LAWN TENNIS

Evening Star, Issue 22798, 5 November 1937, Page 4

LAWN TENNIS

[By Recoedee.]

Interclub Matches. Ideal weather conditions prevailed last Saturday, when a further round of A, B 1., and C I. grade matches were played. The principal A grade match of the day was between Roslyn and Otago, and the latter team gained a fairly comfortable victory. Roslyn’s sole victory in the singles was gained by Bryan when he defeated Robertson, 7-5, in the third set. Contrary to his usual_ practice, Bryan started off strongly in the first set, and played excellent tennis to win out at 6-3. Robertson improved to take the second set easily and lead 5-2 in the final. The Otago man, however, could not just manage to finish off, and Bryan outplayed him to gain a splendid victory. Boddy was much too clever for Sincock in the first set of their match, but the Roslyn man gave a better display in the second set, when he became more accustomed to his opponent’s sliced drives. Rawlinson motored back from Ranfurly in the morning so as to play in this match, and consequenty Ins exhibition against Kaye was below his best form, the Otago man winning in straight sets. A wellcontested match was seen between Pollock and Macdonald, the former playing harder than his opponent and being more accurate in his placements. One of the best matches of the day was the men’s doubles between Robertson and Boddy and Bryan and Rawlinson. Rawlinson took some time to settle down to his game, but from the commencement of the second set he gave a good display. Bryan played well throughout, and his powerful smashing was a feature of the match. The Otago pair had a chance of victory when they led 5-3 in the final set, but a couple of weak returns robbed them of their opportunity. Buddy’s overhead work was good, while Robertson’s ground shots and volleys were strong and well (placed. The second doubles also went to three sets, but was won by Otago, Pollock being the outstanding player. The closest match of the day was between Cosy Dell and University, and the latter team just won by 8 sets to 7 sets, matches being even. Smith, who is playing good, hard tennis, accounted for Falconer in straight sets. Cameronplayed one of the best performances to date to his credit when he defeated Webber, 6-1; in the third set. Clarke played his first game in A grade, and did well to take a set from Childs, while Maude showed improved form to defeat Gumming after a closely-con-tested three-set match. Falconer and Cameron combined better than their opponents to win the first doubles, while the University pair were much too strong for their opponents in the second double.

Kaituna gained a good victory over Anderson’s Bay, which are without the services of E. A. Pearce, and are not as strong a team as last year. Both Boyd and Laidlaw gave good displays to win their singles in straight sets, and with a little more experience showed, in the doubles, tbat they will bo a hard pair to beat before the season is out. In the doubles match against Duthie and Ross, the Kaituna boys both made the mistake of not getting in close enough to the net when volleying upwards instead of being able to angle their volleys for winners. A closely-con-tested three-set match was played between Sherriff and Young, and it was only the Kaituna man’s greater experience which gave him the victory in the final set. Young plays very steady tennis, and deals effectively with any short balls but he requires to develop more speed in his ground shots from the back of the court. Although Phillipps defeated Oliver in straight sets the Bay man was able to worry his opponent in the latter stage of the match when he played very steady and accurate tennis to take the score from 1-5 to 5 alj. In the second doubles Young and Oliver both lobbed well to win the first set easily, but from this stage the Kantuna pair were right on their game, and took the last two sets for the loss of only three games. St. Clair gained a good victory over Nga Maaru. For the latter club both Delahunty and Lander showed good form, while Lawrence was the outstanding player for St. Clair. Roslyn 11. managed to win only one match against North-east Valley, although several of the matches were very evenly contested.

In the ladies’ A grade Roslyn and St. Kilda, the two strongest teams, both won their matches easily, only one set being scored against each. In the Otago-Roslyn match Miss Fraser gave a good exhibition to take Mrs Robinson to 6-5, 6-5. The Otago lady played her shots well, and made few really bad returns, and it was only Mrs Robinson’s ability to play harder tennis which gave her the victory. Cosy Deli just managed to defeat North-east Valley. Miss Walker gave a good display to defeat Miss Marshall in straight sets. It is unfortunate for Cosy Dell that Miss Walker will bo shortly leaving Dunedin to reside in Wellington. The Cosy Dell lady has been showing steady improvement of late, and her removal will be a decided loss not only to the Cosy Dell Club, but also to Dunedin tennis. Miss M‘lntosh played well iu both her matches, and after defeating Mrs Clarke was the outstanding player iu the first doubles match, which was also won by North-east Valley. M’Millan Cup. Given a fine day, the indications are for a successful mixed doubles tournament to-morrow. It has been decided to accept late entries up to 11 o’clock in the morning. Any players who have omitted to send in their entries will thus have an opportunity to repair the omission. Entries may be lodged with either Mr E. S. Wilson or the Otago Sports Depot. The entry fee is 2s 6cl per pair, and tennis balls are provided free. Ladder Challenge. Duthie and Ross retained first place on the doubles ladder when they defeated Boddy and Fulton, 6-2, 1-6, 6-0. Falconer moved up a place when he defeated Kaye, 6-3, 6-4.,

Jack Crawford. “ Probably my last Davis Cup match.” These words spoken by Jack Crawford at the welcome home to the Davis Cup players struck rather _ a tragic note. It suggests the passing from Davis Cup teams of one of the greatest players Australia has produced. Crawford has had a wonderfully succesful career, and has held each of the virtual world’s tennis titles. He has borne the burden of Australia’s battles in quest of the coveted Cup trophy for about eight years. Exceedingly popular abroad, especially in England, it seems a great pity that the Australian team could not have won the cup while he was still one of its members. Union Notes. The A grade match, Forbury v. 'Aotea No. 2, resulted in a.win for Aotea, 9-7. There was, however, very little difference between the teams. Aotea owes its victory to the men, who all won their singles. A feature of the match was the surprise defeat of S. Gourley by Ron Callender, the score being 6-3. Gourley has been No. 1 Union player for several years, being beaten on very rare occasions. He was a little below form on Saturday, but on the day Callender, who played great tennis, would have taken a lot of beating. The Forbury ladies played well, winning the doubles anti three of the singles. Mrs Gourley won her _ three sets. Forbury was unfortunate in losing the srevices of ite second, man, J. Davie. The match should prove to some of the Forbury men the necessity of being fit for a hard game of tennis. The pace proved too solid for two of the Forbury men in particular, even though they are both good players. Some hard play was indulged in during the Kensington v. Trinity C grade match. The Trinity men were the stronger in the singles, but Graham for Kensington won his game after a clever display. In the ladies’ singles honours were easy, while both ladies’ doubles were won by Kensington. The first men’s doubles was a hard-fought game, going to 9-7. The home team eventually won, while the second doubles went to Kensington. After the defeat of Kensington first and second mixed doubles, the match was in a very interesting stage, with the scores 4 all in both the third and fourth sets. However, Kensington’s weakest points were the mixed doubles, and this cost the team the match, with Trinity winning 10 6 and a> difference of only five games. The O grade match, Musselburgh y. Aotea, played at Aotea, looked as if it would provide a close finish, as both teams were even after several sets. Musselburgh, however, proved too good, the final score being 12-4. Dundas had a meritorious victory over Anderson’s Bay. This was due in no small measure to the fine exhibition given by the ladies, who won both doubles and lost only one single. Prob- , ably the best game was the second men’s singles, in which Tyrrell after a good battle was beaten 9-8. All the men are now playing better, and, although they won only one double and one single, they were only just beaten in most cases. Dundas showed marked superiority in the mixed doubles, losing only one and running out the winners by 10 sets to 6 (90 games to 70). In the ladies Misses Hughes and Johnson won three games, and in the men’s Asher was also successful. To-morrow a club tournament will be held, and all members are asked to be present. A banquet will he held after the conclusion of the games. In a closoly-fought-out game several good sets were witnessed in the St. Leonards-Ravensbourne A grade match. Smith and Marr (St. L.) played very well in their singles, although the latter was unfortunate not to win. The St. Leonards ladies again proved their worth to the team, winning all their sets. Lack of combination in the doubles, however, is a noticeable fault in the St. Leonards _ team, and more team practice is required.