LAWN TENNIS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2815, 26 February 1908, Page 65

LAWN TENNIS.

BY RACQUET.

The following is the position of_ the various teams in the Banner Competitions up to date : — \ A GRADE. to

The Boslyn .Tennis Club intend holding a moonlight concert early in 'Match, with the object of helping- to redfuee jts /heavydebt. A splendid! programme Bas been arranged for -the occasion, refreshment's will be procurable, and in all probability a dance" will be held on the* courts. It Is sincerely hoped that the public, and tennis enthusiasts in particular, will roll up in. large force to assist the enterprising Hill club. I understand that the Association are adding a Boys and Girls' Championship eventto the Easter programme. This should prove a very interesting attraction. The '"Varsity" hold their inter-collegiate tournament on Easter Saturday and Tues- j | day on the Kaituna Courts. The Otago re- j j presentatives are scarcely as strong as in ■. j former years, although they may be ex- i I peeled to give a good account of themselves. " ~ >i Some very interesting finishes have taken place in the Otago Club's Tournament- ! Mias' Bauchop, in the Ladies' Championship Singles, met MiastO. Royse in the semi-final, • but was unable -to do. anything, with the latter,* who won decisively. these Utd'fts pl»y a f»ea driving jameon both hands, and consequently some excellent rallies were the outcome. Miss Royse is at present playing at her best. The final wili* be fought out between Miss Royse and Miss Mackerras. fn the Men's Championship Singles, Bundle trill most probably be the one to challenge the present holder, C. G. White. A rather good double was played off last Wednesday between Sinclair and Jones, and Irvine and Sise. The former were conceding IS points In a game of 52 up. The latter pair held, their handicap for some time, but gradually their 'opponents gained" on them, until the score reached 48 — 50 in favour- of Irvine and Sise, who won the following two and frame. This bring* them into the final. The «snue was conspicuous by die splendid lobbing on the part of Irvine and Siae, -which disconcerted their opponents. Sinclair and Jones were both serving well, and killed anything near the' net with deadly certainty. * Hutkfock and Jardine unexpectedly be*t White and J. Ewen in the same event. Although the latter were owing a oonsider- | able amount, it was expected that they ; would just about win, as White is mosfcro- : sourceful in a double, and' gets ballg back

with effect which most players would giv< up as lost. Ewen, on the other ihand, i: not at present in good form. He has i splendid forehand drive and a spl-endic smash across the court, but. is lamentabl3 weak on his back hand. Ruddock and Jar dine are both hard hitters and smatfh witl great finality, and on their day are hare • to beat. T. Sutcliffe showed some of his old forn; lataly. In & combined 'tournament wit! Miss Nicolson as his partner, he beat P Braithwaite and Miss Goodman. This .': something of an achievement, as Miss Good man is one of Otago's best combined playeri and Biaithwaite is at his best in this event while, on €he other hand, Miss Nicolson is only in Kaituna's "B" grade, and Sutcliff« himself does not give the game the practice ,it requires. Those who have seen hinc play will readily remember his winning drive on the forehand from the top of the j bounce. It is probably one of the bes< ] winning shots that could be witnessed. Hu | undoubted weakness is on his backhand. Brny beat C. 3. Braithwaite in the Singles ! without a great amount of effort. At th« same time both these players at all time! give a pretty exhibition of the game. AUCKLAND, February 23. j The annual interprovincial tennis contesi ; between Auckland^ and Taranaki took place yesterday, Aucklah cfwiiming by li to 8, an<3 thus securing the banner for the' first time. ...

Jl I f Otago .. -... ..550 Port ' Chalmers .... 5 4 1 Kaittma No. 1 .., 5 3 2 Roslyn -.. .. .. 5 2 2 Balmacew-en .... 5 2 2 N.E. Valley - „ .. 5 2 3 Kaitrma. No. 2 .... S X 4 Haunuro ...... 5 0 ' 5 B GKAHE. Anderson's Bay,.' ..4 4 0 Otago .5 4 1 Hauxaro 5 4 1 Eoalyn 4 3 1 Kaitun* tt. .. ..4 2. 2 Balroacewen .. r. 5 1 4 Mosgiel ...... 4 1 3 Si Hilda 5 1 4 N.E. Valley .... 4 0 4 a ft 1 1 |!§ •f o ma, 10 8 6 5 5 4 a 0 8 8 8 6 4 a 2 0