TENNIS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20679, 18 March 1937, Page 9

TENNIS

NOTES ON THE GAME

(By

"Your Serve.**)

Junior Championships This year increased entries were received in the section under 18, but in the under 15 section there has not been such a good response. However, this may be due to tne late opening of the schools. The standard of play in the events at Maori Park discloses the fact that there are several very promising juniors in the Province who should in the course of a year or two, reach the South Canterbury ranking list. Miss E. Gawith, who plays in the "A” grade for St. John’s has progressed to the semi-finals, having registered a good win over both Moya Sexton and G. Hayter. Joycclyn Wallace and Marie Stevens both had narrow wins into the third round, while in the bottom half, Muriel McLean, Shirley Ussher, Joan Gaffaney and Mary Bolderston all had very easy wins. It is likely that some very close games will be played before the finalists are found. In the boys section under 18, the outstanding win in the second round was that of C. Turnbull over C. McKay. In the quarter-finals P. Williams 'had a narrow win ever F. W. Cosgrove. In the semi-finals Williams plays J. Rosevear, and the result of this game is very open. Williams has a free and well formed style, but Rosevear appears to have better shots. R. Blair, of Morven, in the bottom half, accounted for a good player in P. Walsh, a Wai-iti boy, and the semi-finals will be very closely fought. In the under 15 boys section, Allan Ford, last year’s winner, is again competing, and on his play looks to be fairly certain of retaining the title. Representative Matches The following team has been chosen to play Otago at Dunedin: Men: W. E. Renton, A. E. Sandral, G. C. Reid, I. Mathieson, F. Lewis, and J. S. Satterthwaite. Women: Mrs Provan, Misses D. Smythe, D. Patchett, J. Eaton, K. Smythe, B. Sutherland. This team is one of the strongest to be sent away from the province to Otago. Provided some practice is put in on the asphalt before the week-end a fairly good showing should be made, although it is fairly safe to say that the Otago team will reap another sequence of wins. The team will travel to Dunedin by private cars, returning to Timaru on Sunday. Arrangements are in hand for a match with the Tengawai Sub-associa-tion at Maori Park on Saturday afternoon. On the last occasion when these two teams met, the Timaru clubs registered ar. easy victory, but the Subassociation is expected to put up a better showing this time, and an interesting match should result. B Grade In order ti bring finality to the B grade competition, the Association has decided to play Wai-iti v, St. Joseph’s, St. Joseph's side, however, has had one loss but has played an extra match. The Wai-iti men are r, very good lot, and the women are well up to the grade standard. The same can be said of the St. Joseph's team, and if both sides are at full strength, a very Interesting and even struggle should result. In the C grade St. John’s were successful this season, and Fairview, with three wins, runner-up. Wai-iti v. Timaru Right up till the last minute of play the result of the match between Timaru and Wai-iti- was uncertain. Throughout the day, each team had registered even performances, but with Wai-iti slightly in the lead as a result of good wins in the men’s doubles. Morrison and Blanchard registered a valuable 9 love win against Roberts and Shields, but Barr and Souter were superior to Reid and Taylor.

The four women’s events went to Timaru. and Miss D. Smythe's defeat of Mrs Provan to some extent equalised the doubles loss of the Timaru men. With the mixed doubles yet to play and one single, the result vras still open, the two wins in this section giving Timaru a fighting chance, as Reid was leading in his single with Barr. Reid led 8-1, but a. this stage Barr improved his game while Reid steadied up, and Barr collected three games before going down. Blanchard and Miss Hayward were leading 6-3 against Shields and Miss Patchett, the matches at this stage being 8-7 in Timaru’s favour. Blanchard’s serve in the thirteenth game proved a lucky one for him, for after being love 30 town, as a result of two forehand drives by Miss Patchett, Shield’s return and the next 4 points points went to Wai-iti together with the match by a majority of two games' and the title of champions of South Canterbury, tor the first time since 1911.

Wai-iti's side, as disclosed by the results of inter-club competitions has been most consistent throughout the season, and has a margin of three sets over the runners-up, Aorangi I, although the Aorangi side have a slight lead in games. The province is suffering a further loss in its representative side by the departure of A. C. Barr for Takaka. During the few years that he has been in Timaru he has proved a tower of strength to his club and to the province, and has also been a valuable member on the Management Committee. Timaru tennis players will all wish him a very happy time in his new home. Ranking List Matches In recent ranking list matches I. Mathieson defeated F. G. Lewis 6-0, 6-1 and Miss K. Smythe defeated Miss B. Sutherland 6-2, 2-6, 7-5. The closing day of the Aorangi Club has been set down for Saturday April 17. W. E. Renton, owe 40, defeated H. Norris owe 5-6, by 9-6 In the final of the men’s handicap singles. Picnics are becoming a popular feature of the social side of tennis in Timaru, aid the Timaru and Aorangi clubs have both held very enjoyable outings. Juniors are reminded that entries for the New Zealand junior tennis championships at Wellington close with the local secretary on Monday. REPRESENTATIVE TEAM The following have been chosen to represent the South Canterbury Association against the Te Ngawai Sub-

Association at Maori Hill Courts on Saturday, at 1.30 p.m.:—J. Milliken, R. T. Shells, P. Durning, T. Morrison,’ E. W. D. Unwin, W. M. Sexton (captain), Misses M. Jefferson, M. Callaghan, :.I. White, C. Venning, M. Sexton and B. Drennan.