TENNIS

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17013, 11 April 1923, Page 3

TENNIS

Describing the Inter-varsity singles • dial the (Hugo Daily Times says:— “ The final of the Men’s Championship Singles provided a rare fighting content. In the first set Seay (Canterbury) ran away from Smyth (Otago), and won 0-i. In the second Smyth settled down to a stern light, and led Seay 4-3. Seay pulled up and passed him, leading o-4 and 6-5. In the following game Seay missed a great chance of finishing off by smashing into the net, but- Smyth never lost his nerve, and, after bav ing the advantage consistently against him quite half a dozen times, eventually won the game, and drew level, 6 ‘id l .- The next was a deuce game, which iho local man also took by a number of accurate shots to the backhand corner, which Seay did not seem to relish. The next one Seay took, Smyth netting an easy one, and in the following game Seay recaptured the lead, 8-7 Smyth

was still to be reckoned with, however, and evened up once more by taking the next game to 15 off his own service. After leading 40-love, however, he lost the following game. The next, which was the last, went to deuce three times, and finally Smyth ended it in Seay’s favour by netting. In the course of tl.e contest Seay had been within a point of victory no fewer than nine times, and each time Smyth had recovered.” The same writer says of the doubles: • Wilkinson and Smyth, of Otago, met Loughnnn and Seay, of Canterbury, in the final of the men’s doubles. In the first set the Canterbury men scored as they liked and annexed the set 6-0 before the Otago players began to show form. Smyth was right on his game for the time being, and got little support from Wilkinson. The second set was more interesting and gave some glimpses of high-class tennis. Otago took the first game off Smyth’s serving largely owing to his superior placing. The visitors took the next three games but had to fight all the way. Smyth again won off his serve, making the score 3-2 in Canterbury’s favour. I.cughnan finished off the next game in Canterbury’* favour with two unt« uchable serves. The seventh game wont to Otago, alter deuce had been called six times. The next game was the deciding one. After Canterbury had led 40-15 good shots by Wilkinson took the score to deuce, but Loughnan ended the game shortly after with a lightning serve that never rose. The m xt game went easily to the visitors and with it the set and match and a tie for the challenge cup.” , One of the surprises of the Dunedin \ arsity tournament was the defeat of Miss B. Knight, of Auckland, the holder, by Alis-s \\ . Partridge 9-1. Aiiss Knight is regarded as the second Auckland lady, and played in that position against the New South Wale.-, Indies. Aiiss Partridge, however, went down to Aiiss Ballantyne (the winner) 9-3. Of this, match the “Otago Daily Times” says:—‘The game between Aiiss Ballantyne and Aiiss W. Partridge was much more even than the score would indicate. There was some excellent uet play on both sides and .\liss Ballantyne won on her slightly

superior steadiness. In the final Aiiss Ballantyne gave Aiiss Pragnell no cl:a nee and won 9-0.” The final* of the Otago Men’s Singles Championship between Bray and S. G. Al’Dougall does not admit of much de scription (says the “ Otago Daily Times”). In the face of the conditions it was impossible to expect a high-class display, and there is no u®e denying the fact that it was a very ordinary sort of game. M’Dougall remained on the back-lino throughout, recognising that the wind would only impose an additional handicap on his overhead play—a department of the game in which he is not especially strong. Bray, on the other hand, is very certain in the air, and early in the game he ventured to the net fairly frequently, but when he found Al’Dougall passing him regularly lie too retired to the back-line and the game settled down to a duel of driving, and not fast driving at that. In the first set Al’Dougall served splendidly and drove deep down the court to Bray’s forehand, and when he had worked him out of position he sent a crisp shot to Bray’s left side-line with which he scored many aces. In the second set M’Dougall led 3-1. and 5-2, when Bray changed his tactics, and staying back in the court he chopped and drove to the aide-lines in an endeavour to break down M’Dougall’s former accuracy. He succeeded to such an extent that he took four games in a row and lod 6-5 lor the first time in the match. But Al’Dougall ivas not done with yet. and he must be accounted rather unfortunate to have lost the set. After squaring the score at six all, ho led 7-6 and S-7, but Bray took the next throe games in succession and the match. In the third set M’Dougall made most of the errors and Brny quickly ran to 5-0, winning 6-0 after a long deuce, game. He also held command of the situation in the fourth set in which he led 3-1 and 4-2. and won 6-2. This is

On all Iho Courts

the seoend time Bray has won the Otago > Singles Championship, the previous occasion having been in 1921 when he defeated M’Dougall in straight sets—6-2. 6-3. 6-3. Last vear Bray was defeated by A. AY. Sims--6-0, 6-3. and Al’Dougall was defeated in the first round by his brother. C. Al’Dougall. Airs Melody (Wellington) heat Aiiss M’l -aren (Dupedin) in the final of the Otago Championship 6-2, 3-6, 6-3. Aiiss AUKaren was the only lady to win games off Airs Melocly, but the -Wellington ladv’s undercut drives were too much for the Dunedin lady, w ho could not get her forehand drive going. The teant to represent Australasia, in the Davis Cup will not bo a~s strong as 'la.st year’s, says “ Austral ” in the Re feree.” Gerald Patterson. P. O’Hara Wood and J. B. J-Jaw Ires have stated that they cannot go, and of these there is little hope of change of mind, save, perhaps, as to Hawkos. J. O. Anderson at first stated that he would not be able to make the trip, hilt, now he will, bo able to do so. The difficulty will he to get another player of full Davis Cup strength to go with him. j Norman Brookes intends to go to England this year, and his recent form in doubles has been so high that he and Anderson would make a pair that could probably defeat any pair in the world to-dav, ,-outside the best that America could produce, and even against their best, the chances in the doubled would bo fair. J. O. Anderson could be relied on to win all his singles matches. Or, at the very least, it would only be some mishap of the green that would cause him to lie defeated. Kingscote, for instance, might in his best mood defeat him ; but Brookes might defeat ; any other player in a team from Great Britain, and even Kingscote himself. Tf Hawkes could bo induced to go then lie might, in view of his undoubted improvement, win one or both of bis singles'matches, save against the American champions. The fourth place could, lie given to some promising colt-Soh-1 ©singer, for instance, has just beaten Patterson. It suggests that the Victorian colt, improving on tour, might well win against all but the very best. It is never possible to say Wylien a. brilliant colt. like Selllesitiger was in November will suddenlv blossom forth into full Davis Cup form. Often a budding front-rank player is held back by natural modesty, aud then, finding himself, attacks where before lie defended, and Io! another champion is born. G. At. Hone, of Adelaide, and I. D. Al’lnnes are both strong enough on recent form. A. Sieler and F. Kalins would improve greatly and be future assets. It is to be hoped that anyone asked to play will do bis best to go. It has happened in the past, in inter-Stat© teams, t hatplayers have hung back until the following year because they were not satisfied with tli© strength of their proposed team mates. That savours of selfishness, and. moreover, they incur the danger that next, vear other players may have arisen of greater strength, and their chance will then have gone. Atainly. it would seem as if we should have to roly once more, ns we have so often done, on Norman Brookes. Tf be can v see. his wav clear to make yet another trip, his presence will be worth a great deal, as guide, as captain, as player, and as an ambassador of sport. He would be welcomed with open arms in America- In doubles he is still facile prince-ps. and could hold his own with most in singles. He and Anderson would form the nucleus of a. very strong team.