Lawn Tennis: Roslyn Ladies Scoop the Pool

Evening Star, Issue 25956, 22 November 1946, Page 5

Lawn Tennis: Roslyn Ladies Scoop the Pool

Mrs Rawlinson.-in Top Form

('By Recorder.)

Fixtures. Saturday, November 23.—Mixed doubles Yankee tournament for McMillan Cup, at Logan Park. December 26 to 30.—North Otago championship and handicap tournament, at Oamaru. December 25 to 28.—Canterbury championship and handicap tournament, at Christchurch. December 30 to January 2.—South Island championship and handicap tournament, at Timaru. January 4 to 11.—New Zealand championships, at Christchurch. Ladies’ A Grade. lu the only A grade ladies’ match played last Saturday the Kosiyii representatives gave their best performance for the season when they accounted for University by six matches to nil. Mrs Rawlinson showed a return to her best form to defeat Miss Pyle in straight sets, it was not that Miss Pyle was playing below the form she showed in her previous match when she fully extended the South island champion, Miss M. Kerr, but that Mrs Rawlinson’s accurate driving and hard volleying were too good for her opponent. An attractive game of tennis was witnessed between Miss Foote and Miss Colquhoun, the former being more accurate n her placements than the University lady. Wilding Shield and Nunneley Casket. The Otago Association has decided to challenge for both the Nunneley Casket and the Wilding Shield. The Canterbury Association, the holder of the Nunneley Casket, has already received three challenges for this trophy, the suggested dates being as follows: Hutt Valley, November 22 and 23; Auckland, December 6 and 7; Wellington, February 7 and 8. It would appear that the Otago Association has left its challenge for the Nunneley Casket too late, and that at the earliest it could not be played before. the end of February and that illy if Canterbury can retain the trophy. As a number of Otago’s leading ladies intend playing in the ew Zealand championships at Christchurch in early January, probably a date immediately following the championships could be arranged. Elmwood Club.

Elmwood Club, Christchurch, has the distinction of being the largest tennis club in New Zealand, having a membership, of 541. Included in this number are 125 juniors, and this section is so popular that the club has been forced to open a junior waiting list, which at present contains 40 names. These figures give some indication of the general present-dav boom in tennis. Davis Cup.. Australia is about to defend the Davis Cup ■ against the challenging nation, the United States, and from the accounts of the playing of the Australian team one is forced to wonder if history is about to repeat itself. It was in 1914, on the eve of. World War 1., that Australia and New Zealand won the Davis Cup from the United States. The match was played at New York on August 13, 14, 15, of 1914, and the Australasian team of N. E. Brookes and A. F. Wilding won the trophy No matches were played during the war period, and when, play was resumed in 1919, the United States decided that as it had not suffered to the same extent as the holders of the trophy during the war. it would not challenge. The United States, however, challenged in 1920, and at Auckland, on December 30. 31. and January 1, regained the trophy. Tn 1923 Australia and New Zealand were admitted as separate nations in the Davis Cup competition, and although Australia took part in most annual competitions, it was not until September 2,3, and 5, 1939, that Australia regained the trophy again on the eve of a world war. The Australian team was A. Quist and J. Bromwich, and after both losing their singles on the first day, they did what had never before been done in Davis Cup matches—won the three remaining matches to gain the trophy. The American players were Riggs and Parker for the singles and Hunt and Kramer for the doubles.

For the match to be plaved in Melbourne on December 26, 27, and 28, Australia will still be able to call on Bromwich and Quist. The latter’s form during recent tournaments would, however, point to his being passed over in the singles for Pails, although he mav still be selected for the doubles. Kramer and Parker are both members of the United States team to play against Australia. J. Hunt, who partnered Kramer in 1939, was killed in an air accident during the war, while <R. Riggs is now the world’s professional champion. The American team will take part the Victorian championships to he plaved in the first week in December, before playing the challenge round against Australia.