LAWN TENNIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23689, 22 December 1938, Page 4

LAWN TENNIS

By Smash TOURNAMENT DATES The following are the principal tournament dates approved by the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association:— December 24, 26, 27, 28.—Southland Association, Invercargill. December 24, 26, 27—North Otago Association, Oamaru. December 24, 26, 27, 28.—Wellington Association, Wellington. December 24, 26, 27, 28—Canterbury Association, Christchurch. December 31 to January 7.—New Zealand championships. Christchurch. January 18, 19, 20.—New Zealand junior championships, Wanganui. January 19, 20.—Waitaki Sub-associa-tion, Waitaki. January 20 to* 25.—Wairarapa Association, Masterton (North Island championships). January 20 to 30.—Auckland Association Auckland. Easter Dates Auckland Association, Auckland. Otago Association, Dunedin. Wellington Association, Wellington. Canterbury Association, Christchurch (South Island championships). Tuapeka Association. Roxburgh. GRADE COMPETITIONS The closely contested match between Otago and Cosy Dell was won by Otago, Fulton and Boddy defeating Clarke and Maude in straight sets. As matches were even, this gave Otago a win on sets. Otago seems now to be practically assured of the A Grade Shield, as its only difficult match next year should be that against St. Clair, winning teams last Saturday in the final round of this year's games were Cosy Dell. Roslyn, Kaituna and St. Clair. Cosy Dell had a comfortable win over Mornington. taking all the Singles and the first Doubles. Falconer beat Paterson in two close sets, and, with Cameron, won both his matches. Bryan accounted for Drew rather easily in the Roslyn-Balmacewen match, and Seddon also won in straight sets, but Macdonald had a hard fight before he defeated Wilson 6—2 in the third set, the middle set of this match being the only one won by Balmacewen. In the first. Doubles Drew and Wilson made a great showing against Bryan and Sincock, but .could not carry the match beyond two sets. Kaituna beat North-East Valley by four matches to two in a contest marked by several closely contested rubbers. Jolly beat Laidlaw to love in the second set. after taking the first by the odd game. Sherriff and Phillipps both recorded wins, but Stewart lost to Bottmg in a close third set. The two Doubles matches were keenly fought, the decision in each case going to Kaituna. In the first Jolly and Facer led 5—3 in the first set and 3—o in the second, only to lose each at 5 —6. St. Clair placed another victory to its credit when it defeated Anderson's Bay by four matches to two. Swallow and Ross had a very long encounter, with both men playing good tennis, and the former finally claimed the deciding games at B—6 in the third set. after dropping the second 4—6. Lawrence beat Young in two close setst but Duthie and Oliver squared the match when they won the third and fourth Singles respectively. Ross and Duthie began well in the Doubles and took the first set from Swallow and Lawrence, but the St. Clair players were able to finish more strongly, and they took the third set at 6 —3. Barclay and Yeoman clinched matters fou St. Clair when they won the second Doubles, also after losing the first set The Kaituna ladies' team gained a good" victory over St. Clair, winning all the matches except the first Singles in which Mrs Joblin was successful for St. Clair by the decisive score of 6 —2, 6—o. In its last two matches Roslyn has beaten Cosy Dell and North-East Valley, and Valley has beaten University. This competition now rests between Roslyn, Kaituna, and St. Clair. BANKING MATCHES Ranking matches continue to be played as the weather permits, with the consequence that this competition is not so far advanced as it should be. Players are asked to remember that in each case the winner is required to notify the result to the Otago Sports Depot. Recent matches have resulted as follows: —Robertson beat Bryan 6 —2, 6—4; Sincock beat Paterson 6—2, 6—3: Smith beat Laidlaw 6—3. 7—5; Young beat Facer 6—l, 6—o; Mrs Rawlinsor beat Mrs Joblin 6—2, 6—2, Miss Kerr 6—2, 6—5, Miss Jolly 6—3, 6—o; Mrs Macassey beat Miss Spackman 6—2. 6—4. CLEGHORN AND WALKER CUPS A reminder is given that in view of the Cleghorn and Walker Cup Competitions club secretaries should forward the names of the champions to the secretary of the association by the first Monday in February. The association recommends to clubs that the champion should be selected by a tournament and that where possible the matches should be the best of three sets. A player who has participated in interclub matches during the season will not be eligible to enter from any club other than the club he has played for in matches. A player who does not take part in matches and is a member of more than one club, must notify the secretary of the association immediately which club he desires to represent. THE CHAMPIONSHIPS Interest will be lent to the women's events at the New Zealand championships in Christchurch by the presence of two Australian players who are likely to provide keen competition. They are Misses May Hardcastle and Thelma Rice, who reached Wellington by the Wanganella on Tuesday and will make their first appearance in the Wellington championships which commence on Saturday. Miss Hardcastle, a Queensland player, is ranked sixth in Australia and this year was winner of the Australian women's hard court Doubles and runner-up in the Singles. She has twice won the Singles Championship of Queensland, and is the present holder of the Mixed and Women's Doubles Championships of the State. In 1937 her notable victories were wins over Misses Nancye Wynee. Thelma Coyne, Dorothy Workman and Mrs Westacott. Her partner in the Mixed Doubles in Christchurch will be N. G. Sturt. of Auckland. Miss Rice is a New South Wales inter-State representative and is ranked seventh in New South Wales. NOTES Miss Rebe Wilson has been nominated by the Southland Lawn Tennis Association to represent Southland and Otago in a Kathleen Nunneley Casket match against Canterbury on January 9 and 10. D. C. Coombe reached the final ot the Mixed Doubles at the Cromer covered courts tournament recently with Miss T. R. Jarvis, and. with D. W. Butler, won the Men's Doubles. Against Butler and Miss R. Jarvis, Coombe and his partner lost 3—6. 4—6. The New Zealander combined well with Butler in the men's match, which they won 6 —3. 6 —l. Butler also won the Men's Singles. Roy Howe, one ot the famous family of Wellington lawn tennis players, and formerly ranked in New Zealand's first 10. nowadays is top of the Southland ladder. He recently defeated R. McCallum 6—l, 6—3, to take the position, and it seems unlikely that he will be displaced during the season. At the-beginning if the winter Howe made a trip to England and played in the British hard-court championship, as well as in other tournaments. An Auckland practice which A. D. Brown, the New Zealand champion, is likely to popularise in Christchurch