By NET PLAY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1942, 7 February 1889, Page 26

By NET PLAY.

Considerable interest was taken in the match Otago v. Sylvan on Saturday. Each club had up to date an unbeaten record. The Otago Club doubtless had good reasons for putting her strongest representatives against a comparatively unknown club. It was evident from the start that the Ofcago players were bent on a decisive win. The double W. T. Todd and A. Borrows (Ofcago) v. G. Bett and Gibbs (Sylvan) attracted some attention—not that thejplay was anything like first-class, but from the faot that the winners of last year's tournament were somewhat pressed by their opponents. Borrows and Todd seem to have forgotten how the double game ought to played. When Borrows was serving Todd invariably took up a position seemingly just to avoid intercepting Borrows' serve. This naturally put Borrows off his serve, and at the same time left almost half the court unguarded. As to "smashing," it would pay Borrows better to take it quietly than to destroy the net. Unless these players alter their style of play I shall expect to see them retire about the second round on Saturday. The Otago colts Herdman and Smith playing neatly, had all tbeir own way with Statham and Allan, winning by 9—2.9—2. Dalziell and Riding had they indulged in a little net play, would probably have beaten their opponents by more than 9—3, Sidey's back play was not even second-rate, and until Ronaldson dispcuses with his screw-cut he will never rank as a first-class player. In the singles, Todd playing much better than he did in the doubles, made short work of Ronaldson, winning by 9—3. Dalziell, who without doubt plays the prettiest game in Dunedin, beat Bett 9—o. Borrows, who was hard pushed by Gibbs, won by 10—8. The match resulted in a win for Ofcago by 32 games. I shall classify Fort Chalmers and Sylvan this week: Of the Port players Dixon is the best, being about a bisque better than Campbell and F. Leonard. J. Hunter would find half fifteen very serviceable in a single with Dixon. Hunter could give Flatts a bisque, whilst North, M'Kinnon, and Bossence might now and again win a set from Dixon with haljf thirty. Of the Sylvan players, Gibbs is far and away the best man, being about half fifteen better than Ronaldson, who in turn is fully two bisques better than Bett. Gibbs could give Sidey, Allan, and Statham half thirty. The match Green Island v Caledonian resulted in an easy win for the former club by 41 games. The annual tournament promises, weather permitting, to be an unqualified success. It is intended to have nine courts laid out on the Carisbrook ground, so that notwithstanding the large number of entries the play should be finished in good time. For the gentlemen's singles I hear there are over 80 entries. Towards the end I expect to find Todd, Dalziell, Salmond, Lynch, and Harraway left. The final will probably see Todd opposed fco Harraway; and notwithstandinghisin&jriordoubleplay I shall pin j my faith to the veteran. The gentlemen's doubles with 16 or 20 pairs will find Borrows and Todd (granted they alter their style of play), Coxhead andLoudon, A. Harraway and C. Maitland,J. Gibbs and J. Ronaldson, and the best of the University pairs left to fight it out. The Carisbrook pair ought not to be far out in the final. Carisbrook will doubtless sweep the board in ths ladies' events, although in the combined Miss B. Mills and Mr Coxhead will give considerable trouble to the winners. ; I should like to point out to some enthusiastic partisans of a particular olub, and at the same time would sincerely trust that my remarks be not taken unkindly, that it is most tantalising and objectionable to call out, "Well played, our club," when the opponents have served a double fault, or perhaps driven a ball into the net. I trust we shall see at the tournament no one carried away by his feelings so as to forget himself in this respect, Outbam L. T. C, v. Taieri L. T. C. This match resulted in a win for the Taieri by seven games. Ifc is to be regretted that neither of these clubs will be represented at Saturday's tournament. Miss A Kirkland and v. Miss C Reid and Miss M Kirkland 9 Miss H Allan ... 8 Miss A Kirkland ... 9 v. Miss O Keid ... 1 Miss M Kirkland ... 9 v. Miss H Allan ... 7 Miss M Kirkland and v. Miss M'Kerrowand Mr Clark ... 5 MrHHlnglis ... 9 Miss A Kirkland and v. Miss J Allan and Mr Mrßetfc ... 9 H Price ... 5 Messrs Bett and v. Dr Allan and Mr A Kirkland ... 3 Oliver ... ... 9 Messrs Scaife and v. Messrs Kennedy Clark ... 4 v. and Mellsop ... 9 Mr Clark ... 8 v. Mr A Oliver ... 9 Mr Scaife ' ... 1 v. Mr Price ... 9 Mr Kirkland ... 5 v. Mr Mellsop ... 9 Mr Befcfc... ... 9 v. Mr Kennedy ... 3 71 78 Otago v. Sylvan. As neither of the above clubs have been defeated iv any of the inter-club matches this season, their meeting on Saturday last was looked forward to with a good deal of interest. After a most enjoyable game the former club proved too good for their opponents, winning the match by 33 games, being also successful in every set played. Scores: — Otago. Sylvan. Dalziell and Hidings 9 v. Ronaldson and Sidey 3 Borrows and Todd... 9 v. Q ibbs and Betfc ... 7 Herdman and Smith 9 v. Statham and Allan 2 Dalziell 9 v. Bett 0 Borrows ... ... 10 v. Gibbs 8 Todd ; 9 v. Ronald6on ... 2 55 22 Geben Island v. Caledonian. The lawn tennis match between Green Island and Caledonian clubs, played at Green Island, resulted in a decisive win for the Green Island Club. The scores were:— Gbeen Island. Caledonian. okntlhmkn's doubles. A Ooxhead and J v. A Crawford and P J Loudon ... 9 Sullivan ... 6 W Thomson and J v. E P Jonea and T Miller ... 9 Coutts... ... 4 L Miller and H v. E Rutherford and T Darton ... 9 Coufcts... ... 8 GENTLEMEN'S SINGLES. JLoudon ... 9 v. A Crawford ... 6 LMiller ... 8 v. PJ Sullivan ... 9 J Miller ... 9 v. R Rutherford ... 3 W Thomson ... 0 v. T Coutts,.. ... 9 A Coxhead ... 9 v. BP Jones ... 2 COMBINED DOUBLKS. A Coxhead and v. A Crawford and Miss Miss B Mills ... 0 Kingston ... 5 J Loudon and v. Jones and Miss Miss Mills ... 9 Peacock... ... 4 H Darton and v. Sullivan and Miss Miss M Mills ... 9 Dale ..; ... 4 Totals ■ ... 95 54 Dunedin L.T.C. v. Poet Chalmers L.T.C. The above match, under the auspices of the Otago Lawn Tennis Association, was played at the Fort yesterday afternoon, and resulted in a victory for the Panedin, Club by 16. games,

Subjoined are the names of players and scores : — Dunedi.y. Pobt Chalmers. DOUBLES. 1 Messrs James and beat Messrs Hunter Young ... 9 andPlatta ... 7 ' Messrs Orump beat Messrs Leonard aud Edgar ... 9 and Campbell 3 SINGLES. Mr Young ... 9 beat MrPlatts ... 8 Mr Edgar ... 9 beat Mr Diokaon ... ft Mr James ... 5 beaten by Mr Campbell ... 9 Mr Crurap ... 9 beat Mr Leonard ... 1 o}otal ... 50 Total ... 34 The Fort Chalmers Club possess two courts, but as one of them was not marked at all, there was only one court available for play. This necessarily delayed the matchtintil very late in the evening. The weather was exceedingly cold, and this fact somewhat marred the pleasures of the afternoon's sport.