LAWN TENNIS

Evening Star, Issue 23501, 15 February 1940, Page 5

LAWN TENNIS

fßy Recorder.] Fixtures. February 19.—Exhibition matches by Australian women players, at Logan Park courts. March 2.—Otago v. South Canterbury at Timaru. March 9.—Otago v. Southland at Dunedin. March .9. —Otago v. Eastern Districts Sub-association at Dunedin. March 16.—Otago y. North Otago at Oamaru. March 16.—Otago v. Maniototo Subassociation at Dunedin. March 23, 24, 26, and 27.—Otago championship and handicap tournament at Logan Park courts, Dunedin. Interciub matches. St. Clair’s defeat of Kaituna last Saturday assured them of becoming the winners of the men’s A grade competition. Rain caused a stoppage of play at 4 o’clock. At this stage St. Clair had gained such a commanding lead that Kaituna could have no chance of victory, and conceded the doubles to St. Clair. M'Kenzie’s steadiness gave him the victory over Laidlaw. The Kaituna man’s best shots were returned with regularity, and when Laidiaw tried to force the pace M'Keuzie passed him with well-directed drives. Paterson was too severe for Young, and won au straight sets, while Barclay had an easy victory over Whittlestone. The match between Swallow and Sherriff went to 8-all in the third set when rain stopped play. Plenty of good, hard tennis was witnessed in this match, and there was little between the two players. In the other A grade match, Roslyn defeated Cosy Dell. The surprise of the day was the defeat of Robertson by Sincock. Sincock is playing good, steady tennis at present, and he outlasted his opponent in the final set. Cosy Dell were without the services of Falconer and Cameron, while Rawlinson was' absent from the Roslyn team. The remaining three singles were all won by Roslyn, this giving them the decision.

Tho positions of teams in the A and intermediate competitions are as follows; —Men’s A Grade.—

It is 10 years since Dunedin lias been favoured by a visit of Australian lady tennis players. The Australian ladies who will be seen at Logan Park next Monday are:—Miss N. Wynne, Miss T. Coyne, and Miss M. Hardcastle. The previous team to visit Dunedin, under the management of Miss N. lloyd, gave exhibitions of attractive tennis, and it is certain that the present team will be equal to, if not better than, their predecessors. ' The week before leaving Australia Miss Nancy Wynne, who is their No. 1 player, regained the women’s singles title, which she first held in 1937. Her opponent in the final was Miss Thelma Coyne, who showed in this match that she is not far. behind Miss Wynne. Miss Coyne took the first set and led 3.0 in the second, when Miss Wvnne recovered and went on to win. The match was played in nasty, moist heat, and it was marked by fluctuations of fortune and form. Miss Coyne tired badly when in a winning position in the second set. Miss Wynne gave .a typical display of wonderful shots, mixed with some seemingly careless strokes. To win the match she took the final 12 games for the loss of onlv one.

Miss Wynne, who is 23 years of nee, fij'st came into prominence in 1935. when she won both the Victorian and Australian junior championships. Tn 1936• she reached the final of the Australian title, and won the ladies’ doubles title with Miss Coyne. . The following year she won the Australian singles and doubles titles. Tn 1933 she toured Europe and the United States of America as a member of the Australian team. Miss Wynne is the most impressive of the women visitors. Her shots car it such speed that they are practically nnretumahle. Tf she had the virtue of consistency there is not another woman in the world, including Miss Ab’ce Marble, who could defeat her. Miss Wynne’s trouble is that for six games she can playi the game of a

genius, and for another six the game of just another first-class tennis player. Miss Thelma Coyne is 22 years of age, and first showed promise when 11, years old. She won the New South Wales junior title in 1935, and in the same year, when only 17 years of age, defeated' Miss Hartigan in the final of New South Wales singles championships. Miss Coyne was ranked No. 2 in Australia in 1936 and No. 1 with Miss Hartigan in 1937. It is told by Miss Coyne’s father that when he used to leave his home at Maroubra to go to work in the morning, Vivian M'Grath and his daughter were playing tennis on his court, and when he returned in the evening they •were still playing. Miss May Hardcastle, the other member of the team, won the New Zealand singles title last year, and she is the present Australian _ hardcourt champion and also champion of Queensland. She has victories to her credit over both Miss Wynne and Miss Coyne. It is possible that Miss Hardcastle may give the best exhibitions on the asphalt courts at. Logan Park. Play is timed to commence at 2.45 p.m., and will he continued till approximately 6 o’clock. It is hoped thus to give those who cannot get the whole afternoon off an opportunity to see these stars in action. New Zealand Championships. As was expected, the visiting Australians won all the titles. Bromwich defeated Crawford in the final of the men’s singles, while Bromwich and Miss Coyne won the mixed doubles. Miss Wynne repeated her Australian success by accounting for Miss Coyne in the final of the women’s singles, while these players won the doubles title.

Matche 5 Club. Plaved Won. Lost. Pts. St. Clair . 7 6 1 12 Kaituna . 7 3 4 6 Roslyn .. ... 7 3 4 6 University 7 3 4 6 Cosy Dell "! 6 2 4 4 -Toadies’ A Grade. Kaituna . .. ... 6 4 2 . 8 Roslyn 6 • 4 • - 2 S St. Clair . 6 4 2 8 Cosy Dell ... 6 0 6 0

—Mixed A Grade >* fi C3 C s & Lost. 1 Drawn. Shield Points. North-east Valley 6 6 0 0 12 Moana 6 4 2 0 8 Gaversham 7 3 3 1 7 ftoslyn 6 3 3 0 6 Mornington 5 2 3 O' 4 St. Kilda ... ... 5 2 3 0 4 Balmacewen 4 1 2 1 3 University 5 —Intermediate 0 1 5 0 0 Taieri ... 6" 6 0 0 12 St. Mary’s ...' ... 6 5 1 0 10 Taiuui .... 6' -5 1 0 10 Kaituna ... ... 5 2 ;; 0 4 Balmacevven ... ... 6 1 5 0 2 Anderson’s Bay ... 5 1 4 0 2 University 7 1 6 0 2 Cosy Dell 3 —Intermediate 1 2.2 0 2 St. Patrick’s 6 6 0 0 12 Opoho ... 5 4 1 0 8 Waimana 5 3 o 0 6 St. Peter’s ... ... .5 2 3 0 4 St. Clair ... ... 3 2 1 0 4 St. Kilda ... ... 4 1 3 0 2 Moana ... 0 1 4 0 2 Port Chalmers Australians’ Visit. 4 4 0 0 0