White and R. S. Brown and White and Brailhwaite. White would beat the Kaituna crack fairly comfortably, but a battle royal would have ensued with R. 8. Brown, especially as both men are just now at the top of their form. For these reasons alone it is a pity the matches are not to eventuate, as high class players are not often opposed to each other in Dunedin. Although Kaituna is stilHan top, there can be very little doubt that the Otago Club is still" the strongest in the province. A maiked feature of the season has been tha great improvement shown by the Balmacewen Club's ladies, and they have been of gioat assistance to the men players. The Ctago Club's Ladies’ Champion ■Singles final this season lies between Miss J. Cook and Miss Bauchop. Miss Cook created some surprise last week by defeating Miss 0. Royse, 9—6. These who saw the game speak in high terms of tho play of both ladies, the hitting being hard ami well placed. MifJ Cook has improved vastly, hut has the knack of frequently standing in the wiong part of the court, especially in doubles—either too far back or not far enough up, according to circumstances. J. F. Ewen met Bundle in the Singles, and here another surprise was in store, although on his day out Ewen is one of our best. His win over Bundle, 2—6, 6—o, 6—4. war, a line one, for in the first set Bundle showed great superiority. In the other sets Ewen drove in surprising fashion from all parts of the court, and in such a way as to ensure his opponent's returns being to hie own strongest point—the forehand. When ho got a show to smash ha put all his strength into the strokes. Bundle has not been playing at his best for some weeks. Many of his returns went into the net —an unusual weakness. Alter losing the second set he began the third wilh°grcat vim, but towards the finish ho again became uncertain. If they had met again next day, they arc so equal that Bundle would probably be the winner. The Men’s Doubles Handicap saw Wlnto and Ewen beat Monkman and Richardson, 70—58, and they are now in the final. Tho handicap war, a verv heavy one, the game beginning o—sß. co it will be seen that the winners scored 70 points whilst the losers scored 20. although they were playing extremely well. Other clnl« are invited to send m their tournament results. From all accounts there should l>c some -rood plav and close contests at the Otago Association's tournament at Plaster. Amonust others who will be competing may b" mentioned Ollivier, F. Wilding, jun., Kivcr, and Pcaiso from Canterbury. 11. A. Parker will also be here, and will probably play with Harraway in the doubles. Rmithlandem hope to he present in strong force, and if the Oamaru players come down the manv strange faces should lend additional interest to the fixture. It is rumored that considerable dissatisfaction was expressed by several wcnibcis of the Committee at last meeting of the Association concerning the action of the Match Committee in cancelling matches, but there is no use in belaboring (die matter now. The Association have again adopted the Slazengcr ball for the season 1909-10, and in doing so, according to the men in the st: cel, sejne very strong remarks were made’bv members concerning the actions and methods of manufacturers and agents in offering halls to resociniions free of cost, and using other inducements to try and secure support.