LAWN TENNIS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2856, 9 December 1908, Page 64

LAWN TENNIS.

The second round of the grade matches was played off last Saturday under ideal" conditions. The Port-Kaitiina A Grade match was postponed until some future dateto be arranged.

The Hauraro Club is indeed unfortunate with its members. On this occasion Boyd, the second man, found at the very laet moment that a pressing engagement would prevent him taking part in the BalmacewenHauraro match, ft being then too late to find i substitute, it was decided to play the match with a Kaituna player, T. Stewart, who happened to be on the courts. Of course the match, although played, was forfeited to Balmacewen, according to the rules. However, it was played to the en-d, and when the sealed handicap was opened it was found that Balmacewen was 5 games to ths good — both teama playing from scratch. It seems doubly unfortunate, after seeing the result, that Boyd was not playing, as it is more than probable that the result would have been reversed. Ons special feature of the match" was the game between Bray (Hauraro) and. R. S. Brown (Balmacewen*, in which the former won by good all-round tennis, 9—5.9 — 5. His serving, placing, and overhead work was really first class, and he gave his opponent a lot of trouble. Brown lacked his customary energy, and was not looking fit. The other men's singles were well contested. Dalgleish justified his selection by winning two out of his three events. Jago strikes one as a better player than ho was la3t year, and playing a headier game, but he is short of condition when it comes to hard work. Wilkie has some nice shots, and is a promising player. Miss Eilly Smith and Miss Wilson put up a splendid game in then- single, which ended-- by the narrowest margin in favour of the former Jady. Brains and energy were largely u=ed in the set, and each p.ayer at stage., looked like winning. The Men's Doubles went easily to Balmacewen. R. Brown came to light in this event, and, with M'Kerrow, won comfortably from Bray and Stewart. S. N. Brown played his usual reliable, dogged game, and, supported by Dalgleish, was too many for Wilkie and Jago. The Match Committee gauged the strength of these two clubs to a nicety when they arranged to play both from scratch, and it would have been indeed extremely interesting had Boyd been playing. Th? Otago Club had a hollow win over Mo»gifl in the B Grade, even allowing for the big handicap. The only one to chow any form in the Mosgiel team was Miss Renton. who won her single very decisively. Strange things will hapnen. The St. Kilda B beat North-East yalley by 14 gams 3 with using- their handicap of 10. Certainly the Valley played below their form. -Grey should have won his single aga.iniifc Robertson, and M'Geever should b.ive made a better showing against Simp*on. Again both Valley ladies won their Miifflos but failed lamentably in thsir doubles — quits unaccountable. Taking it on ihe whole, the totals should liav© been reversed on form.

The Roslyn B are certainly making a bold bid for the banner this year. On Saturday they accounted rather easily for Anderaon's Bay, who did not appear to ri-e to the occasion at all. Meek again proved himself a hard man to beat by only losing to A. Calder by one game. He had his revenge in the doubles with Crib-on, annexing it by the same mai\erin. Anderson's Bay were without the services of Every and Miss M'Caw, which made a considerable difference, yet hardly sufficient (o ?avc a defeoi. All the- Rosly.n players wer--> on their m^tll". and marie every peek a winning on*. "Williams was the weakness on the BaT •- i '*i'», h-e being only instruments! in £iddi"2: nve games to his side cut of 24.

Kaituua B a!-o had a big win against Hauraro. Conceding 30 games, they won by 24 game*. All tho men's singles were won very d^-oi'sivoij-. Thf? Ifyura.ro ladio* did much baiter. T'ne Hauraro Club should have dorm much better than this. I(. seems quite evident that they — like many other. ehib- — when meeting strong adversaries, go on to tho court beaten before they start. ThU is quite a mistake. They should all ■erx'.eavour to play their ordinary practice ctmae, and much better results would bo

i the outcome. I Several note* on the Balmacewen and I Ro-!yn Club competitions are held over ; I likewise comment-; on C Grade matches. I The youth Canterbury Lawn Tennis eham1 pion=hip tournament, to be played on the i A^iburton Club's courts in the Domain , beginning- on New Year's Day, is likely to | prove higlilv <tiece?sful. Large entries from all pirtt, ot r-i.i Pouth Inland, and some ' from the .North, are assured, and in all rvobability th^ visiting champions of , world rriiown in the American players, I Mc—rs B-a's Wriprht and Alexander, ako , Antbonv Wlldinc: and H. A. Parker, now , in Aiiiiraiia, will coi»> on here to ulay 'mineiliatoiN after ihe Xew Zealand champ oruhip C^n^.mav meeting at Nelson. VahitHe p,-ize, v. ill be competed for. The r irutor and h---* -i.iff intend to have the covrt'. in fh-=> bf-r of order fitting- such di6-untru'<-hed player-.