LAWN TENNIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22834, 19 March 1936, Page 4

LAWN TENNIS

By Siush,

FIXTURES March 21—Otago v. Vincent Sub-associa-tion, at Logan Park, Dunedin. March 28.—Otago v. Maniototo, at Logan Park, Dunedin. March 28—Otago v. South Otago, at Logan Park, Dunedin. April 10, 11, 13 and 14 (Easter dates). —Otago and South Island jubilee championship and handicap tournament, at Logan Park. Dunedin; Auckland Association tournament; Wellington Association tournament. THE OTAGO-SOUTHLAND MATCH When Otago met Southland at Logan Park during the week-end it had a sequence of three defeats to break, and our players succeeded in doing this by a narrow margin, mainly as a result of the superiority of the men. It was a well-contested match in all departments, however, and even if there was at times a suggestion of holiday tennis about it, many of the games were full of interest. THE MEN'S EVENTS. Bryan added to his earlier successes by a meritorious win against Robertson — meritorious even if Robertson was rather short of practice, for a player *of his class can go on the court at any time and give a. good display. Robertson began well, and took the first set 6—2, but he then lapsed into errors, failing with his forehand drive, but still continuing to volley effectively when the occasion arose. Bryan gave a good display of forceful, hard-hitting tennis in the second and third sets, and again showed that he is the leading player in Dunedin at present. Another meeting between these two in the South Island championships would be well worth seeing. Boddy had a stern struggle in the first set, but the Otago man was more definitely on top in the second. Rawlinson and M'Callum staged a bright' hard-hitting match, with both men going for their shots in fine style. M'Callum played many pretty shots, but at other times his game lacked finish. Rawlinson showed great determination over the closing stages, and, though down 4 —5 in the last set, took the next three games by vigorous and accurate stroking. Pearce made full use of the wind in his match with M'Leod, who was not altogether at home in the prevailing conditions. Pearce won in straight sets, whereas M'Leod took G. A. Pearce to three sets in last year's match. Robertson always held the upper hand against Cockerill, and Ross made a good recovery in the third set of his match with Strong, one of the most promising nlayers in the Southland team. Ross. by the way, has represented Otago in three matches this season and has won eight of his nine events. In the Men's Doubles, the < Southland pair, Robertson and Strang, gained a good victory over Boddv and C. Robertson, whom they defeated 6 —l in the third set. W. G. Robertson volleyed splendidly in this match, and showed fine anticipation He received full support from his youthful partner. Rawlinson and Ross proved too good for M'Leod and M'Callum, and in the other match, which promised to b(> a good one, Deaker and Cockerill Tiji-1 taken the first set from Bryan and Pearce 10 —8 when play was abandoned. THE WOMEN'S MATCHES. Miss B. Wilson gave a delightful display of stroke nroduction and courtcraft to defeat Miss Pattison in a very attractive match, in which botli players showed to advantage. After dropping the first net, Miss Pattison took the second by pood play, but Miss Wilson, who continues to show decided promise, forced the pace to take the third 6—2. Miss Bartor, played her usual accurate and wellcontrolled same, to defeat Mrs Hanan (formerly Miss Hart) in straight pets. Miss Guest beat Mrs Rawlinson B—6 in the third set after-being down I—4 and 2—5. Mrs Morrison and Miss Margaret Jolly lost their matches to_ Misp J. Wilson and Mrs Worry respectively, but Miss Maud Jolly did well to defeat -Miss M. Rein 6—3 in the third set. The Otngo Indies failed against the superior combination of their opponents in the Doubles, losing each of these events in straight sets THE MIXED DOUBLES. Mrs Hanan has always been a good Mixed Doubles player and she gave Robertson a full measure of assistance in defeating the-strong Otago pair, Boddy and Miss Barton, 6 —l in the third set. Bryan i'nd Miss Pattison showed an excellent i/nderstanding of each other's play and by fast, well-placed shots decisively defeated M'Callum and Miss Guest. Rawlinson and Mrs Rawlinson dropped the first set to Cockerill and Miss R. Wilson, but after that their play improved, while their opponents fell into errors and won only two games in the second and third sets. Pearce and Mrs Morrison began well against M'Leod and Miss J. Wilson, but the Southland pair, after losing the first set, had the better of the exchanges and placed a good win to their credit. Robertson volleyed strongly and was well supported by Miss Jolly when this pair defeated Deaker and Miss Rein 6—2 in the third set. Ross and Miss Turton had a long match with Strang and Mrs Werry, and were rather unfortunate to drop the second set, in which they had

five match points. This, however, did not affect the final result. The following are the results of the matches between Southland and Otago to date:— 1910—Southland 1925—Otago 1911—Otago 1926—Otago : 912—Otago 1927—Otago 1913—N0 contest 1928—Otago 1914—Otago 1929—Otago 1915-18—War years 1930—Otago 1919—Otago 1931—Abandoned 1920—Otago 1932—Otago 1921—Otago 1933—Southland 1922—Ota<?o 1934—Southland 1923—Otago 1935—Southland 1924—Otago 1936—Otago THE JUBILEE TOURNAMENT Entry forms for the Easter tournament arc now in the hands of club secretaries, through whom entries should be made. Entries close on Monday, March 30. at 5 p.m., with the secretary of the association (Mr E. S. Wilson). In addition to the usual championship and handicap events, a jubilee year Veterans' Mens Doubles is included in the programme. Players over 45 years of age are eligible to enter for tb> event, the trophies for which have been presented by Mr A. M'Millan. Sections which should again prove popular ar* the Men's and Ladies B Grade championships and the Boys and Girls' Championships. All the local players in the tournament will have an equal opportunity of winning one of the two rackets presented by Mr T. Grimsdale, of the Otago Sports Depot,,to the local woman and local man showing the most improved form. NOTES The second round of matches in the Cleghorn and Walker Cup competitions must be completed by Tuesday next. G. A. Pcarce at present occupies ninth place on the Wellington ladder. D. G. Coombc heads the list. Canterbury met South Canterbury at Wilding Park last Saturday afternoon and won 20 of the 23 matches played. The following Southland players will in all probability take part in the Otago Easter tournament:—W. G. Robertson. R. W. M'Callum, A. J.. Deaker, W. C. Strang, L. Gray, Misseg R. and J. Wilson. In connection with the jubilee celebrations of the Otago Lawn Tennis Association, it has been decided to hold a dinner in the Somerset Lounge at 7 o'clock on Saturday evening, April 4. There will be a dance in the Gardens Kiosk on Easter Monday, April 13. The annual match between Otago and the Vincent Sub-association's team will be played at Logan Park, on Saturday. St, Clair is playing a match against Balclutha at St. Clair on Anniversary Day. and the Tokomairiro Club of Milton is eending a team to play St. Clair at the latter club's courts on Saturday, Anril 4. ... The gate takings on the occasion of the visit of the French lawn tennis star Henri Cochet to Wanganui were among the largest in the Dominion, and were bettered only by Christchurch. Auckland, as well as Otago, is this year celebrating the foundation of its Lawn Tennis Association. To mark the occasion a veterans' handicap doubles tournament will be held to-morrow afternoon, when there will be a general Reunion of players and enthusiasts, who will bo the guests of the controlling body at afternoon tea. Frank Lindsay, the 16-year-old son of George Lindsay, who is well known in sporting circles in Southland, will be a competitor at the Otago Easter tournament. He won the Southland junior championship last year. He has only one arm, and his success at the game is rather remarkable. He was a promising righthander until he had the misfortune to lose his right arm. He then started afresh as a left-hander, and was so successful that he won the Southland junior championship and. is one of the most promising of the younger players in Southland. LAWN TENNIS UNION In view of the circumstances arising from the recent prevailing weather a meeting of the Management Committee was held to decide the steps which should be taken towards bringing the competitions to a close. As a result of this meeting the draw as published for the A, B and C Grades will be adhered to, but in the case of the D Grade various changes in the courts will be made and players in this grade would be well advised to keep in touch with their club captains or secretaries. At the meeting of the Management Committee mention was made of> the interest and keenness of the players in the union, the question under discussion at the time being the completion of matches during the evenings. Various clubs were mentioned, but special mention was made of the efforts of the St. Leonards and Forbury Clubs, who actually finished their match by evening play. With both pairs playing only fairly well. Lawrence and Booth dislodged Facer and A.' Jackson from the top position of the Union Doubles ladder, 9 —4. Lawrence and Booth went to a 4 —l lead rather by bad stroking on the part of the Ravonsbourne pair than by actual errors. From then on it was practically game for game. The most redeeming part was Facer's service, which always had the Aotca pair in trouble.