TENNIS

Southland Times, Issue 22187, 1 December 1933, Page 3

TENNIS

WESTERN DISTRICT TENNIS NOTES. (By “Vantage.”) In the Western v. Northern match a good standard of play was witnessed, the ladies in particular playing bright and enterprising tennis. Western had a comfortable win, chiefly owing to their superiority in the singles contests in which they lost only two sets. The Western men were much stronger than the visitors, but in the ladies’ section play was much more even. The Northern ladies excelled themselves and shaped very well indeed. The first three, Misses J. Wilson, Paterson and R. Wilson, were outstanding, their all round play drawing appreciative comment. Miss J. Wilson was perhaps the most effective and her form was little short of Southland standard. In her singles she was pitted against a strong player in Miss I’elly, but nevertheless she gave a fine display of accurate driving, and though she was defeated 7—5 there was very little between the players. With her sister she was again successful in her doubles, the Western pair, Miss Kelly and Miss Hunt, losing the deciding game after a keen struggle. The Northern girls, who had a good knowledge of court position, combined splendidly and scored repeatedly at the net with well placed volleys. Miss Paterson registered a decisive win against Miss Hunt with good driving and placements. Bruce was easily the best of the Northern men, his stroking being fairly good and in all of his games he failed by narrow margins. All of the Western team played well, Grant, Burgess and Banks and Misses Kelly, Hunt and Slater doing particularly good work. The game as a trial for the WallaceMataura match was quite successful and gave the selectors a good line to the players’ capabilities. The team selected to represent Wallace is about the best available and if judiciously paired should do well. Four Northern players, Bruce, Misses J. and R. Wilson and Paterson, have been included and have all well earned their places. Though Mataura appear to have fair prospects they will have to give of their best to win. The Eastern men, with three Southland representatives in their ranks, may prove too strong for the home players, but the Wallace ladies should more than hold their own. The Riverton-Ohai A grade match at Riverton was well contested, the seaside team running out winners by 9 sets to 7, though Ohai were slightly ahead in games. Banks, who is in splendid form at present, won his three sets and in his singles accounted for Bird 9—4. He also combined well with Buchanan to defeat the first Ohai pair. Though a better doubles player, Buchanan was a little more aggressive than usual against Martin, but had just sufficient in reserve to win the game.

Slater gave a creditable display to defeat Helm with the loss of only two games. He is improving with every match. His backhand and overhead work are very sound, but his service is rather weak.

Miss Cormack sent over some hot drives and also some very crude ones, and though she won her singles she was seen to much better advantage in her doubles. Miss Bailey was successful against Mrs Baird after a hardfought contest, while Miss Galloway gained a clear-cut win in her game with Mrs Martin. Miss Clark could not cope with Mrs Slater’s effective baseline driving, the latter losing only one game. Playing at Otautau Nightcaps A scored a comparatively easy win by 12 sets to 4. They showed more initiative and were a much more evenly-balanced combination than the home team who, however, did not play up to expectations.

For the visitors Grant played capital tennis and produced a variety of welldirected shots to defeat a likely player in McPherson. Burgess and Cosgriff also showed up well in all their games. Both Miss Kelly and Miss Hunt were in top form and were too consistent for their opponents. Mrs Evatt was about the best of the Otautau ladies and her driving was fairly good.