TENNIS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18502, 25 February 1930, Page 6

TENNIS.

OTAGO DEFEAT SOUTH CANTERBURY. STRONG WIND HAMPERS PLAY. A strong nor-west wind marred the play in' the annual inter-provincial tennis fixture Otago v. South Canterbury, which was held at Timaru courts yesterday morning and afternoon. The Otago team, which was defeated by Canterbury on Saturday, snatched victory by 13 matches, 28 sets, 259 games, to 11 matches, 26 sets, 256 games—not a very large margin, considering that the home side was without the services of W. G. Robertson and D. C. Johnston. South Canterbury would have made a very poor showing had it not been for their ladies, who made up for the fact that Otago won all the men’s singles, by defeating their southern lady opponents in five of the six singles matches. They scored in two of the three doubles matches, and while that state of affairs was reversed in the men’s doubles, in the combined doubles honours were even. Play was commenced shortly aften ten o’clock and it was not till 7 p.m. that the final ladies’ doubles match was completed. It was in this match that South Canterbury had a chance to draw on sets, but Misses Green and Hart lost the third set, after winning the first, to Misses Cook and Sheriff.

Play throughout was not of a high standard, and qjccept for occasional flashes of individual brilliancy, the wind made accurate lobbing and placing an impossibility. Perhaps the most interesting encounter in the men’s singles was that between W. Pearse and R. A. Guy, this being featured by good driving and crisp volleying. In the first set Guy played with great precision, reeling off five games in succession, raking thfe corners with fast forehand and backhand drives. Although Pearse strove valiantly, he was unable to assume the offensive, the Otago man finishing off the rallies at close quarters. The sixth game saw an improvement in Pearse’s play, and a fast forehand to his opponent’s backhand and a hard smash off a difficult toss gave him his first game. Guy had sufficient in reserve to notch the next game and the first set. The second session proved a gruelling fight in which Guy’s steadiness under pressure was the deciding factor. Playing with more precision, Pearse ran to a 4-2 lead, but could not maintain the advantage, and Guy evened to 4 all. Thereafter the game alternated with the service until Guy broke through in the 17th, and followed this by taking his service and the match. Guy’s final cross court volley was a great effort.

Bray, Otago’s first player, defeated Innes-Jones in a game which was not productive of exhilarating tennis. An unorthodox player, Bray won in straight sets 6-3, 6-4. The South Canterbury player was in fine form, but he found Bray’s ability to conceive direction most disconcerting. Dr. W. R. Fea was defeated by S. G. McDougall in straight sets 6-1, 7-5, the former playing much better tennis in the second set. At 5 all, Fea had a chance with four match points, but .McDougall’s doggedness took the next two games and the set. N. S. Cramond took S. Gale to three sets, but Satterthwaite and Mackay were defeated in straight sets by the visitors. The best game of the men’s doubles was provided when Innes-Jones and Cramond met Bray and McDougall, and defeated the southerners 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. The South Canterbury pair demonstrated superior combination and positional play. Innes-Jones served exceedingly well, consistently aceing his first service, while Cramond was deadly in his treatment of anything loose at the net. Pearse and Mackay had an interesting battle against Guy and Gale, losing the first set 7-9 and the second s<-7. The Otago men owed their victory to good concerted play, but their win was as close as the scores indicated. Dr. Fea and Satterthwaite went to pieces in the second set of their match against Jensen and Pollock, after playing good tennis in the first session.

An interesting match resulted when Mrs W. A. Scott, first string for South Canterbury, defeated Miss Pattison, Otago’s first lady on No. 1 court. The score, 6-4, 6-2, was an accurate indication of the merits of both players. Since her return from the New Zealand championships, Mrs Scott has been playing tennis of a very high standard. Miss Pattison exhibited a free style with plenty of power in her forehand drive, which she placed with facility to either corner. Her backhand, however, was never brilliant, and Mrs Scott’s concentrated attack soon discovered this weakness. Miss M. Gibson drove beautifully in her match against Miss White, which she won 6-3, 6-1, her consistent length proving a factor in her opponent’s downfall. Miss D. Hart experienced some difficulty in the second set of the match against Miss Cpok, but her versatility at the net won her the match 6-5. The encounter between Miss Green and Miss Sheriff was well worth watching, a margin of one game in each set giving the local player the advantage. Mrs Long’s steadiness was too much for Miss Maloney, whom she easily defeated. Miss Poultney, was the only lady to lose her singles, Miss Scott taking the first set fairly easily, and the second 6-5.

Mrs Scott and Miss Gibson formed a rare combination in the ladies’ doubles match against Miss Pattison and Miss White. r They demonstrated vast superiority over Otago’s first strings, and won comfortably 6-0, 6-3. Although Misses Hart and Green were defeated by Misses Cook and Sheriff, the match was one of the most evenly contested of the day, the result being in doubt right till the last, when the Otago ladies captured the two final games after they had both gone to deuce. Mrs Long’s consistent steadiness was a feature in her partnership with Miss Poultney, against Misses Maloney and Scott, the South Canterbury pair winning easily. McDougall and Miss Pattison, in the principal match of the mixed doubles, disposed of Cramond and Mrs Scott 6-3, 6-4, their victory being due to the forceful driving of Miss Pattison and the steadiness of her partner. The remainder of the matches were evenly distributed, Pearse and Miss Gibson scoring an attractive win against Bray and Miss Scott 6-4, 6-0.

The visitors were entertained at luncheon by the South Canterbury Association, the president (Dr. W. R. Fea) extending a cordial welcome.

Mr S. G. McDougall, president of the Otago Association, said that the southerners always -enjoyed their visits to Timaru, where they were hospitably entertained. He hoped that many Timaruvians would pay a visit to Dunedin at Easter on the occasion of the opening of the new Association courts at Logan Park.

Results were as follow (Otago names first) :

Men’s Singles. W. Bray beat G. Innes-Jones, 6-3, 6-4. R. A. Guy beat W. Pearse, 6-1, 10-8. S. G. McDougall beat W. Fea, 6-1, 7-5. S. Gale beat N. S. Cramond, 6-3 4-6 6-3. A. T. Jensen beat J. Mackay, 6-2, 6-4. Pollock beat J. Satterthwaite, 7-5, 6-1.

Men’s Doubles. Bray and McDougall. lost to InnesJones and Cramond, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. Guy and Gale beat Pearse and Mackay, 9-7, 7-5. Jensen and Pollock beat Fea and Satterthwaite, 9-7, 6-1. Ladies’ Singles. Miss Pattison lost to Mrs W. A. Scott, 4- 2-6. Miss White lost to Miss M. Gibson, 3-6, 1-6. Cook lost to Miss D. Hart, 3-6, 5-6. Miss Scott beat Miss M. Poultney, 6-2, 6-5. Miss Sheriff lost to Miss Green, 5-6, 5Miss Maloney lost to Mrs Long, 2-6, 2-6. Ladies’ Doubles. Misses Pattison and White lost to Mrs Scott and Miss Gibson, 0-6, 3-6. Misses Cook and Sheriff beat Misses Hart and Green, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. Misses Scott and Maloney lost to Miss Poultney and Mrs Long, 2-6, 2-6. Combined Doubles. McDougall and Miss Pattison beat Cramond and Mrs Scott, 6-3, 6-4. Bray and Miss Scott lost to Pearse and Miss Gibson, 4-6. 0-6. Guy and Miss Maloney beat InnesJones and Miss Hart, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4. Gale and Miss Cook lost to Fea and Miss Poultney, 6-1, 4-6, 0-6. Jensen and Miss White beat Mackay and Miss Green, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4. Pollock and Miss Sheriff lost to Satterthwaite and Mrs Long, 3-6, 2-6. TEMUKA TOWN AND COUNTRY ASSOCIATION. The draw for the sixth round (the semi-final) in the Shield competitions is as follows: — St. Joseph’s v. Washdyke, at Washdyke, February 27. Presbyterian v. Orari Bridge, at Orari Bridge, February 27. Orari v. Clandeboye, at Clandeboye, on March 1. Winchester a bye. WINCHESTER CLUB. A well attended meeting of the Committee was held on Thu»sday evening. It was decided to hold a fete on March 15. The following stallholders were appointed:—Work stall, Mesdames Burborough and Maddren; sweets and soft drinks, Misses Andersen, White, Sinclair and Philp; afternoon tea, Mesdames A. and G. Gudsell; produce, Messrs N. Robertson and D. Louden; tennis tournament, Mr G. Burborough; entertainments, Misses R. and P. South; Messrs Miller, White, Lawson, Shute, West and Moore.