Tennis Notes.

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 348, 9 January 1912, Page 5

Tennis Notes.

By " bMASH."

The splendid weather during the holiday* was fully availed of by local members, and despite the absence of a number of the leading players at the Invercargill tournament, some excellent play was witnessed. The standard of play has risen considerably of late, aud quite a number of this season's colts aro showing excellent form at present, particularly amongst, the ladies, of whom may be mentioned Misses M. Gibson, Brooker and Brown. Miss Crawford is also showing fine form at present, and on watching her play, one feels somewhit shaky regarding the chances of the top ladies m keeping their places during the remainder of the season. Soveral interesting games should result shortly. Since these noes last appeared (the prevailing epidemic of holidays is my excuse) several of tho ladies, urged on by the match committee, have bestirred themselves nnd played their fixtures m the first round of the ladies' singles handicaps. The first game played was between Miss Brown nnd Mrs Crawford, both receiving a handicap of 15 points. A very even game resulted m a win by 5 strokes or points for Miss jßrown, the score being 40-35. Another closely contested game was that between Miss Crawford (8 p ints) and Miss Gibson '15 points), the result being m Miss Crawford's favour, 40 36. This game was excellently contested, zigzimging continually m each plnyer's favour. Owing to the absence of a numbsr of members ou holidays, a number of the games were lo3t by default. The .gimes yet to be played aro Miss Gardiner (scr) . v. Miss JJruohur (15 points), and Miss T. Scatter (20 points) v. Gi'-«oi- (1"< psints). These player* wou a >..iligo the committee by playing off their mutches with all speed, to en^ able the second round to be drawn up. What has gone wrong with the grounds committee? Hera we have had several weeks of splendid weather, and there is not even a sign m the direction of the new court. They should be called to book, and asked to. report progress. The court is badly needed, as then the match committee would be enabled to set aside one court 'for matoh playing every evening if re^ui-ci. Only one ladder game has boen played during the holidays, and this a ladies' ouc, Miss Brooker meeting Mrs Crawford and displacing her on the ladder after a game ending 9-2 m the challenger's favour. A meeting of members is called for Wednesday next m the pavilion at 4 o'clock to discuss the advisability of holding a tennis picnic. Lrtst season, if one remembers aright, a similar function was also proposed, but failed *;o materialise. Let us hope more energy will be thrown into the scheme this season. So far, the Association has not allotted fnrther fixture*, but the local juniors are stall expecting a visit, from the Win^on seconds, who were due here m Decouiber. During the holiday season, three of our old members m Dr Baird, Mr Archdall and Miss Fisher have been disporting themselves on their old familiar grounds, and members were glad to renew their friendships with these three recent members, all of whom have been instrumental m raising the club to its present high standard. Several of the championship games were allotted for the present week, but two of these had to be postponed on account of the unavoidable absence of one of the participants. On Friday night Thomas and Miss Brown meet Macphcrson and Miss Don nan m the championship doubles. On Monday night tbe first gams cf the championships was played off, Kirk and Richards meeting itfCthe Gents' Singles. The result was an easycWin for Kirk by 6 0, 63. Richards went oat with tbe idea that he was going to be-,- defeated, and played poorly, knocking 1 the balls about anywhere.