TENNIS

Southland Times, Issue 22215, 6 January 1934, Page 13

TENNIS

(By

“Chop.”)

Tournament Dates. Hawkes Bay-January 5,6, 8, 9. Manawatu— January 8, 9 10, 11. Taranaki— January 10, 11, 12, 13. Dannevirke Club—January 13, 15, 16, 17. Waitaki Sub-Assn. —January 18, 19, 20. Wellington—January 18, 19, 20, 22. Rotorua Club— January 18 to 23. Wairarapa—January 20 to 24. Auckland— January 24 to 29. Tolaga Bay Club—January 29 to 30. Canterbury—Easter dates. North Auckland—Easter dates. Wellington—Easter dates. Otago—Easter dates. Waikato—Easter dates.

Inter-club matches will be resumed next Saturday. A and C grade fixtures will be played. There will also be a representative fixture, Town v Northern. The New Zealand championships should reach finality to-day if there have been no more interruptions through rain.

Canterbury may be considered unfortunate in winning neither the Wilciing Shield nor the Nunnerley Casket. In each play-off the matches were even, but the Wellington men won on sets and the Wellington ladies on games. When last week’s notes were written the Southland tournament had not been completed although the championships had been decided. Hence much of the ground was uncovered by the necessarily hurried comments. No mention was made, for instance, of the excellent tennis played by J. B. Macpherson and H. J. Pollock, two prominent visitors. The former was not playing as well as on his last appearance in Invercargill but was coming on to form rapidly. He gave Boddy a hard game in the quarter final. Pollock, last year’s runner-up, had comfortable victories till he encountered Pearce when he was beaten in straight sets. He has attractive shots but his game lacks severity.

Hannay had a highly successful tournament. He won, with R. Johnstone, the men’s doubles handicap, was runner-up in the men’s singles handicap and reached the quarter-final in the mixed doubles handicap. The doubles handicap final between Hannay and Johnstone and Burgess and Welsh was a highly spectacular game, with all four going for their shots. “By Jove, these Nightcaps boys can play tennis,” was a remark frequently heard. Miss Rein, from owe 30 3-6, the back mark, never looked like losing the ladies’ singles handicap. It was a fine performance, nevertheless. She is almost back to her 1925-26 form.

McCallum and Miss Cutt’s win in the mixed doubles was as popular as it was deserved. McCallum played splendidly in all the matches in this event, his volleying being particularly good. In the final, however, he was overshadowed by his partner who rose nobly to the occasion.

The following have held the Southland women’s singles title since 1926:— 1926 Miss M. Rein. 1927 Miss L. Lawrence. 1928 Mrs W. A. Scott. 1929 Mrs W. A. Scott. 1930 Miss L. Lawrence. 1931 Mrs W. A. Scott. 1932 Miss E. Melvin. 1933 Mrs W. A. Scott. The men’s singles champions since 1921 have been: —

1921 S. G. McDougall. 1922 J. D. Dobie. 1923 E. M. Gilmour. 1924 N. Crammond 1925 No competition. 1926 H. K. Sumpter. 1927 F. R. Chisholm. 1928 H. K. Sumpter. 1929 H. K. Sumpter. 1930 H. K. Sumpter. 1931 H. K. Sumpter. 1932 C. A. K. Deaker. 1933 G. A. Pearce. The men’s doubles champions since 192 G have been: —

1926 H. K. and G. Sumpter. 1927 G. Lindsay and R. S. Johnstone.

1928 H. K. and G. Sumpter. 1929 H. K. and G. Sumpter. 1930 G. Lindsay and H. K. Sumpter. 1931 G. Lindsay and H. K; Sumpter. 1932 G. H. Pearce and C. A. K. Deaker.

1933 S. G. McDougall and R. Hanan.

The women’s doubles championship, inaugurated in 1930, has been won as follows:—

1930 Misses Guest and Bamford. 1931 Misses Guest and Bamford.

1932 Misses Guest and Bamford. 1933 Mrs W. A. Scott and Mrs R. Hanan.

The boys’ title holders have been:— 1928 A. Baird. 1929 W. Strang. 1930 A. Baird. 1931 W. Strang. 1932 A. Baird. 1933 C. Breen,

The girls’ champions are:— 1928 Miss Fitzgerald. 1929 Miss J. Harvey. 1930 Miss M. Paterson. 1931 Miss J. Cuppies. 1932 Miss B. Woodhead. 1933 Miss R. Wirson.

At the time of writing the New Zealand championships have reached only the semi-final stage so that no comprehensive review is possible. With Sproule, Donohoe, Andrews and Malfroy as semi-finalists there should be some wonderful tennis in the singles while the doubles final between the Australians and the present holders (Malfroy and Seay) should also produce highlights of the game. Miss Bickerton must be given a good chance in the ladies’ singles though Miss Valkenburg is a worthy opponent. The tournament has, like so many’ outdoor fixtures these holidays, been affected by rain and the heavy courts have caused one or two prominent players (notably Miss D. Nicholls) to suffer unexpected defeats.

The Town team to meet Northern next Saturday will be drawn .principally from Waihopai A and Invercargill A players who, having completed their match at an earlier date, are the only A graders available. The Northern team should be a strong one, with the Wilson sisters and D. Bruce filling the top places. North Otago has suggested March 3 for the match with Southland, a date which is certain to be accepted if the Otago Association can place four of the Logan Park courts at the disposal of the teams.

The Otago match will also be played at Dunedin this year, probably in February.

A match with the Roxburgh Club is also on the programme.