Tennis.

Southland Times, Issue 19054, 12 February 1921, Page 9

Tennis.

(By “Pennon.”) The match Town v. Country, that is set down for to-day, should be a good guide to the selectors in their final selection of the team to play Otago. The Southland team has been freely discussed during the week, and many teams have been picked by those who follow the game locally. The first four men will not be hard to pick, but the remaining two places will cause the selectors some thought, as there are about four men playing who are about equal. Henderson has not been playing up to form this year-, and will have to show improved form in to-day’s match if he is to retain his place in this year’s team. The four Certainties for the team in my opinion are Gilmour, McNatty, Sutton and Lindsay, but for the remaining places there are Bradshaw, O’Connell, Dobie, Henderson and Newton. The last named has scored wins over Bradshaw, O’Connell and Henderson this season, and. has only been defeated once in club matches, that being early jn the season when he had not regained form. On his play he is entitled to a place, as he possesses a good knowledge of the game and varies his tactics with rapidity when on the courts. The sixth place might be fillet! with advantage by a man who plays well in combined and men’s doubles, and if that were considered, Cowie and Callander have claims for inclusion. They are not strong singles players but when teamed combine well and are quick to seize net openings. It will be a hard team to select. The withdrawal of Mrs Gabites from the Town team robs Southland of another lady player unless she has recovered in time for the match, which at present is doubtful. Saturday’s match will decide which lady players get their places in the team, and those singles will be followed with interest, as there are several players who are all about the same strength and who have never met this year. Southend put up a good game against Y.M.C.A. on Saturday, and was only defeated by one set. Southend is a young club, and this is the first season that it has taken part in the competitions. Its players are to be congratulated upon putting up such a good fight against Y.M.C.A. All the players are practically new to the game, and several of the younger ones show promise of developing well. Last week I had occasion to make a few remarks about umpiring, and would now like to add that spectators should not unnecessarily hamper the umpire in his duties. At one court recently spectators questioned the umpire’s rulings, and were often seen strolling up to him during the progress of rallies and asJring the score. Am umpire’s duties are strenuous enough at any time, and spectators should assist him instead of hampering him in his tasks. A player who shows promise in the Y.M.C.A. is Mills. He is only a lad, but at present gives indications that if he applies himself to the serious study of the game will make a good player. St. Mary’s was too strong for the Invercargill B. team on Saturday, and only suffered defeat in four out of the nineteen sets played. The players of the younger club have been improving slowly during the season, and they have devoted themselves

1 to consistent practice, which showed that ‘they were keen and their win was well deserved, * Otautau added another win, this time against Bluff. Last week it was the Otautau ladies that kept the club in the lead, but on Saturday they lost all their ladies games, the Bluff players being too steady for them. However, the men more than evened the scores by winning every game in which they played, thus giving the country team a comfortable lead. The Invercargill B. team played Gore on the latter’s courts, but the country side was too strong and the victory went to the home side by 12 sets to 7. At the meetinc’ nf th** Lawn Tennis Association an alteration was to be suggested to Law 7, dealing with the delivery of the service. The existing law and the amended law are as follow, the new wording being printed in inverted commas:—Existing law: The server shall, before commencing to serve, stand with both feet at rest on the ground behind (i.e./ further from the net than) the base-line, and within the limits of the imaginary continuation of the half-court and side lines and thereafter the server shall not run, walk, hop, or jump before the service has been delivered; but the server may raise one foot from (and if desired, replace it on) the ground, provided that both feet are kept behind the base-fine until the service has been delivered. Amended law: The server shall, before commencing to serve, stand with both feet at rest on the ground behind the base-line, and within the limits of the imaginary continuation of the half-court and side lines, “and the service shall then be delivered by the server either (a) with both feet remaining in contact with the ground behind and clear of the base-line, or (b) with one foot so remaining in contact and the other foot being immediately brought into contact before either foot is placed within the court.” The Association decided to take no action in the alteration of the rule and the rule stands as at present for* another twelve months.

The following account of the defeat of Johnston (6-2, 6-4, 6-4), by Patterson appeared in the Melbourne Argus:—“The outstanding feature of Saturday’s play was Gerald Patterson’s victory over Johnston. For some time the Victorian champion has been ‘under a cloud.’ In that great match last November, in which all P. O’Hara Wood’s brilliancy failed to stop an overwhelming defeat, Patterson reached the heights. Since then he has been well down in the depths. His complete failure at Auckland was followed by a very tame display the other day against Washbum, who ranks seventh only on the American graduation list, and yet was equal to beating the singles champion of Australia in straight sets. But later Paterson came back to his own, met hard driving with still harder driving, tramped his opponent’s severe service with a serve that was unapproachable for severity, and killed everytliing overhead from every part of the court. On his day Patterson is capable of beating the world’s best. It is hard luck for Australasia that his day and the Davis Cup contest cannot be guaranteed to synchronise. In the first set Johnston began serving, but Patterson won the game. The little American was not showing the form he exhibited against Brookes on the day before. His service was at fault throughout the afternoon, and in his match against Patterson he seldom scored with his paralysing drive. He tried it often. The pace was there, and the direction was there. The only trouble was that it seldom got over the net. When it did, as often as not Patterson met it with a disconcerting counter-attack, and turned his opponent’s winning shot to his own advantage. He ran to 4.1, and then for once his service (up till then almost untakable) failed him. But it was Johnston’s last effort for the set, which went to Patterson at 6-2. The second set provided some stirring duels. It was a case of ‘hard pounding, gentlemen!’ with both players getting some terrific drives down the side lines. Johnston established a useful lead at 4-2, but lost his next service. He led again at 5-3, and although Patterson took the next game the set was entered to America at 6-4. The last set saw Johnston tiring. He lost the first two games, and, although he set out on a stern chase, he never quite made up the handicap. By a great effort he pulled level at 3 all, but from then on Patterson, serving superbly, always had the lead. Johnston could not even touch some of Patterson’s first services, which came up as if Gregory were bowling on a fiery wicket. Patterson won the set and the match at 6-4. and was given a well-merited ovation by the crowd.” SATURDAY COMPETITION. FIRST GRADE.

Pl w. D. L. Pt,. Invercargill A .. 4 4 0 0 8 Winton .. .. .. 4 3 0 1 6 Y.M.C.A. . .. 4 1 0 3 2 Gore .. .. .. .. 4 2 0 2 1 Invercargill B .. 4 0 0 SECOND GRADE. 0 0 P| w. D. L. Pte. Otautau .. .. .. 5 5 0 0 10 St, Mary's ... 5 4 0 1 8 Bluff .... .. .. 5 3 0 2 6 Invercargill .. .. 4* 1 1 2 3 Winton .. .. .. 3* 1 1» 0 3 •Southend . .. 4 1 0 3 Gore .. .. .. .. 3 1 0 2 o Y.M.C.A. .. .. 5 2 0 3 4 Riverton .. .. 4 0 0 4 0 *Winton when scores ir. Invercargill game abandoned were even. WEDNESDAY COMPETITION. FIRST GRADE. P. W. L. Pte. Invercargill 3 3 2 6 Winton .. 5 3 2 6 Bluff .... 5 2 3 4 Wyndham 5 2 SECOND GRADE. P. W. 3 L. 4 Pts. Southend A 5 4 1 8 *Edendale 6 4 2 8 *Winton 6 4 2 8 Gore Citizens .. .. 4 3 1 6 Southend B 4 1 3 2 Wyndham 4 1 3 2 Y.M.C.A. .. 5 0 0 0 All Saints 4 0 0 0 *Result o one match not advised.