LAWN TENNIS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21300, 2 April 1931, Page 4

LAWN TENNIS.

By Smash. FIXTURES FOR EASTER South Island hard court championships, _ at Logan Park. University tournament, Otago University courts. Canterbury Association (hard court), at Christchurch. Roxburgh championship and handicap tournament at Roxburgh. CLEGHORN AND WALKER CUPS ■Apart from a breeze during the early part of the afternooon, conditions at Logan Park were uccidedly favourable for the playing of the final rounds of the champion of champions competitions for the Cleghorn and Walker Cups. There was a good attendance of spectators, including Mr Cleghorn, the donor of one of the cups, and the Mayor (Mr R. S. Black), and those who attended were treated to a very exhilarating display of lawn tennis, the matches providing an excellent “ curtain-raiser ” to the Easter tournament. The previous holders of the trophies, which were first competed for last year, were Guy and Miss Partridge, and while Guy was defeated in the semi-final Miss Partridge was successful in retaining her title. THE CLEGHORN CUP M'Dougall and Boddy met in the first semi-final of the men’s event, the formerwinning comfortably 6—2, 6—3. It was not a specially interesting match, for M'Dougall was always in front and was much too accurate for his opponent. Boddy was missing badly with his forehand drive and got few chances at the net. If he had tried to force the pace he might have made a better showing, but, as it was, he was completely outplayed. Guy and Pearce staged an interesting match which ran to tliree sets. Pearce gave a very fine exhibition, and his play revealed a new-found steadiness, which, reinforced by an ability to bring off winning shots when the opportunity came along, gave him a well-deserved victory. The first set was well contested and raq to no fewer than 20 games. Guy took the second by hitting out more freely than he had done and forcing Pearce into errors by clear placing. In the third set Pearce had complete command of the situation and gave a brilliant exhibition of driving, - volleying, and smashing, Guy played steadily, but his shots lacked pace, whereas Pearce opened his shoulders to everything, and some of Ids side-line drives flashed past Guy like lightning. It is seldom that anyone takes a love set from Guy, and it is a feat that can only be performed by a player who is producing tennis of a very high order. The final, unfortunately, could not be completed owing to the failing light, but it provided four and a-half sets of thrilling tennis between two skilled and wellmatched opponents, who gave of their best. M'Dougall is a fine stroke player as well as a sound tactician, and Pearce is a dashing young player who matched steadiness with steadiness, and by rising to heights of brilliancy offset the greater experience of his opponent. Space, unfortunately, does not permit of a detailedidescription of the match, which was undoubtedly one of the most exciting seen at Logan Park for some time. Over four sets of good hard-hitting tennis, varied by steady, well-controlled rallies, and containing many spectacular features, the tide of fortune ebbed and flowed, and halfway through the fifth set it was anybody’s match. The score alone is the best indication of the grade of tennis. The first set went to Pearce 7—5; the second to M'Dougall, 6—3; the third to Pearce, 9—7; the fourth to M'Dougall, 6—2; and at 3—3 in the fifth set the shades of night caused a cessation of play. The match was commenced de novo on Monday night, and the remarkable situation arose that once again it could not be completed. M'Dougall won the first set 6—4; Pearce the second, 6 —4; M'Dougall the third, 6—4; Pearce the fourth, 6 —3; and at B—B in the fifth a halt was called. It is doubtful if there is another record in the history of the game in Otago of two players being so well matched in two five-set encounters, which, after all, are a true test. At 5 —4 in the fifth set Pearce had one match point, and 1 M'Dougall had one match point at 7 —6 and tw£ more at B—7.8 —7. Pearce was very severe overhead, smashing with great vigour, but M'Dougall countered these shafts by playing some beautiful passing shots when his opponent was at the net. The issue will now be finally decided on the first Saturday after Easter. The experience of this protracted match, which was commenced about a-quarter to 4 on Saturday, shows the need for making all haste with the games on the opening days of the Easter tournament. THE WALKER CUP The tennis in the ladies’ event did not reach quite the same level as in the men’s games, but nevertheless it was of a fairly high standard and not lacking in interest. Miss Partridge was at the top of her form during the afternoon, and though Miss Kelly, a young and very promising player, representing the Nga Maara Club, gave her an extremely close game in the semi-final, she was clearly Miss Pattison’s superior on the day. She well deserved to retain the trophy, and received many congratulations upon doing so. Miss Pattisoh had to play a very long match before she defeated Miss White, who does not often engage in singles play. Mips Pattison began well and her accurate, well-placed driving gave her the first set at' 6—2. Mits White turned the tables in the second set, arid by getting a gooddength she had Miss Pattison on the defensive most of the way, the latter netting a number of returns, especially- those which she essayed to make which Miss White played in her backhand corner with unerring accuracy. Miss Pattison established a lead of 4 —2 in the third set, but Miss White returned to the charge, and some very fine exchanges were witnessed with both ladies driving and placing well, the. score eventually being called at 5-all. It was a_ good recovery on the' part of Mies White. Miss Pattison had slightly the better of the closing stages and kept ahead by the odd game until she finally won B—6. Miss White, however, fought every inch of the way, and though she was down o—3o0 —30 and 15 —40 in the last game, she brought the score to deuce, only to see Miss Pattison take the two deciding points. Miss Partridge had to call up all her reserves to defeat Miss Kelly. The latter is a base-line -player who drives with plenty of sting and excellent direction, especially on the backhand. She is very steady and a' good sense of anticipation enables her to make many fine recoveries. Her admirable placing kept Mias Partridge back from the net, and the holder of the cup was very largely forced to play her opponent at the game dictated by Miss Kelly. This young player should be heard of again. Miss Partridge just got home by the odd game in the first set, and got a severe fright in the second, in which she was down 2 —5. She made a splendid recovery, however, but faced another crisis at 5-all, when she was down love-40, By careful play she brought the score to deuce- and finally won the set. though only by the odd game again. The final was a little disappointing in the respect that Miss Partridge rather overwhelmed Miss Pattison in tne second set, in which she played brilliantly and had the ex-Otago champion constantly on the move. Miss Pattison began well and gave a delightful display of driving, crisp and well-placed, which forced her opponent into numerous errors and gave her the lead at 2—o, 3—l, and 5—2. At this stage, however, a change came oyer the scene, and. by taking nine games in succession. Miss Partridge entirely altered the complexion of the match. Forcing her way to the net she cut off Miss Pattison’s best drives with nice low volleys and gradually assumed the ascendency. In the tenth game of the first set Miss Pattison was leading 40 —15 when she doublefaulted; Miss Partridge won the next stroke with a drive to her opponent’s backhand; Miss Pattison made it “van in,” but double-faulted again, and Miss Partridge won the game from the next deuce. In the second set Miss Partridge continued her forcing tactics and also showed excellent anticipation. She ran to a lead of 4 —o before Miss Pattison scored, and the latter got another game at 5 —2, but these were her last efforts, and the set went to the holder of the title on the next game, 6 —2. Miss Pattison may have been feeling the effects of her long match with Miss ‘White, but Miss Partridge

gave a very convincing display, and it has to be remembered that she, too, played a fairly long sime-final. PEARCE’S IMPROVEMENT In both his games Pearce showed the best tennis he has yet revealed. His serving, driving, and placing were alike brilliant and he brought to bear upon his game a new-found element of steadiness that is essential against such formidable opponents as Guy and M'Dougall, the latter of whom was playing as well as he has ever done. Free, hard driving will win many points, but it will also lose many against a solid player, and it was very gratifying to find Pearce, in a number of the rallies, exercising the same steadiness and patience as hia older opponent and then, when the opportunity occurred, sending down a fast one that often proved a winner. The improvement in his play was extremely pleasing to those who have watched his progress, for it showed that when playing with confidence and at the top of his form he is the equal of any player in Dunedin, and if he maintains his present improvement he should not be long in taking first place. He has all the qualities of a high-class player, including match temperament and a fine physique, which he should assist by keeping himself as fit as possible for match and tournament play. His footwork is at present the chief weakness of his game. He makes too many of his shots (though not so much on the backhand as on the forehand) when facing the net instead of bringing his right shoulder round. There is also a tendency on his part to use a "cut” drive that he should endeavour to overcome, for tins shot would be fatal against a hard hitter. His serving and volleying are splendid and few players in the Dominion possess so hard and well-judged a smash. Against Guy he played some magnificent overhead shots, but in this department he was not nearl so sound against M'Dougall. on Saturday. In my judgment, Pearce did not take the net nearly enough against M'Dougall, and when he did he chose the wrong time, going in too often on drives to his opponent’s forehand, whereas he stayed back consistently and waited for M'Dougall s backhand drives, which the Roslyn player makes with a lifting action and which should present an excellent target for a strong smasher. By hanging back when he had played a deep drive to M'Dougall’s backhand, he virtually lost the benefit of his smash, which might have been made one of his best scoring shots. It should be added, however, that it would be inadvsable for Pearce to attempt to change his game before the close of the present season, but when the new season comes round he should study his footwork and court position with a view to making the most of the fine lawn tennis assets which he undoubtedly possesses. UNFINISHED MATCHES When it was found impossible to complete the M'Dougall-Pearce match on Saturday afternoon some doubt arose as to the point at which it should be resumed. The English Lawn Tennis Association’s rule on the question states: “ In any case of postponement the previous score and occupancy of the court shall hold good, unless the referee and the players unanimously agree otherwise.” It is fairly obvious that the general intention of this rule is that a match should be resumed from the point of postponement and that the second portion of the rule beginning with the word "unless ” is merely a modification of the first part. This interpretation is borne out by an addendum to the rules which states that a postponed match “shall be resumed from the point at which it was discontinued and an entirely new commencement may be made only with the consent of the referee.” Taking the rule as it reads, however, the decision is left entirely in the hands of the interested parties. Where honours are easy, as in this instance, there can be no objection to a re-play, but if one player had been leading by, say, s—o in the fifth set, the unfairness of beginning anew would be manifest. THE EASTER TOURNAMENT An excellent entry, numerically as well as in point of class, has been received for the Easter tournament or—to use its correct designation—the South Island championships. The entries in the various championship events are as follow: — Men’s Singles 34 Men’s Doubles 23 Ladies’ Singles 21 Ladies’ Doubles .... .. 19 Mixed Doubles 28 Some of the outstanding players engaged in the various events are as follow: Men’s Singles.—Robertson (Timaru) and Guy, M'Dougall and Gray (seeded); Boddy, A. J. Deaker, E. A. Pearce, Pollock, Warne Pearse, and Ivan Seay, who is a doubtful starter — 3 —“• Men’s Doubles.—M'Dougall and Guy and Robertson and G. Sumpter (seeded); Boddy and Cox, G. A. and E. A. Pearce, Jensen and Phillipps, and S. N. Brown and R. Peake. Ladies’. Singles.—Mrs Scott and Miss Pattison, Miss Miller and Miss Partridge (seeded); Miss Cox, Miss Melvin, Mies D. Hart and Miss Romans. Ladies’ Doubles.—Misses Pattison and White and Misses Partridge and Hart (seeded); Mrs Scott and Miss Cox, Mrs Peppier and Mies Romans, Misses Melvin and Mahoney. Mixed Doubles.—M'Dougall and Miss Pattison and Robertson and Mrs Scott (seeded); Guy and Miss Partridge, Boddy and Miss Hart. A glance over these names should be a sufficient indication that some very high-class tennis will be seen at Logan Park during Easter. The executive of the association also hopes that it will be possible to arrange an exhibition match between Seay and A. C. Stedman, the latter of whom will be in Dunedin for the University tournament. B GRADE MATCHES By winning their matches on Saturday each of the St. Andrew’s teams performed the remarkable feat of going through the season with an unbeaten record and thus winning both sections of the B Grade Competition. This is the first occasion upon which St. Andrew’s has been successful, and the club merits cordial congratulations on so signal an achievement, which is only paralleled by the feat of the Roslyn B Grade teams last year in acting as winner and runner-up respectively. The following table shows the winners of the B Grade competition since the 1920-21 season:— 1920- —Moana. 1921- Moana. 1922- —Anderson’s Bay. 1923- —Balmacewen. 1924- —Cosy Dell. 1925- Cosy Dell. 1926- —North-East Valley. 1927- St. Hilda. 1928- —Cosy Dell. 1929- —Roslyn No. 1. 1930- —St. Andrew’s. NOTES In the two unfinished matches played on Saturday and Monday by M'Dougall and Pearce the former won 54 games and the latter 52. T.. W. Patterson, who was captain of ■the Canterbury team on the southern trip, said, on his return, that Oamaru has three young lads who are champions in the making. These are Feathers, Bryan, and Gallagher. In the final of the men’s championship of the Timaru Club, W. G. Robertson proved too strong for G. Innes-Jones. winning 6 —2, 6 —2, 6 —2. The ladies’ title was won by Mrs Scott, who defeated Miss Hart with apparent ease. E. D. Andrews, the ex-New Zealand tennis champion, still finds it very hard to beat H. W. Austin, the English crack. In a recent match, at set all, he was leading 5—2. Then Austin swung into his game, swept Andrews of the court, and won with sustained brilliance. A. C. Stedman, Dominion singles champion, secured the Remuera Chib’s championship by a brilliant win over E. L. Bartleet in a spectacular final game, which was characterised by hard driving and sternly-contested rallies. So keen was tbe struggle that Bartleet was forced to retire at the fifth set owing to an attack of cramp. The semi-final between Bartleet and N. G. Sturt also produced splendid tennis, tbe result being in doubt until the last stroke was played, The matches resulted follows:—Semi-final; E. L. Bartleet beat N. G. Sturt, 6 —l, 5 —7, 7 —9, 6 —4, 6 —4; A. C. Stedman beat J. C. Charters, 6—l, 6—o, 6—l. Final; A. C. Stedman beat E. L. Bartleet, 2_6, B—6, 6—3, 5—7, 3—l (Bartleet retired).