TENNIS TOURISTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 302, 21 December 1926, Page 5

TENNIS TOURISTS.

VISITING .CHAMPIONS. N.S.W. TEAM ARRIVES. KALMS UNABLE TO COME. The New South Wales lawn tennis team, which is to compete in the New Zealand championship tournament commencing at Auckland on December 27. arrived by the Maunganui to-day from Sydney. The team comprises Frank Peach (captain. Norman Peach. Dr. A. 1.. North. J. McCausland. J. Fitzgerald and C. C. Brewster, with Mr. E. B. McKay as manager.

Also on the Maunganui were .Misses N. Lloyd and J. Watson, two of the leading lady players in New South Wales. They will compete at the Dominion championships, hut are not members of the official team. "Had Kalms come, I consider we would have had an excellent chance of winning, but without him we expect to have a severe fight and we will be delighted if -we can take back the ashes which we lost in 1923, when a State team was over this side," said the manager on arrival this morning. Mr. McKay explained that great disappointment was occasioned by the sudden illness of Kalms. a couple of days before the departure of the boat. His passage had been booked when he developed internal trouble and had to enter a private hospital, where he is expected to remain for a month. With Kalms and Norman Peach, two Davis Cup players, the team would have been an exceptionally strong one. What the Players Have Done. The captain of the team. Frank Peach, has represented his State on several occasions. He is president of the NewSouth Wales Lawn Tennis Association. This is the third official trip to New Zealand, having toured the Dominion with teams in 1920 and 1923. He has won several doubles championships in his own State, and has been in the first flight of players for many years. Norman Peach, who will, of course, be first string, captained the Australian Davis Cup team to America in 1921. lie has won every State championship, singles and doubles, in Australia, and is one of the best known of present-day Australian players. Last year he won the N.S.W. championship and captained the State team against Victoria. Both he and his brother are well known lo New Zealanders, Norman being born in Wellington. Although Frank was born in England, he was educated in New Zealand, and left the Dominion for New South Wales in 1902. Both were educated at Heretaunga School, and Frank completed his schooling at St. John's College, Auckland. Dr. A. L. North has been a Xew South Wales representative since 191!). He captained the State team against Victoria last year, and also played against a New Zealand team which went across last May. He has won several important events in recent years. It is his first official visit to New Zealand. J. HMcCausland has represented the State several times and has won a number of minor championships. The name of HMcCausland will recall to footballers the name of E. E. McCausland, who captained the All Black team to England in 1888. The footballer, who was ;> famous five-eighths, was the father of the tennis player. HMcCausland "has represented his State twice against Queensland, once at Brisbane and once at Sydney. J. Fitzgerald has also represented his State against Queensland. This he did in 1919-20-24-25. He also played against South Australia in 1924. A player of the all round solid type, Fitzgerald has a particularly strong backhand. First Appearance Christmas Day. C. C. Brewster, one of Sydney's most promising colts, was included in the team when it was found that Kalms could not make the trip. He is a leading player in the Sydney University team. The manager, E. B. McKay, is a New Zealander. and was born in Jjivercargill, where he is well known in cricket circles. He was for a long period secretary of the. New South Wales Lawn Tennis Association. A welcome was extended to the visitors by Mr. E. W. Griffiths, president of the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association, and prominent players. To-mor-row a civic reception will be tendered the team at the Town Hall. Practice is to commence, immediately. The first official appearance of the team will be made on the afternoon of Christmas Day. when they will play a series of exhibition matches against an Auckland side at the Stanley Street courts.