LAWN TENNIS

Evening Star, Issue 19533, 14 April 1927, Page 14

LAWN TENNIS

[By Recorder.]

Last Saturday the final between Kaituna and Moana for the A grade banner was started at the Anderson’s Bay Courts, but had to be abandoned when only partly finished owing to the rain. It was stated last week that Kaituna would win live men’s events, with a possibility of annexing all six, and this is practically what happened, Kaituna having won all the men’s singles, and leading in the doubles. The Kaituna ladies, however, found the opposition too strong, losing three singles, so at present Kaituna leads by four sets to three, and the match promises to have a close finish. It will now have to be completed after Easter. The closest match of the day was that between Guy and Moody, the Kaituna man just getting home by the odd game. Guy was exceedingly accurate with his passing shots, thereby keeping his opponent from the net, and preventing him from exploiting his smash to any extent. Guy is apparently playing as well as ever, and in omitting him from those who have a good chance in the championship singles at the tournament one did this player an injustice. There is not much to choose between Bray, Guy, Clark, and Moody, and any one of them may win.

Clark drove excellently against Duthie, keeping him back from the net. Duthie played well, but his backhand could not stand the strain of the continuous bombardment it got, and Clark won by concentrating his attack there. , Cloghorn played a Tory pretty game /against Gale, aniK one cannot help thinking that this player would have an excellent chance of defeating anyone in Dunedin if ho really extended himself. His volleying is done with a sure touch, and every player hero can copy with advantage the manner in which ho deals with deep lobs. Gale was right on his forehand drive, but Cleghorn’s anticipation robbed this shot of much of its value, the Eaituna man eventually winning, 9-6. The unfinished match between Miss Moloney and Mrs M'Kellar was abandoneJ m a unique position, the Moana lady wanting but one stroke to win. An effort was made to finish the game, hut after several deuces the rain got too heavy, and the game was abandoned at match point. Jt is certainly a curious position for any player to have to go on to the court knowing that if the first stroke is lost the match is over.

it seems a little doubtful when this match will be finished, as some of the Moana players are not available for one or two weeks after Easter. It would be unfortunate if Moana had to scratch, and a fairer method would be to declare the two clubs joint winners for the season.

In order to facilitate the work of the committed at the tournament, players are reminded that there is to be no booking of halls received from the office. In the singles championship Brny has a succession of easy matches till the semi-final, Stallworthy, a < University player, being apparently his strongest opponent. The other semi-finalist will he found from Guy ,Gale, Clark, and Oleghorn, Guy being the most likely to get through. In the bottom half of the draw, which appears the easier half, M'Dongall and H. R. Wilkinson will fight for one semi-final, while Moody, having defeated 0. Mollison, of Oamaru, will find E. G. Roddy disputing the way to the other semi-final. The four most likely semi-finalists are therefore Bray, Guy. Moody, and H. S. Wilkinson or R. G. M'Dongall. In the men’s doubles, Guy and Moody will fight it out with Bray and Cloghorn in the top half of the draw, while several pairs have n chance in the lower half. M'Dongall and Clark will soon meet Wilkinson and Mollison, the winners playing Gale and Boddy for the right to meet Fulton and E. Boddy, who appear to have a fairly easy run to the semi-final.

In the ladies’ championship singles, Miss Pattisoi anppears to have a fairly clear run through to the final, in the top half, tho winner of the Miss Cook versus Miss King match being her chief opponent here. In the bottom half, Miss V. Nichols, of Oamnru. should be one semi-finalist, _ while Miss Romans and Mrs Galo will have to play off for the other position. In tho championship mixed doubles, some good matches should be seen in the first round, one of the best being that between Guy and Miss M'Adam. and Mollison and Miss Romans. In the top half. Gale and Mrs Gale appear to have a good chance, while Trcgonr and Mrs Tregear, and Fulton and Miss Romans must also he considered. In the bottom half Moody and Miss Pattison and the 1 wanner of the Gny-Molljson match should fight it out for the right to enter the finals Prominent absentees from the tour naraent include V. E. Page, D. Duthie, the Sumpter brothers, Leask brothers (Otago Central), Jensen, Miss White, the Misses Manchester, and Miss Bagley. After Miss Moloney’s successful season in tho representative team, her doings at tho tournament will be watched with interest. She partners S. M'Dongall in the mixed doubles and Mrs Duthie in the ladies’ doubles.

In the ladies’ singles handicap, one or two of tho more leniently 1 rented players strike the eye as likely to do well. Miss Lister on owe 3-6 should do well, as should Miss A. Sherriff on the same mark. Miss Godfrey (University) is a little too leniently handicapped, and should hist about get through to the final. Miss Sheehy (N.Ti.V.) is another nlarer who should do well in this event, bf'tho back-markers. Miss Romans on owe 46 appears to have a hopeless task. It is curious to note that in three or lour cases partners in the ladies’ doubles meet in the first round of tho K jngles—rather had luck for the players concerned. . Little can be said of the mixed doubles handicap, tliovgh at first glance H Wilkinson and Mrs M'Dougall appear to have been fairly lightly, treated. Gibson and Mrs Fuller on receive 1-6 should also do well. Moody and Miss Pattiscn are hack on owe 40, more than a stroke behind Uie next pair*, ,] M'Dougall and Miss Moloney, Mollison

and Miss Bomans, and Fulton and Miss Nichols. One picks Misses Godfrey and Aitcheson ns likely winners of tlio ladies’ doubles. A word about umpiring is quite in place, with the tournament upon uS. Whatever you do, give .your decisions firmly and stick to them, and don't ask the players to give a decision. Further. if there are no linesmen, pull up the server if he is foot-faulting, though a warning first is the fairest thing. Finally, remember that the onlookers are Just us interested in the game as the players, and call the score loud enough for everyone to near, indicating which side is lending—e.g., 5-4, Brown leads in the first set.