LAWN TENNIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23705, 12 January 1939, Page 4

LAWN TENNIS

By Smash TOURNAMENT DATES The following are the principal tournament dates approved by the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association:— 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. INTERCLUB MATCHES The draw for the interclub competitions for the remainder of the season appeared in Monday's papers. On Saturday next matches will be played in the Intermediate Grade, both sections, and in the CI and CII Grades. On the following Saturday the A Grade matches, men's and women's, will be resumed, and also the Bl and B2 Grade matches. THE NEW CHAMPION Every title changed hands at the Dominion tournament in Christchurch last week, the one unfortunate feature of which was the inability of Miss Margaret Beverley, 20-year-old Waikato player, through injury in a motor accident, to defend the three titles she won last year. The 1938-39 champions, with those of the previous season in parentheses, are as follows: Men's Singles.—N. V. Edwards, Wellington (A. D. Brown, Canterbury).

Women's Singles—Miss M. Hardcastle, Australia (Miss M. Beverley. Waikato). Men's Doubles.—N. F. N. Bedford and J. W. Gunn. Auckland (R. McL. Ferkins arid E. A. Roussell. Wellington). Women's Doubles.—Misses I. and T. Poole, Canterbury (Misses N. and M. Beverley, Waikato). Mixed Doubles—N. G. Sturt, Auckland, and Miss M. Hardcastle, Australia (J. W. Gunn, Auckland, and Miss M. Beverley. Waikato). N. V. EDWARDS N. V. Edwards, the new Dominion Singles champion, is 26 years of age, and has been playing serious tournament tennis for only four years. He played very little while at school, and for the first year after leaving the Wellington Training College he concentrated on rifle shooting, a sport at which he showed great ability. At the age of 19 he became interested in lawn tennis and played regularly in the Hutt Valley. In three years he made such progress that he was persuaded to play on the Wellington ranking list. He was soon among the top players, and in 1937 gained first place. Last year his game fell away a little, but this season he showed his ability by winning the Wellington championship from a strong field. MISS MILLERS PLUCKY FIGHT When Miss Hardcastle (Australia) defeated Miss Miller 6—2, B—6 in the semi-final of the Women's Singles at the New Zealand Championships in Christchurch last week, the North Otago girl put up a great fight in the second set. In this set Miss Hardcastle became disconcerted at the persistency of her opponent, and she began to make mistakes in trying for just a little more speed or just a little more angle. Miss Miller gained an early lead and held it to 4—3. At this stage the Australian produced superlative drives which, often shrewdly placed to the corner from which Miss Miller was running, caught her opponent on the wrong foot and scored outright. Miss Hardcastle went ahead at 5—4, but still Miss Miller fought back, levelling the scores at s—all and again at 6—all. Miss Hardcastle took the last two games with brilliant play, with which not even Miss Miller's tenacity could cope. NOTES After about seven sets had been completed the representative tennis match between West Otago and an Invercargill team at Waikaka on Saturday was abandoned because of rain. Referring to the bearing of players during the championships, a Christchurch writer says that N. G. Sturt. of Auckland, would probably come first in New Zealand for good court manners, though he would be coupled with Dyer and Ferkins, and Rousseli and Edwards, all of Wellington. The deportment of the women was above reproach. The only emotion they showed was friendliness and good fellowship to partners and opponents. To do Brown justice (says a Wellington writer, commenting on the championships), he was not the player of last year at any part of the tournament; and in some respects his play was affected by precisely the same influences as that which disturbed D. C. Coombe on his return from his first visit to England last season—a condition of trying desperately to play at top and failing by bare margins. It seems to be the difficulties of acclimatisation, or possibly too much tennis —Brown is having his third season on end. But in England with the Davis Cup team he should strike top form again. LAWN TENNIS UNION The season so far has produced some fine tennis. Players are keen and the various competitions are in an interesting positions. The Aotea Club has recorded a fine performance in all grades, as with five teams entered only one (C Grade) has suffered a loss. The Concord Club appears to be very strong, its two teams having suffered only one loss between them. The First Grade competition is close with Aotea in the lead, followed closely by Ravensbourne and Kaikorai. In the Intermediate Grade Aotea leads with Concord, East Taieri and Kiwi two points behind. The B Grade leader. Aotea, has a one-point lead over Musselburgh, which leads St. Leonards byone point. Holy Cross and Anderson's Bay head the C Grade with Aotea two points behind, while in the D Grade Kensington. Concord, Aotea are the leaders with no losses. General The Aotea Club, which has a membership of over 100, has seven courts available since the renovations at the St. Clair School. Members are fully occupied with challenges and tournaments. Players in this club are keen and eager to better their tennis, and have already reached a high standard of play. Callander and Taylor have shown excellent form in club matches this season,

The Ravensbourne Club is unfortunate at present as its courts are under repair and it will be some time before they will be in use. This club has some fine players, notably the Facers and Jacksons and Miss R. Bullen, who has been showing excellent form. Forbury has a young team in the Senior Grade, and in a year or two will be in the top flight. Players of note are Donovan and Gillions (who have shown fine form in doubles play) and Misses Ballarityne and Ross.

The Kaikorai team, which has had only one loss, has performed with credit and may yet be hard to beat. The players in this club have been out of competitive tennis for a season, and since their return have shown fine form. Rober + son, R. and J. McVie, Mrs Robertson and Mrs Hoare are all playin p good tennis. Kensington Club, which is always hard to beat, and is a club with a fine record in the past, is still to the fore. Gibson, J. Craig. Mrs Craig and Miss Stevens are playing well in the Senior Grade. The B Grade team so far is undefeated. The Tokotoru Club has so far been unsuccessful with its teams, but its players have shown great keenness and sportsmanship. Brown and R. Lamb and Misses P. Gapper and P. Metson are plavers of note. The St. Leonards Club senior team has not yet played up to its standard of former years, but its junior team is playing well in the B Grade. Concord Club has two strong teams, and this club is to be congratulated on its performances to date. East Taieri is another club in the Junior Grades with two good teams Its Intermediate team is a wellbalanced side.

Holy Cross and Musselburgh Presbyterian, the two neighbouring clubs, have fine players, and both clubs have a fine record in their respective grades. It is gratifying to see the new clubs, Glenavon, North Taieri, Wylie's Crossing, meet with success in their last macthes. All matches will be recommenced on Saturday. . Whitcombes for Tennis.*