LAWN TENNIS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20962, 27 February 1930, Page 5

LAWN TENNIS.

By Smash., The result of the Otago v, Canterbury match, played in Christchurch on Saturday last, once. more serves to demonstrate the impossibility of our players doing themselves justice without an opportunity to -secure practice on grass courts. It cannot-.be argued, for instance, that in physique or stamina or in knowledge of the game Dunedin players are inferior to those in Christchurch, but it has been shown on numerous occasions in the past that Otago representatives find themselves at a decided disadvantage when they are suddenly transplanted from the fast asphalt surfaces of their native heath to the slower grass courts of Christchurch. It is a difficulty that has been realised by members of the association who are making some attempt to meet it by providing for a certain number .of grass courts at Logan Park. When these aqe laid down our players should be able to Obtain some valuable practice on grass, and in two qears’ time, when Otago will again be visiting Christchurch, it is to be hoped that the Selection Committee will find it possible to nominate a certain number of players for match practice on grass before the team is finally chosen. As to the actual match, all that can be said is that Otago suffered an overwhelming .defeat, which could not have been much' more severe had Canterbury, been represented by its full strength. The Otago team, by the way, was not quite the strongest that could have been placed in the field, but it was very nearly so, and no excuses can be offered for the result, apart from that already emphasjsed. In the face of unfamiliar conditions the players did their best, but it was Canterbury’s “day out,” and they scored a handsome victory for which they must be accorded full credit. The northern men were very much superior to the visitors in the singles, and the tally in this event of “no matches, no sets” was rather - disappointing. . In the. doubles, Jensen and Pollock gained the distinction of winning the-only one of the men’s events claimed by Otago, scoring a wellearned victory over Munns and Orbell, 6"—4, 4—6, 6—4. In the ladies singles Otago won two of the six matches, the successful players being Miss Partridge and Miss Scott, both of whom won by two sets to one. Miss Cook, playing against Miss Sowden, also. made a good showing in this event, and after a very long match she lost only 6—4 in the third set. In the mixed doubles the Moana pair. Guy and Miss Partridge, gained a good victory over B. B. Loughnan and Mrs Miles, the score in their favour being 6—2, 6—:S, The records of the- matches between Otago and Canterbury show 19 wins to four in favour of the northern province. Ther table is as follows: Year. Winners. Score. 1885—Canterbury, 2 rubbers to 0. 1885—Canterbury, 2 rubbers to 0. iCanterbury, 8 rubbers to 2. 1886 to 1894 t—No contest, 1895—Otago, 14 rubbers to 7. 1899—Canterbury. 18 rubbers to 4. 1897—N0 contest. Canterbur J r - 19 rubbers to 3. 1899 to 1907—N0 contest. J 99 8 rubbers to 1. J 9 ? 9 —Canterbury, 10 rubbers to 8. Canterbury, 21 rubbers to 1. ixJi~S. anterbur y. 20 rubbers to 7 1912—N0 contest. J^^~S anterbur y* 17 rubbers to 7. J 9 }; —Otago, 15 rubbers to 9. 1915 to 1918 —No contest. , Join - Canterbury, 18 rubbers to 6. ' ioo? Canterbury, by 2 games. i 9 by 3 sets: Tooo Canterbury, by 18 matches to 6. 1923—Otago, by 2 sets. taoi~^ nterl i by 19 matches to 5. i2nf~9 ta S°' hy 3 sets, by 1 Bet - Canterbury, by 22 matches to 2. by 22 matches to 0. by 14 matches to 10 1930—Canterbury, by 20 matches to 4. NOTES ON THE PLAY. The following notes on some of the Times •— e fr ° m the Christchurch Miss E. Partridge and E. A. Guy defeated Mrs B. Miles and B. B, Louehnan 6—2, 4 6, 6—3, Loughnan was inpoor fom and Mrs Miles, also, has ce “ tainly played better tennis. Miss PartP ovetr e go ° d W ° rk at the net .Easily the best combined match was that between Miss M. Wake and J. H. F- Shepard and Miss’M. Pattison and S. G. M Dougall. The Canterbury pair won 6-1. 6-3, but the scores are ha?dly a true indication of the play. SBeppard was in excellent form, his volleying and E w g i^T g ver y crisp and accurate. Miss Wake drove well as usual, and was very good at the net at times. Miss Pattison drove a fast low ball and volH l r P arte er also shone in the last-mentioned department of the game and frequently scored with fine passlES shots down the sidelines. After showing poor form iri the com40ubbjs.B- went on and defeated R. A Guy, Otago’s second ma u’ Driving and volleying well and taking the offensive, the Canterbury. man secured the first set with the greatest of ease. Guy showed improved form in the second session, but nis opponent always bad something in reserve. ,

Bright exchanges of volleying were seen in doubles between B. B. Loughnan S n epp^rd i and w. Bray and S. G. M Dongall. Canterbury won 6 —l e— » ? n a hiatch which produced some good tennis. The Canterbury pair m S r - lore , net, both playing well. M Bengali was in great form, his volleymg bang , particularly attractive. Deadly overhead work and serving by W. S. Somerville and-heady volleying by P. G. Greenwood were the chief factors for success against R A. Guy and S. Gale. Otago dropped the first set 2—6 out in the following one they offered far more opposition, and many of the games were strenuously contested. The set went to Canterbury, 6—4 With one set in (6—l), Misses M. Wake and M. Andrew, against Misses M. Pattison and E. Partridge, Were down 2—4 love 40 in the second set, but the Otago pair went to pieces, and Canterbury went on to take the set, 6—4 H - W. Sheppard Canterbury’s first string, defeated W. Bray, who held the same rank in the Otago team, <s—3, 7—5 Both players took the. net, and from this position the Canterbury man scored well Bray played tenaciously and showed ability to return difficult shots Driving a good length ball and placing 1 if' , Gre enwood defeated S. G. M Dongall, 6—-4, 6—l. The tenuis was fairly even in the first set, some of the games providing good rallies, interspersed with net play. But in the second set the Otago man erred frequently Playing a more varied and more accurate game than her opponent. Miss F, 1 artndge defeated Mrs B. Miles G—J 4—6, 6—4. The match was long ’drawn out and both players tired perceptibly after the two sets. Mrs Miles drove very steadily in the second set, but in the hnal one she made mistakes at critical times. \ AUSTRALIAN TEAM’S VISIT. In view of the match between the Austraban team and representatives of the South Island, which is to be played at Logan Park on March 11 and 12, considerable interest attached to the first appearance of the visitors in Auckland on Friday and Saturday last. The Austrahan .team is the strongest overseas' side which lias visited the Dominion for some time and its performance against the four leading Auckland players stamps it as a combination capable of giving a very attractive exhibition of the game, borne, sparkling tennis should, therefore, be witnessed when the Australians visit Dunedin, for the South Island is capable of putting in the field - a team that will compel them to call upon all their resources. Two of the new courts will be in readiness for the match, and on the first day a brief formal ceremony will mark the official opening of the asociaLon s new home.” It is a highly fortunate combination of events that enables .so important an occasion to synchronise with the visit of such notable exponents of the game as the Australians and the lawn tenuis public of Dunedin should need no urging to rally in large numbers to the support of the associa-

I'. E. Kalins, who plays as first man for the visitors has been in the ton ilicht in Australian tennis' for sever.ri years, anti has played against most of the world s leading players. He, was a meniy, i le *924 Davis Cup team along with Patterson, 0 Hara Wood, and Sehlesmger._ He won the New South Wales championship in 1926. defeating E D Anderson in the final 6— 2. 0 1 6 s' , The sa . me • vcar - partnered' bv J. O. Anderson, he reached the final of the Australian doubles championship, being beaten by O'Harn Wood and Patterson after a very close match. He Avon both

the grass and hard court championships of New South Wales in 1928, and held c hampionship of that .State in 1925, 1926, 1928, and 1929. In 1925-26, when the Dominion team visited Austraha, he defeated I. A. Seay 6—B, 6—2, 6—3, and D. G. France 6—o, 6—3. In the same season Kalms won his first State championship, defeating E. D. Andrews in the final, 6 —2, 6—l, 6—B, 6—l Playing ns third man in the New South Wales tsnm. against Victoria in the recent interotate, he won all five matches, two singles and three doubles, partnered by J. Willand. He has beaten Willand, one of this year s Davis Cup representatives, on the last three occasions they have met in matches. He defeated Gregory, the wellknown British player, at Hobart last year.

C. Sproules is ranked fourth in New South Wales. He defeated R. 0. Cummings in the Davis Cup trials. Cumpings subsequently beat Moon, the Australian champion, in the final of the New South Wales championship. He beat 0 Hara Wood and Tearne in straight sets in the inter-State match against Victoria- Playing first man. for New South Wales against Queensland, he ran both Moon and Cummings to all advantage sets; He put up a great fight against Crawford in the Victorian championships and lost the match in the fifth set. He reached the final of the Christmas tournament at Sydney, being beaten by Hopman, the Davis Cup representative, in the final set; B—6. He is regarded as one of the recent “finds” in Australian tennis. W. E. ■, Teague (Victoria) has been playing in first-class tennis for several years, and has represented Victoria on several _ occasions. He beat the South Australian champion Rowe in three straight sets in the intermediate tournament last year. He was undefeated in the pennant matches, beating Clemengei and the other leading players. In the play off of the interstate tournament -he defeated O’Hara Wood. Plaving against Queensland, he took a .set off Moon and had match p’oint against Cummings. Mr Teague is acting as manager of the team. He will play with Kalms in the doubles/ C. J. Donohue has represented New South Wales for the past three years, and has beaten all the leading players excepting Crawford afid Hopman. He pressed Cummings in the third round of the New South Wales championship this year. It was one of the hardest-fought matches of the tournament and lasted over three hours, the final scores being 8-7-6, 7 —5, 7—57~6 —2 in favour of Cumuiiugs,. the ultimate winner of the'championship. He has an exceptionally good record as a doubles player. Partnered by Dunlop, he defeated Moore and Cummings in the interstate match against Queensland. They also defeated Crawford and Hopman in the quarter final of the New. South Wales championship. They are the present holders of the Sydney club doubles championship. Last year he defeated J, Willard, one of this year’s Davis Cup team, in three straight sets 111 the pity of Sydney championship. Previous teams from Australia have been composed of New Srath Wales players. Of the seven contests so far played New Zealand has won four, Scoring 76 matches to 61. Following are the results:—lß96, at Sydney, New Zealand won by-8 matches to 4; 1904, at Sydney, New Zealand won by 11 matches to 10; 1920. at Auckland. New South Wales won by 12 matches to ( 8; 1923, at Sydney, New South Wales won by 13 matches to 8; 1924, at Christchurch, New Zealand won by 17 matches to 4; 1926, at Sydney, New South Wales won by 15 matches to 6: 1927, at Wellington, New Zealand Won by 18 matches to 3. NOTES. Some attractive games should be witnessed at Anderson’s Bay on Saturday afternoon, when the annual match will be played between Otago and Southland. The local selectors have paid the visitors the of choosing the strongest available side—the same as that 'which played against Canterbury and South Canterbury—and Otago should place another victory to its credit in these matches. At the same time the standard °l the ganje is improving in Southland, which recently placed to its credit a good victory over North Otago, and the visitors, who will include some strong players among the men as well as the ladies, are expected to nut up a SiWoug resistance. A united lawn tenuis club has been formed ‘at Logan Park, and already a’ number of prominent players have iomed Intending members are advised to communicate with Mr J, L. Grimsdale, the secretary, care of the Sports Depot, ■ Dr Moody has won the Kaituna Club Championship from Laurenson, who found that he had to default.

. The local B Grade competition was continued on Saturday afternoon in fine weather. Roslyn No. 2 team maintained its unbeaten record by defeating Triangle to the tune of 14 sets to 2, and Cosy Dell No. 2 gained a narrow victory over North-East Valley No. 2 by 9 sets to 7. The Valley No. 1 team, however, distinguished itself by gaining a handsome victory over Kaituna by 13 sets to 3, some of the results in this match being rather unexpected. St. Andrew’s also made a brave showing against Green Island, the suburban team being allowed to collect only three sets.

Both the B and C Grade competitions are now drawing rapidly to conclusion. The Roslyn No. 1 team has been declared the winner of the first section, and in the No. 2 section Roslyn No. 2 and Opoho has so far been undefeated. No B Grade matches will be played on Saturday. In the first section of the C Grade competition all matches will be played except that between Balmacewen and University, which has been postponed till tbe following Saturday. All the matches in the second section will also be played, except that between Port Chalmers and Concord, which has been deferred till tbe following Saturday. Wellington had little difficulty in surviving Canterbury’s challenge for possession of tbe Wilding Shield, the holders winning 10 of the 12 matches played. A rather curious feature of the match was that C. Angafi, who had won the Dominion title earlier in the month, had his colours lowered by C. E. Malfrov and D. G. France, both of whom he defeated closing stages of the championship. These results show how little there is between the leading players of the Dominion, and they will lend interest to the selection of the New Zealand team to meet the Australians.