LAWN TENNIS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19065, 10 January 1924, Page 4

LAWN TENNIS.

By Smash. During the holiday tournament season in the north Otago players made quite a name for themselves, and also for their province—a fact which is particularly gratifying when it, is remembered (hut the great bulk of their practice is obtained on asphalt courts. At the New Zealand championship meeting Dunedin was strongly represented, and the victory of Sims in tire singles was anticipated by the majority of local followers of the game. Last year in the semi-finals ho look Ollivior to five sets —6 —3, I—6,1 —6, I—6,1 —6, 6—4, 75 —and during the New South Wales tour he frequently beat the New Zealand champion in practice games. In Sims and Bartleet New Zealand possesses two players who, with practice, would give a good account of themselves in almost any company, and it is to bo hoped that their claims to inclusion in tho Now Zealand Davis Cup team will receive early consideraton. Of Miss M'Daren we are also justly proud. She has attained her present high state of efficiency by hard practice, and, given tho same opportunities for play on grass courts as those enjoyed by her sisters in the north, it is quite possible that she would have brought back the championship with her. However, she has still plenty of chances to win tho coveted title. Miss M. Spiers, who won the Ladies’ Championship, has come to the froht with surprising rapidity. It is only three years since she took up the game, and her performance in reaching the top of tho tree so speedily must be unique in tho history of the game in the dominion. She captured the Canterbury Singles last year, and in the match against Otago, won every match, her promising style eliciting much favourable comment. As she is only 20 years of age she will no doubt win further championships in the years to come. General regret at the wretched conditions for play which characterised portions of tho dominion tournament was never so evident as when Miss J. M'Laren (Dunedin) met Miss Marjorie Macfarlane, Auckland (says a Christchurch writer). Tho encounter between these two fine players would have produced good tennis under any conditions, and even with the wind at its worst, the game was well worth seeing. It was generally thought that Miss Macfarlane would win, but to the surprise of all Miss M'Laren rose superior to the conditions, and on the play in the match deserved her win, 6—3, B—6.8 —6. Miss Macfarlane, seen after the game, was quite cheerful about the result, and did not lay too much blame on the weather. “Miss M'Laren played well,” she said, “and was more used to the wind. lam sorry, of course, to go out so early, but the conditions were as fair to me as they were to her.”

The championship tournament in Christchurch was not the onlv lawn tennis gathering at which Otago players gained distinction. At Wanganui Gale won the men’s handicap singles by defeating Powdrell; Gale and Miss Barclay won the mixed doubles; and Miss Bardsley reached the finals of both tho ladies’ singles, and doubles. Fine weather favoured the Timaru tournament, at which Otago players figured successfully in the final of four of the events. In the men’s championship doubles Guy and Fulton played off against Pearse and Smyth, and a sterling five-set match ensued, in which the Dunedin pair got home I—6, 3—6. 7—5, 6—l, 7—5. The ladies’ championship doubles were won by Mrs Bunnerman and Mis? Green, and the ladies’ championship singles by Miss Pearse. The final of the championship mixed doubles was fought blit by two Otago pairs, and in a close Contest Guy and Miss M'Adam just beat Fulton and Miss Hart 6—5, 6—4. Smyth won the men’s handicap singles by 9—B victories in the semi-final and final, and on the following day he and Warne Pearse played off for the singles championship, victory resting with the younger player 6—2, 6—l, 2—6, 6—2. Smyth’s play generally was much admired, especially his singles game. Fulton was another popular figure at the tournament, and his volleying and smashing aroused much favourable comment. Guy played steadily in all his matches, his accurate placing being a formidable weapon of offence, although his game is by no means a showy one. The A and C Grade competition will be recommenced for the remainder of the season bn' January 26, and the B Grade on February 2, Up to the present the dates of the Southland and Canterbury matches have not been definitely fixed, the pencilled dates being February 9 and 15 respectively. The match against Southland is to he played in Dunedin this year, and that against Canterbury at Christchurch. If the Southland match is fixed for February 9, the second round of B Grade fixtures will be played on the 16th, and if it is fixed for the 16th these games will be advanced to February 9. While the New South Wales team did nqt include any of the front-rank players in Sydney —these latter are but a select few — it was fairly representative of the general standard of achievement in that city. Hence it was a very creditable performance on the part of Otago, which was also not represented by its full strength, to be only two sets down in a total of 16. One of the best matches of the : day was tha,t between M'Dougall and Reid. At the outset Reid gave the impression that he would beat M'Dougall fairly comfortably, and he took the first set 6—2. But from the begininng of the second set, which was taken by M'Dougall. the struggle was very keen and the game became a duel of fine-length driving to the corners, each man endeavouring to outplace his opponent ana each succeeding in keeping the other away frbm the net most of the time. Reid had to exert himself to the full to win tho third sot. The chief lesson which local players would learn from tho visitors was the need of greater pace in driving. The driving of the New South Wales men had much more sting in it than that of tho local men, especially when an opponent was Tuning in to the net. Reid, in particular, who was the bright star of the team, had a bullet-like drive which generally went sharply across the court when the server was lunning in. Repeatedly he scored cleanly with this shot, and even when Wilkinson (who, in his doubles game, was the one who chiefly met it) got his racquet on the ball he found it most difficult to return.

Features of the day’s play wore tho peculiar round-arm style of Pike’s driving, which, despite its awkward look was an effective weapon of offence, the persistency in running round to save his backhand; the steadiness of Guy in the doubles, which was so much in contrast with his partner, Dutbie, who suffered from almost an epidemic of double-faults; and the clipper backhand drives with which Sumpter won a number of clean aces in his singles game. It was unfortunate that Peach, who will bo remembered by those who mot him for his pleasant personality, was unable to take part in tho match. Although he did not play ho gave some helpful hints to a number of the younger competitors who should profit by his advice. His ability as a critic was evident from the way in which he picked out weaknesses. For example, in bis conversational remarks to Duthie he put bis finger at once on the self-imposed handicaps under which this player labours by warning him against the absence of swing from his drives which he makes with his arm too close to hi« body, and bv pointing out what ho lost by not using his height in his service.

Tho absence of Bray from the Otago team has caused a good deal of comment, and the explanation which has been made to mo regarding the matter is that he rang up one of the selectors on Friday morning from Waikouaiti, where he was staving. In reply to a question he was told that he had been chosen to represent Otago and would bo wanted. Later in tho day ho again rang up the selector who was absent from his office, and he left a message asking that he should ho telephoned in the evening if he were required to play. This message was not delivered and consequently Bray was not communicated with further. In any event, however, his name appeared in the draw' of matches in the Otago Daily Times, and it must bo admitted that there were some grounds for curiosity regarding his nonappearance on the courts. After the New South Wales team had left for the north, Mr F. Peach, captain of tho visitors, telegraphed to the president of tli© local association (Air R. ft. Black) and to several of tho members individually expressing thanks for tho courtesy and kindness extended to the team during its stay in this city. “Wo have had a good time and were sorry to leave,” said Mr Peach, “but we hope to see you again some day.”

The visit to Dunedin of Mr M. G. Denniston in connection with the tour of tho Now South Wales team did much to clear the air in regard to tho affairs of the Jun'or Association, and Mr Couslon is no doubt, much stimulated by the bright future ahead of his youthful proteges. Mr Denmston also proved himself a “live wire” in connection with the match at Moana. taking n foremost part in connection with the arrangements for the day.

There seems to he no end to Norman Brookes as n lawn tennis player. Although he has practioally given up the singles game ho is continuing to add to an already long list of brilliant successes both in men’s doubles and in combined doubles. Ho recently took a prominent part in the Victorian championship doubles, and now nows

comes that he intends to spend next year on the Continent, when ho will pair with W. T. Tilden in the men’s doubles, and with Millie. Lenglen in the combined doubles. It has also been suggested that he may partner J. O. Anderson in the Australian championships, and possibly he may yet reappear in the Davis Cup contests. Ilnw greatly it would enhance his already brilliant reputation if he again assisted Australia to recover the cup ! After giving the matter exhaustive consideration the American Lawn Tennis Association has decided upon its ranking of the First Ten for 1524 as follows: —W. T. Tilden 1, \V. M. Johnston 2. 11. N. Williams 3, V ! . Richards 4. F. T. Hunter 5, H. Kinsov 6. C. Fischer 7. B. I. 0. Norton 8, H. Snodgrass 9, and R. Kinsey 10. Summed up, the principal changes are the replacement—hu(-, not in the seme order—of Shimidzu, Wallace Johnson, and Washburn by three younger plovers in the persons of Norton (Eng.), Fischer, and Snodgrass. Wallace Johnson occupied' fifth place last year, Shimidzu seventh, and Washburn tenth. Wij,liams and Richards have changed places, the former moving up to No. 3. Hunter has advanced from No. 9 to No, 5. H. Kinsey from No. 8. to No. 6. and O. Fischer from No. 19 to No. 7, while R. Kinsey has dropped hack from No. 6 to No. 10. In the women’s list Miss Helen Wills has rone up from No. 5 to No, 1. It will be interesting to see the doubles ranking list.