LAWN TENNIS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18901, 28 October 1929, Page 9

LAWN TENNIS.

bartleet, the champion. The following appreciation of E. L. Bartleet, the present New Zealand champion, has been penned by “ Forehand, ’’ of the “Dominion”: —“Aucklanders are very fortunate to have in their midst such a player as Bartleet. He is a model of correct style, and one on whom the keen player would do well to found a sound forehand and backhand drive and excellent service. Bartleet is probably the finest server in New Zealand, even though, at his best, Sturt may be a little faster. Bartleet is not tall or very solidly built, yet by throwing the ball up so as to utilise all his inches, and also to permit the weight of his body to go into the stroke, he gets speed and accuracy without sacrifice of physical resources. Also he uses his head well in placing his service. As with his service so -with his j driving, both forehand and backhand. ! lie gets all the weight of his body into j the stroke, and this with perfect timI ing, makes the ball travel fast with a minimum of expenditure of energy. ! Bartleet, too, keeps a good court position. A baseliner by preference, he can move quickly over the court, but, because he does all his running between strokes he seems always to be moving easily and freely conserving always his ; resources. The result of sound coaching received in England, he plays every shot as though it was, and indeed is [ the chief business in hand. The ball comes from his racquet cleanly to the [ desired part of the court. He may [ make mistakes, but they are mistakes inseparable from the game so long as mortals are not infallible. If his game has any weakness it is in a little unce-* tainty overhead (though that is not al i ways so), and the fact that there is not a sufficient variation from his plain, well-placed driving game. He has not a great assortment of strokes even though the ones he has are so fine and have been sufficient to win him the New Zealand championship and to hold him among the outstanding players of the Dominion for so many seasons now.” Close Doubles Match. It is very gratifying to record that even at this early stage of the season interest is being taken in the Otago provincial ladders (says a Dunedin writer). Already the competitive spirit has manifested itself in several challenges. Moody and Guy have advanced to second position on the men’s doubles ladder by defeating Bray and Duthie, 8-6, 6-8, 9-7. As the score would indicate, the match was very closely contested, and gave each of the four players some splendid practice—indeed, one or two games of this type a week would make a great difference to our leading players. The match, which was played at the Otago courts, occupied fully two hours, and during a good part of that time it attracted quite a “ gallery ” of onlookers, who were treated to some sparkling tennis. Bray Beats Guy. Bray retained first place on the Otago men’s singles ladder on Monday night by defeating Guy, 7-5, 6-2, thus reversing the result of the interclub match played a week earlier, when Guy won, 9-0. Bray, however, proved that that was not his true form, and showed that he still occupies an assured place in the game in Dunedin. Guy opened with a very accurate driving game and led 5-3, but Bray then took four games in succession and won the set, 7-5. Going on, Bray led 3-0 in the second set, making seven consecutive games, and he held the lead at 4-1 and 5-1, eventually going out at 6-2. It was a wellcontested match for the most part, but Bray showed a greater ability to vary his game, and Guy found these changing tactics rather disconcerting. Both men were driving well and there were some sustained duels, in which Bray returned shot for shot with his opponent until an opening offered. He also scored by passing Guy at the net, and on occasions by the use of judicious lobs. In short, it was a victory for good play combined with good generalship. GIRLS' RANKING LIST. The following ranking list for girls has been drawn up by the Canterbury Junior Lawn Tennis Association: 1, Morrison, 1.; 2, Poole, I.; 3, Mathie-sc-n, M.; 4, Tipping. B.; 5. Maginness, J.; G, Blunden, N.; 7, Dickson, C.; 8, Poole, T.; .9, Prime, J.: 10, Munns, M.; 11, Dick. N.: 12, Herdmati, L.; 13, Cannon, F.; 14, Turner, K.; 15, Burt, J.; 16, Ogilvie, R.; 17, Alexander, M.; IS, Macßeth, N.; 19. Leggett, M.; 20, M’Combs, P.; 21, Wright, I.; 22, Beadel, H.; 23, Kernahan, D.; 24, Gerrard, D.; 25, M’Crostie, N.; 26, Levvey, L.; 27, Mayo, S.; 28, Raiding, J.; 29, Hall, R.; 30, Wooler. S.; 31, Gebbie, J.; 32, Jones, O.; 33, Buchanan, J.: 34, Royds, R.; 35, Hillary, J.; 36, Clifton Mogg, M. The first twelve may challenge the one immediately above; the second twelve may challenge any one of two immediately above; the third twelve may challenge any one of three immediately above. ('liallenge matches may be played at Wilding Park on Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings, or on any courts as may be mutually arranged between the players. Entries for Saturday morning’s Yankee tournaments close with the secretary to-night; late entries will be accepted till 4 p.m. Wednesday at Wilding Park. There will be boys and girls’ singles and doubles and combined events. Play will commence at Wilding Park next Saturday at 9 a.m. and will continue till twelve o’clock: special arrangements will be made for players who find it necessary to start their games later, or who have to get away early. All of the events may he divided into two or three grades if desirable. All boys and girls who are free on any Saturday mornings should enter for these events even though they may wot be able to go through the whole series every Saturday. Singles are handicaps. The doubles and combined events are progressive Yankee, and will be decided on the total games scored in the series.