LAWN TENNIS

Evening Star, Issue 19126, 18 December 1925, Page 12

LAWN TENNIS

1 1 " 1 [By Recorder.]

The doubles ladder at present stands as follows; 1 Brown-Clark, 2 Bray-Cloghorn, 3 Page-Moody, 4 M'Dongall-Black, 5 Tregear-Bonnington, 6 Sherrill Brothers, 7, Boddy-lJuwkins, 8 JciisenBell. A communication from the Ladder Committee indicates that any other pair wishing to have their names placed ion the ladder are requested to send in (their names to tho secretary, when their i ranking position will bo published. 1 Smyth and Fulton have withdrawn j from the doubles ladder, as Smyth has I now completed his medical studies, and (has left Dunedin for the North. Ho will probably bo stationed in Wellingjton for some time, and should bo a j decided acquisition to the Wellington team. He has been an asset to Otago tennis for the last few years, and, though he has been rarely available for I representative teams, his play in club matches, has had its effect in helping to improve the standard of play in Otago. His forehand drive, service, and smash may all be taken as models by players, and tiiose who can copy his stylo will find their game vastly improved. Otago is to have some representatives at the South Canterbury tournament after all, Page and Fulton having decided to play together at Timaru on their way back from Christchurch. Reports from Timaru indicate that Mrs Scott is playing very well at present, and South Canterbury players seem to regard her prospects of winning tho singles at Christchurch as particularly bright. She will be playing with Andrews again in tho mixed doubles, but 1 have not yet heard with whom she is pairing in the ladies’ doubles. Tho Exhibition tournament entry forms have now been sent round to the various clubs, and may also be had on application to E. S. Wilson, in the Empire Buildings. Every grade of player is catered for in this tournament, and it is to be hoped that a large local entry will bo received. A Wellington paper recently devoted a paragraph to .this tournament, and mentioned that several inquiries concerning it had already been made, and that a good entry from visitors seemed assured. Entries close with E- S. Wilson on Tuesday January 5, and the draw will bo made the same week. B and C grade matches postponed from last week will be played to-mor-row, weather permitting, tho matches and grounds being unaltered. Moody and Pago last week defeated Black and M‘Dongall in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4, for third position on the doubles ladder. The'winners immediately challenged Bray and Cloghorn, but suffered a severe reverse to the tune of 6-1, 6-2, Cloghorn playing the best of the four. Moody was smashing hard, but without much direction, and found many of his strokes returned deep; and this seemed rather to slow him up in tho second set. Pago too erratic with ins drive to be playing well, but brought off some beautiful cross-court shots, and was serving well. I understand the winners are challenging Brown and Clark for first position on the ladder. The Australian papers are rightly rather indignant over the refusal of tho American Association to send a team to Australia this year after a more or less definite promise to that effect bad been given. “Austral,” in the ‘Referee,’ points out that Australia has constantly challenged for tho Davis Cup at great expense, anti has not had a visit from America since 1920. His remedy is that Australia should refuse to send another team away until the American Association sends a team to help the game in Australia. Apparently, though Tildcn and Johnston were not willing to come over this season, Alonzo, Norton, Kinsey,_ and Richards would have made the trip it they had received any encouragement from tho American Association, but this was not forthcoming, and arrangements lor a visit have now fallen through. A strong Auckland contingent is going to Christchurch (says a Northern exchange), including Bartleet and Johns and Misses Macfarlano, Knight, Miller, and N. Macfarlano. _ The men are playing a Wilding Shield match with Canterbury, but when it is noticed that the latter team includes Ollivicr, Seay, and France one cannot give Auckland much chance.

Glanvillc, of Christchurch, was in town for a few days recently. "Ho has been playing very well lately, but unfortunately strained or broke a tendon in his log while playing, and must therefore bo content with sitting and watching at the forthcoming championshijß. As Ollivior’s name appears amongst those in the probable team defending the Wilding Shield at Christchurch, it seems more than probable that ho will bo found defending his title at the championships, The final A grade match of the season, between Cosy Dell and Moana, was commenced on Saturday last at Cosy Dell, but oidy two or three events were completed, other games being played during the week As was expected, Moana proved too good for their opponents, and by winning live of the men’s events practically assured victory. Duthic was right hack to form against W. Sherrill, who could not get a single game against the Moana man. Duthie has rarely played better tennis, and never let his opponent get going. His deep drives were going in by inches all the time, and he directed most of his shots to Sherrill's backhand, which could not stand up to such perfect length shots. It is indeed pleasing to see the return to form of the Moana player, for he has not been at his best lately. If he can keep this game up lie should carry off the singles at Oamaru in the tournament next week.

Bridgcman and Bonnington had a good single, both players bitting out freely and smashing well. The Cosy Del> man led at 5-2,’ but was gradually overhauled by Bennington, who improved at this stage, to win 9-6. The winner has rather an awkward style, putting a tremendous amount ol top spin oil the ball for his ground shots, lie has a good service and a fine, clean smash, which ho found very valuable in his mixed double.

At the time of writing Moana Is leading by six matches to one, with lour ladies’ events, two mixed doubles, and the first men’s double to play, in the ladies’ singles Miss Hart was leading Mrs Gale 4-1 when rain stopped play last Saturday, and tins looks like a win for Cosy Dell. In any case, it is practically impossible for Moana to miss being premiers for tho 1925-26 season. In a challenge match during the week Boddy defeated Moody by two sets to one, and is now sixth on tho ladder. Jn a club challenge Bray defeated Page in straight sets, and is apparently right hack to his old form. The present position of the Otago lawn topnis ranking list (men’s singles land doubles) is as under. Owing to various causes, there have been several names deleted Men’s singles: Bray, Page, Guy, Clark, Boddy, Cleghorn,

Fulton, Black, Gale, Jensen, W. Sheriff, W. E. Gregory, TJcll, Angell. Men’s doubles: Brown and Clark, Bray and Cloghorn, Page and Moody. M'Dongall and Black, Fulton and Boddy, Tregear and Binnington, Jensen and Bell.