LAWN TENNIS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2914, 19 January 1910, Page 69

LAWN TENNIS.

BY -RACQUET. “ Saturday saw the defeat of the Otago Club for the. second time this season —on this occasion at the hands of the Balmacewen Club by the narrow margir of five games. Otago were without the services of J. Ewen, Miss Royse, and Miss D. Hi&lop. The club could have probably won' without the inclusion of Ewen, if only Miss Royse or Miss D. Hislop had been playing. Why Otago did not play Miss Mackerras or Miss Maclean in the Singles is hard to understand. The Balmacewen Club are to be heartily congratulated upon their win, which places them second in the running for the banner. The individual members of the team acquitted themselves well. It is very gratifying to notice that the Hill Club has at least a ladies’ side of good average merit. Miss Burt, who played in fourth place, is a player who is making fast progress at the game. She gained distinction at the last Easter tournament by winning with Steve Brown the combined event. On the present occasion she was on the winning side in each set she played in. Miss Baron is occasionally quite good, but, like most players, is at time's erratic. It will be remembered til at in a former match, when playing 1 for Roslyn against Otago, Miss Baron, after a keen struggle, was within an ace of beating Miss Mackerras, the then champion of her club. C. G. White was in fine form on Saturday, and d{flighted the spectators with some lively tennis. White has learned some useful tactics in double .play since his visit to Sydney, and no doubt it will have the effect of improving double play generally in Dunedin. The Brown Brothers are not quite the players of yore —at least, they arc not in as good form as formerly. They are, however, both quite young, and have plenty of opportunity to regain their dash and accuracy. Boyd had a stubborn set with Jones. He was leading at one stage, 6 —4. Jones then went to 7 —6, when Boyd annexed the remaining three games. The game between Balmacewen and Kaituna in the second round should be a close one, although if the Kaituna men can only hold their own their lady players will decide the match. Another close finish on Saturday was that between University and Port, the former being declared the winners by fi’-e games. Taylor was not playing for his side, neither was Gower for his, so both teams suffered equally. The ’Varsity won all the Men’s Singles and one Double. . Misses Moore ■and Barth put up a splendid game against Miss Bauchop, Mrs Stewart disposing of them by 6 to 3. Moody and Dr Marshall were both in fine form. Baucliop was a. little off in his Single and Double, but he made up for it in his combined- with his sister, winning in fine stvle. Dr Borri© is rarely a good match player. He has a grand serve, smashes and volleys well, but when it comes to a question of winning or losing he usually fails to oome up to his practice form. It would be pleasant to see the doctor playing some day in a match in his best form. There are few- who could beat him in Dunedin. What is the matter with Anderson’s Bay? Have they lost their dash, and can’t be bothered, or has their play deteriorated? I wonder! The C Grade team defaults to St. Kilda because a team can’t be raised, and if 1 remember aright the same team defaulted to Hanover earlier in the season for the same cause. The committee of the club should see to it that this sort of thing is not allowed to continue. “ ’Tis better to have played and lost than never to have played at all” should be the maxim of every chib. The club’s B team made a very poor showing against Haiti na, only winning one set during the afternoon. Kaituna. are undoubtedly a very strong side. Still, I can’t see that Anderson’s Bay should not have done much better. Meek is a player that something good, was expected of last year, but the expectations have so far not been realised,. • He has played some splendid games for his club, but has the prevailing complaint of inconsistency in his play. I shall not be; surprised to- see the, Kaituna Club carry off the B Grade banner this year. The Otago B had a surprisingly easy task against St. Kilda. It was quite expected that this match would- be a -close, one, but the latter club failed lamentably. Roslyn had a record win against the ’Varsity, 72 games separating the two teams at the, end of the <jay’ ri play. University lost 27 games by default through thenfourth man not turning up. This, of course, would have mad© a decided difference, as it is not to be expected that Roslyn would have won every game. Balmacewen had a-very pleasant game against the Mosgiel Club, winning by 17 games. G. Scott quite excelled ’ himself, winning all his three events with plenty to spare. Allnutt and Dalgleish did’ a similar performance for Balmacewen. Miss Renton, sen., was not playing for her club, otherwise it is quite probable the tables would, have been, reversed, as she always wins her singles” and doubles decisively. The Hanover Club, won by default against Sawyer’s Bay. The latter club is largelycomposed of the teaching profession—consequently at this time of the year they find it difficult to raise a team. The Hanover Club has had the, misfortune to win two games this season by default, and I am sure they would sooner play and lose than win in this fashion. Only one game separated the North-East Valley O and Roslyn C teams. It was auite exciting right'up to the last game, erald Black was supposed to come to town especially to play in this match, and the Valley Club cart congratulate themselves' that he was unable to get away as he Would certainly have made the difference of two 'games in his club’s favour. R. S. Black was also away holiday-making. There seems a. good deal of doubt in Wellington at tlie present moment as to what ball the N.Z. Association intend using {on- the forthcoming season. It would not

stf< prifee many if the S« Ires ball was throw;', bif f 'and either the Sha&enger reinstated .01 Ibw Ayres- adopted. The general - opinion serins to be that if a change is really mvcessitey); then Ayres is undoubtedly the choice. ■ NEW ZEALAND ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, January 11. A special meeting of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association was held to-night. The Wanganui Association’s application for affiliation was accepted. It was mentioned that the new association was composed of 14- clubs, with 674- playing members 1 and with the probability of six or seven more clubs joining. Mr Hurley (Wellington) moved a lengthy resolution providing that no player shall ba allowed to play on the courts of any club of an affiliated association or upon courts under the control of any association if his or her subscription or other money due la any club of any affiliated association by such player is unpaid by December 31, and that to enforce the rule effectively defaulters’ lists should be prepared annually for circulation amongst all lawn tennis associations. The mover mentioned that some players were in the habit of running into arrears with one club and then joining another. The motion was lost on the voices. In the absence of the Canterbury delegate the follow'ing- motion lapsed:—“That it is advisable to admit oversea- players o-utsidle the Dominion free of all entrance fees to tournaments.”