LAWN TENNIS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2921, 9 March 1910, Page 64

LAWN TENNIS.

BY RACQUET.

The Match Committee of the association has, in its wisdom, closed down all grade matches for the- season, excepting the- & Grade fixture, Ota-go v. Kaituna arid the 0 Grade , St. Kilda v. North-East Valley, which are to be played next Saturday. There are, I know, many who differ frorrthe Match Committee in its action, but that is not strange or uncommon, Where, tell me, is a natoh committee whose actions or decisions are not adversely 'Criticised? — usually by people who are always against the government. The closing down of the matches was justified, in my opinion, if for no other reason than that town clubs could use the free Saturdays to play against country clubs, or, again, give the intending competitors at the Easter tournament a favourable opportunity of getting good hard practice. Aside from that, there seems no use continuing them when the winners in one grade is declared, and in the other two grades the leading foi*r clubs' positions are unassailable. The Otago Association have adopted the "Slazenger" ball for the incoming season. Certainly the said ball is a good one, but lately it has not been up to the standard. It seldom lasts moTe than two hard sets. It then becomes sofs and light. However, with the number of competitors on the market now, there is every reason to hope and expect that for the future, New Zealand will get nothing but the best article, no matter who the maker is. The fact that players must be prepared to play on Good Friday seems to be giving displeasure to a few, but really any alteration or innovation in a function of this sort could not be expected to please everyone. The main fact boldly presents itself: Is the tournament to be finished in time, and are the majority of players to be sacrificed and inconvenienced for a small minority? Certainly, I should say, no! Balmaeewen Courts" will be used for the first time this year as one of the courts on which the tournament is to be played. Ifc is to be hoped that the air is motionless at Easter, as the wind is felt very considerably on these courts. It was only fitting that the Otago Association should agree to support the Southland clubs in their endeavour to form a separate association. The proposed new association will be of greater assistance to tennis generally in the south, and the local clubs in particular, than the Otago Association could possibly be. Mr J. Daggar has again been appointed in charge of the p!av on the KaitunaCourts. The association has a valuable asset in- this keen enthusiast, and too much, praise cannot be awarded him for the'able manner in which he conducts his portion of the tournament. Mr T. Begg is another player with long experience in management of matches. He will, be in charge of the B Grade section on the Balmaeewen Courts, and everything is bound to work smoothly under his conc! G. White, J. F. Ewen, and C. J. Bra ; thwaite have signified their inability fo play at Easter. This is regrettable, as thenpresence as entrants would greatly increase the interest in the tournament. It is just possible that they may be induced to change their plans. Most of the club events on. the Otago Courts are nearing completion. This week should see the balance of them got off. A splendid three-set tussle was the outcome of the meeting of Bundle and Ewen in the semi-final of the club's championship. Ewen started off badly, finding the net frequently, and getting out of position. Bundle, on the other hand, was playing? at the extreme top of his form. His drives* were coming off—likewise his smashes. It might be mentioned here that Bundle's drives and smashes are the hardest in Dunedin to return; he puts such a vast amount of power behind them. It was only to be expected that he would win the first set, and he did handsomely by 6 games to 2. In the second set Ewen took charge and reversed the order of things, giving Bundle as little chance as he himself had had in the first set. The third set was of the game and game nature, until Ewen managed to win two in succession, and the match by two sets to one. The driving and smashing in this match was good to see. Hard hitting from back line to back line, close oyer the net, and down the' sida lines. If such a game was often to be seen there would be no lajck of spectators at tennis matches. Ewen now meets White in the final, but cannot reasonably expect to do more than give him an interesting game. Whits and Ewen, after beating Monkman and Richardson somewhat easily in the semi-final, met Irvine and Jones in the final, treating thqm in a similar manner. Truly £he winners played with wonderful combination. ' Nothing could set past them. They volleyed and drove splendidly, iand ife was suicidal to give, jjiem anything in th 3 air at a|l. Jonf§ aggearggl to be unnerved;

and never did himself justice. Irvine has also been seen to much better advantage. The finals in the combineds will be decided between Mr and Mrs Reading and R. Bauchcp and Miss D. Japkson. The Men's Handicap Singles is the furthest back. The winner should turn up or Ewen. A good start was made with the schools' tournament on Saturday last. The boys' events were played at Kaituna, while the girls' were played on the Otago. Courts. The standard of play, generally, is a big improvement on last year. The entries in the handicap events show a decided increase, showing that this tournament is becoming more popular. Young must have gone off considerably to only get one game against M'Dougall. Of course the latter player has had better practice during the year by virtue of his playing in the Roslyn C Grade. G. Black,is another lad who plays in C. Grade tennis, and does good service for his club.

M'Dougall and Black will probably tight out the finish of the Boys' Championship. The only two town clubs outside of the association—viz., the Hauraro and tried conclusions on Saturday last. They played two grades, A and B. In the A the games were very close, and a margin of only one game separated the two clubs in favour of Hanraro. In the B match, however, Hauraro overweighed their opponents, winning all but two events. It is very certain that this match must have afforded a good deal of healthy enjoyment to the members of both teams. How many more enjoyable games would they have if they threw their lots in with the association and entered foi the grade matches. The standard of their play would improve 50 per cent. It is hoped that good_ sense will prevail at the next annual meeting 01 both these clubs.

The annual schools'- tennis tournament was commenced at the Otago and Kaituna Courts on Saturday morning. The girls events were played at the former courts, ■while the boys' were played at the latter. The entries this year, especially, the handir cap events, largely ; exceed those 01 last year, and show the keen interest that is , being taken by these, young players in the game. The boys' events are being controlled by Messrs Chapman and Lomas, while the girls' are in charge of Misses Campbell and Lester. . Judging from the standard of play shown, in a few years some of these players .should be seen striving for championship honours in big to^T^ ' ments. The following, is the result of the dav's play-: • _. Championship. (best of 17 games).-Young beat MacDougall, 9-1.;, Park beat Bennett 9—2; G. Black beat Ivory, 9—6; M'Dougall be HandS Singles (40 10) beat Thomson (rec. 8), 40-1*; Fmlay free. 15) beat Cook (scr) 10) beat Dawson (rec. 4). 40—25; b._»W* fsor) beat Souness (rec. 8)., 40-33; Worrall Iscr) beat Bastings (rec. 15), 40-*, M'Dougall (owe 10) beat Allan, (rec. 12), 40-29; Lomas (rec. 4) beat.. Skinner (rec. JFbeS Rex Black and Worrall (scr), 4038. " ___; -■ THE DAVIS CUP. ' • SYDNEY, March 1. / The secretary '« -±he Australasian Tennis AssSaShas receiyed'from the president of tihe TJnited States National Association a caHe challengim' Sydney. for this year's Davis Cup. The. Australasian Association tofuggest that the challenge round be played in New Zealand. MONTE CARLO MEETING-. PARIS, March 1. At the Monte Carlo lawn tennis meeting the Doubles championship was won by Donst arid Myers,, who beat Decugis and Ritchie v '6—3, 6-£, : , AUSrRALASIAN ASSOCIATION, The report of the Tennis Association of Australasia shows that the receipts were £2353, and the expenses £1466, ihe "gate" receipts for the mternational competition amounted to £150.». OTAGO LAWN TENNIS ASSOCIA- .-.' TION. \ A committee meeting- of the above association was held in the Empire Buildings; present-Messrs R S. Black (in the chair) G W. Gibson, T. Begg, A. E. Harraway-.J.S. Nicholson S. N-. Brown, J. S Sinclair, and W. Hamilton Irvine. The New Zealand Association wrote intimating that it had adopted the Ay res ba.ll for its next championship meeting. The following clubs wrote agreeing to allow the association the use of their courts (if required) for the Easter tournament: Otago, Kaituna, Roslyn, University, NorthEast '"Valley, and Balma oe wen.—Resolvedthat the tournament be ' played on the Otago, Kaituna, University, and Balma cewen Clubs' courts. . ,'■'/•,, -,. . , A request was made by the arnnatea ekibs in Southland asking the Otago Association to support their application to the New Zealand Association to form a separate association.—lt was resolved that the affiliated clubs in Southland be permitted to form an association, the said association to embrace all clubs in the Southland County. It was decided that the Otago Association adopt the Slazenger ball for the incoming season. An amendment that the settling of the ball question be left over until next meeting was lost. Mr Dagger was appointed to the control of the play on the Kaituna Courts at Easter, likewise Mr Begg on the Balmacewen Courts. The Match Committee was given full power to act in connection with the draw for the Easter tournament. Good reports were received from the Schools Cominittee in connection with its tournament, the entries being quite U p to last year's standard. It was decided that the Match Committee be instructed to postpone the two marches arranged for next Saturday, in view of the Otago-Australian cricket fixture. v < ... {Several matters in connection with the forthcoming tournament were discussed, .'and matter's satisfactorily arranged.