TENNIS

Southland Times, Issue 21897, 24 December 1932, Page 13

TENNIS

(By

“Chop.")

TOURNAMENT DATES. December 26, 27 and Championships, at Invercargill. December 24, 26 and 27—North Otago Championships, at Oamaru. December 26, 27 and 28—Marlborough Championships, at Blenheim. December 26, 27 and 28—Wellington Championships. December 31, January 2, 3 and 4— South Canterbury Championships, at Timaru. January 2, 3 and 4—Otago Championships, at Dunedin. Southland Christmas tournament on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. There should be brilliant play in the finals. The B graders were at last favoured with beautiful weather for their matches, though some players may have found last Saturday’s heat a bit trying. St. Mary’s rather unexpectedly beat Waihopai II by a substantial margin. The former team has been considerably strengthened by the reversion of P. Walker and W. Baird to B. grade. It was, however, the strength of the St. Mary’s ladies that contributed principally to victory, for they did not lose a set. In the men’s singles Holdgate and P. Walker- had a keen struggle, the latter winning 9—7. W. Baird and Ferguson had an even closer game, the veteran being pipped on the post. He and Walker, however, had their revenge in the double which they won 9—B; and in the mixed double the St. Mary’s president was invincible. Invercargill had a decisive win over Waikiwi in sets but the leading Invercargill players were made to work hard. Miss J. Farmer played excellently to beat Miss Shand 7—2 and Miss M. Farmer to beat Miss Campbell 7 —5. H. Twemlow was up against a hard man in Shand but fully deserved his four games. O’Kane ran Rout to 7—9. The Waikiwi ladies did not play so well in their doubles, both of which were won by Invercargill. Tlie top mixed doubles was a family affair, the Twemlows opposing the Shands. In a neck-and-neck struggle the Twemlows won 7 —6. O’Kane and Miss M. Farmer beat Rout and Miss Campbell by a similar margin. In the lower places in all departments Invercargill won comfortably. Gladstone enhanced their reputation by defeating Rugby Park by 11 sets to 5. W. Thomas and Broughton had a great game, the former surprising the critics by winning, though the margin was only a single game. The Gladstone ladies were considerably stronger than their opponents, winning three singles and both doubles, though not without a struggle. Misses McKay and Strathern played good tennis in their single. Another bright game was that between Miss Hoyles and Miss Kidston which the latter won 7—6.

Waihopai I were at home to Central The guests had an enjoyable afternoon’s tennis but fared badly when the sets came to be counted up. McGrath by skilfully placed returns made Hughes give of his best but the Waihopai man was definitely on top. Thompson and Boyd had comfortable wins but P. Rice, after racing away at the start broke strings in his racquet and Hodgson pulled the game out of the fire, winning 9 —B. Miss M. Woods and Miss Porter had a hard tussle, the former winning 7—6. The remaining singles were won decisively by Waihopai, as were the doubles. Georgetown by defeating Southend 10—6 showed that they are one of the strongest teams in their section. The Georgetown men were definitely superior. They won three singles and both doubles and helped materially to win three of the four mixed doubles. Tire Southend ladies cannot be blamed for the loss. Miss Lamont had a good win over Mrs Robson and Miss Leek and Miss Manson each won her single. Georgetown do not meet Invercargill until February 11 and the issue of this match will probably give the section winners.

Kennington made no race of it against Bluff, dropping only one set. Two interesting matches on the men’s doubles ladder were played on Saturday. Barnes and Thomas moved up another rung by defeating Rea_ and Rigby 6-2, 6-8, The winners played very well and almost got home in two sets, for they lea 5—4 40-love in the second set, with Barnes serving. Realizing that it was a case of Sydney or the bush,” Rea and Rigby let drive and to their surprise got to deuce, went on to win the game and finally captured the set. They ran to a 3—o lead m the third set but Barnes and Thomas reasserted themselves and won the match. Rea was better partner in the first half of the mai.ii but Rigby bore the brunt at the finish. Barnes s volleying was excellent and Thomas was sound throughout. Strang and A. Baird and Paterson and McKay also took part in a marathon, the score reading 4—6, 6—l, 9—7 in the former pair’s favour. Baird played particularly well, his high kicking service winning a lot of points. Paterson and McKay led 5—3 in the third set but could not clinch it. The former’s volleying is much improved.

Strang and A. Baird beat Hanan and Strettell I—6, 6—2, 6—4. The former pair exploited the lob a good deal. At first Hanan and Strettell smashed brilliantly but they gradually lost accuracy and although they ran to a lead of 4—l in the third set they were well beaten at the finish. Misses Russell and Lush beat Misses Cutt and Campbell in straight sets and Misses Lamont beat Misses Basstian and Shand 3—6, 7—5, 6—3.

Barnes and Thomas played Paterson and McKay in a ladder challenge on Monday evening. The Georgetown pair captured the first set G—4, but thereafter had to play second fiddle, particularly in the third set which the Cental pair won 6—5. Commenting on the Victorian Championships the Sydney Sun writer, H. Marsh, said: "McGrath was very illadvised to play in the junior singles in Melbourne. Why does he want to try and win a junior singles for to-day when he can break even with the champions? Each day he was playing a junior singles before his championship match. On the day he was beaten by Cliff Sproule, he won 6—3, B—6 from Trenowith in the junior first. All his freshness was thus lost to him, and it found him out later in that lone contest with Sproule, so that he faded away at the end. Though the boy went down to both Hopman in the interstate and to Sproule in the championships, I am quite definite as to Iris being our second player still, and am sure he will prove that he is so before long Jack Crawford was undoubtedly the outstanding figure. His defeat of Vines was a very fine performance, and it would appear that he used his head to defeat him. Cliff Sproule did wonderfully well also, especially against Vines 1 and he was decidedly unlucky to lose after gaining a two set lead and s—l, especially as he had a couple of set points in his favour. Vines does not appear to have been at his best in Melbourne. The courts were far from good according to our players, shooters and irregular bounces being quite common. THE TOURNAMENT. The entries for the tournament must be considered highly satisfactory, with the regrettable exception of the junior events. It is depressing to think that there are only three boys and five girls in Southland good enough—or keen enough to enter for the junior championship. Allan Baird will be a hot favourite for the boys’ title which he won in 1930 and for which he was runnerup in 1929 and 1931. A. Strang, of Wyndham, and J. Wilson, of Invercargill, are the other competitors. Three city girls and two from sub-Association districts are competing for the girls’ title. Picking the winner is not easy for Misses McCallum, Hoyles and Strang (the last named is from the Moana club), all play attractive tennis. Miss A. Harvey is a sister of Miss Joyce Harvey, a previous winner. Little is known of Miss Woodhead, but she may well prove a dark horse. It rather looks as if the ladies’ singles championship final will be fought out between Miss Melvin and Miss Guest, but Misses Kelly, Harvey, Mahoney, Bamford, and Ronald may make surprises. The doubles title holders, Misses Guest and Bamford will have to show their best form to win, particularly if Misses Melvin and Mahoney play as well as in some of the Otago Easter tournaments. Misses Kelly and Harvey are also strong claimants. It will not be at all surprising if Syd. McDougall again has his name inscribed on the Slazenger cup. Away back in the early ‘twenties’ he won the first Slazenger Cup outright and his name heads the list on the cup which the New Zealand agents of the firm generously donated to replace the old trophy. The date is 1921. McDougall has played in Southland tournaments since then, but fortune did not smile on him though he was several times a singles and doubles finalist. He has been playing so well in Dunedin this season that he must be given a great chance of winning. McLeod had the bad luck to draw him in the first round. The Easterner should fully , extend Dunedin’s top man but it is rather too much to expect him to win. Chisholm who won the title in 1927 will, if he disposes of Barnes and if McDougall beats McLeod, meet Syd. in the second round. Chisholm has had little opportunity for practice, but if he strikes, form he v/ill worry his opponent with his hurricane drives. Lower down in McDougall’s half is Cyril Deaker who should reach the semi-final despite keen opposition from Strang, Lindsay and Stretteil. In the top half George Pearce and Pollock will probably come through to the semi-final. Pollock, however, has to meet Cockerell in the first round and it is on the cards that the Invercargill man, who is playing remarkably well, may repeat Strang’s performance of last year. Pearce looks the probable finalist. En route he should meet Allan Baird and the match between the two left-handers should be well worth watching.

Some spectacular tennis should be seen in the men’s doubles championships. Cockerell and Strettell in the top half and Lindsay and Sumpter in the lower half were rather fortunate in the draw, for they should reach the semi-final stages without being threatened. Strang and Allan Baird meet Pearce and Deaker in the first round and the match is sure to be a great draw. Pollock and McDougall should meet Sumpter and Lindsay in the lower half semi-final, but the Dunedin pair will find Barnes and McLeod hard to beat.

The handicap events have drawn good fields and there should be many interesting encounters. Play commences each day at 8.30 a.m. and competitors are requested to assist in the smooth running of the tournament by reporting at that hour. The men play at Waihopai on Monday, the ladies at Invercargill. Thereafter all matches will be played at Waihopai. The junior girls play their opening rounds at Invercargill on Monday morning and the boys at Waihopai. Ayres balls will be procurable from the secretary at 3/- a pair.