LAWN TENNIS

Evening Star, Issue 19723, 25 November 1927, Page 15

LAWN TENNIS

[By Recokdee.] The “ merit list ” i'or last week is as follows: — 1, A. Jensen (Cosy Dell). Won his single, double, and mixed double against Roslyn, 9-7, 9-8, 9-7, thus figuring in three of the livo sets won by his side. . . ~ •2. Stallworthy (University). Won all his matches against Moana on his lust appearance in A grade. 3. Miss Pearce (Anderson’s ; Bay). Won her three events, 6-5, C-i, 9-2, against Balmacewcn. 4. Miss M'Lachlan (Technical). Mon her three events, 6-3, 0-3, 9-4, against Triangle. At noon on Saturday last, players must again have thought that they were in for another wot afternoon.. It cleared up soon after, however, and, though conditions for play were unpleasant, most, if not all, of the matches set down were played. The most interesting match of the day was that between Moana and University. It was stated last week that the odds were slightly in favor of Moana, as that team had stronger ladies than their opponents. This prediction proved true, for, though the match is unfinished at the time of writing, Moana is iu a winning position, with seven sets in hand against six, games being 85 all. University thus need to win two of the remaining three sets (Duthie’s three events) to have a chance of victory, and even then they may lose on games. The first men’s single was just the same struggle as last year, Chisholm [this time winning, but only by the odd I game. Guy led, 7-3', but could not 1 press home his advantage, and the University man levelled at 7 all. Both players then indulged in safety tactics, but Chisholm’s - forehand drive was of better length than his opponent’s in the concluding stages, and ho won at 9-8. Gale was off his game against Fulton, the University man running to a 6 love lead by good volleying, before the Moana player got going. Gale played more at the net in the concluding stages, and had his opponent on the defensive; but he could not make up the leeway, Fulton winning, 9-5. The Moana ladies more than fulfilled expectations, winning five of their six events, including all four singles. The best ladies’ match was that between Misses Moloney and Witherow, the Moana lady winningby the odd game. Miss Moloney, driving and volleying well, ran to a 4-0 lead, but Miss Witherow improved, to level at 5 all. The last game was closely contested, both players bringing off winning volleys at critical points. Miss Witherow reached set point with a well concealed short hall, but lost .the .advantage with a double fault, her only one for the match. Two long rallies then went to Miss Moloney, who thus won, 0-5. Mrs Guy owed her win over Miss Vesty to her splendid forehand driving, while Miss Heywood was too accurate with her passing shots for Miss Dathie, who, however, brought off many fine volleys. A feature of the Roslyn-Cosy Dell match was the fine play of Jensen, who won all his _ matches, a particularly good win being in the doubles with Sherriff against M'Dougall and Macpherson. Jensen has represented Otago on several occasions, hut hitherto has been just below the leading half-dozen players iu Otago. If he can retain the form ho displayed on Saturday there is no reason why he should not go up several places on the ladder. 5. G. M'Dougall continued his sequence of victories with a 9-2 win over Bell. The Roslyn man so far this season has defeated Guy, Chisholm, and Bell, who have scored but 10 games between them to M.'Dougall’s 27. On Saturday he was as sound as ever with his ground work, and, thong!) he did not have much overhead work to do, ho seemed more consistent in this department than usual. Bell brought off some beautiful drives, but was apt to nullify these by following them up with bad shots off much easier balls. Ho likes a fast ball to drive, and was overhitting slow balls continually. Jensen was too accurate for Macpherson, who drove and served well at times; the Roslyn man, however, was weak with his backhand, and Jensen continually attacked this. In the double with M'Dougall, Macpherson was not consistent ouougth with his return of service, and missed several easy smashes at critical times. The Cosy Doll pair combined well, and their return of sendee was consistently good, Jensen being slightly the better of the two iu this respect. Mrs M'Dougall played exceedingly well in her single against Miss Pattison, and was unlucky in not winning. The Otago champion was not at her best, and was continually worried by her opponent’s service. Further, she did not take full advantage of the fact. Unit her opponent’s backhand is not nearly as good as her forehand. Mrs M'Dougall made good use of the many opportunities she was given of bringing her sever© forehand drive into action, and at 5 all and 40-15 looked a winner. She could not finish it off, however, and "Miss Pattison evened to deuce, and then won an interesting match, G-5. It is surely an anomaly that while Miss Pattison is first on the ladder, Mrs M'Dougall should be last, nineteen places lower. She should bo placed higher even now on her latest 'performance. Miss Pattison is not yet up to her best form, and should endeavor to get some hard practice against men, a method of practice greatly in vogue ip Christchurch. Mrs Scott (nee Miss M.'Laren) used to practise against the men at Moana before ■ New Zealand championship meetings, and fecind it very useful in bringing her up to her best form. Cosy Dell was also unlucky iu not winning the second ladies’ single, Mrs Jensen leading Mrs TVsgear, 5-3, only jto see her opponent take the next three games for the set. Mrs Trogear was uncertain at first, and appeared to bo troubled by the light, but she displayed some of her last season’s form in the hitter half of the match. Sherriff and Sirs M'Dougall played well against M'Dougall and Miss Pattison, tho latter pair winning, 9-7. Mr and Mrs Jensen notched the only win for Cosy Dell in the mixed doubles by defeating Macpherson and Mrs Tregear, 9-7. The results of the Otago-North-east Valley match were not published. Otago won by 11 sots to 5, the Northeast Valley successes being in the Indies’ events and mixed doubles. One of the best wins of tho <l:vv was mat of Miss Keast over Miss_ Ramsay, tho Valley player displacing form that should easily gain her a place on the provincial ladder. With Mrs M'Dougah at the bottom of tho provincial ladder, aspiring players are somewhat deterred from trying to gain a pine© While incapable of defeating the Cosy Dell player, they are perhaps able to defeat some of those higher up. This is another reason iu favor of raising Mrs M'Dougall’s position. Tho C grade match results as published do not reveal any close games, the Technical-Triangle match, won by Technical by 10 sets to 6, heing_ the closest. In this match Gascoigne. Johnstone, and Miss M'Lachlan won all their matches for Technical, while Flett and Miss Satchlcr had the best results for Triangle. The ©polio Club has done well, so far this season, and is in a winning position against Waimaua, leading by 8 sets to 5. Deyrvas the only ,player of either team, with three, wins jto his credit, while Mrs Cor nidi (Waimana) had a good win mer Miss Rackley in the ladies’ singles. Anderson’s Bay defeated Balmacewen h,y 10 sets to 5, a feature of the play being tho fine game played by Miss

Pearse, who is a very promising young player. Seymour had tho best record for Balmaccweu. In sending in results of matches, it is customary to put the names of the winning team's players first. Several times lately tho losing team players have been mentioned first, a procedure that makes it a little difficult to sea how things have gone. It is only a small point, but the of mentioning players of tho winning team first is more natural. The Yankee tournament, postponed from November 12. is to bo played tomorrow. Competitors should make a point of going to the right courts tomorrow. according to the list published in tho papers a fortnight ago, otherwise considerable confusion will arise. In a club challenge match at Otago la't week Brav defeated Chisholm. 6-3, 8-6. Canterbury has requested that the Otago team again travels to Christchurch this season for the annual interprovincial match. Our northern friends canie down two years in succession in order to oblige us at Exhibition time, and it is likely that their request will he acceded to. The TJnivcrsity-Otagp match was to have been played during the week to allow tho former team to fulfil its' encasements before the students go on holiday. At the time of writing Fulton, and Miss Ballantync have defeated Rawlinson and Miss Cook, 9-7, while Miss Ballantync won from Miss Cook, 6-3. The first ladies’ double resulted iu a win for Otago 1 , Results of ladies’ challenge matches this week: —Mrs M'Kellar challenged Mrs Roydhduse and lost, 10-8; Mis* Finch challenged Miss Ramsay and lost, 10-8; Mrs Tretrear challenged Mrs Evans and lost, 9-6: Mesdames M'Dougall and Jensen challenged Misses Ram-” say and Fiheh and lost, 9-6; Mrs Bell mid Miss Botting challenged Misspg Smith and Smellig and won* JNL '**■'