LAWN TENNIS

Evening Star, Issue 20119, 8 March 1929, Page 13

LAWN TENNIS

[By Recorder.]

FIXTURES. March 9.—Otago v. South Canter-* bury, at Dunedin. March 16.—Yankee tournament for M'Millan Cup. March 23.—Otago v. North Otago, at Dunedin. Easter.—-South Island championships and handicaps, at Dunedin. The annual representative match between Otago .rind Southland was played at Invercargill last Saturday. Alter a close and exciting match Otago again succeeded in carrying off the honours. At one stage ' Southland led by 5 matches to 3, but Otago wiped off the deficit and gradually Avorked ahead to ultimately Avin by 14 matches to 10. The match was a very enjoyable one, and tile spectators Avere reAvarded Avith some exciting games, m which the tennis reached a fairly high standard. The Southland team Avas Avith out the services of Dcaker. M'Donald, and' Johnstone, but, considering that there were in the Otago team only tAvo of the men who played against Canterbury, the previous Aveek, Otago did avcll to win five of the men’s singles, and two of the men’s doubles. Once again the Southland ladies proved to he a strong combination, and, allowing for the fact that only Misses Pattisou and White Avere absent from the Otago team of the previous Aveek, the Southland; ladies deserve great credit for their excellent performance. Four of the ladies’ singles and one of the ladies’doubles Avere Avon by Southland. Miss Rein, Southland’s first lady, ploys a very steady game, but was no match for Miss Partridge, Avhpse volleying Avas a. - feature of this set. By. well-placed drives, crisp volleying, and ability to coAer the court, Miss Melvin proved too good for Miss Fleming.: Miss LaAvrcnce drives, volleys, and smashes with decision, and quite outclassed Miss Cook, Avhom she defeated by 9 games to 3. Miss Guest gave a' good display of tennis in her match Avith Mrs Watson. She shoAved she Avas not afraid to loUoav her drives into tho net and finish off a rally with an exceptionally strong smash. Mrs Latta' and Miss Sherriff’s match turned out to he a marathon. Both players showed infinite patience, being content to v return everything and Avait for the other to make the mistake. ■ In one game 119 shots Avere played. By sheer, determination Mrs Lutta eventually Avon by 9 games to 8. Mrs Brandford had to accept defeat by 9 games to 5 from . Miss Hart, Avhose play was steady and accurate Sumpter Avas the only Southlander to Avin his single. Avhich he did by defeating M'Dougall, 7-5, 6-4. M’Dougall started off avcll, and by accurate pass-* ing shots led Sumpter, 5-2, in the first set. At this stage the shadoAvs on tho court seemed to be worrying M'Dougall, and .Sumpter started to force tho game. By accurate driving and angle, smashes, Sumpter Avent on to Avin eight, games in succession, and led 3 love in the second set. M'Dougall Avon tho next three games, but Sumpter improved, and alloAved his opponent only one more game, Avinning the set and match, 7-5, (5-4. Duthio proved much' too strong a player for Lindsay, avlkj could only manage to score 4 games in the tAvo sets. Henderson, although getting on in years, can still play al very useful game ; and Phillipps had to go all out to Avin. In the third set Henderson led, 4-1 and 40 love, but tho Utago man unproved, and avou five games m succession, taking the sot and match, 6-1, 4-6, C-4. Watson’s serving and smashing played a large part m his defeat of Strettel jut straight sets. With strong back-hand diivcs and accurate volleying, Ross proved too good for Lopdell. The match between Mills and Sincock Avas productive of some excellent volleying on both sides. In the ladies’ doubles Misses Melvin: and LaAvrencc lost to Misses Partridge and Fleming after a really good exhibn i ion of the game by two well-matched pairs of ladies. Miss Partridge 'was the outstanding player. Her volleying and smashing being both and’ severe. Miss Cook and Mrs Watson combined avcll to defeat Miss Rein and Mrs Brandford in straight sets. These defeats of Southland’s first two pairs Avere offset in turn by Miss Guest and Mrs Latta defeating Misses Sherrill; and Hart 6-5, 6-3. The Southland pair Sumpter and Lindsay Avon the first set in their match against M'Dougall and Duthie. Lindsay lobbed consistently aacll. and had the Southlanders varied their game more the Otago pair may have been beaten; but as the match advanced both M'Dougall and Duthie gained confidence in their smashing, and Avon the last two sols 8-6, 6-2. Strettell. and Mills Avere the only Southland pair to win their double, and by delcating Ross and Sincock proA'cd that they are quitai a formidable combination.

Otago and Southlan 1 each won threo of the mixed doubles. Miss Lawrence partnered by Sumpter, played soma great shots at times, but appeared to be over-anxious, and did not show' the confidence of her opponent, Miss P.arf-i ridge, who with M‘Dougall won 6-4,j 6-3. Duthie and Miss Fleming cf.n-. Lined well and had no trouble in win-i ning their match against Lindsay and Miss Melvin. Of the three combined doubles won by Southland the, match between Henderson and Mrs Brandlofd and Ross and Miss Sherri d was the best. / In this mutch Henderson volleyed with accuracy and made numerous kills at the net.

Mrs Latia was the only Southland! player to win all her matches, while Miss Partridge, Duthie and Phillip* won all their matches lor Otago.

The following players, whose names appear in alphabetical order, have been, selected to represent Otago against South Canterbury at Anderson’s Bay on Saturday;—Mon : Boddy, Black. Bray,; Dutliie, Fulton. M'Dougall. Ladies; Misses Cook. Fleming, Partridge. Pattison, Mrs Watson, and Miss White.) South Canterbury ore sending down a' fairly strong team, but the Otago team should be able to revenge their defeat of last season.

In addition to the representative match the final of the B grade com-: petition will be played at Anderson’S Bay courts to-morrow. By defeating Moana by 11 sets to 3 Cosy pell has been declared the winners of Section U of the B grade competition, and they will play off with Green Island, the winners of the second section, on courts 7 and 8 at Anderson’s Bay to-morrow. The only other match to be played on' Saturday will be the final of the 0 grade second section. University, with! no losses, have to meet Opoho, who have had one loss. If University win they will have to play off with Taieri for the C grade banner. _ Players are again reminded that the Yankee tournament for the M'Millan Cup will be held on Saturday March 16. The promise of a number of entries from players outside Otago points to the Easter tournament being one of: the best ever held in Dunedin. Entries close on Saturday, March 16. A team of tennis players comprised mostly of members, of the Cosy Dell Club journeyed to Strath Taieri during last week-end and played a match against tjie local club. Such friendly

interchange of matches does much to foster the game of tenuis, and at the same time provide an enjoyable outing. The Dunedin players won the match by 11 sets to 3 sets.; The best players in the Strath Taieri team were Miss Slater and R. Long. Long played good tennis to defeat Jensen l)-5. He is a young player who has improved considerably during the past season, having gone frojn sixth to first pn his club ladder.