OTAGO LAWN TENNIS ASSOCIATION.

Otago Witness, Issue 3030, 10 April 1912, Page 36

OTAGO LAWN TENNIS ASSOCIATION.

ANNUAL TOURNAMENT. The annual Easter tournament of the Otago Lawn Tennis Association was com- ' menced on Friday morning at 9 o'clock, on the association's courts at Anderson's Bay. The number of entries this vear total 279, as against 234 for last year/a decrease of 65. and there is an absence of star players from other centres, the most notable- defections being the champion New Zealand player, Ollivier. and his lady partner of last year, Miss Miles (Timara). ; and tho Tucker trio from Invercargill. ' Though the public is being deprived of , watching the spectacular tennis displays of : Oliivier, and the excellent performances of Miss Miles and Miss Tucker, tho latter of I whom defeated Otago's lady champion, Miss F Campbell, the last time they met, Ollivier's absence particularly will probably bo looked on with equanimity by the com- | petitors this year. In the men's sections : ami tho Mixed Doubles, a number at pre- , sent have chances of securing a win which OUivier's presence would at onco have mil- I liOed. Tho players, all round, are more evenly balanced -md nearer each other's tennis capabilities j Play was continued over four days, but ' on Tuesday rain set in, and this prevented several of the finals being- concluded. The tournament will, therefore, be continued to-day (Wednesday) and probably on Saturday, in an endeavour to finish tho remaining games. The position of the various matches at latest was as follows: MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES. Best of three sets; advantage games, ad- i vantage sets. Winners to hold for the j year the cup presented by Messrs G. and j T. Young. Trophies value £1 Us 6d J each and JOs fid each. Holders, G. Ollivier and C. H. Thompson. Second Round. Pearse and Sinclair beat Lemon and Cramond, 6-4, 3—6, 6—4. Hamilton and Bundle boat Hart and Laurenson, 6 —2, 6 3. Bray and Wilkie beat Black and ! M'Dougall, 6-3, 6-4. S. N. and R. S. Brown beat Cakler and Young, 6-2, 6-4. Semi-final. Hamilton and Bundle beat Pearse and ! Sinclair, 2—6, 10—3, 6—3. Brown Bros, beat Bray and Wilkie, 6—4, 6-1. Final. Brown Bros, beat Hamilton and Bundle, 6- -4, 6 -4, 5—7, 7-5. Some spirited contests took place in i.he concluding stages of the Men's Championship Doubles. The match which excited ; the most amount of interest was the meet- j ing between S. N. and R. S. Brown and Hamilton and Bundle in the final, in which I a,- was generally anticipated, the Brown ; brothers won. Taking the contest dli round, however, it cannot be said that tho exhibition of tennis was up to championship form. The players, with the exception of S. N Brown, appeared frightened to drive. S. Brown, however, got in good 1 forcing shots, and his back hand play was at times very fine, as was also his exhibition at the nets, and his cross-court smashes, i R. S. Brown was safe, but appeared to lack j confidence. Bundle played steady tennis, | lobbing well, but was erratic when he tried I tho fore hand. Hamilton did not play j up to his usual doubles game, although ho I occasionally distinguished himself at tho! net with Ids smash into tho left hand i court. Tho defeated nair at times ap- | peared fo lack a complete understanding J of each other's intentions, one of the first i essentials for double play. Bundle and i R. S Brown both lost a lot of strokes through foot faulting, tho former on ore; j occasion, when the score was 40—love, f<x>t j faulting twice, and ultimately losing tho | game. Bundle also lot straight returns | go past him. which he should have sent i back with interest. Viewing tho match : from the general spectator's point of view

however, it contained plenty of play which was of more than usual interest—the men, —with the- exception of S. Brown —wero relatively of about the sumo tennis calibre, and the issue was keenly contested right to the finish. A unique occurrence in th'S match was that the Brown's won the first three games in each of the four sets played. Play was resumed yesterday morning-, and was continued until about 11 o'clock, when drizzling ram set in and stopped the proceedings. Shortly after 2 p.m., however, the courts were inspected, and it was decided 1 to go on, and several games wero played. But for the break in the excellent weather which prevailed during the holidays the tournament would have been concluded 3-estcrday. There wero only 37 events to be got off, and notwithstanding the postponement of play for a time,- 15 of these were finished. The most important of the srames played was the final of the Ladies' Singles Championship, which was won by Miss F. Campbell, the holder of the title from Miss Bloxam, of ChristchiLPch, The latter led by 2—love at the outset, and this 6he accomplished by vigorous driving, which taxed Miss Campbell's resources and knowledgo to the utmost. The champion, however, managed to win the first set B—6,8 —6, after several advantage games. Miss Bloxam, while being particularly strong on the forehand drive, was perceptibly weak on the back-hand, and this Miss Campbell was nofc slow to take advantage of, playing frequently to the left hand corner, thus accounting for many points. In the seoondl set her opponent tired very much, and Miss Campbell won rather easily, 6—l. Hamilton and Miss Campbell won their game in the Combined Doubles Championship from Young and Miss Cook. The firstset ended 6 —l in favour of the winners, but they were beaten in the next 3 —6. In the final they rallied, and won with consummate ease 6 —o. This pair also defeated Bauchop and Miss Stevenson later in the semi-final, 6—3, 6—o. Wilkie and Miss White, by defeating Calder and' Miss Duthie, go into the final Tho third round of the Men's Championship Singles produced some excellent tennis, two of the matches lasting nearly two hours. Wilkie beat Young rather easily in the first set of their match, but the second and third were keenly contested. Young won the second, 10—8. and Wilkie th© third, 10—8, there being some strenuous play in each. The first set between Hamilton and Sinclair was; also a very hard one, the latter winning, 10—8, after some exceptionally long rallies. This set appeared! to have caused Sinclair to tire, and Hie remaining two did not furnish anything- of an exciting character, and were won rather easily, by Hamilton, 6—l. 6—l. S. N. Biown had no difficulty in disponing of G. Black, winning the first two sets, 6—l. 6—o. Pearco has reached the final for the championship. The B Grade Men's Singles was won by A. Nieolson (Moana Club), who beat S. Bolting, of Oamaru, 9—l. In the semi-finals of the Ladies' Handicap Singles Miss White and Miss Thomson (St. Kilda Clwb) meet, and Miss Mills (Kaitutia) will play Miss Bloxam (Christehurch). Tho tournament will be continued this afternoon, when as many games as possible will bo played, and those not finished will be played on Saturday afternoon. Tho courts, although they had 1 only recently been top-dressed, played splendidly, despite the rain. Following are the results: — LADIES CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES. Best of 17 games (final best of three sets) j advantage games advantage sets. Winner to hold challenge cup for the year. Trophies, £1 lis 6d and 10s 6d. Holder, Miss F. Campbell. Semi-fix al. Miss Campbell beat Miss Stoneham, 9—o Miss Bloxam beat Miss Cook, 9—6. Final. Miss Campbell beat Miss Bloxam, B—6, 6—l. MEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES. Best of three sets (final best of five sets); advantage games, advantage sets. Winner to hold for the year the champion challenge cup of Otago. Won by C. G. White, and re-presented by him to the association. Trophies valued at £2 2s and £1 Is. Holder. G. Ollivier. Third Round. S. N. Brown beat G. I. Black, 6—l, 6—o. Wilkie beat Yountr. 6-2, 8-10. 10—8 Hamilton beat Sinclair. B—lo, 6—l. 6—l. COMBINED CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES. Best, of three sets; advantago games, deuce sets (final advantage sets). Trophies. £1 lis od each and 10s 6d each. Holders, G. Ollivier and Miss Miles. Second Round. Bauehop and Miss Stevenson beat Bundle and Miss Salmon, 6—5, 6—2. Third Round. Hamilton and Miss Campbell beat Young and Miss Cook. 6—l. 3-6, 6—o. Semi-final. Wilkin and Miss White boat Calder and Miss Duthie. 6—2. 6-3. Hamilton and Miss Campbell beat Bauchop and Miss Stevenson, 6—3, 6—o. MEN'S HANDICAP SINGLES (B Grade). Best of 17 games; advantage games. Trophies. £1 Is and 10s 6d-each. Semi-final. A. Nicholson beat G. Nicholson by default. FrxAr.. \. Nicholson (owe 3—6 15) heat S. Potting (owe 1-6 15). 9-1. T. A DIES HAN DK 'A P STNG L ES. Best of 17 games; advanta.ee games. Trophies. £1 Is and 10s 6d each. Fourth Round M=ss Mills (scratch) beat Miss Nicholson' (scratch). 9-4. Miss Thomson (owe 15 2—6) beat Miss Edwards (owe 15). 9—4. MEN'S HANDICAP DOUBLES. Best of 17 games; advanfairo games. Tropin!--:. £1 Is and 10s 6d each. Second Round. Hamilton arid Wilkie beat R. and J. Norrie by default. MEN'S HANDICAP SINGLES (A Grade). Best of 17 games; advantage games. Trophies £1 Is and 10s 6d each. W. Pearce (owe 40) heat W. Hart (owe 3-6-15), 9—4.