City Tennis Competitions Will Open On Saturday

Southland Times, Issue 23946, 12 October 1939, Page 11

City Tennis Competitions Will Open On Saturday

By

TOPSPIN

The inter-club competitions in the Invercargill district begin this Saturday with matches in all grades. The first matches last year were not played until October 29.

With the elimination of the senior B grade from the Invercargill competition a reduction in the number of teams was only to be expected. However, the entry of eight A grade, 14 B grade and 16 C grade teams is quite satisfactory, and should prove less unwieldy to arrange, in view of the limited court accommodation in Invercargill on Saturday afternoons. These entries compare with nine senior A, seven senior B, 12 intermediate and 11 C grade teams, a total of 39 last year. Two new clubs which have recently affiliated will be competing for the first time; Otatara, with two courts, has one team in the C grade, and Collegiate, with four courts, has two teams in the C grade. - , . Invercargill, Southend, Central, Waihopai, Winton, Rugby Park, St. Mary's and Bluff will again be competing in the A grade, but it is disappointing to find that Georgetown has not been able to muster sufficient strength to make the grade. The management committee also had an application from the Makarewa Club for the entry of a senior team, but it was felt that the club did not have sufficient players of the required standard to enter a team in the A grade. SATURDAY’S DRAW The following is the Southland Lawn Tennis Association’s draw for Saturday: A g*ade.—Bluff v. Central, at Central; Rugby Park v. St. Mary’s, at Rugby Park; Southend v. Waihopai, at Waihopai; Winton v. Invercargill, at Winton.

B. Grade.—Rugby Park v. Makarewa, at Makarewa; Tisbury v. Central, at Tisbury; Southend v. Georgetown, at Georgetown; Kennington v. Waikiwi, at Kennington; Invercargill v. St. Mary’s, at Invercargill; Southern v. Waihopai 11, at Southern; Clifton v. Waihopai I, at Waihopai. C grade.—Bluff v. Moana 11, at Bluff; Rugby Park v. Moana I, at Moana; Collegiate I v. Collegiate 11, at Collegiate; Tisbury v. Waikiwi, at Waikiwi; Southend v. St. Mary’s, at Southend; Invercargill v. Waihopai, at Invercargill; Southern v. Clifton, at Clifton; Otatara v. Makarewa, at Otatara. Until the various players sort themselves out, the relative strengths of the various teams cannot be accurately gauged, but indications are that Invercargill and Central will again be the leading teams. Invercargill has lost Collis, and wili not have lan Shand for the early matches. A. Miller should prove a serviceable member of the team, while the women’s side will again be strong. Central will miss the support of C. L. Stubbs and S. O. Merlo, but will be greatly assisted by the inclusion of D. Bruce and Mrs Bruce. With Mrs Bruce (formerly Miss J.' Wilson, of Balfour), Misses Henderson, Deegan and Woods, Central should have the most formidable women’s quartet in the competition. Waihopai will be without A. Alcorn and P. Speedy, and the Southland team will not seem the same without the former Southland titleholder, R. McCallum. It seems that Winton, Bluff, Rugby Park and St. Mary’s will field much the same teams as last year. It has been decided to play matches fortnightly, A and B grade one Saturday, and C grade on the alternate Saturday. Thus, C grade matches will be played on October 21 and A and B grade matches on October 28. A number of matters affecting tennis generally was discussed at the first meeting of the new management- committee of the Southland Lawn Tennis Association on Monday evening. The forming of an umpires’ association on similar lines to those in the north was again considered. The postponement committee was instructed to make its decision before noon on match days, and have its decision broadcast if possible up to 12.30 p.m. It was again decided to have a Town doubles ladder for men’s pairs and women’s pairs, and to invite players to forward their entries. The institution of a provincial single's ladder ori the same basis as last year was decided on, but feeling was not unanimous. The Southland representative team is again to be chosen from this ladder, although some members

contended that rule 10 should be eliminated to give selectors a free hand in picking the Southland team.

COURT ACCOMMODATION

The entry of four teams in the competition by clubs with three courts was the subject of criticism in that the interests of players not taking part in matches was riot being catered for, and it was suggested that the entries from such clubs be limited to two teams. A compromise was agreed to that the limit be one team for each grade. A letter asking the management committee to appoint a representative to the Southland Provincial Council of Sport evoked some candid criticism of the appointments made by the Government to the controlling body of this movement. It was contended that those chosen to assist the Area Recreation officer should be more closely connected with the existing bodies already promoting amateur sporting activities in Southland. There are many younger and more active men and women of administrative ability, who would be keen to organize sport in the province, and assist in the Government’s scheme for promoting physical welfare. Those clubs which arranged their opening day for Saturday last were fortunate in having an afternoon of glorious sunshine. Most of the clubs marked the occasion by competition games in the form of Yankee tournaments, which attracted good entries. About 40 members attended the opening of the Collegiate Club and the president mentioned that it was the first old pupils’ club in the district and that the club was fortunate in having at its disposal four courts equal to the best in town. The Central Club did not run a tournament, but a big attendance of members, and quite a few new ones indicated a busy season for the club. The strong Southend Club also had an excellent muster. Mr W. R. Rea, who for some years has ' been president, was recently appointed the club’s first life member, and to Mr L. E. Raines, the new president, fell,the duty of declaring the season open. The progressive Makarewa Club also had a very successful opening day. Rugby Park is in the fortunate position of having a strong membership, and with an excellent show of the cooperative spirit, this club recently tackled the job of top-dressing its three courts with the members' labour. An inspection of the courts shows that the club has gained excellent results. It has taken the opportunity of moving the position of the courts to the west; this means that there is now plenty of room on the sideline at the eastern court.

The five courts of the Gore Club were continuously occupied by the 70 competitors who took part in a Yankee tournament. A new player with attractive strokes in D. Rodger may prove a valuable member of this club in matches.

Tisbury had an enthusiastic muster including about eight new members, and Georgetown and Gladstone also organized opening functions. WINTON TOURNAMENT The Winton Tennis Club will again be holding its popular Labour Day tournament on Monday week, October 23, which will comprise the usual three doubles events, women’s doubles, mens doubles and mixed doubles. The tournament usually attracts leading players from Town and Country districts, but as the events are played on handicap, competitors of all grades have a chance of carrying off the honours, and should take of gaining match practice, combined with a pleasant day’s tennis. DUNEDIN COMPETITIONS In Dunedin. 69 teams representing 500 players have been entered in the association’s competitions, compared with 84 last year, but it is stated that the reduction is not unwelcome as last year’s entry imposed a strain on the available court accommodation. The Dunedin A grade competition has been divided into three sections this year—men’s teams, women’s teams, and mixed teams. In the men’s section entries have been received from Kaituna, Roslyn, St. Clair, and Cosy Dell, but so far only three teams have come forward in the women’s competition—Kaituna, Roslyn and St. Clair. In the mixed grade, entries have been re-

ceived from 11 teams, writes “Smash” in The Otago Daily Times. It is reported that J. Collis, formerly of the Invercargill Club, has joined Cosy Dell, and should make their A team.

K. Bryan, the present holder of the Otago singles title, and well-known to Southland tennis supporters, has been transferred to Oamaru, and should prove an acquisition to North Otago.' Among the new members of the Kaituna Club is N. A. Mitchell, of Rugby fame. Mitchell has always shown a keen interest in tennis, and when he resided in Invercargill he showed that he was able to hold his own with many senior ’players. Club competitions in Invercargill begin this Saturday, and captains of teams are advised that if they will see that score sheets are handed in to Tire Southland Times on the evening of the match the results will appear in Monday morning’s issue. Result sheets have already been distributed to most city clubs, and more supplies may be obtained from The Southland Times Office if required.