WINNING TOO OFTEN

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28178, 17 January 1957, Page 7

WINNING TOO OFTEN

Former United States tennis star Te« Schroder believes that interest in first-class amateur tennis is waning because ol Australia’s stranglehold on the Davis Cup matches Before returning to the United States, Schroder said: “Even in a sports-mad country Like this, the Davis Cup is losing its importance because it has become taken for granted that Australia will retain the trophy. Just look at the record, through the history of the cup. Only four nations have been successful in winning a challenge round final; and not since the United States brought back the cup from England in 1937 has any other nation othei than Australia or the United States cpme home a winner. “Australia hit a low spot back in 1948—but successive crops ot champions have Kept everyone out for most of the time.

“The only hope for amateur tennis is a drive by all other nations to lift the level of then play to that of Australia. The answer will not come over-night, but some action must be taken by the International Lawn Tennis Federation. The way things stand now, the future is far from bright.”

When he could score only 2 and 18 for Canterbury in the Plunket Shield match with Northern Districts, ML. B. Poore broke his run of consistent scores in representative cricket this season. In first-class matches this season before the Northern Districts game he had scored 22, 38, 59, 29 and 103. In club cricket he has not been an outstanding scorer, but here, also, he has been consistent. His 82 not out last Saturday was his best club score this year. His previous club scores were 2, 24 not out, 23, 31, 35 not out. 17. and 43.