LAWN TENNIS

Evening Star, Issue 19805, 2 March 1928, Page 12

LAWN TENNIS

[By Recorder.]

THE SOUTHLAND MATCH. Southland, though defeated last Saturday, should have every reason to be pleased with the showing put up by its representatives. With four of their leading ladies absent they put up an excellent fight, breaking even in the doubles matches and winning two mixed doubles. The visiting ladies showed more enterprise than the men, Misses Melvin and Mahoney especially hitting out well. Sumpter was the best of the men, and he was unlucky iu not taking the second set from Bray. He said himself, however, that he would never have get the third set, and gave his opponent every credit for taking six games in sequence for the match when behind at 1-5 in the second set.

Lindsay, one of the best-known players in Southland, was much too erratic, and played a poor game against M'Dougall, who took the first set to love. Ho improved in tho second set, but was still no match for the Otago man, who ran out a winner, 0-3, 6-0._ Lindsay gave a vastly improved display in the first men’s double with Sumpter, and the Southland pair’s win over Bray and Guy in straight sets was really the best performance of the day. Driving and smashing well, the visitors ran to a 4-Jove lead before Otago scored. Consistent lobbing by Lindsay drive the opposing pair from the net, and the Southlanders, when lobbed to in turn, were much more deadly overhead. Great driving gave the next two games to Southland, and the sot 6-1. In the second set things were more even, but Sumpter repeatedly aced Bray with his return of service, driving hard to the backhand court. Lindsay was the steadiest, of the four, while his high bounding service kept the opposition on the defensive all the time. At 6-5 and deuce to Southland Lindsay smashed a ball so that it bounced over the fence, much to his delight, and for the match point Sumpter volleyed one short, off the wood, the visitors thus winning an interesting match, 6-1, 7-5. Another men’s _ double went to Southland when Diack and Johnstone defeated M'Dougall and Bell, 7-5, 7-5. The Otago pair did not combine well, while Beil was right off his service, ending up with two double faults iu the last game. In the second set Southland ran to a 5-1 lead, but the Otago pair steadied up and took four games in sequence to even the score. M'Dougall was playing excellently, while Bell was driving well at this stage. After this recovery the Otago players were expected to take the set, but they fell into errors the nest two games, Southland winning 7-5. Diack and Johnstone (better known as Otago and Southland football representatives) played a steady if rather unenterprising game. Diack’s game is somewhat like his football—he is eminently safe and orthodox, never missing*, the easy shots. He was very sound overhead, without being deadly, and volleyed well. Johnstone has a good drive, and was playing better than his partner over the concluding stages of the game. Miss Pattison played well against Miss Melvin, but was somewhat erratic over the latter part of the match. The visitor took tho first game on her service, but Miss Pattison ran to 2-1, and then a 6-2 lead, six of these eight games being deuce ones. Miss Melvin took the next game after seven deuces to make it 6-3, but tho tenth and eleventh games went to Otago. At 3-8 down Miss Melvin made a great recovery, taking three games in sequence to reach 6-8. In the next game she reached 30-lovc, when a sideline drive for 40-love, missed by an inch, Miss Pattison taking the game and set 0-6 after some exciting rallies. The Southland lady played really well, and though Miss Pattison deserved to win there was not much between tho players. Miss Mahoney (Southland) was too severe on her forehand for Miss Finch, who commenced badly, allowing her opponent to run to a 5-1 lead. The Otago lady was accurate with her backhand, but could not strike a length with her forehand, overhitting many easy balls. Over the concluding stages Miss Finch improved, serving particularly well, but the leeway was too much to make up, the Southlander winning a-6, •

Bell gave his best performance of the day in his single against Johnstone, the Cosy Dell man serving and driving solidly. .Keeping his opponent back irom the net, Bell appeared to relish the fairly-fast stuff he was getting, and the issue was never in doubt, the Otago man winning 6-2, 6-3.

Rawlinson was all out against Diack, and found his opponent a tough nut to crack. Diack started off well, allowing his opponent only 12 points in the first set, which he took 6-1. in the second set Diack fell into errors at the net, while llawlinson, playing carefully if unenterprising!}’, improved to take the sot 6-3. The final set was closer, Rawlinson ultimately winning 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 after a very moderate display. Mrs Chartres and Miss Ramsay had a long match which was closer than the score (9-6) indicates. Games went with the service to 5 all, tho Southlander then winning four douce games for tho match. Miss Ramsay played steadily, hut appeared to he worried by the cut her opponent was putting on the ball, and thus hit many halls into the net by not allowing for this. Miss Todd gave a display of driving right up to her best form against Miss Price. She was up against a weaker player than herself, and could afford to take risks, and they came off. The visitor played steadily, but rallies frequently ended with a hard skimming drive that left her standing. Jensen and Hughes provided one of the most attractive singles of the match, both playing an open game. The visitor is a young player new to representative honors, but on his form he thoroughly justified his inclusion. Handicapped somewhat by an injured foot, he nevertheless put up a good fight against the left-hander, especially in the second set, Jensen winning 6-4 after 4-all had been called.