LAWN TENNIS

Evening Star, Issue 22571, 12 February 1937, Page 4

LAWN TENNIS

[By Recorder.]

Representative Fixtures. February 20—Otago v, Maniototo at Ranfurly. . ~ , , February 27— Otago v. Southland at Invercargill. February 27—Otago v. Eastern Districts at Palmerston. March 6—Otago v. North Otago at Dunedin. _ , . „ , March 6—Otago v. Vincent at Clyde or Alexandra. March 13 —Otago and Southland v Canterbury at Christchurch. March 20—Otago v. South Canterbury at Dunedin, March 20—Otago v. South Otago at Dunedin. Easter Tournaments. Otago Association._ Tuapeka Sub-association. Canterbury Association. Wellington Association. Auckland Association. South Canterbury Association. Interclub Matches. Chief interest last Saturday centred in the men’s A grad© match between Otago and Kaituna, and the latter ‘caused an upset by defeating Otago by , 5 matches to 1. Otago was without the services of H. J. Pollock, its third man, but against this Kaituna has lost through transfer T. Callender, who up till Now Year was playing first man. Kaituna, however, was fortunate in having a colt like Laidlaw to call on, and his performance on Saturday was worthy of any one of the_ first four players in Dunedin. As this was the last round of the men’s A grade competition, Kaituna’s victory places three teams—Otago, Roslyn, and Kaituna—level for first position, each having lost on© match. Kaituna lost to Roslyn, while Otago defeated Roslyn. This has necessitated a play-oif of these three teams, and Otago has drawn the bye. Kaituna.and Roslyn will therefore meet at Logan Park to-morrow. Giving to a full programme of representative matches, the date for playing the final has not yet been decided, and it may have to stand over till after Easter. In the Kaituna-Otago match Robertson gained Otago’s sole victory when he defeated Sherriff in straight sets. This match was more evenly contested than the score indicates, and it was only Robertson’s strongly-sliced shot which gave him the advantage. The best single of the day was seen between Boyd and Boddy, the former registering his third successive victory over his opponent. Boyd attacked strongly in the first set, and by keeping his opponent from the net won out fairly comfortably. Body took up the attack in the second set, and once he gained the net he was able to outplay the Kaituna man. Boyd, however, was making too many mistakes with easy shots, and it was not till Boyd had saved six set points that the Otago man evened the sets. The final set saw Body again missing easy shots, and Boyd, playing accurately, won out at 6-3. Laidlaw proved too good in every department for Kaye, volleying, driving, and smashing with plenty of pace and good _ direction. H. Boddy made few mistakes against his opponent, and the Kaituna man had to play for every shot. In the men's doubles Boyd and Laidlaw showed better combination than thoir opponents, and with more experience they will be one of the strongest doubles combination in Dunedin. _ Laidlaw was the outstanding player in this match, his smashing and volleying being particularly effective. Kaye was inclined to play too much from the backline, and this placed the bulk of the work on to his partner, who played his usual solid game. In the second men’s double Sherriff played consistently well throughout, and was largely responsible for Kaituna’s straight-set victory. In the Roslyn-St. Clair match the former team only won by 4 matches to 2. Bryan easily accounted for Green, while Bincock was fully extended to defeat Lawrence Swallow gained a surprise victory when ho defeated Rawlinson in straight sets, and on the day’s play he fully earned his victory, Stevens (Roslyn) substituted for Grimsdale, and lost to Kingston in straight sets. Roslyn, however, managed to win both doubles in straight sets, and thus gain the decision. Anderson’s Bay defeated North-east Valley in a close and interesting match. The best match was the first double between Duthio and Ross and Jolly and Facer, the latter pair gaining a good victory. In this match Facer drove remarkably well, and frequently passed his opponents at the net. By defeating Cosy Dell by 5 matches to 1 St. Kilda ladies have finished up the- season without losing a match, and are the winners of the ladies’ A grade shield. Miss Walker; of Cosy Dell, gave a good display of all-round tennis against Mrs Rawlinson, who was fully extended to win out. Mrs Clarke gained Cpsy Dell’s sole victory when she gave her best display of the season to defeat Miss Margaret Jolly in three sets. Wilding Shield and Nunnerley Casket. A decisive win by 8 rubbers to 4 in each case was gained by Canterbury in the above matches against the challenging Wellington teams at Wilding Park last Saturday. On the first day the Canterbury men caused a surprise by gaining a 4 to 2 lead, due to the brilliant play of C. Angas and H. A. Barnett, who defeated N. Bedford and D. Coombe respectively. H. A. Barnett showed a great return to form to defeat the New Zealand champion, and took the final two sets of this match for the loss of only one -game. Barnett’s fleetness of foot enabled him to make many brilliant recoveries, while in the middle of a defensive period he would make the most surprising attacks. It was expected that Bedford would thoroughly extend Angas, but the Canterbury man was playing at the top of his form, and won in straight sets. Canterbury unexpectedly won both men’s doubles, the real surprise being Barnett and Couts’s defeat of Wellington’s No. 1 pair, Roussell and France. Wellingon won the first sot

and led 3-1, but with tenacious defensive work and accurate lobbing, the Canterbury men wore them down. On the final day Angas and Barnett were again successful in their singles, Angas taking revenge for the New Zealand championship defeat at the hands of Coombe. Angas is always a much harder man to defeat on his homo courts, and he gave the New Zealand champion absolutely no chance. Angas took the initiative early in most rallies, and by bustling Coombe upset the accuracy of his shots. (Barnett played impressive tennis against Bedford, who too often came to the net on shots of insufficient length. Barnett’s passing shots found the gaps consistently. _ , ~ ~ In the Nunnerly Casket, rubbers were - even on the first day, hut the Canterbury ladies won five of the six matches on Saturday. Miss T. Poole played a fine attacking game to win one set and press Miss Nicholls closely in the other two. Miss N. Bishop showed much improved forxn in both her singles matches, defeating Mrs Latham, a former Scottish representative, on the first day and Miss _J. Douthett, Wellington’s most promising young player, on Saturday. Notes. Recent ladder challenges resulted:— Robertson beat Boddy, 3-6, 9-7, 6-0; Boyd beat M'Donald. 7-5, 6-1; Smith beat Have, 6-1, 7-5; Laidlaw beat M‘Donaid, 6-4, 6-2. . . . In the Cleghorn Cup W. Smith, of Cosy Dell, caused a major upset by defeating E. A. Pearce, 12-14, 6-1, 6-1. The Cosy Dell colt, who took a set off Coombe, the New Zealand champion, at Timaru, has improved his game considerably, and he played faultless tennis in the final two sets against Pearce. Tho latter took too much out of himself in winning the first set after 26 games had been played, while his opponent showed remarkable fitness to take the next two sets for the loss of only two games. _ . The southern associations, consisting of Soutk Canterbury, North Otago, Otago, and Southland, are considering challenging Canterbury for the Nunnerly Casket. If the cnallenge eventuates 'it will probably be played at Christchurch before the Otago and Southland v. Canterbury match.