LAWN TENNIS

Evening Star, Issue 21991, 29 March 1935, Page 5

LAWN TENNIS

[By Recoup xe.] FIXTURES. March 30.—Southern zone v. Canterbury zone, challenge for Wilding Shield and Katnleen Nunnely Casket, at Christchurch. „ ‘April 19, 20, 22, and 23.—Otago championship, and handicap tournament, at Logan Park, Dunedin. Championship .and handicap tournaments, at Christchurch and Auckland.

Cleghorn and Walker, Cup ■; Competitions. The Cleghorn Cup competition is now . well advanced, and the following players'have reached the third round:—N. Stark (St. Patrick’s), F. Grimsda e (St. Andrew’s),-G. Pearce (Andersens Bay), H. Gregory (North-east Harbour L L. M'Donald (Bahnacewen). W. Bray has reached the semi-final, having defeated E. G. Boddy in the second round and B, Guy in the third. Bray appears to be a likely finalist, as ■ his next match will be against the winner of the, game between Stark and ■ Grimsdale. The only second ' round match to. he played is between K., Bryan (Roslyn) and Connors (Nga Maara). . . . While the. men's competition is _ well . advanced, the same cannot be said of the .ladies’. Only three ladies—Miss * Baltrop (St. Clair), Miss White (Kaiinns), and Miss Williams—have ' reached: the third, round. Five of the ' second round matches have not been and as the date for finishing these, matches is now past the players concerned will require to show reason “why they should not.be scratched. The Competitions Committee is determine hot' to’allow players to hold up their matches. . The date fixed for completing the "third round of matches in. both these competitions has been set down as Monday, April 8.

Ladder Challenges. Recent challenges on the men’s ladders resulted:—K. Bryan beat E. Pearce, 6-3, 4-6, 6-1; G. Pearce beat Ei G. Boddy, 5-7, 6-4, 7-5; G.- Jolly C., Robertson, 7-5, Guy,'beat J Rawlinson, 6-2, 11-9; J. Rawlinson beat E. -Pearce, 6-4, 6-2;: 'Boddy and Fulton beat Rawlinson and Falconer, 6-4, 6-3; Boddy and Fulton beat Black and Bryan, 16-14, 6-3. Shield and Casket! Matches.

... t Tiie challenge matches for the Wilding Shield andNunnely Casket between the, Southern zone and Canterbury, the present holders of both these trophies, .were to . start to-day, and will be continued to-morrow at Wilding Park, ’ .Christchurch. The Southern zone team is drawn from Southland, Otago, North ..Otago, and South Canterbury, and the Stearns are as follow:—Wilding- Shield: ’ G. A. Pearce, J. Rawlinson, and K. Bryan (Otago), and W. E. Renton (Timaru). Nunnely Casket: Miss D. . M&er. (Oamaru), Miss Partridge and Miss tßarton- (Otago), Miss Guest (Invercargill). .Unfortunately W. G. Robertson (Timaru) and E. G. Roddy , (Otago) were not available for the Wilding Shield team. The ladies’ team, "however, is.the strongest available, and it is expected that it will give quite a ...good account of itself. The men’s team is .composed of young players, all of whom should bene'fit greatly from the experience they will gain in this match. In. each competition a total of twelve matches are played. On the first day , the.first.player of each team - plays the second player of the other team, and .the first, doubles ipair plays the second ’ doubles .pair, while- the order .of the matches ...on the second ;day -is first . players meet first players. Each player Will thus have four matches to piay.

North Otago v. Southland. i -Last Saturday at Oamaru the North Otagodeam gained a convincing victory over Southland. Southland was without the services of. M'Leod and Baird in the men, while Miss Guest and Miss. Hein--were not available. The exclusion of these players from the Southland team weakened its combination, but, however, credit must be given to the North. Otago first three men for their good victories in their singles matches. M'Dougall and Feather both gamed good victories when they defeated Cockerill and A. Deaker respectively in straight sets. One of the . best matches of the day was witnessed Wtween R, M'Callum and M‘Kin non, ..the ,decision going to the latter player after a ; ■ closely contested three-set . match. M'Kinnon’s volleying and smashing were more consistent than his opponent’s, and this was the deciding factor. One of the most notable victories gained bv the Ihdics was Misses R. and J. Wilson’s defeat of Miss Baikie and Miss Weavers. This match was one of the finest ladies’ doubles ever seen in Oamaru, and ail four Slayers ’gave good displays. The young outhland players, however, made fewer mistakes than their opponents, ' while their, placements were delightful.

A Boy’s Success. John Bromwich, sixteen-year-old NeV South Wales player, made tennis ’ history by defeating two of Australia’s ' Davis Cup players in Quist and Tnrn- ; bull'in the South Australian champion- ' ahlpV a. few weeks ago (writes the Sydney ‘Referee’). In doing so he played brilliant tennis and revealed, ! himself as a coming Australian and 1 world champion. Bromwich showed ex‘traordinary stamina in defeating the Davis Cup players. In the final against ’ Turnbull and also in his match against Quist he was very tired in the third " sets, but recovered in remarkable manner bn each occasion'. Turnbull confessed that Bromwich is one of the • ‘ most difficult players to force into a ■weak return. With his slow back•swing he watches the ball right on to hia racket and maintains almost perfect • control and length for' an indefinite ' number of shots. In the final Turn- ' bull, contrary , to his usual practice, ■ opened cautiously, and Bromwich quickly went through him to win the set 6-1. The second set went to 9-11 in ■ Bromwich’s favour. Fighting back ' desperately. Turnbull took the next set 6-7. At this stage Bromwich appeared to be “ all in.” blit, staging a brilliant recovery, took the next two sets 6- 6-2. - ! Bromwich defeated Quist, 6-4, 5-7, 7- 6-3, 6-0, by cool, accurate play, ■ which would have done credit to any veteran in the semi-final. This was the best victory in his career. The match extended over three hours in •broiling heat. . Turnbull had previously defeated M’Grath, 6-3, 6-1, 6-1, by severe and • consistently brilliant tennis. Turnbull simply smashed his way to victory, ... recovering M'Grath’s best shots with "... remarkable consistency. M'Grath made , many errors on his famous doublc- .. . handed shots, but was handicapped to some extent by an injured knee. This did not detract from the merit of ~ .Turnbull’s victory. In the final Bromwich scored 202 points to Turnbull’s 172. Bromwich established an Australian record in winning the South Australian singles championship at the ago of i sixteen years. It is the first time a State singles championship has been won by such * young player. ,