LAWN TENNIS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 262, 5 November 1930, Page 15

LAWN TENNIS.

CLUB GAMES COMMENCE.

PARNELL AND ONEHUNGA OPEN.

LADDER POSITIONS

(By HALF-VOLLEY.)

A very wet Friday, followed by a Saturday morning warm but with little drying wind, left clubs in a quandary as to whether to open grass courts on Saturday afternoon. Paniell and One-' liunga were courageous enough to hold their opening ceremonies, but Remuera and Eden and Epsom postponed their openings, which will take place, in the usual way next Saturday. At Eden and Epsom play will definitely be allowed during the week if the weather is suflir i ciently line, and it is anticipated that the same course will be followed at Remuera. The Onehunga Club's courts were opened last Saturday by the president, Mr. Percy Harrison, who congratulated the club both on the fine courts With which they commenced the season ana on the possession of the large number of active committee workers and supporters, which has always been a characteristic feature of this club. The courts, which had dried very quickly, were in excellent order, and a good afternoon's tennis was enjoyed by members. At Parnell it was decided by the committee to go ahead with the official opening ceremony, but not to play. The courts will be open for play this week, and on Saturday next the usual "progressive" afternoon will be held. The Takapuna Club held its opening, and games were played there on grass; while the .Birkenhead and Northcote Club held the opening of its chip courts. Association Activities. Besides the ordinary inter-club competitions and the annual championship and handicap tournaments,- there are several other events to which the attention of the association should be drawn as worthy of a place in its activities for the coming season. The possible visit of a South African team, if it materialises, wifl be a welcome break in the season, of course, but the Auckland Association should do what it can to encourage interprovincial matches. A match' with Taranaki is already practically decided upon, but this will very possibly be held at New Plymouth. A match with Wellington would be a good "draw" at Stanley Street, and would be of some educational value to junior players if a representative team could be sent up. Could riot something be done now to commence negotiations? The "Invitation Doubles" tournament, too, which for some years was quite a successful event as a prelude to real championship tennis —it was usually held in December at Stanley Street—lapsed last year. It is hoped that a place can be found for it this year, for the doubles game of Auckland players is capable, generally speaking, of considerable improvement. Ladder Platings. The places on the association's ladders : at the close of last season wero ae follow:— Men's Singles.—l, E. L. Bartleet; 2, A. C. Stedman; 3, N. G. Sturt; 4, M. M. Morrison; 5, H. C. Rowlands; 6, W. H. Entwistle; 7, V. R. Johns; 8, E. W. •Griffiths; 9, S. Lamb; 10, H. Brinsden; 11, A. K. Turner; 12, V. N. Hubble; 13, W: G. Watkins; 14, G. Martin; 15, P. Potter; 16, A. Porter. Ladies' Singles.—l, Mies Marjorie Macfarlane; 2, Miss J. E. Ramsay; 3, Miss B. Knight; 4, Miss Marion Macfarlane; 5, Mrs. Shroff; 6, Miss M. Miller; , 7, Miss D. Newton; 8, Mrs. Scott-Wateon; 9, Miss M. Potter; 10, Mrs. Napier; 11, Miss E. Miller; 12, Hiss E. Fearnley; 13, Miss M. Richardson; 14, Miss N. Whitelaw; 15, Mies P. Frankham; 16, Miss R. Taylor. Men's Doubles.—l, Bartleet and Robson; 2, Rowlands and Morrison; 3, Turner and Hubble; 4, Johns and Johns; 5, Griffiths and Entwistle; C, Entwistle and Martin; 7, Lamb and Clay; 8, Potter and McKeown; 9, Harrison and Harrison; 10, Watkins and. Hughes. Ladies' Doubles. —1, Misses Macfarlane and Macfarlane; 2, Miss Knight.and Mrs. Shroff; 3, Misses Miller and Miller; 4, Miss Ramsay and Mre. Napier; 5, Mrs. Herrick and Miss Frankham; 6, Misses Potter and Fearnley; 7, Mrs. Warren and Mr 3. A. S. Warsop; 8, Miss K. Knott and Miss E. Griffin; 9, Misees R. Taylor and N. Whitelaw; 10, Misses Newton and Rukutai. a On the men's singles ladder Entwistle will come off, for he is abroad. There should be room at the end of the,, list for one or two new players of the younger generation, and it is to be hoped that the same keenness as was shown last season in ladder matches will be displayed again. With reference to the ladies' ladder, there are at least three names needed to complete—Mrs. Dykes and Miss L. Robertson and Miss Eccles, a newcomer from Whajigarei, who has linked up with Eden and Epsom this year. # The men's doubles ladder is not by any means fully representative, and it is to be hoped that Sturt and Stedman, the present Auckland champions, will this season apply to be ranked. >r Advice To Juniors. The essential difference between singles and doubles tactics is not by any means universally recognised among beginners and junior players. In singles it is length that is the essential—the player who can drive the full length of the court is the player who can win at singles. In playing a base-line game a full length drive is essential, while if it is desired to take the net, in order to get there at all, it is necessary to play a full-length stroke. In. doubles, on the other hand, the fulllength drive is not always by any means the best shot. The return of service in a doubles, if driven, should be sharply angled across the court, and the most useful shot is a low dropping crosscourt drive, played quite slowly, which drops soon after passing the net. The whole game of doubles depends on the net position. If you are at the net, your aim is to stay there; if you are not there, to get there. The server attempts to take the net on his service, while the receiver's aim is to push back the opposing pair from the net. For it must not be forgotten that "one up, one back" is hopelessly bad tactics — either both pai iners must be up at the net together or both must come back to the baseline. The return of service is the most important shot in a doubles. There are two possible returns, if we except the drive down the sideline, which is used but seldom by good players, its chief use being to keep the server's partner from taking too much court. The two .returns of service are the cross-court drive and the toss over the head of the server's partner.. Either of these is designed to push back the server and his partner from the net position, for if either of them is compelled to retreat,

his partner must go with him. They on the other hand will endeavour to volley the, return of service and keep their opponents back from the net, for it is from the net that three-out of four of the winning shots at doubles are played. Everything .is worth risking in the attempt to capture and hold the vital position at the net.

UNITY CLUB.

Last week the Unity Tennis Club entertained over a hundred members, friends ami representatives of the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association and tennis clubs on the occasion ot the official opening of the night court season for 1930-31. Mr. It. B. Hardy, president of the association, was present, together with representatives from the following clubs: —Kemuera, Eden and Epsom, Onehunga, Vauxhall, Nicholson Park, Ngataringa, Balmoral, Hallyburton-Johnstone, Mount Eden, Ngatira, Te Papapa, Valley, Balmoral Private, Highland, Pukeroa, Campbell Park, Bayfield, 'Varsity and Y.M.C.A. The club secretary, Mr. J. E. Williams, expressed regret at the absence of 'Mr. M. K. O'Callaghan, patron of the club, and introduced the Unity Club president, Mr. V. A. Coyle, who extended a cordial welcome to visitors. He was pleased to see such a large representation from the various clubs and .especially the president of the association. Mr. Hardy, in reply, expressed the pleasure of the association's representatives at being present. He congratulated the Unity Club on its fine appointments and facilities and extended best wishes for a successful season. Mr. Coyle thereupon officially declared the. night courts open' for the season, the courts simultaneously being brilliantly illuminated by strong floodlights. Tennis, dancing and ping pong were indulged in until a late hour, the games being arranged by Messrs. J. E. Williams and R. Sparks. During the evening, supper was served by the ladies' committee, under the direction of Mr. Coyle. DEVONPORT CLUB. The Devonport Lawn Tennis €lub 'was officially opened for the 1930-31 season on Saturday. Mr. T. Macky, the president, welcomed new members and visitors, and introduced the Deputy Mayor of Devonport, Mr. J. Hislop, who officially declared the courts open for the season. Despite the heaviness of the courts some good play was witnessed in the progressive tournament held, the winners being Mrs. H. Beeehey and Mr. R. F. Armstrong. Afternoon tea was served by the ladies' committee. THAMES METHODIST CLUB. There was a large attendance at the opening of the Thames Methodist Tennis Club on Saturday, including many visiting players from the Thames. Valley and Hauraki Plains Clubs. Mr. J. H. Lange, president, welcomed the visitors. The coming season, he said, was going to be a very busy one for players throughout the Thames Valley district, the competitions for the Lawrence Cup for the seniors and the Mills Cup for the juniors entailing a good deal of inter-club play, while the club competitions would keep the courts fully occupied.