LAWN TENNIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22212, 15 March 1934, Page 4

LAWN TENNIS

By Smash,

The following is a list of the principal fixtures for the .remainder of the season: — '■■•'■■'

March 17—M'Millan Cup Yankee tournament, at Logan Park. Easter Dates.—South Island and Otago championship and .handicap tournament, at'Dunedin; Tuapeka Sub-asso-ciation's tournament, at .Roxburgh; Wellington and Canterbury championships.; , '\'', ' REPRESENTATIVE MATCHES Otago' teams visited Alexandra and Palmerston on Saturday to fulfil engagements against the local associations, and in each case, met with success, though the margins were not great. The A team met tlie Vincent Sub-asso-ciation representatives at Alexandra and won by 14 matches to 10_ after a very interesting day's play." Ofie. aid all spoke with/enthusiasm of the enjoyment of the trip; and greatly appreciated the hospitality, which- was. extended to them by their hosts. '■'■ Several' of the- Vincent players showed very promising form, and steps should be taken to. encourage them ,to make, an even further advance in the game than they have made already. Among these may be mentioned D. ,)Ollv, who made an excellent showing against the "strategic skill and experience of G. I. Black, and Misses Keddell and Seaife, both of whom possess a good stroke equipment find have an excellent understanding of the game. It may be mentioned incidentally that'these two ladies subsequently played off for the Vincent championship* Miss Seaife winning 12—10. The B Grade team, which visited Palmerstoh, secured the narrowest of victories, the issue being decided by'the last match of the day. This rniade a final score of 13 sets to 11 in favour of the visitors, who also had a majority of two games. Thomson, playing first man for Eastern Districts, had a very successful day, and by hard-hitting tennis won each of his three matches. He was too severe for Morrow in the Singles, and won by a margin of three, games. The first Men's Doubles, won by the Palmerston pair; furnished some of the best tennis of the day, all four showing food form. The Palmerston ladies made an excellent showing' all round, and won a majority of their, matches, the best displays, perhaps, being given by Miss Carson; Mrs Hallum, and Miss Cullen. Miss Flett and Miss Dyer played well for, the visitors.; . '.. v' ' CHAMPION OF CHAMPIONS The champion of. champions competitions for the Cleghorn and Walker cups were completed On Saturday afternoon. In the men's event' Pearce met Guy, and though he dropped the first set and the fourth, he won convincingly in the last. His game was a trifle, patchy, arid it was only when he fully extended himself that his; play reached the'best standard.' Guy was very consistent and. fought on to the very end of the match,; This is Pearce's third consecutive win in this'event. . Miss Barton won the ladies' cup, defeating Miss Pattison 6—4, 7—5. Miss Pattison had previously played Mrs Cheyne in the 6emi-final and in the. second match she appeared to be feeling the strain. Nevertheless; she led 5 —2- in the second set, and it was only Miss Barton's great steadiness and accuracy'that enabled her to regain control and take five games on end to win. The following are the winners of these c'iips to date: — : Year." " Cleghorn. ■■'.■'. .Walker. 1930 R. A. Guy .Miss Partridge 1931 S.G. M'Dougall..Miss Partridge 1932 . G. A. Pearce Mjss White 1933 G. A. Pearce Miss Pattison 1934 G. A. Pearce < -NOTES , The intermediate final .was played on Saturday between ; St. Clair andH3t. Andrew's, St. Clair winning by 11 games, sets vThjs competftltfii; was instituted.^last' season, Opoho being the first holders of the shield. The annual Yankee Mixed* Doubles tournament for the M'Millan Gup will be played at Logan Park,on Saturday afternoon. Post, entries' will be accepted at the Otago Sports Depot on Saturday morning. - , ; ",.': "': In an international lawn tennis tournament, at Kingston, Jamaica, recently, Miss Helen Jacobs, of ILSA., the American champion, again defeated Miss D. Round, of England, in the final, the score being 6—4, 6—1.. ,'•'.".;;

Another Australian player to 'go'to Europe for the season is. Moon, of Queensland, who is going as,a free lance with the aid of the Queensland L.T.A. He is expected to partner Mrs Molesworth in mixed events at various toiirnaments. ~.'.. ■•;'-.

Frank Parker, the American junior indoor champion, and recommended for eighth position in the national ranking lists at the age of 17, is to compete at "Wimbledon this year, according to recent advice. . During the past, year Parker has overcome many of America's leading players, including .C. S. Sutter, G. M. Lott, F. X. Shields, as well as M. Alonso and V.. B. M'Grath. He was beaten by K. Gledhill in the American championships 4—6, 6—3, 11—9, 6—3. W. Allison recently gave it as his opinion that Parker is the best junior player in the game to : day. }. ' '■'■-■

COACHING MACHINE Mr James Taylor, of George street, who is a keen student of the game, as well as an enthusiastic player, has recently installed at hi 6 private court a DunlopLacoste serving machine, and is prepared to make arrangements for the private coaching of beginners and others. At Mr Taylor's invitation the writer inspected the machine on Tuesday afternoon, and found it a most interesting and cleverly-constructed device, as well as being very simple. Its propelling mechanism is capable of adjustment in such a.manner that not only forehand and backhand driving may be practised,;but als"o smashing and volleying. : With the aid of this ' machine and -a plentiful supply of balls, supplemented by experienced advice, a player is able to indulge in some extremely intensive practice of any particular stroke which he wishes to develop, and it is easy to imagine that his game would be greatly improved by this means. The serviiig machine has found considerable favour in France, England, Australia, and other countries, and there is no reason why it should not also do so in Dunedin. Mr Taylor propbses to make a small.charge for the use of the machine and his services as coach. A HUMORIST ABROAD The following letter from a semifacetious contributor reached me during the week: —. " The success of .Mrs William Stevenson and Mrs Alexander Coodley in .winr ning the Ladies' Doubles cvent.at the Balmaeewen Club tournament, has set this writer moralising on the reasons for mnrried women's names .being ep: prominent in lawn tennis circles everywhere.' One would expect that the cares and worries of rearing' families and -looking after husbands would militate against their chances in competition with younger players in a game which calls for considerable activity apart from other attributes. Yet, all over the world, the names of many married women are prominent, and one is driven to the conclusion that marriage—so far fronr being a handicap—is a distinct advantage in the game of tennis. It may be that they absorb such manly qualities as resolution, determination, etc., from their husbands!- At_any rate, if any girl tennis players of Dunedin are postponing their marriages or turning down good offers, in case marriage should spoil their tennis, there are.plenty of good reasons for changing their opinions." ~ . : • EASTER TOURNAMENTS Preparations are now well in train for the Otago Lawn Tennis Associations Easter tournament, which this year will be plaved conjointly with the South Island Championships. A large entry of players is expected, and there will, no doubt, be the usual contingent, from Southland, North Otago. and the country districts. The Misses Poole, two leading Canterbury players who have come into marked prominence during the past season are expected to compete, and so also •, is T. Rhodes-Williams, who re-, ceritly defeated Malfroy in' the" final of