LAWN TENNIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 201, 26 August 1930, Page 14

LAWN TENNIS.

NEW ZEALAND RANKINGS.

SOME SURPRISES IN PLACING.

(By Telegraph.—Special to " Star.")

WELLINGTON, Monday,

Surprises abound in the 1930 ranking list, which is issued by the New-Zealand Lawn Tennis Association. C. E. Malfroy, who was not chosen for the New Zealand Test team against Australia last season is ranked two places above N. li. C. Wilson, who was in the team, and one place ahead of- I. A. Seay, who was chosen as emergency. In the ladies' list, Mrs. R. P. Adams is placed above the Misses Andrew, Wake and Whyte, whom the selectors have been unable to separate.

Wellington reveals itself as having the highest standard of ranked players for the season just past, for it gains eight of the twenty placcs in tho two ranking lists for men and women. Auckland comes next with six, while Canterbury gets four. Wanganui and South Canterbury get one player each into the first ten, both ladies.

There was a change in method of ranking this year, for the old ranking committee was abolished, and a small committee appointed to perform the preparatory work. Tho actual work of ranking was done by the whole management committee, a method'of procedure which might be expected to involve difficulty, because of diverging opinions on the part of a larger number of men, and evidently did. The management, committee has confessed itself unable to separate Bartleet and Malfroy for third place on the men's ladder, Wilson, Stedman and Sturt for sixth place, and the Misses Andrew, Wake and Whyte for a similar position on the women's list.

About the title of C, Angas, of Canterbury, to first place among tlie me", there is no doubt. He won North Island, South Island and New Zealand singles championships and defeated both F. Ivalms and C. Sproulc, the two Australian top men, in the South Island's match with Australia. D. G!, France.is No, 2on the strength of his position as runner-up in the New Zealand singles championship, and defeat of F. KnUns in" the North Island-Australia match, besides his win over Angas in tho Canterbury-Welling-ton Wilding Shield . event. Ho played little first-class tennis last season, out also Avon the New Zealand doubles. The selectors, however, announce that the ranking is made oil singles play only. Scay won the Wellington singles championship, readied the semi-final of the New Zealand championship in convincing form and had one or two close matches with Angas. Malfroy won tho Hawkc's Bay and Hastings singles, was defoated by Angas in the final of the North Island singles and the eomi-final of the New Zealand singles, each 1 imo in five sets, and won the Now Zealand doubles with France. Bart lee t apparently gains his position on his play lator in tho season against Sturt and Stednian, though ho did not meet Malfroy, Seay, Angas or Wilson, all of whom lie is ranked above. Malfroy's record appears definitely better than that of Bartleet, while Wilson has beaten Stedman, who won the Wairarapa tournament singles, and no less than four doubles championships, while he also appeared in the final of the'NoW Zealand doubles with Wilson against France and Malfroy. Wilson's chief performance was in winning the New Zealand mixed, and also three of his four singles matches against the visiting "Australians, two in the North Island' Australia match and one in' the Test. Sturt made a magnificent fight against Malfroy at the New Zeailaiul championships, and won the Auckland doubles with Stedman. A. I). France's sole appearance outpide of-the. New Zealand championships, in. which lie did not perform well, was in reaching the final of the Wellington championships singles where he was badly beaten by Seay, and he appears lucky to be ranked. A new name in J. C. Charters, of Auckland, who won the North Auckland, Waipawa and Waipukurau singles, and Taranaki, Wairarapa, Waipawa and Waipukurau doubles. ■ The ladies' list is- headed by Miss D, Nicliolls, whose claim is -obvious,' but about other players there is certain to be much dispute because of the mixed e,eason. Topsy-turvy results abounded. The •list'is:-—

' ; , MEN. 1. C. Angas (Canterbury). 2. D. G. France (Wellington). 3. E. L. Bartleet (Auckland), and C. ~E. Malfroy-'(Wellington). 5. I. A, Seay (Canterbury). 6. N. R. O. Wilson (Wellington), A. 0. Stedman (Auckland) and N. G. Sturt (Auckland). 9. A. L. France (Wellington). : 10. J. C. Charters (Auckland). WOMEN. 1. Miss D. Nicholls (Wellington). 2. Mrs. W. J. Melody (Wellington). 3. Miss M. Macfarlane (Auckland). 4. Miss M. Myers .(Waugqnui). , /: 5. Mrs. R.'P. Adafne. (Wellington). C. Miss M. Andrew, Miss- M. • Wake (Canterbury), and Miss M, Whyte (Wellington). 9. Mrs. W. A. Scott (South Canterbury). " ' . 10. Miss B. Knight (Auckland).