LAWN TENNIS

Evening Star, Issue 21013, 29 January 1932, Page 4

LAWN TENNIS

[Bv Recommit.]

TOURNAMENTS. February 5 and 6.—Vincent tournament. Easter. —Auckland tournament. Easter. —Wellington tournament. Easter.—Canterbury tournament. Easter.—Otago championships and handicap tournament ! at Logan Park, Dunedin. . . Easter. —Tuapeka Sub-association tournament at Roxburgh.

Except for a fairly strong wind, conditions last week were ideal for tennis, and another round of the B grade matches was completed. The two leading teams in the first section, Kaituna and Opoho, both gained somewhat easy victories, and as these teams are due to meet in the next round the winner of this match looks like the winner of the shield. The only other team in the running is Cavershara, and as there is a doubt as to whether the match played by this club against Taieri will count they may cause an upset. As the Caversham-Taieri is the subject of an appeal to the association, comments will not be made in the meantime. Opoho gained a somewhat easy victory over Anderson’s Bay, Mrs Osten being the only Bay player to win a set for her team. Mrs Osten carried too many guns for her youthful opponent, but nevertheless Miss Wood showed that with more match play experience she will develop into a first-class player. While Kaituna defeated St. Clair by 10 sets to 6, most of the matches were very closely contested, and it was_ only the greater experience of the Kaituna men which won for them two of their matches 9-8. In the second section Cosy Dell, the only team without a loss, inflicted on St. Mary’s their first defeat, and Cosy Dell would now appear to be certain of winning this' section. \ Several interesting ladder matches have been played during the week. Pearce retained first place on the ladder by defeating Pollock 4-6, 6-2, 6-0. The first set was the best of the match, both players giving a good exhibition, but unfortunately Pollock broke several strings in his racket in the second, and this undoubtedly affected his play over the latter stages of the match, when Pearce gained command and was playing his shots with confidence. M'Dougall moved up to second place when he defeated Pollock. M‘Dougall showed some of his best form in this match, and his next match against Pearce is sure to be worth seeing. Moody and Falconer gained third place on the doubles ladder when they defeated Jensen and Phillipps in straight set. The latter pair have withstood numerous challenges from Moody and Falconer during the present season, but in this match ‘neither of the Kaituna men were playing up to their best form, while their opponents were both right on their games. In this match Moody gave one of the finest displays of smashing and volleying he has ever given, while his partner gained numerous points with good net play. The A grade matches are to be resumed to-morrow, and the second meeting between Otago and Kaituna should be very interesting. When these teams met in the first round Kaituna gained a narrow victory, and if Otago field their strongest team the result of the previous encounter may easily be re-

versed. The pnly other match in this section will be between Moana and Roslyn, and this also 1 is sure to bo a close and interesting match. Permission has been granted to the association to raffle a tennis racket which was autographed by the members of the New South Wales ladies’ team. The proceeds from the raffle are do be used to help to defray the expenses of the representative team which will visit Timaru and Christchurch this season. Rooks of tickets will shortly bo forwarded to clubs, and it is up to every tennis player to give support to this venture. In the past the individual members of all Otago representative tennis teams have had to pay their own expenses, and this has meant that it was not always possible to get the best available players to tour. By paying .something towards the expenses it is felt that this season Otago will be able to send away a' team of its best players. After defeating Auckland in the Wilding Shield match Canterbury went down to the holders, Wellington, by 7 rubbers to 5. Barnett (Christchurch) has been the surprise of these shield matches, and his record of wins stamps him as a coming champion. His victories are worth recording; Defeated W. G. Robertson, 6-1, 6-3; G. A. Pearce, 6-0, 6-0; Bartleet, 6-3, 6-2; Stedman, 6-3, 6-3; and N. Wilson, 5-7, 9-7, 7-5. His only loss was against D. G. Frame, of the score being 7-5, 7-5 in France’s favour. It is pleasing to note Angas’s defeat of-D. 6. France, whd has consistently gained the decision against the Canterbury man during the past few seasons. This victory should make Angas more conlident than ever of winning the New Zealand championship. The visiting New South Wales'players easily won the only test to be played against a New Zealand team. It is pleasing to note that Mrs Molesworth, who unfortunately has since coming to New Zealand been unable to play because of a bad arm, was able to take part in this match. Although she was defeated by Miss Nicholls on the first day, she must have been playing up to her best form to have defeated _ Mrs Dykes, the New Zealand champion, 6-3, 6-0. Miss Valkenburg has shown herself to be the best allround player among the visitors, and her victories over both Miss D. Nicholls and Mrs Dykes must make her favourite for the New Zealand singles title. Miss Valkenburg has not a weakness in the whole of her game, and this must tell even against players with much more brilliant strokes than the New South Wales lady.