LAWN TENNIS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3005, 18 October 1911, Page 63

LAWN TENNIS.

BY SMASH.

The following Otago players have been asked to keep up their practice in view of the impending visit of a Canterbury team: —Brown (2), Sinclair, Bundle, Moody, Ewen, Bray, Hamilton, Bauchop, M'Kerrow, Young, Misses Campbell, Lester, Marke, Bauchop, Hislop, Stevenson, Royse, Cook, Miller (Oamaru). Amongst the names of the men mentioned as likely to represent Canterbury are the following:—Ollivier, Jennings, Goss, Bonnington, and Burrows. Moagiel Factory Club is entering a B Grade team in the competition as usual. There are only 10 men in the club. The players are graded thus: —A Grade: Miss Renton; B Grade: W. Scott, G. Scott, Renton, Fraser, Misses J. Sinclair, 0. Renton, Wilson; C Grade: Brown, Dryden, Olliver, Harper, Rowan, M'Leod, Misses M'Leod, J. Mitchell, A. Mitchell, Gordon, M. Sinclair, Shand, Mrs Renton, Mrs Currio. Most clubs have amongst their rules- a clause providing that members who fail to formally notify before the annual meeting is held that they intend to resign, will t>e regarded as continuing membership, and will tee liable for the subscription for the ensuing season. It is a common thing for players to forget this rule when: migrating from one club to another. The upshot is that the club losing them is put to trouble and inoonvenience, and it is not surprising that in the case of some clubs there is talk of rigidly enforcing the penalty for failure to intimate resignations. In the lists of • players sent into the association secretary by .the various clubs it will be seen that certain individuals are listed by two clubs. Some, of course, are by intention attached to two clubs. Others may be in the position indicated above. Moana Club's three new courts adjoining the High School Ground are now completed, and a neat three-roomed pavilion will (be ready for occupation on Saturday. The two outside courts are already in use. The third will be all the better for a few days longer in which to set. Presumably, in memory of its former disabilities in this respect, the olub has provided a very liberal run-back. The season will be opened officially on Saturday week, and the desire is $o give the new courts an imposing baptismal ceremony. To this end invitations to be r>reeent arc being extended' to his Worship the Mayor and other prominent citizens, and it is intended to arrange, if possible, for the services of a band. Valley's courts are looking well. TKe surface is good, and the cinders between the courts are a great improvement upon the tenacious clay. The committee inlands repairing the weak spots in the wire netting fence. A little attention from a man with a scythe would improve the grass plot at the end of the innermost court.

The Valley Olub is losing- the services of Pollok (who has joined Kaituna), and may not have the assistance of Lemon in match play. Spence has also joined 1 Kaituna, but retains his connection with Valley. M'Geever will not be available. The club, however, has budding talent to fall back upon. Crammond, for example, is showing rare ipromise. Peter Gray, to whose counsel and energetic action the progress of the club over a long course of years has largely been due, is being felicitated in a tangible manner by the club upon the occasion of hie marriage. It is understood his seryices will not be withheld if the club stands in need of them. Valley is sending a team to Balclutha on Laibour Day to Keep the annual fixture there.

Roslyn club will be numerically stronger than last year, although there are still vacancies. From present indications the club will be weak in ladies. It is intended to place wire-netting at the back of the courts to prevent balls from going into the trees.

A new club is being formed in connection with the Mornington Presbyterian Church. The club will play on a section adjoining the church.

By the time the ideals cherished and aimed at in connection with the Otago Lawn Tennis Association's property at Anderson's Bay are realised the courts will be attractive as well as up-to-date. In the way of decoration an olearia hedge has been planted along the northern boundary. Roses are to be planted along the eastern fence, and when _a new arched gateway bearing the association's name is installed it will be decorated with climbing roses. Along the wire fence fronting the dressing tents it is proposed to plant sweet peas. Before it is too late, .says "Austral" in the Sydney Referee, it certainly would seem advisable to ascertain whether Mr A. W. Dunlop could be induced to hasten his return to Australia to take part in the Davis Cup match. The choice is with the solo selector, Mr N. E. Brookes, but no one can doubt that he would select Dunlop, if ho wore able to return in time to practise and get fit, and I certainly think that he should be asked, and if he says so (and he can do so privately), a cable should bo sent to Dunlop asking whether he can expedite his return, and be back in time to have a fortnight's practice. The loss of the cup may be the penalty of leaving matters too late. In Doubles ho stands as the only player in Australasia outside Brookes himself as of the world's first rank. With him our success is probable; without him it is problematical. He is patriotic enough to return, even at some inconvenience, but ho would need to be asked. Perhaps Brookes has already cabled him, but the point should be settled, lest we regret. All expenses should be offered to him and to Wilding and Doust—if selected. Tho cost may be their stumbling block. Alf. Dunlop's ability was again evidenced at the Bridge of Allan meeting, at which, by the way, on the final day a letter was received from the King's private secretary that his Majesty had been pleased to grant his patronage to the Scottish championship tournament. Dunlop won both the singles and the doubles, and in the former gained

at least one notable victory over R. B. Powell, the ex-Canadian. They met in the semi-final, so that both were well in form, and Dunlop won 6-3, 2-6, 6-2. Seeing that Powell got to the fifth round of the English championship in 1910, beating Hillyard 7-5, 6-1, 6-4, and Thomas 6-4, 9-7, 4-6, 6-4, this is a good win for Dunlop. Last year he won both the singles and doubles of Scotland, but the field was very weak. At Vienna he defeated Max Dccugis, the French champion. In 1903 he got to the semi-final of the English championship. He was a member of the team that visited South Africa last year. In the final Alt. Dunlop beat Clements 6-4, 6-4. The last two together won the doubles, beating Powell and Watt 11-13, 6-0, 6-3, and in the final Pritchett and Glenny 7-5, 6-4, 0-4. < Mrs Hillyard, wife of the veteran Hillyard, has the most wonderful career of any player living, for as Miss Bingley she won the championship of England m 1880, 89, '94 '97 '99, 1900, and the "mixed with L. Renshaw 'BB, Baddeiey '93, and Brookes 'O7. Twenty-one years of championships to 1907, and still in the front rank ! A match was played on the Knox lx>ilego courts on Saturday between teams from the College and the A very even game throughout resulted ma win fcr the University by 2 games. The following were the- _ scores, the University players being mentioned first: Singles.—W. Rutherford beat H. J. Thompson, 9—6; E- Partridge lost to i>. Miles. 7—9- J. S. Hudson lost to A. A. Hamilton, B—9; A Rutherford lost to T. M. Abernothy, 4—9; J. White beat A. Hamilton, 9—5; J. Tregear beat A. Iv. Anderson, 9—7; G. J. Fisher lost to IT. G. Gilbert, 7—9; Ward boat J. Wilson, 9—7. Doubles.—Rutherford and Partridge lost to Thompson and Miles, 7—9; Hudson and; Rutherford beat Hamilton and Abernethy,9—B; White and Tregear beat Hamilton and Anderson, 9—B; Fisher and Ward beat Gilbert and Wilson, 9—B. Totals: University 96 games, Knox Collego 94 games.

THE DAVIS CUP. CHRISTCHURCH, October 10. Preparations for the Davis Cup contest are in a forward condition. The Davis Cup Sub-committee of the Lawn Tennis Association of Australasia has instructed the architects engaged by it to call for tenders immediately for the erection of stands to accommodate 5000 persons round the court on Lancaster Park. The Davis Cup is being forwarded *to Christchurch by the Lawn Tennis Association of Australasia, and on its arrival it will be on exhibition. In anticipation of large numbers from Australia, and' from parts of New Zealand outside Canterbury, who will be present to witness the contest, the Tourists' Department is at present arranging for the issue of tickets at excursion rates. The New Zealand Lawn Tennis Championships are to be decided at Lancaster Park' just prior to the Davis Cup Contest, and courts are being laid down to the westward of the Davis Cup Court.