LAWN TENNIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18512, 24 March 1922, Page 9

LAWN TENNIS

Br Smash. 'Hie members of the South Otago team ‘which came to Dunedin last Saturday to play a match against a local side were intensely disappointed when the rain came on and the game had to bo abandoned, especially as many of them had travelled very considerable distances. This was the first occasion upon which a team from the South Otago sub-association has visited Dunedin, and it is to bo hoped that in future seasons the fixture will become an annual one, or that, if possible, return ma'rhes will be arranged in Dunedin and Balclutha alternately. In the country districts there are usually a few players of special merit, who quickly get to the top of their clubs, and then for lack of good practice they remain stationary. To players of this class—and the South Otago team contained several such —match play with other centres and participation in tournaments afford opportunities which should not lie neglected; and hence these are of particular value. Among the visitors several of the men, notably M’Auley, M’Caw, and E. Moore, showed considerable promise. but the ladies were rather on the weak side. Miss Gillamlers has some fine shots, both backhand and forehand, and she appears to have a good understanding of the game, but she requires to cultivate much more accuracy by playing for particular spots deep down the court. Several of the other ladies showed a marked tendency to play short “cut’’ strokes, but it sjiould be remembered that these, while useful on occasions, are not match-winners. Miss Walker, Miss Malcolm, and Miss Nioholls are all players of some promise, but they require to cultivate a better drive to the backline and to endeavour to acquire the art of vblleying. Although Otago won each of the three Men’s Doubles, the games were very closely fought, and in at least two of the matches the issue hung in the balance almost throughout. Mirams and R. C. Moore, the first South Otago pair, made a very solid combination, and only the freer hitting of Jensen and Wilkinson won the match for Otago. A peculiar incident occurred in this game, and one which is not sanctioned by the rules. South Otago won the first set, 7—5, and were leading in the second set when Jensen and Wilkinson, who had not been combining too well, changed over from one side of the court to the other. After this they went on to win the set, 6—4, and the next set, 6—3. Whether or not the change over had anything to do with the final result may be a matter for conjecture, but the coiirso was undoubtedly one which should not have been adopted. M'Auley and.M'Caw kept Maunsell and Slater very busy in a threeset match, -which ran to 36 games, South Otago winning the first set, 6—4, and onlv losing the next two from ’vantage. With the score at one set all, M'Auley and his partner led in the third set, 6—5 and 40—0, bui they lost the next three strokes, and the Otago pair finally took the set, B—6. M'Auley drives well down the side-lines and ha« fair service, but his overhead work requires strengthening. In the third double, Manson and Edmond proved too solid for E. Moore and Ross. Manson was playing very accurately with an effective drive to the back-line, and Edmond showed glimpses of play that hold out a promise of better things if he got some good hard practice. Moore has an effective service and a nice drive which is well worth cultivating, and Ross, with youth and activity on his side, should improve as he gains confidence in his strokes. In the second set Manson led s—o,5 —0, when South Otago made a good recovery and finished up 6—4, Edmond’s service deciding the last game. Of the ladies engaged in the match Miss Pattison was in a class' by herself, and the remarkable thing is that a place has not been found for her in the representative team. In each of her games she was driving splendidly down both siuelines and keeping an excellent length, but her wonderfully accurate volleying was the outstanding feature of her play. If Miss Pattison could get a little more power into her volleys and smashes, and if she eliminated a certain element of carelessness from her game, which at times causes hei literally to throw away points, she would be_ one of the most formidable lady players in Dunedin, but even allowing for these two factors she is entitled to rank among the first throe or four. Miss M‘Adam and Duthie played a very solid game in their doubles against fairly strong opposition in the persons of Mrs Lewis and Miss Malcolm, and Misses Barclay and Dewar proved rather too strong for Misses Nicholls and Alexander. The members of the South Otago team played the game in a fine spirit, and they arc all very keen. They cordially endorsed a proposal by Mr Mirams that a Dunedin team should visit Balclutha on Saturday next, and it is pleasing to know that this fixture has been arranged. A number of members of the team also expressed their intention of competing at the Easter tournament, where they will be made welcome. A return match will be played at Balclutha on Saturday, the members of the team leaving here to-night. The team is as follows:—Manson, Slater, Wilkinson, Jensen, .Fulton, and Allan, Misses M‘Adam, Duthie, Barclay, Sanderson, Alexander, and Rain. At the Moana Courts yesterday a Yankee tournament was played, a feature of which was the provision of lunch on the ground. The secretary (Mr A. Nicolson) announced in hla circular respecting the event that competitors “were requested to bring their own plates, knives, and forks. Potatoes would be supplied and cooked on the ground.” Social amenities certainly seem to form a largo part of the life of the Moana Club. Additional pairs for Easter; Warne Pearse and L. J. Taylor, Bray and Black. In the Mixed Doubles S. hJ. Brown and Miss M'Laren are playing together. The championship events of '.he United Club, in Christchurch, are almost completed.. In the semi-final of the Men’s Singles I. A. Seay created a, surprise by defeating P. G. Greenwood in straight sets. Seay, who won in the Junior Championship Singles in 1920, and who was defeated by Bartleet in the third round of the Men’s Championship Singles las-t year, lias been improving rapidly throughout the season, but it was not expected that ho would take more than one sot from Greemvood. Playing with confidence, and driving with a good length, Seay had the best of the contest throughout. Greenwood had one of his rather frequent off days in certain respects, but Seay's performance was a first-class one, and stamps him as a player of the first rank. Details of recent matches arc as follows:—Men’s Singles (semi-final) —Seay defeated Greenwood, 6—4. 6—3, 7 —5. Men’s Doubles (semi-final) Goss and Ollivier defeated Taylor and Quill. 6—2, 6—3, 6—3. Ladies’ Doubles (final) —Mrs Wake and Miss Bain defeated Mrs Lord and Miss Goodman. Two New Zealand ladv tennis players— Miss Doris Fenwick (of Hawke’s Bay) and Miss M. H. Bain (of Christchurch)—intend leaving shortly for England, where they will arrive in time lor the All-English Championships at Wimbledon, for which both will probably enter. Miss Fenwick is one of the best-known lady players in the North Island, and had she not made up her mind to make the trip to England would no doubt have been selected to make one of the team to visit New South Wales. Miss Fenwick won the Wellington Ladies’ Singles Championship at Palmerston North at, the beginning of the present year, and, with Power, of Wellington, carried off the Combined Doubles at Hawke’s Bay. With Miss Ormond, of Hawke’s Bay, she also carried off the Ladies’ Doubles Championshin for both the Wellington provincial tournament and Hawke's Bay. Miss Bain is one of Canterbury’s hest-known ladv players. These ladies have been given letters of introduction to Mr Percy W. Rootham, who represents New Zealand on the Lawn Tennis Association at Home, and it goes without saying (remarks the Dominion) that hat live delegate will see that the New Zealand ladies have nil the tennis they wont while in the Old Country.