LAWN TENNIS

Evening Star, Issue 20373, 3 January 1930, Page 5

LAWN TENNIS

[By Recotvdkr.]

FIXTURES. January 13, 14, 15, and 16 —Manawntu championships . and handicaps at Palmerston North. ' January 22, 23, 24, and 25.—Wellington champnionships and handicaps at Miramar, Wellington. January 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, and February I.—New Zealand championships at Miramar, Wellington, 1.!. - With all the best players in the province entered the Canterbury championship and handicap tournament was one of the best tournaments over held in Christchurch. In the first Cay’s play one of the most interesting matches was that between K. Roddy and W. K. Robinsoji, the last-named player winning, 10-8,1-6, 8-6. The match was not marked, ;by hard driving, but the placing, of both players was excellent, particularly Roddy, whose placements to corners of the court were a treat to watch. Roddy, however; netted a .number■of. easy shots, and was good overhead duly in patches. In the semifinal -of the championship doubles Angas and Roddy were defeated by • Rhodes-Williams and Dymond, 6-4, 6-4. ; A northern paper, writing of the match, states that it . was Rhodes.WilUams’s tactical skill that won. this match. v Roddy and Angas' had not played together for eleven months, and at any time Anga's is inclined to poach and- not give his partner sufficient credit for mis shots. I Rhode s-Williaras i accordingly hit everything ho could down the centre or to Roddy’s backhand; iHis ! estimate was right. Time and time again his opponents ran into the middle, were confused, and nearly hit each, other on the head. Time and time again Roddy missed swashes and serves that were directed to his backhand* Dymond played a great supporting game, and Rhodes-Williams- was content to leave him the shets that he could take. There were some pretty exchanges at'net in the first set, which went to Rhodes-Williams and his partner, 6-4. The other two almost alwfiys got the attacking position at net, so that defeat was all the more remarkable. “ When in doubt drive down the middle.” That was the maxim of the winning pair, and it was proved true. In the second set, again, they took ad-

vantage of their opponents’ poor team work, and, although down 2-4. took the next four games in succession, the last one to love, and carried the set and match., Rliodea-Williams had already played in the morning a singles against Patterson, and several doubles. His two successive wins in the afternoon constitute a remarkable performance'. After defeating L A. Seay, 8-6, 8-6, •T. ■ Rhodes-WiUiams. failed 1 to produce lorm, and lost 6-2. ,6-3 to C. Angas in the final. Though llhodes-Williams was a trier all 'the ; 'time,. Angus’s i aggressive tactics at, times‘ left him standing. He was not the same Rhodes-Williams who had lien ton Seay • so decisively the day before. Ho lost heavily on his own mistakes, but at times, however, ho electrified the crowd •with beautiful placements. Miss M. Andrew won the ladies' singles title, defeating Miss M. Wake, 6-1, 3-6, 7-5. lii a match which was marked

by rallies of fine driving, Miss Andrews’s victory was well deserved, her placing* being particularly, .good. Very little, separated the players, but MisS Wake was sometiir.*, erratic, and drove out a good deal. The final of the South and ladies’ championship singles between Mrs Scott and Miss Guest was even enough to be, very interesting, particularly in the second set.. Miss Guest tried to go up to tho net in the first set, but Mrs Scott was i too accurate for her and left her standing. The sun was shining during the second set, and, Miss Guest changed her play to frequent Jobbing, and troubled Mrs 'Scott .considerably.; Mrs Scott’s driving was very accurate and her placing was goed. Playing against Deaker hrot ’ ers in the semifinals of the men!s championship doubles Pollock and Strang; contested, a well-fought match.. Strang was driving well, and ho and his partner combined well at the net, ■ Entries for the New Zealand championships close on January 13. Miss N. Lloyd, tho well-known Sydney player, is • entering for tho nation al championships, and will bo .' playing with Mrs Stuman irl the doubles. Miss Lloyd won the New Zealand championship • doubles, with Miss Lance in 1922 and again in 1926 with Miss J. Watson. Mrs Sturman (neo Miss Nancy Curtis) won the national singles in 1921' and 1921 and the ladies doubles with Mrs Melody in 1921, the mined with Dr Allison in 1920 and aggiri in 1921 with GY Olivier. “ Huka,” writing in the ■'Evening Post,’ states that the courts at Miramar are in excellent condition, playing fast and true, and that they will be specially cared for from now on, so that players may do assured of a good playing surface. (food entries have been received for ilie North Island championships, to bo played at Wanganui. Sixty entries have been received for the men’ssingles , and. forty for the ladies’ singles. Among the , players taking pact are Miss Nicholls and Mrs R. Adam (WellingNY R. Wilson and C. Malfroy . ‘ (Wellington), and C. Angas and T. \ Rhodes-Williams (Christchurch). Recently W. T. Tilden played in a series of exhibition, matches at the Dulwich Covered Courts Club in England. He met B. 1). Andrews, the New Zealand champion of 1926, in the singles, and, although Tilden was in a great hitting mood, all his shots having pace and accuracy, he was fully extended by the. New Zealander, Ihe final score being 6-2, 8-6, 3-6, 8-6. An English writer, stated .that Andrews’s display was tlie best he had given since he defeated Hunter, the American player, at Wimbledon last year. Warned by previous- experiences, tho Australian tennis chiefs intend to keep a hand on their Davis Cup representatives in future, especially in the matter of finance. Not only will the travelling and accommodation provided players fall short of tho former lavish scale,! but the daily “ allowance ” is cut down from two guineas to a wretched pound. Out. of this the poor lads will nave to find their own laundry) meals, and spots, outside those provided at the hotel in which they arc staying. Further, independent transport and the entertainment of friends will not in future go o:;i tho management’s slate, as in happier days. Nothing seems to he said about the “outfit allowance” before departure. Last time some of the hills cn this account made the council shed tears, especially those from the girls.