LAWN TENNIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23352, 18 November 1937, Page 4

LAWN TENNIS

By Smash

Though overhead the weather was fine on Saturday afternoon, a strong wind prevailed rising at times lo bensterous gusts, and this made playing conditions decidedly unpleasant, especially on the more exposed courts. A GRADE MATCHES Only two A Grade matches were played, namely those in which the University teams were drawn. The men s team met Roslyn No. II and went down bv four matches to two. Smith being successful in the Singles and also U) the Doubles in association with Childs. Both the Doubles provided good contests and there was little between the respective pairs. The strong St. Hilda ladies team beat University without the loss of a match except that which Miss forfeited to Miss Stewart by default Mrs Rawlinson an 1 Mrs Grecnslade won their matches comfortably, both in the Singles and Doubles. INTERMEDIATE GRADE The closest match in the Intcnnedi ate grade on Saturday was hat in which St. Patrick’s beat St Kildu by five games, sets being even. St. Khd" had the better of the men s matenes. but the St. Patrick’s lad ies—Misses E Williams. C. Williams J. Level and P. Corcoran—were able to offset this advantage by winning all their games Another closely-contested match was that in which Balmacewen beat Andrew’s by nine sets to seven, roi Balmacewen Orton and Miss Buchlei each won their three matches and for St. Andrew's Patterson and Mis fox croft were similarly successful. Competition is very keen m this grade, which contains a number ot players who should not be long in graduating to the senior ranks. LADDER MATCHES Not a great deal of interest has been shown in ladder matches so far this season and comparatively few challenges have been played. Smith retained eighth position ot the men's ladder when he resisted a challenge from Falconer, the University man winning 7—5, 6—4. Mrs Rawlinson. who is showing excellent form at the present time ; gained No. 1 position on the ladies ladder when she defeated Mrs Robcrtson 6—l, 6—2. JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS The New Zealand junior championships are lo be held in Christchurch at Wilding Park from January 12 to 15 (inclusive) and entry forms are now available from the secretary of the association (Mr E. S. Wilson). The programme of events consists of Singles. Doubles, and Mixed Doubles for both boys and girls, and is open to all players under the age of 18 years as at January 12. 1938. The association has the right to nominate a limited number of players, and those nominated will have half their travelling expenses paid, and the Canterbury Asso ciation has undertaken to arrange billets Clubs are asked to forward as soon as possible the names of eligible players v/ho may be worthy of nomination As the championships are being hold in the South Island, it is expected that Dunedin players will take advantage of this opportunity of gaming experience on grass courts. Entries for these championships close on Janu ary 7, and anv player wishing to enter should communicate as soon as possible with Mr Wilson. GIRLS’ TEAM FOR AUSTRALIA The New Zealand Association has requested the Otago Association to nominate players for inclusion in a team of four girls under the age of 21 years to visit Sydney during March of next year and play in the Junior Championships. Nominations have to be in Wellington by January 18. The selected players will have to contribute £ls each towards their expenses. NOTES In a challenge match on Saturday for first place on the Canterbury ladder Angas beat Barnett 6—l, 6—l. *oi third position, I. J. Conch defeated Dymond I—6,1 —6, 6—o, 6 —o. The annual primary schools tournament is to be held at Logan Park on Saturday morning. November 27, ana, as the game is gaining ground in the primary schools, this year s tournament promises to be even better than those held in past years. Singles and Doubles events for both boys and girls will be played. . Mile Lenglen, the former worlds champion, has at her lawn tennis school in Paris 300 pupils. One o these, she says, is going to be a wot Id champion. He is Philip Hamelm, aged 'll. “He is only so high,’ says Suzanne. holding out her , hand at waist level, “yet he plays with the head of an old man. Wait and see what Philiu d °Mr Dwight Davis, the American who gave the Davis Cup to the world, sent the following cablegram to the successful United Stales team It adequately reveals his attitude to this great annual competition. It is time the Arophy came back hero. I like to sec it go round from countiy to country but 10 years is a trifle too long for it to stay away from this country. I think we can now keep the cup loi a few years, after which I sincerely hope the trophy starts wandering againMost players, young or old, fancy themselves on their forehand. They will admit a weak backhand, and an unreliable smash, but tell them that their forehand is all wrong and you are their enemv for life. The forehand swing'is an easy, natural movement, yet it is surprising how many diffeicnt styles there are in producing it. Un asphalt courts the top-spin drive has always been the most effective U may be valuable (says a writer in the Star-Sun) lo discuss the faults generally committed in bad forehand driving. The player’s feet are often wrongly placed. The left foot should be well towards the net and the right, foot almost in a straight line behind it This will ensure a good body turn towards the sideline. Many players consistently hit the ball over the baseline because they arc striking it too far in front of them. If you turn towards the sideline and' wait till the ball is almost in front of the body before striking, then much more force can be put into the blow with much less danger of hitting the ball out. If the- ball is pulled consistently over the left-hand sideline, it is because the feet are placed diagonally across the court rather than Infright directly behind the left Take the racket well back in pleri'y of time before the ball arrives and swing forward with a straight arm pressing the hand down as you swing forward. Be up on the toes with knees slightly bent. If it is a low shot

bend to it, and at all times keep the head of the racket at least as high as the hand holding it. Swing the racket well forward and develop a good follow through. Depth in driving is more important than pace, and remember not to hit a low ball near the not too hard. If it clears the net it will sail out if it is going fast. LAWN TENNIS UNION The A Grade match between Forbury and Ravensbourne played at Ravensbourne resulted in a win for Ravensbourne by 11 sots (102 games) to 5 sets <7B games). A feature of the match was the defeat of the Ravensbourne pair H. Facer and Allan Jackson bv Gourlay and Davie, the score being 9—B. Facer and Jackson are No 1 pair on the union ladder. Gourlay s overhead work in this match was excellent. Mrs Gourlay, playing first for Forbury, defeated Miss Bullen 9—B. For several years now these two ladies have played excellent tennis. Miss Ross, a junior in the Forbury team played very well indeed, Ravensbourne has a very well balanced team and this fact should help them to go very close to winning the A Grade championship. Ravensbournc’s first man, Harold Facer, is playing much below form, and w'as easily defeated by S. Gourlay. Tn the C Grade match Dundas v North-East Valiev Baptist. Dundas suffered its first defeat at the hands of the latter team. It was a hard match, full of sparkling play from start to finish. The Valley men look everything before them both in the Singles and Doubles, thus maintaining thenrecord of not having lost a Men s Doubles. Asher and Wallis was the best Mbn's Singles match Wallis (Valley) eventually running out the winner after a ' long and very even struggle, the score being 9—7 The best Singles of the Jay was the first Ladies’ Singles, in which Miss McKinlay (Dundas) emerged the winner aftei splendid play and lona rallies The Mixed Doubles, three of which were played to advantage, were evenly divided between the opposing teams The match was one of good competitive tennis. Valley Baptists owing their win to the determination of their men In the D Grade in-tch between Musselburgh and Macandrcw road, played at Musselburgh, there were a number of close finishes to sets, several going to 9 —B. Although Musselburgh won 10—6 there was no great difference between the teams, and. strange to say. Macandrcw Road was ahead on games. For the winners Keen played well, while T. Cowan, after a nervous beginning, soon settled down and played well for his first appearance in match play and won all throe sets. The Musselburgh ladder members are reminded that they are required to challenge at least once every month, otherwise they drop one place n the ladder. "All ladies’ games on the union ladder shall be (he best of 17 games wi*limit advantage," This alteration to the ladder rules was made at the meeting of the Management Committee held this week.