Ha If- Volleys

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 234, 22 December 1927, Page 9

Ha If- Volleys

A. Stedman staved off a challenge for the top position on the Auckland junior ladder during the week bv defeating X W. Bowden, 6l f «—3. Keen rivalry is being shown in the ladder competitions of the outer suburban tennis clubs since the institution of the inter-club competitions by the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association. The third place on the doubles ladder appealed to Lamb and Horne during the week, and they challenged the Johns brothers, only to go down to the Eden and Epsom pair, 3 —6, 6 —l, I—s. The city inter-club matches will be resumed on January 14. and the outersuburban games on February 11. In the A grade city competition, a semifinal, Parnell v. Remuera has to be played, and the winner meets Varsity in the final. One of the notable absentees from the New Zealand championships is A. W. Sims, who held the singles title in 1923. He was Auckland champion in 1922-3. WILDING SHIELD AUCKLAND’S TEAM

A UCKLAN D’S four representatives in the Wilding Shield challenge match against Wellington will be, in all probability: -E. L. Bartleet, A. W. Sims, N. G. Sturt.and L. G. Knott. According to the status E. W. Griffiths and V. R. Johns Had prior claims as singles players over Knott and Sturt, but this pair Has the New Zeafand doubles’ title. The match is to be played at Wellington on January 2 and 3.

Varsity scored its third win in the it arade competition on Saturday, and has every chance of beating St. Heliers In the last game. Unity had been unbeaten until its colours were lowered by the collegians. N. Sturt meets a young battler, E. L. Prebble,.in the first round of the Dominion singles. The champion of Linwood Club, Prebble was just defeated for sixteenth place on the Canterbury ladder recently, after 41 games. There is still a strong kick in Stan. Denton, who meets L. G. Knott in the first round at Christchurch, but the Aucklander should win fairly easily. Denton ranks tenth in Canterbury. Bartleet should dispose of P. G. Greenwood in straight sets in the championships. Greenwood still fights fnr a place in the Wilding Shield team, but his best days are over. Dannevirke Club which has 13 excellent grass courts, will hold its 25th annual championship and handicap tournament from January 23-26. Entries close on January 19 with the secretary. A. X'. Blakiston. Box 14, Dannevirke.

Miss M. Pattison, Otago champion, *nd J. H. Fulton and S. G. McDougall ■will be the Dunedin competitors at the championships. It is thought that Miss Pattison should do well in the singles, she has been playing great tennis lately. In consequence of the ruling of the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association that C grade players in the Auckland competitions are not eligible for play in the outer suburban competitions. Papatoetoe juniors met and defeated the top players of the Papakura Club last Saturday. As a result of their victory over Papakura on Satdrday in the third round of the outer suburban tennis competition. Papatoetoe holds the supreme position in the A grade with three wins. In the B grade. Papakura continued their winning way by defeating Papatoetoe decisively. The North Island championship and handicap tourney will be held at Ham* ‘•ton on April 6. 7. and 9. Entries close on March 26. The games will be played on the 16 grass courts at Rosstrevor Street. C. O'Connor and Miss Grimwade "'on the final of the mixed doubles tournament held by the Morrinsville Club.