OTAGO LAWN TENNIS ASSOCIATION'S TOURNAMENT.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 17 April 1901, Page 52

OTAGO LAWN TENNIS ASSOCIATION'S TOURNAMENT.

The only match t>laTed off on Wednesday in connection with the Otago Lawn Tennis Associat;or's tournament was the semi-final and the final m the Ladies' Handicap Sirgies. In the former Miss Jackson met Mi c s Jcffiey, and defeated her by nine games to eight Miss Jeffrey played a very steady game all through. Miss Jackson made some very brilliant strokes at times, and freqently Ecored by short stiokes just over the net The final between Miss D. Jeffrey (owe 3-6 of 15) and Mist JackEoti (rec. 4-6 of 15) was by no mepns as closely contested a game as the =Emi-final Miss Jackson was probably fatigued by her previous efforts, and this may account to some extent for her not exhibiting nearly such sjood form as she had done. Miss D. Jeffrey, like her exster just

previously defeated, played \ery steadily, and drove well from the back line. The extreme activity of the three ladies mentioned m covering the court was particularly noticeable. The scores in tho semi-fial were — Miss Jackson 9 games, Miss Jeffrey 8 games , and in the final — Miss D. Jeffrey (owe 3-6 of 15) 9 games, Miss Jackson (rec. 4-G of 15) 3 games. The Ladies' Handicap Singles, therefore, goes to Lawrence.

The tournament was resumed on the Otago Club's courts on the 13th inst., beautiful weatheT prevailing. There was a large attendance of spectators, and afternoon tea was provided by Miss L. Mackerras. The following are some notes on the play, together with the scoi es . — ' In the semi-final in the Men's Championship Singles Broad's superior steadiness, which had been conspicuous throughout the tournament, was again veTy marked. White apxseared to play rather carelessly, and latterly seemed to be going through the game as a matter of form. The tennis in the first set was of rather a weak order. In the second set the men warmed up a bit, but White was certainly not playing up to his best form. There was some good driving by both men. It was ascertained at the clo3e of the game that White was suffering from indisposition, and this accounts for his indifferent exhibition. The other pair to meet were Markß and Salmond, the latter winning by 6—l,6 — 1, 6—l.6 — 1. Notwithstanding this, theie were several deuces, and the score scarcely gives ft fair indication of the game. There were several long rallies, but Salmond'e play was the steadier, and his back-hand play was largely responsible for his win. Salmond, after having played two games in quick succession, met Broad in the final, and it was at once seen that Broad was not going to have an easy victory. At the start Snlmond showed remarkably good form, and both he and Broad played with extreme care. Speaking generally, Salmond may be said to have giveii ths better exhibition of tennis, Broad acting rather on the defensive than the aggressive. Some remarkable rallies occurred, and the placing of both was good. Salmond was most unfortunate m his attempts to smash, the ball nearly always going into the net. In the third set he showed, symptoms of fatigue, which was scarcely to be wondered at seeing he had been playing all the afternoon. Broad's play improved towards the end, but the game played by him was certainly not among the best of his exhibitions during the tournament. The sets were 3—6, 6—3,6 — 3, 6—3,6 — 3, Broad winning. The semi-final in the Combined Handicap Doubles, m which Hunter and Miss Bauchop met White and Miss Eamsay, was noticeable for some good placing on the part of White, who several times very cleverly got the ball past Hunter, who was rather apt to desert his part of the court. Hunter was smashing freely, but was putting the ball far too frequently into the net. He, however, improved in this department as the game proceeded. White's smashing was more effective, and his partner (Miss Kamsay) did some capital placing. Shortly, it may be said that the combina; tion of White and Miss Ramsay was too strong for the losers. Hunter and his partner and White an<l Miss Ramsay have now to nieet Salmond and Miss Mackerras in the semifinal. A good exhibition of tennis was given by Rudd and Gray and the Brown brothers m the final m the Men's Handicap Doubles. Both, parties started at scratch, and the play was steady. The Browns engaged in hard, driving, and there was a good deal of volleying on both sides. The set was close up to seven games all, when the Browns won the next two games. Rudd met Salmond in the second round of the Men's Handicap Singles, and experienced defeat at Salmond's hands, losing by nine games to eight games. The gpme was close throughout, and there was some fast volleying at the net. Play was principally confined to the back-hand, and Rudd made a mistake m confining his attention so much to Salmond's back-hand, not apparently understanding that that was a strong point of Salmond's play. Miss Wilkinson and Miss Crawford did not take advantage of all their opportunities with regard to placing in their game with Miss Ramsay and Miss Campbell, otheiwise they plnyed fa,irly well. Like every game between ladies, long rallies were the rule, and the competitors seldom tried what may be called a winning stroke. It was simply a case of long rallies until some one player broke down and put the ball either out of bounds or into the net. MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES. Best of three sets. Winner to hold for the year the Champion Challenge Cup of Otago, presented by Mr F. Hyams, and won by Mr A. Borrows, und re-presented by that player to the association. The cup to become the property of the competitor wining it three times in succession. Semi-Fmal. C. H. Broad beat G. C. """lute, 6—l, 6—l. E. Salmond beat J. D. Marks, 6—l, 6—l. Final. C. H Broad (Otago) beat E. Salmond, 3— G, 6—3, 6—3. COMBINED HANDICAP DOUBLES. Best of 17 games. Fourth Round. White and Miss M. Ramsay beat Hunter and Miss Bauchop, 9—3.9 — 3. MEN'S HANDICAP DOUBLES. Best of 17 games. S. N. and R. S. Brown (scr) beat M. Rudd and T. Gray (scr), 9—7. MESefe HANDICAP SINGLES. Best of 17 games. Second Round. Sclmond beat Rudd, 9— S. The wintry character of the weather on the 9th mst. did not pi event some of the events in the tournament being played off. Ladies were engaged in most of the games played, and their enthusiasm seemed m no degree damped by being called upon +o play off under most trying and uncomfmtable circumstances. The Men's Championship Singles, the Men's Championship Doubles, the Combined Handicap Doubles, the Men's Handicap Doubles, and the Men's Handicap Singles remain as they were on Monday. In the Ladies' Handicap Singles Miss D. Jeffrey has worked into the final, and meets her sister or Miss Jackson. Miss Ramsay and Miss Campbell have put out Miss Fairciough and Miss Graham in the Ladies' Handicap Doubles, and now have to meet Miss Wilkinson and Miss Crawford in the final. The following are some notes on yesterday's play — In the Ladies' Handicap Singles Miss D Jeffrey, in the °eeond lovmd, put out Miss M. Thomson. The latter young lady pioved herself very weak m the backhand Miss Jeffrey's service and hei steady play were altogether 100 much -or Mi^s Thomson, who nevertheless made a brave fight 'or it. The same remarks app l ;/ to Miss Jeffrey's previous meeting with ikss G'aham. In "the semi-hnj.l in the Ladies' Handicap Doubles Miss Ramsay and Miss Campbell had a big handicap to o\ ertake m order to beat Miss Fairciough and Miss Graham, but they managed to win by 9 s?unie<- to 6 The latter pair played veiy well, but Miss Campbell and Miss Ramsay piovod too steady for them Miss Graham was iath°r weak in her backhand play, and her partner was not particularly strong m this respect. This did not escape Miss Campbell's obsprvation, and hei placing was generally directed towards the backhand with very

happy results for her side. Miss Graham volleyed now and again rather successfully, but the game was principally a succession of long returns. Marks and his sister, at the start, 1001-ed as if they were going to be.at White an<? Miss Ramsay in the combined event, and ted a strong lead, but they went off their p ay, and were in the end beaten by 9 games to 6. Miss Marks hit very well in the early p?-rt of the set, but fell off. White did some good work at the net as the game advanced, and was placing nicely, taking quick advantage of any opening that presented itself. Following are the scores — LADIES' HANDICAP SINGLES. Best of 17 games. Second Round. Miss D. Jeffrey beat Miss K. Graham, 9—5. Third Round. Miss D. Jeffrey beat Miss M. Thomson, 9—2. LADIES' HANDICAP DOUBLES. Best of 17 games. Semi-final. Miss M. Ramsay and Miss Campbell beat Miss Fairciough and Miss Graham, 9—6. COMBINED DOUBLES. Best of 17 games. Third Round. White and Miss Ramsay beat Marks and Miss Marks, 9 — S. Notes on the Championship. Championship Singles.— From results of th? Handicap Singles it would seem that Broad is superior to the rest of the competitors. His superiority lies no doubt chiefly in his great steadiness and coolness ; but apart from these qualities he is the only player who persistently attacks his opponent's weak spot. The majority of the other players are quite content to play long rallies from the back of the court, hitting hard enough, it is true, on occasion, but making no effort to find where their opponent 13 most vulnerable. Moreover, with the exception of most of the members of the Otago Tennis Club, no player has apparently cultivated a winning stroke. "Very few volley, still fewer smash, and as for hard driving, H was chipffy conspicuous by its absence. If the tournati>ent has done nothing else, it must have shown conclusively that to win a game one requires something more than meie steadiness. We hope to eeo at the next Easter tournament a few more players of the dashing type, who are not afraid to hit hard. Taking the more prominent of the championship competitors individually, we should like to see Broad use the "chop" stroke less frequently and adopt the fore-hand drive. He showed in some of his matches that he is able to use it, and with advantage, and we think it is a mistake on his part to discard it almost entirely. Boyd is a player of the pretty order. His back-hand strokes are very sure and neat, but he is hardly a strong player. No doubt he would improve if he could get better players than himself to practise with, but we certainly advise him to put more vigour into his strokes and to volley. In a double he is hopelessly at sea, chiefly on account of his evident fear of "poaching." But more of double play anon. Boyd should also learn a more serviceable service. His present service would do perfectly if he could get more pace into it. R. S. Brown is tho most promising of all the younger players, and we expect to see him make great strides in the game within the rext few years. He is not afraid to hit, and his back-hand is very fair, but he does not love volleying. "Go on hitting and practice volleying" is our advice to him. Jackson is rather a disappointing player. He understands the game, volleys very fairly, has fair back-hand, and a tremendous reach. His driving is rather reckless, certainly, but he should have shown up better in tbe Championship Singles Ho seems to lack heart. White is another promising player who is improving every day At present his weak point is his back-hand, and constant practice will o\ficome that detect. His volleying; is good and- his dri\ing fair; but, like Broad, he makes far too much use of the " chop." Salmond's strong point is undoubtedly bis back-hand ; not that his fore-hand is weak, but it does not seem to have the same strength and accuracy. He has the best back-band strokes of any of the players. Marks is a good, steady, all-round player with no very striking strokes, but a difficult man to beat owing to his activity and steadiness M'Kerrow should hit harder and cease shifting his grip* on the racquet Doubles Champ-onship. — This was the most disappointing event of all. In the first place the members of the Otago Club are the only ones who attempted to play the game »s it should be played, and their exhibition vas far from perfect. The only way to play doubles nowadays is with both players up at the net, yet in most of the matches one" was at the net and the other on the the back line, or both were in the latter position. Marks and Boyd tried to play both up. but Boyd stood in the worst position lie could have selected — ju^t inside the service lino White and Salmond were the best pair, playing with more combination than tho others and smashing with more certainty. Broad and Bailbe played an in-and-out game, excellent at times, and at other times fading away into dull mediocrity. Rudd anc! Gray are two players of the stonewall order, and though they made a fine fis;ht again=t Whits and Salmond, they coul'l not hope to win so long as their opponent« kept them on the back line, as they invariably did. Ladies' Smg!o=. — Unfortunately Mips Rutherford was absent from Dunedin during; the tournament, and we therefore missed seeing one of our best lady playeis. Though not at present very strong in its men, Otago has a fairly formidable aivay of good lady player*. In Misses Campbell, M. Ram=ay, Jeftery, D. Jefferv, Rutherford, Mackerras, Callender, and Marks we possess player^ of great merit. Mits Campbell 13 still head and shouldt'is abo\c the others, and we were glad to notice that, not content with that fact, she is still trying to improve her methods of play. In her match with Miss Ramsay she set an excellent example to most of the men by occasionally leaving tho back line and coming up to the net. This is a step in the right direction, and, with practice, she will intuitively understand the right moment to come up. During Monday's game she usually made for the net at tho wrong time, but oven tben she won strokes by her \ery rashness, though it is true that her opponent frequently lobbed or paired her down the side line. Miss M. Ramsay won lipr matches against the other ladies with ea«-e, and if she would indulge in those ii.cq free drhes more often and use more judgment in placing them we have little doubt ahf would give a much bettor account of herself against Miss Campbell. In the Misses Jeffery we have two sterling players, who hit hard and volley well. If they had the pract'ee on a=phalt the other ladies have thore is little doubt they would eciual any pair in Otago. Ladies' Doubles.— This eveat is still a

very weary one ; weary, one w»uld think, for the players — certainly weary for the spectators. Why should not the ladies of Otago begin to adopt some new method of double play? For instance, why not try the now out-of-date men's system of one up and the other back? They might at feast try it at practice, for we are convinepd that some radical change is necessary, if only to put an end to those interminable rallies from the back line. Misses Campbell and Ramsay are, of course, far superior to any other pair. Handicap Events. — The Combined Doubles furnished some of tho best matches of tha tournament, most of the ladies showing to better advantage in these games. The Otago Club entered four -very strong pair* in, Broad and Miss Campbell, White and Misa Ramsay, Salmond and Miss Mackerras, and Branson and Miss Maclean, while the exHigh School had a formidable couple in the Markses. In the Men's Singles one or two young players showed remarkably good form. Hodges, for instance, played a really fine game against White, and with an older head on his shoulders should have won. comfortably. Amongst the ladies Misa Thomson has some very nice strokes, though at present lamentably weak on the back hand. Mis? Graham, too, is making great strides. In, say, another thiee years these two players should be in the first rank of Otago lady players. Miss D. Jeffery plays a fine game against a heavy handicap, but, like many others, she displays lack of judgment in placing her strokes, and evidently relies on winning by sheer strength and endurance. The majority of the lady players were expert? at "lobbing." and many of the men mu't have envied them their capabilities in that respect. The above remarks may appear pomewhafc severe and caroms, but I ha^ c thought it better to point out what I consider the mistakes and weak points in tho play than to lavish praise for the Ftrong points. Players in Olago labour under many disadvantages, but the players in this tournament havo shown that, with proper direction and coaching they might bring their^ province to occupy the same position in tennia as she holds in other branches of athletics.