LAWN TENNIS

Evening Star, Issue 22595, 12 March 1937, Page 4

LAWN TENNIS

[By Recorder.]

Representative Fixtures. 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.

Otago v. North Otago. The annual interprovincial match between Otago and North Otago was played at Logan Park last Saturday, and resulted in a comfortable victory for Otago. The standard of play in all matches was high, and many hardfought and interesting matches were witnessed. The inclusion in the Otago team of six of the most promising young players in Dunedin added considerably to the interest of the match The fact that they won 10 ot the id matches they played in proved conclusively that the selectors were justified in making the experiment. rtVhen it is also considered that the Southland team which defeated Otago the week before by 16 matches to 8 just managed to defeat North Otago, it would appear that had last Saturday’s team been selected for Southland the result might have been different. . , A start was made with the mixed doubles events in tho morning, and Otago gained a good lead in winning four of these matches. In the first match Feathers was in excellent form, smashing • and volleying well while his partner, once she settled down, gave him good support. J. Rawlinson and Mrs Rawlinson placed an excellent performance to their credit in defeating M'Dougall and Miss Romans. The Oamaru pair led 4-1 in the first set, and again at 5 all they had a 40 love lead. However, consistent good play by Mrs Rawlinson and effective volleying by her, partner saved the three points, and they went on to take the set. The second set was also keenly contested, and although M'Dougall played consistently well his partner made too many errors from the back of ‘the court and allowed Rawlinson to dominate play from the net. A long three-set match was seen between Robertson ana Miss Brewer and M'Kinnon and Miss Donaldson, the latter pair combining better than their opponents to gam a well-earned victory. . The remaining, three matches were all won by the young Otago players, nil of whom -were playing- their first major representative m in h tlie first men’s single M'Dougall showed that he is still a hard player to defeat, and had Bryan not been playing at the top of his form it is doubtful if he could have won out. M'Dougall placed his drives well and frequently passed his opponent at the net or caught him with a short one to his feet. In the deciding sot Bryan served strongly, and this, combined with liis sustained net attack, won him the match. In the first two sets there was little between Robertson ana Feathers, except that the_ Otago man made fewer errors than his opponent, j Feathers’s overhead work and volleying was excellent in the first two sets,, but his ground shots were not as consistent as his opponent set Robertson was definitely on top j and forced his opponent into errors, j winning out at 6-0. The match between Rawlinson and M'Kinnon was also] evenly contested, and plenty oi good, hard tenuis was witnessed. . J. tv. M'Kenzie proved too strong a player for B. Boyd, and it was only for : a short period in the second set that the Otago man could make any headway

against M'Kenzie’s hard driving and volleying, W. Smith won the first set against Giffin fairly easily, but lapsed into errors in tho second set, and only managed to win out at 9.7. Laidlaw gave an excellent display against Maudo and never let up for a point. Long rallies and steady play .were the features of the first ladies’ single between Mrs Rawlinson and Mya Thomas, which was won by the formei in straight sets. There was little between these two players, except that Mrs Rawlinson was able to outplay her opponent at critical stages •of the match. At times Miss Romans showed excellent form against Mrs Greensladc, but she lacked her opponent’s steadiness, and after taking the first set never looked like a winner. One ot the closest and most interesting matches of the day was played between Miss Brewer and Miss Donaldson, the latter just managing to win out at 9-7 in the third set. Both Miss Jolly and Miss Kerr impressed in their singles matches, and on their performances they more than justified their inclusion in the team. Miss J6lly,_ however, would win her matches easier if she showed more initiative and endeavoured to follow into tho net her. well-placed drives, while Miss Kerr could improve her game by for the right ball before going for a winner. All of the men’s doubles were closely contested, anrl M'Dougall and Feathers gave a good display in defeating Bryan and Rawlinson. In this match a noticeable feature was M'Dougall’s consistent good return of service and reliable ground ■ shots, while Feathers smashed In the first ladies’ double Mesdames Rawlinson and Grecnslado completely outplayed their opponent to gain an easy victory. The better combination of Misa Donaldson and Mrs Bradley told against Otago’s second pair, while the same applied to Miss Jolly and Miss Hamer, who won their match in straight sets. A Challenge to Youth. (Mr W. R. Sinclair, president of the Otago Lawn Tennis Association, in a letter to the writer, says : As Easter approaches may I use a little of your space to emphasise the excellent advice you tender to players to compete in the Otago Lawn Tennis Association’s annual tournament? No player ever gets anywhere without the experience to be gamed by taking part in tournament play. A feature of the O.L.T.A.’s tournament is that it caters for everyone. By reason of judicious handicapping, competitors from the lowest grades have a sporting chance against those from the highest. The tournament provides a great opportunity for competitors from the smaller centres to measure themselves against city standards. • Socially, too, tho tournaments are very enjoyable. The senior players are alive to these advantages and can be counted upon to enter. I would urge upon the younger players, and especially , members of clubs outside of Dunedin, the wisdom of practising diligently during the interim and spending Easter on the courts at Logan Park. Last _ Easter tournament was extremely enjoyable, and had some distinction.as a jubilee and South Island championship function. With so many promising young players about, the coming tourney , might he given distinction by the challenge of youth for supremacy. The seniors will Wellcome such a, challenge and will take good care that young, aspiring champions will have to fight every foot of the way. Already some of the leading juniors are preparing both diligently and hopefully, and it will be interesting to watch the battle between youth and maturity.

New Zealand Junior Tournament. The postponed New Zealand junior tournament for players under 18 years of age at December 31, 1936, will be held at Miramar courts, Wellington, on Easter Saturday, Monday, and Tuesday, March 27, 29, and 30. Entries must reach the secretary of the New Zealand association on or before Tuesday, March 23, at 5 p.m. Entries previously made must be renewed or they will be treated as withdrawn and entry fees refunded. The New Zealand association will subsidise half the travelling expenses of a limited number of competitors nominated by their association, and as these applications have to ho_ made before March 16 any players interested are asked to' communicate as soon as possible with Dr Pulton, convenor of the Selection Committee. The Wellington association will, for; approved players, endeavour to arrange private > billets if desired. There are in Dunedin at the present time a number of young and promising players, and it is hoped that they will take advantage of this opportunity of playing in a New Zealand tournament, especially in view of the fact that the expenses .will be very small.

Interclub Matches. The B 11. grade shield was won by St. Peter’s, which went through the season without suffering a defeat. The positions of the teams in this grade at the conclusion of the competition are;— P. W. L. Pts.

The following are the winners of the B 11. grade since 1930-31; 1930- St. Andrew’s. 1931- St, Mary’s. 1932- —Nga Maara. 1933- —North-east Valley. 1934- St. Kilda. 1935- —North-east Valley. 1936- —St. Peter’s. Easter Tournaments. • Entries for the Otago championship and handicap tournament dose with the secretary of the association on Monday, March 15. Entry forms arc obtainable from dub secretaries and also from the Otago Sports Depot. The Tuapeka tournament is to be held at Roxburgh at Easter, and entries must reach Mr C. Jeffrey, Box 54, Roxburgh, by Wednesday, March 24. Union Notes. The final of the D grade competition, played between Aotca and Anderson’s Bay, resulted in a draw—sets and games even—and consequently these two clubs are joint winners of this competition.

It is a remarkable coincidence that last year these two clubs also tied for top position, their final match being a draw with sets and games even. Aotea had the advantage in this match in the singles, winning three of tho men’s and three ladies’ singles, but Anderson’s Bay was superior in the ladies’ and mixed doubles. With the last set to play Adtea was winning by one set and two games, but Anderson’s Bay won the set 9-7 after losing 4-1, thus drawing the match and the competition. In the A grade match Kaikorai v. Aotea two of the Kaikorai men did not turn up. However, Aotea won easily by 10 sets to 3.

The record of the Aotea Club given below compares very favourably with last year, when, its three- teams won the A. C, and D (equal)-competitions. The club was unfortunate this year to lose early in the season its first and third men. otherwise the results would probably have been even better:—A team: Played 10, won 6, lost 4—third (equal). B team: Played 9, won 8, lost I —first. C team: Plaved 8, won 8, lost o—first, D team: Played 11, won 9, lost 1, drawn I—first (equal). Members are reminded that entries for the approaching Easter tournament close on Monday next. An additional interesting competition is being included in this year’s programme of events and should appeal to a groat majority of members. Further particulars may be obtained from tho club secretaries. The committee hopes that an even better response than the one obtained last year will be forthcoming.

St. Peter’s ... ... 9 9 0 18 St. Kilda 9 8 1 16 Caversham 9 6 3 12 Moana ... 9 6 3 12 Tainui 9 4 •5 8 Balmacewen 9 4 5 • 8 First Church 9 2 7 4 Knox Church 9 2 7 4 Opoho 9 2 7 4 Boslyn 9 2 7 4