LAWN TENNIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 43, 20 February 1926, Page 25

LAWN TENNIS.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

The A grade interclub matches played on Saturday last did not produce spirited contests, the winners of each section Remuera and Eden and Epsom, respectively, notching easy victories. In the former match the Parnell club showed up better in doubles play than in singles. In first men's doubles, Lamb and Robertson had Remuera's first pair well extended, and their third pair Avere successful in recording one of the few victories scored by the Parnell club. The ladies' play was considerably a standard below that of the men, and some of them, notably Miss Fearnley, rather overdo the lobbing, a useful, indeed a necessary equipment in ladies' play; it should be used only when an opponent is at the net, not a'; the back of the court. Jiiss Fear-ley showed up quite well in her match against Mrs. Scott-Watson, who is finding the younger school too active. It is a peculiarity of the Kemuera ladies that they eschew lobbing; it is rather thought to be infra dig. in this club, although considered the foundation of the ladies' game by tennis critics. c At Eden and Epsom, the Birkonhead and Northeote Club was quite unable to cope with the champion club's standard of tennis. Renniera and liden and Epsom now meet in the final on March (i, and an even contest is anticipated. Last year Eden and Epsom won, although the result was only decided on the last match. This year each side is determined to put up a good light, and a considerable amount of argument is taking place at the clubs over the respective merits of the teams. The visit of the Hamilton Club to the Onehunga Club's courts last Saturday was most enjoyable, and engendered a fine spirit of good sportsmanship. Although beaten somewhafc easily, the members of the Waikato chib put up some excellent contests, and wore without some of their leading players. Visits of this nature between country and town clubs should be encouraged, and other town clubs should follow the example of Onehunga, which has always paid attention to the social life of the club, greatly to the benefit of its members. The Auckland Association is always ready to receive requests from country clubs wishing to have visits from Auckland teams, and arranges to select players of a grade equal to that of the club visited. These visits are enjoyable to the city players, for country clubs are noted for their hospitality, and a visit of this description is interesting to country players, as meeting new styles improves their play. Matches are being at present arranged with the Waikato, Goldfields and Franklin Associations, and during the next month or so several teams should make visits to country districts. The triumph of Jack Hawkes, the Davis Cup player, who passed through here last November and played in exhibition matches at the Australian championships held at Adelaide, will make interesting reading to Aucklanders, for Hawkes has made himself popular amongst us. He has always been well up at the Australian championships, and this year is a triple winner, having won the singles and the doubles with Patterson, and partnered by Miss Boyd, the final of the mixed. His achievement in the singles was no mean one, for Australia had a full entry including Patterson, Anderson, Schlesinger, and O'HaraWood. Good for Hawkes! Patterson's defeat by Moon is now past history, and the latter's future is being closely watched to determine whether he is a coming Davis Cup player or only a flash in the pan. On the match in which E. T. Rowe, of South Australia, beat him, he took the first set to love in five minutes, losing only five points during the set. This is probably a record. Moon's services were devastating, and consequently ' rallies were non-existent. However, he could not maintain the pace, and Rowe got him in the fifth set. A man capable of such a brilliant display, even if only short lived, is worth watching in respect of future development. He certainly provided enough sensation at the tournament lately concluded. Hawke's chief victory was against Anderson, who had put out O'HaraWood. The tall Australian does not seem.to be the man of a year or so ago, and Hawkes has the advantage of knowing his play. He was also beaten recently by Patterson in an interstate match. In the doubles the great combination, Patterson and Hawkes, triumphed over other strong pairs. When away with the last Davis Cup team, this pair was acclaimed the best combination in the world, but in subsequent matches they just failed to stave off attack, and so sustain their reputation. In the ladies' singles, Miss Akhurst was successful in again retaining the title. It is noteworthy that Mrs. Martin (nee Miss Gray) be.at Miss Akhurst a week or two earlier 6—2, 6. —2; it is a pity Mrs. Martin was not a competitor at Adelaide. Gambling on ,the result of big tennis matches seems to be getting quite a footing on the Continent, and the recent extraordinary excitement and publicity over the meeting of Miss Helen Wills and Mdlle. Lenglen will probably cause some discussion and possibly legislation next time the Tennis Federation meets. Tennis has always been kept particularly free from betting and the regular jargon of the boxing ring, and it is not comforting to find so much fuss being made over the meeting of two such fine players, who are, under present conditions, defenceless in this respect. Clean, hard games free from any taint or undue influence from the spectators must be maintained if the sport is to remain popular and flourish. The use of the term Americanised commercialism is applied to the propaganda and betting is amfair to the American association. It is sometimes applied to the nation but in respect to tennis is well astray, for anyone following tennis closely knows that the American association cads the world in the cleanliness of its sport. It was the first to prohibit its players lending their names to a particular make of racquet, and its strong fight over the playerwriter rule is world's history. It will be interesting to see what its move is over this new phase. The result of the match is very creditable to Miss Wills, who, playing under great excitement, and with strange balls, was able to extend Mdlle. Lenglen to the extent of G — s t i —g, at their first meeting. It is over a year since anyone approached the taking of a set from the champion. ...••■ \^