LAWN TENNIS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2801, 20 November 1907, Page 36

LAWN TENNIS.

BT RACQUET.

SBalmacewen had a splendid day on Satur- . day, the 9th, for its opening, which was held ' i in connection with the Bowling Club, and [ ! was a pronounced success. There was a ' [ large gathering of players and their friends, I { including representatives from the Kai- « tuna, Roslyn, and Otago dubs. Mr A. . ! E. Harraway (president of the Otago Lawn . 1 Tennis Association), who is usually very \ conspicuous by his presence at the official f opeflinge of all affiliated olubs, was also 1 a visitor. An impromptu match between [> teams selected by the president and vicei ' president of the club was arranged, and was the means of absorbing considerable \ • interest during the afternoon. Enthusiasm . ' is running high in tennis circles in the suburb of Maori Hill, some of the keenest : of the players not being able to get sufficient play without using the early hours of the morning. Like some of the city clubs, the membership of t!ho Balmacewen 1 Club is too large for two courts, consequently the expense of laying Sown another one will most certainly have to be faced j in the early future. The players generally r ' after the first four are weak, but as they j are all very anxious to improve, it wont be long before the standard is materially • ; raised. The North-East Valley Club visited : ' Balclutha on King's Birthday, and played ■ a match against the local club. The weather ■ was somewhat cold, but the warmth of the • hospitality meted out to the visitors by tho i ; Clutha players more than compensated for . any little deficiencies or inconveniences in [ other directions, the margin of 50 games in the town club's favour unfortunately I does not speak too well for the tennis of ■ the local players. This is in a, measure, however, to be expected with a country i club the members of which get few opportunities of improving their play by playing with or seeing good exponents of the game. 1 A few more games of this sort and a marked difference would soon be noticed. Probably Balclutha could arrange to play a match jin Dunedin against, say, Roelyn before Christmas. Then next year the Roslyn Club could visit the Clutha, and the Ctutha Club could come to town and play the Valley's return match. Thus they would experience the play of at least two clubs in [ the one season. "Bob" Wilson, Balclutha's , j first man, erstwhile of the Otago Club, is again wielding trie racquet. He won his single against M'Geever in magnificent style , after a keenly-contested game. He ccoasions ally shows glimpses of his old form, consisting of strong forehand drives and dashing overhead work. P. C. Hislop is not playing up to form, but is at hi 3 best at J the net. C. M'Lachlan is also a good net : player, and gets in some marvellous crow- > cut drives. Of the Balclutha ladies. Misses Murray and D. Hutchins arc the mo3t pro- . ininenl. Both have splendid drives, which they place up the side-lines 'with deadly ' effect at times. Mr E. J. Simpson (Valley ; Club) has been appointed the Balclutha dele- ! gate on the association. The Valley Club has «ho«-n the other cluba a good example in starting this interchange of country _ matches, and it is to be hoped that others will follow its example. There are three flubs in Oamaru, two in Gore, one- in Lawre'ico, and one in Middlemarch, all within fairly easy reach of Dunedin, and they would all like to receive visits from town teams. A match between the Invercargill and the Otago olubs is on the tapis for Christmas week. The Gore Club visited Queenstown < on the llth. and played a friendly' match { with the local club. It is hard to underv stand why the Queenstown Club does not affiliate to the- association, as it has some excellent players in its ranks. The Port Chalmers Club vkited Oamaru on the holiday, and tried conclusions with the Reid Street plub. Aft-er a very pleasant and interesting match, tho local player* a-==ert»d J their superiority to the extent of 18 game*. 1 Eundle was playing second man for tho |

visitors, and must have been in good form in his single, as he- fairly overwhelmed Dv Oroz, winning a love set. The former player has some excellent strokes, and is essentially a player of possibilities. He covers a lot of court, has a. magnificent though uncertain drive, is fairly strong overhead, volleys well, but unfortunately has a service which is of little uee to him. Sutton, tho first man in the Oamaru Club, has a fine easy style, which is much admired. He played in the championship tournament in 1904-5, but unfortunately had to scratch in two events, after having worked his way easily through two or three rounds. Miss Taylor is a player who has held the first position in Oamaru for some years. Some people think she would make a. good show against the Otago champion, but it is purely conjecture. However, it is to be hoped Miss Taylor may see her way clear to compete in the next Easter tournament. I cannot remember the Reid Street Club visiting Dunedin before, if it has ifc has escaped my memory. A visit from it at all events this season would be very acceptable and much appreciated. Ward, the Oamaru veteran, eeems to have given up the game entirely, likewise Newton. Anyone who passed the Otago courts on Saturday morning would have been overjoyed to see the boys from iTre High School, in charge of Mr Chapman, hard at it practising over the nets. They arc a fine lot of boys, of fine physique, and there is really no reason why some of them do not turn out champions. Mr Chapman is a keen sport, and has the game of tennis very much at heart, and the boys will be bound to improve under his guidance. At the- same time I am sure that if any prominent players could spare an hour during Saturday mornings, they could not use it to better advantage than by giving these young boys the benefit of their knowledge and experience, and I am sure their efforts jn this direction would be greatly appr«ciaed. I have to acknowledgaf receipt of programme for the Ashburfton Lawn Tennis Club's- Christmas tournament. It includes the South Canterbury championship in men's singles, doubles, and ladies' singles and handicap events. A tennis tournament at Ashburton is usually a very pleasant^ function, therefore it is quite expected that large entries will be received by the local club. The events are to be played on seven grass courts (weather permitting). Asphalt courts are available if the erase is unplayable.