LAWN TENNIS

Evening Star, Issue 20315, 25 October 1929, Page 14

LAWN TENNIS

£By Recorder.]

The only A grade match last Saturday was that between University and Otago, University winning an interesting match by three games—sets be-' ing even. In the men's singles chief interest centred in ihe encounter between Stallworthy and Bray, and an i excellent match resulted, in which tno Otago man, after he settled down, ftl ■ways held the upper hand, and eventu ally won by nine games to five. Stall worthy began well, and early established a lead of 5-3, but Bray soon found his game, and by steady, accurate play, took the next six games tlove. The University player adopted forcing tactics throughout, but he was disconcerted by the sustained accuracy of Bray’s play. Watson and Kawluison both won their singles with something to spare, but Boddy was fully extended by Lucas, whom he eventual! v defeated by the odd game. In the ladies’ singles Miss Cook did well to defeat Miss Scott, 9-5. the Otago lady out-playing her opponent, who was not quite as steady as usual. Miss Ballantyne outplayed Miss Finch, allowing her opponent only five games. Miss Ballantyne plays a moe game, and her clear-cut forehand drive, with its fine follow through, is an excellent model, while she also possesses Ihe ability to volley. Miss Seovill was the only University player to win all her matches, and she did so with some tiling to spare. One of the best wins of the day was that of Bray and Boddy, who defeated Stalhvorthv and Lucas, 9-5 The Otago pair were* right on their game, and gave a good exhibition of driving and volleying. Clark and Mangos showed greatly improved form to defeat Watson and KawJinson. 9-8. By steady plav and good combination Miss Cook and Miss Finch, of Otago, easily accounted for Miss Scott and Miss Bsllantync: however, Miss Howell and .Miss Seovill (LVversity) evened matters by defeating Miss Hart and Miss Ramsay. University, always a strong team in combines, lived up to its reputation by annexing three of these •■ r amcs. and’incidentally turning a likely Scfcnb into a win by the small margin uf three games. Boddy and Miss Finch were the only Otago pair to win their combine, the’rest of these matches bejng won fairly comfortably by tn© Uiuversitv players . In "the B grade St. Andrew s just (*ot home against Cosy Dell (last year’s grade winners!, the former club winning bv five games, sets being even. Grimsdale plaved well to win his single against Balk, while Tty-burn proved much too strong for Hunter. Ityburn plaved good tennis, and was the < only placer to win all his matches. His inclusion in the St. Andrew's team will do much to strengthen this club. St. Kilda had a comfortable win against University, who could manage to collect only two sets. It wouid appear that the University team would have fared better had it been included in the second section of the B grade rompetition. , . „ , Owing to further applications lor inclusion "on the Otago men’s ladders the Match Committee of the association has drawn up the ladders as follows : Singles Bray, Guy. M'Dougall, Moody, Gale, ■R-awlinson, ’Boddv, Jensen, Pliillipps, Wcbling, Deaker, Pollock, Bell, Fied. Drew, Ross. Falconer. Morrow, Liddell, and Barsdell. Doubles—M'Dougall and Black, Moody and Guy, Bray ami Dnthie, Treg’ear and Deaker, Jensen and Phillipps, Drew and Gale, Chisman and Welding. Sonntag and Sincock, Pearce and Ross. Balk and Oliver.

Nothing has yel_ been done in connection with the ladies’ ladders, and it is a matter for regret that only six ladies have so far signified their intention of being placed on those ladders.

During the week Bray successfully withstood a challenge from Guy for first place on tho Otago men’s singles ladder, and by so doing avenged his defeat of a fortnight ago. Guy started well, and led 5-3 in tho first set, but from then on Bray settled down to bis game and took the next ten games to his opponent's iwo. the final score being 7-5, 6-2 in Bray’s favour. This match goes to show th.-d Bray did not display his true form when he was defeated by Guy, 9-0, in the Otago v. Moana match. Another interesting challenge played during the week was for second place on the men’s doubles ladder Guy and Moody displacing Bray and Dnthie. This match went to tho full three sets, the final score being S-6, C-S, 9-7 in Guy and Moody's favour. Players are again reminded that entries for the association’s Yankee tournament to he held on Saturday week must be in the hands of Mr E. S. Wilson by next Tuesday. Players without partners should send in their names, indicating that they want a partner. It is hoped that the entry will be a record for a mixed doubles tournament in Dunedin.

At a special meeting of the association executive, held during the week, the president (Mr M'Dongall) intimated that the Otago Sports Depot had donated a cup to the association, and it was resolved that this cup be given to n competition for the champion of champions among ladies. The same sub-committee which drew up the rules governing the men’s _ champion of champions competition is to draw’ up rules for the ladies’ competition, and chibs will no doubt bo notified of the conditions within the next week or so.

The principle behind the rules will probably be that each chib will run a singles championship for ladies, the winner of such competition to be declared the representative of that club. The club champions will then play off for possession of the trophy. Players will be pleased to hear that a definite move is being made to have courts laid down at Logan Park, and the association’s engineer has given his assurance that the ground is now in a fit condition to allow of the laying down of twelve or fourteen courts im mediately. The preparation of the plans and specifications of these courts is now being proceeded with, and tenders are being called for, sc that there j# every prospect of courts at Logan Park being available for Easter, if not sooner. That Dr Moody is getting back to his form showed in a ladder challenge (n the Moana ladder last week, when he defeated Duthie. 9-5. In regard, to the New Zealand chain pionshios it can now be stated time the Wellington Association has accepted these, and that they will le decided on the Wellington Association s courts at Miramar, starling on February 27, 1930. Wellington has _n*.t had a New Zealand championship since just after the war, and the gathering together of the champions in Wellington is being eagerly looked forward to The Wellington Association has ordered a grand stand, and it is hoped to have it actually in use on th<« grounds Christmas, when ft is most certain that an open meeting will be held on the grass courts at Miramar.