LAWN TENNIS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13518, 15 February 1906, Page 5

LAWN TENNIS.

Bt Lob.

'the final of 'Jto Men's Handicap Singles of the Otaso Club between White (owe 40) and ,T. Ewen (rec. 3-6ths of 15) proved very interesting, both player.? giving a really fine exhibition of tennis. At one stage of the game Ewen led by 4 to 1. White then adopted carolul tactics, and tho score leached 7 all. Ewen's score in Ihe next same was 40 to his opponent's ewe 30. Nevertheless White, with great pluck and determination, pulled oft' tlm came, and tlio next, an.'l won ilia match. ]swen played a very hard game, bis low driving and smashing . being very effective. Eis volleying is, however, rather weak. ,W'hito is io be congratulated on winning Ibis event from owe for two years in succession. Sin-Jo iiis return from "Wellington ho lias been adopting rather a different stylo of play. lie has been cultivating short shots and eut- strokes instead of hard driving. A short ball -well placed is very often more deadly than one would think. An opponent requires to exert, all his energy t:; reach the ball, and in the event of ids reaching it a well-directed lob would, in the majority of cases, beat him, as he would bo unable to recover his balance' and turn quickly. The maii'li between Otago No. 1 (owo 15) and Kaituna No. 1 (scratch) had scarcely commenced when the usual rain' set in and stooped further operations. White and 11. S. Brown, however, managed to finish their single, which the Ivaituna man won. S—7. Brown played an excellent. all-round game, the feature of which was his excellent back-band play. It is quit© evident that the handicapper must- not deal toe liberally with him in the Easter tournament. Tlio Combined Yankee Handicap of -ho Otago Club lias been dragging on rather slowly owing to the unfavourable weather. It should, however, be finished in. another month. The' winners will most- probably lie found among the following,:—J. Ewen mid Miss Campbell, C. "M'Keliar and Miss D. Hislop, Ramsay and Mies Holmes, and A. Ewen and Miss Mackerras Tlio great, number of players have not understood the chief advantage of tlio American service. For lliem it oonsists in the spin and the curious way. in which tho "ball comes off the ground. This, of course, is puzzling at first, hut ono soon gets used to it. The chief advantage of tire service is that it enables the server to get, in dose to tho net. The server gets up to the net- sooner. Besides this one has to return the service later—that, is to say. when it. is nearer the end of its flight, bccause of the spin on the ball. It is a question, however, to what extent this service spoils not only Hie game in general, but, also the ordinary stroke of the man who has served it. The effects of the service in real tennis have been to spoil the stroke, not- only of the opponent, but also of the server himself. After serving in this way, it- is almost impossible to recover the correct, cut-stroke immediately. Tho Balmacewan Club hopes to make a start on Saturday next on its new courts, just being completed by Messrs Mauley and Son, The Kaituna courts wero the last laid down by this firm, and up to the present were the best in Dunedin, but, Messrs Manley consider that those just being completed at Balmacewan will, after a month's play on them, be second to none in Otago. One great advantage these courts possess is the stretch of 20ft at. both ends (all asphalt), with sid,e margins about the same distance. There can thus bo no complaint with regard to players being cramped for room—one of tho chief drawbacks to many courts. There is a slight crown on each court for drainage purposes—a drop of 3in from centre to boundary lines. On the northern boundary the substantial 12ft fence, with .Jin wire netting, will act. as a brealnvind till more shelter is provided by a hedge, There is ample room for another court, which, of course, means more expense; but in the meantime Balmacewan players will have to be content with two. A 6ft wire-netting fence, about 15ft from playing area, has been erected to prevent balls from travelling across the vacant space for the third court, and will be a great convenience to players. The pavilion for tennis players and bowlers is drawing towards completion, and is in every way up to date, the verandah which runs along three sides greatly adding to its handaornc appearance. It. will thus be seen that the club Ims spared nothing for tho convenience of players, and all that is now required is for members and intending members to rally round and assist in wiping oft the debt. Already £250 has been raised by donations and subscriptions, and the secretary or any member of committee will be very grateful to any tennis players from •other clubs for any financial assistance, no matter how small the donation. Perhaps the Otago Lawn Tennis Association could see its way to assist this, the latest club to its ranks (when affiliated). In the past it has always shown a true spirit in tho sport bv assisting new clubs, and if approachcd will no doubt do likewise on this occasion,