LAWN TENNIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23364, 2 December 1937, Page 4

LAWN TENNIS

By Smash The following tournament dates have been approved by the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association:— December 25 to 28.—North Otago championship and handicap tournament, at Oamaru. December 25 to 28. —Southland championship and handicap tournament, at Invercargill. December 27 to 30.—Canterbury championship and handicap tournament, at Christchurch. December 28 to January I.—Wellington championship and handicap tournament, at Wellington. January 1,3, 4, and 8. —Riverton centenary tournament. January 1 to 5. —Wanganui championship and handicap tournament, at Wanganui. January 1 to s.—South Canterbury championship and handicap tournament,'at Timaru. January 5 to 8. —North Island championships, at New Plymouth. January 12 to 15. —New Zealand Junior championships, at Christchurch. January 24 to 29. —Auckland championships, at Auckland. January 31 to February s.—New Zea land championships, at Auckland. Easter.—South Island and Otago championship and handicap tournament, at Logan Park. Dunedin. A GRADE MATCHES When a weakened Roslyn No. 1 team met University last week it averted defeat by the narrow margin of one game, matches being even. The surprise of the day was the defeat of Bryan at the hands of Smith, who was playing brilliant tennis and always appeared to be in command of the situation. He adopted forcing tactics from the outset, and as Bryan is frequently a slow beginner he went through the first set in quick time. Bryan tried hard to recover in the second set, but he appeared to be out of touch, and he also made the mistake of playing too much to Smith’s backhand, which is not noticeably weak. He also failed to make openings for an advance to the net. Smith, on the other hand, continued to play tennis of a high order, and he took the second set with the loss of only three games. Macdonald and Grimsdale won their Singles matches in straight sets, but Macallan, who was making a reappearance in the game after a lengthy interval, reproduced his best form to defeat Gregory. He was serving powerfully and volleying splendidly, and generally was a towner of strength to his team. Bryan and Macdonald won the first Doubles with something to spare, but Gumming and Macallan squared the match when they defeated Gregory and Grimsdale. The Univer. sity pair won the opening set 6—2 and led 5—2 and 30—0 in the second on Grimsdale’s service. Had University v/on this game they would have won the match, but, fortunately for his team, Grimsdale, though unaware of the critical situation, scored with his next four services and saved the day for Roslyn. On Saturday afternoon University played its last match of the • season, when it was defeated by St. Clair by four matches to two. Smith was again in good form, and gained a victory over Swallow in two well-contested sets, in which both men gave an excellent display. Smith, however, always appeared the more likely winner. Law. rence and Barclay both recorded wins for St. Clair, but the Singles “broke even’.’ when Cummings beat Kingston 6—2 in the third set, St. Calir, however, won both the Doubles matches in straight sets. CHALLENGE MATCHES Recent challenge matches have resulted as follows: Duthie and Ross beat Boddy and Fulton 6—2, I—6, 6—o. Laidlaw beat Patterson 4—6, 6—3, 6—l. Boyd beat Kaye 4—6, 6—3, 6 —2. Smith beat Pollock 6—3, 6 —2. Falconer beat Boyd I—6, B—6, 6 —3. Mrs Clark beat Miss D. Mclntosh, and is now in ninth position on the ladies’ ladder. SOUTHLAND LADDERS The following are the positions of the players on the Southland provincial ladders:— Men’s Singles—l R. McCallum, 2 R. Howe, 3 I. Shand, D. S. McLeod, B. Whelan, 4 W. Strang, 5 D. Perrin, 6 J. Marriott, 7 A. McKay, 8 J. Buchan, 9 J. Henry, 10 A. Breen, 11 L. Stubbs. Women’s Singles.—l Miss R. Wilson. 2 Miss J. Wilson, 3 Mrs Hanan, 4 Miss Mehaffey, 5 Miss J. Henderson, Miss M. Kelly (Nightcaps), 6 Mrs E. Salisbury, Miss K. Jopp, 7 Mrs Mayhew, 8 Mrs C. Lipscombe, 9 Miss M. Woods, 10 Miss E. Hoyles, 11 Mrs H. Barnett. / RIVERTON TOURNAMENT The Riverton Centenary tournament, which follows on the Southland championships, will be played on five hard courts on January 1,3, 4, and 8, and should prove an enjoyable fixture for those on holiday in the south. A full programme of championship and handicap events has been arranged, and a competitor may enter for all events for a total payment of 10s. Entries, which must be sent through the secretaries of clubs, close on Wednesday, December 22. BUDGE AND MAKO Donald Budge and Gene Mako, the two leading members of the United States Davis Cup team, passed through Auckland during the week-end on their way to Australia, where they are to take part in a series of matches. There is some possibility that they will play exhibition matches in Auckland on the return journey. “We have had one or two very attractive offers,” Budge said when asked about his professional inclinations. “We like playing amateur tennis, though. It is great fun wandering about and seeing the world, and we like playing for America, too.” Budge said that he had completely recovered from the minor injuries he suffered when his motor car overturned on October 27. “ I am feeling splendid,” he added. “ and I believe my form to be at its best. Mako and I have been exercising on board ship, so we will arrive in Australia ready for our matches. Mako and I rate Quist and Bromwich as the best Australian players. We expect keen competition and exciting games.” 5 NOTES The hardest hitting lawn tennis player in Australia (says the Sydney Referee) is Don Turnbull. The other day he went into the country and played an exhibition match. He was opposed to the local medical man, Dr F. W. Hoopman, who has been noted since his university days for tenacity

and ability to return the ball. Turnbull tried out Hoopman at his own same and they played one rally for 15 minutes before the shot was deof the women players who took part in the recent New South Wales championships, the lawn tennis writer of the Sydney Referee states that the Australian champion. Miss Wynne, reigns definitely supreme, and he y considers that the only weakness she has to surmount is her temperamerit She needs carefully to watch this failing, as she becomes obviously upset when the “bad breaks’' of the game go against her, such as bad umpiring, net cord shots, missed sitters etc Such happenings are common in even the best lawn tennis circles, and against opposition of her own class her “temperamental displays ” may mean the difference between victory and defeat. lawn tennis union Under ideal conditions, Musselburgh played Holy Cross, and after some interesting tennis Musselburgh proved the winners by one game. The ls^ e was in doubt right up till the last set. The Musselburgh men were stronger in Singles than in the Doubles, while the ladies displayed better combination in the Doubles. For the winners, Miss Caddie won all three sets. With the fine weather recently the attendance at the Musselburgh courts has been large, and on a recent morning it was impossible to get a set as early as h a.m. as all courts were occupied. Forbury is to be congratulated on its win over St. Leonards. The latter team, which was unfortunate in losing by only four games, was without the services of several of its regular players. Honours for winning all three sets for St Leonards go to Miss J Blackwood, who is playing excellent tennis at present. Miss W Middleton (St. Leonards) deserves praise for winning her Singles as she is a L Grade player who was brought in to make up a full team for the A’s. Many close sets were witnessed—one especially being the first Mixed Doubles between Gourley and Mrs Gourley and Coutts and Miss Asher. This set was a good, hard game, but Gourley, with his persistent playing to the lady of the opposing pair for the greater part of the set, had no trouble in winning. In the match between Aotea and Ravensbourne, Aotea sprung a surprise by winning by 13 sets to three. All the Aotea players were in good form, and proved too steady for their opponents. Winners of all three sets were Miss M. McPhail, Messrs A. Booth, R. Callander, and J. Taylor, who was taking part in his first match of the season.