LAWN TENNIS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 109, 4 November 1939, Page 22

LAWN TENNIS

RANKING PLAY

CHAMPIONSHIP TROPHIES

The first phase of importance in the present tennis season will commence in Wellington tomorrow with the start of ranking play at Miramar, on the basis of which the teams to compete for championship trophies will be selected. The Wellington Lawn Tennis Association has decided to .challenge for the Wilding Shield, at present held by Canterbury, but has yet to settle whether a challenge will be sent in for the Nunneley Shield, the women's championship trophy, at present held by Canterbury.

As in the past the teams to represent Wellington for these trophies will be selected on the results of the ranking matches, but this year ranking play will be conducted qri a new system aimed at ascertaining the relative; ability of players more quickly and efficiently than under the old system. In the men's section players . are being classified into groups tentatively based on the ranking position at the close of last season. The eight men in the first group will be known as the Wilding Shield squad> though the individuals composing that squad may be altered as ranking play progresses. Groups lower in the ranking list will play between themselves so that each player will meet every other member of his own group. If the selection committee is of the opinion that one member of the second group is of sufficient merit they can decide to give him a trial in the Wilding Shield squad.

On the basis of the ranking at the close of last season it is probable that the Shield squad^ which will not be finally selected until tomorrow, will contain'the following:—l»T. V: Edwards, D. G. France, E. A. Roussell, R. McL. Ferkins, S: Painter, K. W. Dyer, T. Lyons, and M.. Ferkins. .

,R. V. Howe, winner of the men's singles in the Easter tournament, was away from Wellington for the greater part of last season and did not take part in ranking play. For that reason it is probable that he will be placed in the second group to begin with, but provided he maintains his last season's form his : eventual inclusion in the Wilding Shield squad is likely.

So far entries received in the women's section are only sufficient to make up one group, but that will be known meanwhile as the Nunneley Shield squad until a decision is reached about a challenge.