LAWN TENNIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22831, 16 March 1936, Page 13

LAWN TENNIS

INTERPROVINCIAL MATCH OTAGO DEFEATS SOUTHLAND LOCAL MEN GENERALLY SUPERIOR By defeating the Southland representative lawn tennis team by 14 sets to 10 at Logan Park over the week-end, Otago broke the run of victories the southern province has secured in the last three occasions in which the teams have met. A strong south-west wind blowing across the courts made conditions difficult for the players, but nevertheless a satisfactorily high standard of play was witnessed. The local men were superior on the day to the visitors, but this was to a great extent counter-balanced by the very fine play of the visiting women, and it was chiefly through Otago winning four of the Mixed Doubles that the victory was with the home side. The outstanding game in the Men’s Singles was that between K. Bryan, the local top player, and W. G. Robertson, the well-known South Canterbury exponent, who now resides in Invercargill. Bryan, after losing the first set v 6—2, gave one of his best displays this season to take the remaining two sets with the loss of three game in each. Robertson’s style of play suited Bryan, who prefers a hard-hitting type of game. The match was a very interesting one to watch, the volleying duels providing spectators with exciting tennis. Robertson’s brilliant sense of anticipation at the net, his speedy, nicely-angled volleying and smashing, and his well-directed drives off both hands carried him through the first set, but thereafter the Otago man settled down and, making fewer mistakes than his opponent, took the offensive to win the next two sets in brilliant style. Otago won the other five Men’s Singles, but most of these were keenly contested. Rawlinson’s victory over R. M'Callpm was a notable performance, the former’s determination and his greater accuracy winning for him the last set 7—5. Although Miss Pattison displayed her best form to win the second set by the odd game, she could not master the young Southland champion, Miss R. Wilson, who gave a notable display of deep-well-placed driving combined with steadiness and accuracy. She speeded up her game in the final set, which she captured with the loss of only two games. Miss R. Barton gained a decisive victory over Mrs G. R. Hanan, losing only three games. With the exception of Miss Maud Jolly, who substituted for Mrs Turton and who gained a creditable win over the steady Miss Rein, none of the other Otago players won their Singles. The Men’s Doubles were productive of particularly bright play, notably in the game between Boddy and Robertson and the Southland top pair, Robertson and Strang. The visiting combination was much too strong in volleying and smashing and, after a slow start, won the match very decisively. The Women’s Doubles were captured in straight sets by the visitors, who showed better combination and knowledge of Doubles play than the local players. The Mixed Doubles, which were played on Saturday morning, gave Otago the advantage. Southland’s first pair, Robertson and Mrs Hanan, combined brilliantly to beat the strong Otago players, Boddy and Miss Barton. Rawlinson and Mrs Rawlinson, after losing (he first set against Cockerill and Miss R. Wilson, went on to win easily. M'Leod and Miss J. Wilson proved a solid combination and were too strong in net play for Pearce and Mrs Morrison. The remaining games were won fairly comfortably by the Otago pairs, all of whom showed superior form to the visitors.

The visiting players were met on arrival by the president of the Otago Lawn Tennis Association (Mr W. R. Sinclair) and were the guests of the local association at a kinema entertainment on Saturday night. The following arc the detailed results i Otago names being mentioned first) : MEN’S SINGLES. K. Ryan defeated W. G. Robertson 2 6—3, 6—3. E. G. Roddy defeated A. J. Deaker 9—7, o—4. J. Rawlinson defeated R. M'Callurn 3 6—l, 7—5. E. Pearce defeated D. S. M‘Leod 6 3, o—4. C. Robertson defeated L. T. Cockerill 0— 5—7, 6—o. S. Ross defeated -W. C. Strang 3—o, o—l, 6—2. WOMEN’S SINGLES. Miss M. Pattison lost to Miss R. Wilson 3—o, 6—5, 2—o. Miss R. Barton defeated Mrs G. R. Hanan o—2,0 —2, 6 —l. Mrs J. Rawlinson lost to Miss I. Guest o—2, o—6, o—B. Mrs Morrison lost to Miss J. Wilson 30, 4 —o, Miss Margaret Jolly lost to Airs K. Werrv 4 —o, 3 —6. Miss Maud Jolly defeated Miss M. Rein 2 —o, 6—3, o—3. MEN’S DOUBLES. Boddy and Robertson lost to Robertson and Strang 3 —o, 6—2, I—o.1 —0. Bryan and Pearce won by default from Cockerill and Deaker 10—8 (unfinished). Rawlinson and Ross defeated M'Leod and M'Calluin o—2,0 —2, I—o, 6—3. WOMEN’S DOUBLES. • Miss Barton and Mrs Rawlinson lost to Mrs Hanan and Miss Guest 4 —o, 1— Miss Pattison and Mrs Morrison lost to Misses R. and J. Wilson 2—6, 5—6. Misses Maud and Margaret Jolly lost to Miss Rein and Mrs Worry I—6, 5—6. MIXED DOUBLES. Boddy and Miss Barton lost to Robertson ami Mrs Hanan 4 —6, 6 —4, I—o.1 —0. Bryan and Miss Pattison defeated M‘Callum and Miss Guest 6—2, 6—4. Rawlinson and Mrs Rawlinson defeated Cockerill and Miss R. Wilson 4 6—o. 6—2. Pearce and Mrs Morrison lost to M'Leod and Miss J. Wilson 6—3, 3—6, I—6. Robertson and Miss Jolly defeated Deaker and Miss Rein 6—3, 3—6, 6—2. Ross and Mrs Turton defeated Strang and Mrs Worry 6—4, 5—7, 6—3. TOTALS. Otago. —14 matches, 33 sets, 295 games. Southland.—lo matches, 29 sets, 208 games.