LAWN TENNIS

Evening Star, Issue 22804, 12 November 1937, Page 14

LAWN TENNIS

[By Recokder.] M'Millan Cup Tourney. Saturday afternoon was devoted to the playing of the M'Millan Cup mixed doubles Yankee tournament, one of the major events of the local season, and under ideal weather conditions a thoroughly enjoyable time was spent by the 200 players who took part. The entry was larger than last year, but excellent organisation, for which Mr it. D. Duthie was again responsible, enabled the large number of games necessary to reach finality to be got off with remarkable expedition and with a minimum of waiting. „ , . , A pleasing feature of the tournament was the large increase in the number of players of B and C grades, and in this connection it is worthy of mention that 34 players of the Tainui Club took part in the tournament. Another feature, emphasising the value of the tournament as a factor in raising the standard of the game in Dunedin, was the number of instances in which junior players of promise were paired with seniors. The handicapping was excep- ' tionally well done } as was proved from a study of the results of the various matches, a large number of matches being won by the odd point. The donation of balls by the Otago Sports Depot helped to make the tournament a financial success. Approximately seven pairs were allotted to each court, and many bright and interesting games were witnessed in the various sections. In the A grade section, of the six court winners, only two were A grade pairs—namely. Jolly and Miss Walker and Boyd and Miss Jolly. The latter pair, who were handicapped owe 15, played remarkably well in all their matches, and were only defeated 30-29 by Patterson and Mrs Foxcroft in the post-sectional play. Patterson and Mrs Foxcroft, of St; Andrew’s Club, combined well, anct Patterson displayed outstanding form in all his matches. In fact, he showed himself to be a player of great promise, and if he were playing in A grade it would not be long before he would be among the first players in Dunedin. Of the other court winners in the A grade section, Hardwick and Miss Williamson played good, steady tennis to reach the final of the section, in which they were defeated by Patterson and Mrs Foxcroft, 30-28. The Tainui pair gained one of their best victories when they defeated Ruff and Miss Inglis (Roslyn) by more than their handicap. The B grade section was won by Davis and Miss M'Dowell, of Port Chalmers; Some remarkably good tennis was witnessed in the final of this section, when the Port Chalmers pair defeated Clark and Miss Nesbit (Tainui) by 30-29. supplied three of the court winners in the C grade section, the sec-tion-winners being Power and Mrs Holt, both of whom-gave good displays in all their matches. The section, winners were rehandicapped for the play-off for the M'Millan.Cup, and Patterson and Miss Foxcroft, after defeating Davis and Miss M'Dowell, found that their handicap in the final against Power and Mrs Holt was too much for them. The strenuous afternoon's tennis told in the final, and a couple of missed smashes by Patterson cost them the match. However, credit must be given to the Tainui pair for their steady play, Mrs Holt in particular placing her shots welt away from the man at the net and endeavouring to make openings for her partner. Power took full advantage of his, handicap, and went for straight-out winners whenever the opportunity offered.

The winners to date of the M‘MiHan Cup are: — 1933-24.—0. J. Cook and Miss Heywood. 1924- —Dr Moody and Miss Macadam. 1925- —R. Smith and Miss M'lntosh. 1936-27. —F.- R. Chisholm and Miss D. Scott. 1927-28. —I.' Grant and Miss Flett. 1926- —C. • Sonntag and Miss Sonntag. 1929- —Mr and Mrs J. Tregear. 1930- —G. Pearce and Miss White. 1931- —G. Pearce and Miss White. 1932- —G, Pearce and Miss Barton. 1933- —G. Pearce and Miss Barton. 1934- —G. Pearce and Miss Barton. 1935- —B. Boyd and Miss Maude Jolly. 1936- —O. Johnson and Miss Manson. 1937- Power and Mrs Holt. New Zealand Junior Championships. Entry forms for the New Zealand junior championships, which are to be held in Christchurch at Wilding Park from January 12 to 13 (inclusive) are now available from the secretary of the association. The programme of events consists of singles-, doubles, and mixed doubles for both boys and girls, and is open to all players under the age of 18 years as at January 12, 1938. The association has the ririrt to nominate a limited number of players, and those nominated will have half their travelling expenses paid, and the Canterbury 'Association has undertaken to arrange ibiliete. Clubs are asked to forward as soon as possible the names of eligible players who may be worthy of nomination. As the championships are being held in the-South Island, it is‘expected' that Dunedin, players will take-advan-tage of this opportunity of gaining ex T perienoeon grass courts. Entries for these- championshipsclose, on- January 7, and any'player wishing to enter should communicate as soon as possible with the secretary of the association. Primary Schools Tournament. The annual .primary schools tournament is ‘to be held at Logan Park, on Saturday morning, November 27and, as -the game is gaining' ground in' the primary schools, this, year’s tournament Seises to be even better than those in past years.. Singles and doubles events for both boys and girls are being held. . ,

Girls’ Team to Australia. Th© New Zealand Association has requested the Otago Association to nominate players for inclusion in a team of four girls under the age of 21 years to visit Sydney during March of next year and -play; in the .junior championships. Nominations have to be in Wellington by January 18. The selected players will have to contribute £ls each towards their expenses. Union Notes.

Th© B grade match Eavensbourne y. Forbury Resulted in a win for Forbury by 9-7, Eavensbourne however winning 75 games to Forbury’s 63.- The highlight of the match however was, the first ladies’ singles, Miss Pearce, of Forbury, finally defeating Miss Westwood in an interesting set by nine games to eight. The first men’s doubles also provided another bard tussle, Messrs Parker and Hansen, of Forbury, ‘defeating Hardy and Connor after a-long set 9-8. Eavensbourne was unfortunate _in being >?ithout the services of its third man. In the Musselburgh v. Eavensbourne C grade match plaved at Eavensbourne last Saturday, Musselburgh ' was too strong for the latter and cam© out the winners 15-1. Playing in his. first ,C grade match. Keen shaped well;and was too good, for his opponent,' ..For: the

winners the ladies -were consistent and continued ’ to’ play tennis of a high standard.

„ Recent * Ladder Results.—Callander, beat Copland 9-5, Callander beat Hanning, 9-5, Craig and Miller beat M‘Lay ; aqd M’Phail 9-2; Misses - Archtyold and : Fastier beat Misses Ballantyne and] Boss 7-6; Mrs Laidlaw and Miss Hastie ■ beat Misses J. and A. Carr 7-2;, Miss Sinclair beat Miss Brundell by default; Miss Sinclair beat Miss Brown by default ;■ Miss .Sinclair beat Miss Dungey 7-0; Mrs Laidlaw beat Miss Sinclair 7-3; Callander and Meening beat Boss and Brown 9-5; Facer and Jackson beat Copland and Stevenson 9-7, Miss M'Phail beat Miss Bullen 7-6; Mrs Laidlaw and Miss Hastie beat Mrs Craig and Miss_ Stevens 7-5. Ladder Positions.—Ladies’ singles ; 1 Miss M'Phail, 2 Miss Bullen. 3 Miss Wilson, 4 Mrs Laidlaw, 5 Miss Sinclair, 6 Miss Dungey, 7 Miss Brown, 8 Mrs Gourley. 9 Miss Meihung. Ladies’ Doubles • 1 Miss Bullen and Page, 2 Mrs’ Laidlaw and Miss Hastie, 3 Mrs Craig and Miss Stevens, 4 Misses J. and A. Carr, 5 Misses’Arcbbold and Fastier, 6.Misses Boss'and Ballantyne, 7 Misses Bragg and Kennedy, 8 Misses Nelson and . Kerse. 9' Mrs Gourlfy and Meinung. Men’s Singles :*1 Taylor, 2 Booth,’3 Stead, 4 Brown, 5 Callander, 6 Hanning, 7 Copland, 8 E. Facer, 9 Allan Jackson, 10 Johnston, 11 Mason, 12 McLay, 13 Evans, 14 Mcffin, 15 Howell, 16 Flanigan, 17 Hugbson, 18 .Gourley, 19 Davie, 20 Albert Jackson. Meal’s Doubles: 1 Taylor and Booth, 2 Sims and Gibson. 3 Facer aid Jackson, 4 Copland_ and Stevenson. 5 Robertson and Morrison, 6 Callander and Meinung, 7 Ross and Brown. 8 Johnston and Askin; 9 Miller and Craig, 10 MbLayaml McPhaih 11 Meffin and Finnegan, 12 Gourley-and Davie,;