LAWN TENNIS

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVII, Issue 57, 4 February 1927, Page 11

LAWN TENNIS

To-morrow the Manawatu Lawn Tennis Association plays its first match and journeys to Wanganui to play for the Christie Cup. The team is not the strongest that could be selected, but the association is deprived of the services of several players, who are only available on Wednesdays, while the transfer of the Bulls Club is not yet registered. The team selected is: Andrews 1, McDonald 2, H. J. Thompson 3, Hooper 4, Guy 5, and Studholme 6, with Clem and Mansell as reserves. The ladies are Misses D. Haggitt 1, Litchfield 2, S. Watson 3, Pitt 4, N. Astlo 5, and O. Haggitt 6, with Misses D. Wallace and Kirk as reserves.

Wanganui are at present very strong, but the Manawatu team should at any rate put up a good light. It would be idle to suggest that Andrews, though he won the N.Z. championship, has struck anything like his best form this season, but he has beaten Lampe, the Wanganui top man, every time that they have met in the last five years, and should do so again, though Lampe is a i ery dangerous opponent with a reputation for bringing off surprises. McDonald, Thompson and Hooper are tried players, who have represented Palmerston North with credit on many occasions, while Guy and Studholme are new-comers who have yet to make their reputations. The reserves, Clem and Mansell, are very little inferior to those immediately above them. No Feilding players were nominated. Of the ladies Miss D. Haggitt stands easily first. She is playing better tha; she has ever done before and has eyi dontly profited by the experience gain ed in a round of the tournaments, to; she is much more enterprising than she used to be and now takes the net when opportunity occurs and volleys very neatly. She boat Miss Culver, the Wan ganui top lady, at the recent Palmerston North tournament, and there is no reason why she should not do so again. All the other ladies have played for the Palmerston North Club for the last few seasons, with the exception of Miss Pitt, who, on her club form at Terrace End, should be worth her place. The ladies of the team will leave by car in timeyto start play at 11 a.m., the men following as soon afterwards as can be arranged. The doubles and mixed doubles selections are : Men’s Doubles. Andrews and Thompson; McDonald and Hooper; Guy and Studholme. Mixed Doubles.—Andrews and Miss D. Haggitt; Thompson and Miss Litchfield ; McDonald and Miss Watson; Hooper and Miss 0. Haggitt; Guy_ and Miss Astle ; Studholme and Miss Pitt. Ladies’ Doubles.—Misses O. and D. Haggitt ; M isses Litchfield and Watson ; Misses Pitt and Astlo.