LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 53, 25 November 1922, Page 14

LAWN TENNIS.

(By

“Forehand”)

‘ N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIPS I have to acknowledge receipt of a cony of the official programme for the tinrty-tliird lawn tennis championships of Now Zealand. Tho championships will be held on tho Hastings courts on December 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30. Tho programme, which is a handsome booklet, issued by the Hastings Chamber of Commerce and tho N.Z.L.T.A.. contains a good, boost for “prosperous and progressive Hastings.” The attractions for players and visitors to the tournament aro extolled, and it must be admitted that tho entertainment committee has done its work well. Special attractions for the tournament' include a tennis dance at the Olympia Carburet on December 30, a motor picnio to Waimaraiha seaside resort or a picnic at the Gannet Rookery, Cnpe Kidnappers, and a moohlight 1 picnio to the seaside. 'Trout fishing, deep-sea fishing" for kingfish, kahawai, 'and cod, boating on trib Tutaokuri River, and sailing on the inner harbour at Napier, and round trips to the Havelock Hills and tho Heretaunga Plains are included in the enticements to visitors. Much valuable information concerning train and bus time-tables and hotel and boardinghouse accommodation is included. As for the programme itself, it is much, on the lines of previous years. Intending competitors and visitors would bo well advised to make arrangements for accommodation as early as possible, as everything points to the 1922 championships breaking all records for attendance. 0 ' WILL THEY COME? No definite word has been received by the N.Z.L.T.A. regarding the. date of arrival of tho New South Wales ladies’ team. The s.s. Ulimaroa is due io arrive at Wfillingtpn. from .Sydney on December 6, and if. the visitors come by this steamer, it will probably mean that they will play first in the South Island. In any case, the New Zealand representative, ladies' team to meet the visitors will not he selected until after the New Zealand championships, which commence on Boxing Day, and this may mean that the representative match may be played at Auckland. However, no itinerary can be arranged until a cablegram is received from Sydney. , WELLINGTON LADDER ' The position of the Wellington ladders now stands as -follows : — MEN. 1. Peacock 2. Swanston. 3. Salmond. 4. Parker. • s 5. France. 6. Power. 7. Barkman. , '. 8. 0. F. Williams, 9. Berry. 10. Rollings. 11. Goldie. ■l2. Young. 13. Martin. / 14. Wright. 15. Fathers. LADIES.. 1. Miss Curtis! .2. Airs. Melody. 3. Miss Travers. 5. Mrs. Peacock. 6. Miss Howe. i 7. Miss Arrowsmith. 8. Mrs. Parkinton. 9. Miss Foster. z 10. Miss Walters." 11. Miss Williams. • 12. Mrs. Turnbull. 13. Miss Shearer. 14. Mrs. Norris. 15. Mrs. Rhodes. THE INTER-CLUB DOUBLES The inauguration of inter-club doubles matches.on Saturday last infused considerable interest into tennis doings;' There is nothing like competition to foster and improve any sport. Match play, and plenty of it, is the best means by which the standard of play can be raised, and tho Wellington Lawn Tennis Association did the right thing in giving Mr, L. France’s scheme a trial. Of course the scheme has its limitations. Ong advantage set k many argue, is no true test, but surely it is better than nothing. It has t.Q bo remembered that all city and suburban courts are very much concested.'and whether club members are good or weak players ' they naturally expect to bo able to get a game on the Saturday afternoon. It is only by the good will of such players that mterclub matches, even one advantage set. can be played at all, and it must be admitted that a spirit of unselfishness prevailed on Saturday afternoon. It would, of course, be more satisfactory if the best of 17 games cou'd bo play’ed, and this no doubt may bp agreed to next season, when players realise what good results follow the interchange of visits by club teams. It was good to find the senior players out on Saturday, playing on strange courts and meeting the best from other clubs. For instance, the Brougham Hill visited Lyall .Bay: Wellington journeyed to Vic|bria Collsg©; and. "th© junior representatives of these clubs opposed fach other on.the home courts. The consensus of opinion on the various courts on Saturday was that the new scheme was a move in the right direction, and with all its faults deserved to be given a fair trial. A word of praise is due to that keen enthusiast, Mr. J. A. B. Howe, for the great amount or work .he has put in at arranging the draws. Mr. Howe has had his share in the past of administrative work. For many years he was on the Management Committee of the W.L.TiA., sind acted as lion, secretary of tho governing body for several seasons. When Mr. Trances scheme was mooted the Wellington Association approached Mr. Howp with a request that he would take control of the scheme. Though ho had rotirod in order to give younger mgn an opportunity of taking their place in controlling the management, Mr. Howe agreed, chiefly owing to the fact that the scheme 'was inaugurated by Mr. L. Franco, and he was anxious to seo it succeed. The duty of running tho inter-club series of matches' has entailed a tremendous amount of work, and Air. Howe has been compelled to devote two full evenings each week ti it. Club tecretaries could assist tho organiser very greatly by seeing that he is kept posted with, any changes which may be made in tho teams, and advising him of tho results of matches on the day they are played. It is indeed doubtful whether the scheme could have been put into operation bnd it not been for the time and attention devoted to it by Mr. Hone. BROUGHAM HILL V. LYALL BAY The inter-club match last Saturday Brougham Hili v. Lyall Bay, the first of the season, was greatly appreciated by the players. The matches were

played according to the programme mapped out, and although each match was of short duration the experience prov/d very beneficial to all concerned. As expected, the older club was teo strong for the bay, the latter winning only two events out of twelve. The winning sets were Marshall and Collins, in the men’s doubles, against Williams and Roberts, and Hyams and Palcthorpe, in the junior grade men’s doubles. Palcthorpe played an excellent game, driving vigorously with telling effect, and thus enabling Hyams at tho net to intercept the returns with winning volleys and smashes. Palethorpe also brought off several good drives down the centre of the court, jvhich confused the Brougham Hill playdrs. Marshall and Collins proved themselves a sound match pair, and are to be congratulated on pulling oft their game from such an experienced pair as and Roberts. Collins’s net play has improved immensely. Playing a more vigorous and aggressive game, the bay pair managed overcome by a small margin the steadiness of the visiting combination. Swinburne and Edmondson, playing third pair for the bay, had an even gam* ifith Wilson and Goldie, but could not take more than three games . from their younger opponents, who combined and supported each other in a very able and effective manner. More was expected of Rollings and Foden'in their match against L. France and H. V. Howe, out indifferent smashes and drives by Foden spoiled any chances the bay ever had. On tho day’s showing, the bay pair - deserved no more than the two games which they secured. The Brougham Hill ladies, by annexing all their matches, demonstrated the higher standard of play in their club. With added experience in match play, however, the seaside club should give a much better account of itself. The more finished strokes and greater consistency of tho Brougham Hill ladies accounted for the victories. The senior ladies visiting Lyall Bay showed themselves more proficient in net play. This is a phase of the game that the younger players should endeavour to perfect. Misses A. Howe' and .Williams, in their match against Misses Warren and Clegg, early established a substantial lead, but the home pair played doggedly and took three games, until finally a ball to Miss Clegg’s backhand was indifferently played, and the match ended at 67-8. -Miss Williams played well, while her partner did not appear to be playing her best game. Lyall Bay might have matje use of this fact had they realised it earlier in the match. However, on tho play, there was nob the slightest doubt that the superior pair won. Misses Jenkins and Lord did not appear to extend Mrs. Goldie and Miss Tracy. The combination of the latter pair left little to be desired, and Lyail Bay found no weakness to exploit. The two younger Lyall Bay senior ladies, Misses R. Clegg and M. East, were unable to take more than two games from Mrs. Norris and Mrs. Turnbull, although both played very steadily—too much so, if anything Considering the match as a whole, the best showing for the seaside club , was put up by the junior men’s team, who won one game and lost tho other two only after they had' been carried to deuce. It is in this team that the bay’s most promising players are to be found. Although it is difficult to'single out anyone of them, Hooper, on his present showing, promises to go the farthest, while Hyams is growing more dangerous at the net each week. That the inter-club matches are bound to improve the standard of play goes without saying, and no more wholesome tonic for Wellington tennis could have been devised. The great regret is that the matches have to be restricted to one set of 6 up only. WELLINGTON V. VICTORIA COLLEGE A strong wind prevailed at the college courts, where the Wellington v. Victoria College senior inter-club games were played.. Barkman and. Pigou (Wellington) established a strong lead of 4—o against Martin and Melody (Victoria College). The latter then struck better form, and won the next three ganiCs, but the Wellington pair again asserted themselves and ran out winners, 7 —3.. Barkman’s strong forehand drive repeatedly created openings for Pigou to win the point with an effective cross-court volley. Melody and his partner were erratic. The foriror player has some forceful shots, - but would do better to restrain his play and not attempt to win off every stroke. • / . In the second - double, Young and Gibb beat Pearson and Irons, 7—4, after 4 all had been called. Irons, was decidedly off his game. The dominating factor in the decisive college win was the enterprising play of R. Young, who is one of the most promising of the younger school of players. He gets a lot of work into his service, which brought him several aces, while his powerful cross-court forehand drives also troubled the opposition. Gibb was inclined to over-drive, but did' some good work at the ijet. Ellis (College) proved too sti'ong for Wright and Pope, who were lacking in* combination. Burns has a natural style, and with proper coaching should develop into a strong player! Both players and umpires were considerably handicapped by the fact that the courts were not plainly marked out. All clubs should attend to this essential matter, as badly marked courts tend to lower the standard bf play. In games, Mrs. Melody and Mrs. Bree (W.) had a runaway victorv over Miss Pigou and Miss Fenton (College). The ’Varsity pair were overwhelmed by the vigour and accuracy of tho Wellington pair, who took a love set. Mrs. Melody was im particularly good form, and made many openings which her partner finished off. Here, however, Wellington’s success ended, both the oilier games going to the University players. The game between Mrs. Grady and Mrs. Cornelius (W.) and Miss Gardner and Miss Madeley (College) furnished a very even contest. Tho pairs w*re Well matched, and it was anybody’s game right up to the last, when the College pair, chiefly through superior condition, put on a brilliant spurt and took a hard-fought set, 7—5. .Miss Thwaites and Miss Sheppard (College) also had a spirited contest with Miss van Stavoren and Miss Macintosh. The tennis was good, and.it was only superior court iactiec which enabled the ’Varsity pair to win out, 7—4. The exposed collegp courts caught the high wind, which passed, over the courts on tho lower elevations. The Welling; ton players, whose courts are more sheltered, seemed puzzled by the effect the strong wind had on tho ball, whereas tho ’Varsity players, who qro used to tho conditions on the uplands, were quite at homo.

The Victoria College ladies were so short of players that Miss Gardner had to play twice. This is manifestly against the rules, and any club so offending in future matches will run the risk of llisqualification. It would never do,'for instance, if Petone were to play Miss Curtis in all three sets. In both the senior and junior games, the home teams seemed to have an advantage, the visitors taking some time to settle down to the stfongo courts? The hope was expressed by ~many that the Management Committee?/ would soon see their way to making these games the best of three sets, one set only being no test of strength. KELBURN CLUB . •/ The men’s handicap doubles competition of the Kclburn Club was commenced on Saturday last. Kqan and Weston (4) defeated Keeling hnd L. Blundell (9). 60-53 ; and Melody ai d Gray (12) accounted for Long and Goble (31), 60 —55. In the ladies’ handicap doubles, Mrs. Michael and Mrs. Gray (30) defeated Mrs. Kirkcaldie and Mrs. Darling (14), 60—50. LYALL BAY LADDER 1 \ The keenness in the ladder matches is unabated. Up to to-day no fewer than forty challenge games have been decided. Hooper, after defeating Hvams, accounted for Allan, who has been 0110 of the top playerf. for several seasons past. As it .is impossible to review all the, games played, a summary of results is given. / Swinburne'defeated Palethorpe. The winner has since this ffiatch playedand defeated Marshall, $d hari lodged a challenge' against Collins for third position. Swinburne is proving . a tough opponent, and it is only his inability to last oilt a prolonged contest that will keep him «nt of second or third place. Collins defeated McLean a willing game. - Collins’s angle volleys are difficult to- retrieve, while his returns, owing to the effect of his cut strokes, are not easily handled at th Coli e ink challenged Marshall, and regained. third place, after being depnv--1 Clegg managed to hold off Miss Lord .by good driving and an occasional effective volley She has now challenged Miss Warren for first place aS ln n 'the match between Mrs. Marshall and Miss G. Jenkins, play went to five games all, the majority being deuce games. Mrs. Marshall playdd net f K d volleyed nicely, hut Miss Jenkins brought off some effective tosses in the later stages of the game, and won 7_ Fo'den defeated McLean after the latter had taken the second set. McLean is becoming an aggressive player, mid seems to be consolidating some of his old-time shots, which effeM7ss'M. East m «? a S ed w to^ ecure M S verdict against Mrs. Heald. Miss East should try a more open, and aggressive game, as she is showing, tendency to fall into a purely defensive style of play. Mrs. Heald’s enthusiasm and frequent practice are> P r <J™inr the desired result, and will car y her forward several places yet. Miss Lord proved too strong fol Mrs. Marshall, while Miss Mclvor accounted for Miss Hyams after a willing contest. Tulloch’s perseverangß. J l * B been rewarded, an d IQr, 1 his defeat Sinclair has effectively established him on the ladder. Tulloch still seems inclined to "rush” the ball 'somewhat, with the.sole object of returning it, instead of forming his intention as soon as it leaves ;his opponent tjacket and'then endeavouring to execute when the ball crosses the net Once on the ladder, however, he intends to r °Edmondwn disposed of and is now waiting for the ■ Bl |“ as ™ in the upper reaches of the ladder to wane, in order to attempt to deprive Rollings or Foden' of their positions. agfit Miss. Mclvor, and now aspires, to higher altitudes. An interesting and successful feature of the ladder rules is the provision made for challenging any piper m the next six above the challefiger. .By paying a deposit of Is. an ,, aTntl 1 tl °" member can look beyond | h ® h immediately above him. . If the cnai longer’s seM-confidemth is misplaced, anThe is defeated the goe ; to swell the dub’s finances b whne. if sue cessful a refund i«! made. ihis sys tem is responsible for some sudden, and unexpected elevations and depressions, to be .quite popular, and is extensively patronised. UNIVERSITY' COLLEGE CHAMPIONSHIPS The following is the draw for the University College Clubs championson y. Robertson; 8. A. '>teren v. M sSmi round? Gibb Ift Haig h ,' J to- — rr x Burns; Haldane ln. < ±1 and Martin v McLeod and Dixon and Rogers v. Mcßae and Hal Singles.-First round: Miss Sheppard v.-Miss Hare; Miss Wallacn v. Miss Coull. - Second round: Mias Mitoalfe v. Miss Thwaites; Miss Robertson v. Miss Pigou; Miss Madeley v. Miss Gardner. Ladies’ Doubles.—Miss Pigou and Miss Coull v. Miss Gardner and Miss Madeley; Miss Robertson and Miss Mitoalfe v. Miss Thwaites and Miss Sheppard. Combined Doubles.—Miss Sheppard and Paul v. Miss Thwaites and Martin ; Miss Gardner and Young v. Miss Robertson and Scott; Miss Askew and Priestley v. Miss Mcßae and Burns; Miss Madelev and Haigh v. Miss Pigou and Gibb. Tho first round in all competitions must be finished by December 2. The draw for the first round of tho club championship has been out for a week, and all games in this round not played by . next Saturday, December 2, are to be scratched. Tho best entries were received for tho men’s singles, and in this event some good games are expected. Besides the first four on the club ladder—Gibb. Martin. Young, 'and Burns —other entries include Melody, also of the Kelburn Club, and Rollings members of the Lyall Bay

VICTORIA COLLEGE LADDER Ladder competitions have been started by the Victoria University Club. The order of the men’s -grading is as follows:—I M. C. Gibb, 2 F. W. Martin, 3 R. R. T. Young, 4 H. N. Burns, 6 F. H. Heigh, 6 W. H. Staipton, 7 0. G. 0. EUis. 8 N. A. Byrne. 9 F. H. Paul, 10 D. F. Stuart, 11 C. G. Kirk, 12 A. D. Priestley. 13 C. Scott, 14 R. T. Dixop, 15 M, N. Rogers. The ladies’ ladder is as under:—l Miss Fenton. 2 Miss Gardner. 3 Miss Thwaites, 4 Miss E. Madeley, 5 Miss Pio-ou, 6 Miss Coull, 7 Miss Sheppard, 8 Miss Mcßae, 9 Miss Nutting, 10 Miss Mills, 11 Miss Robertson. 12 MissJßntton, 13 Miss Mitcalfe, 14 Miss Askew, 15 Miss A. Madeley. No sooner hardly had the ladder been hoisted than F. H. Martin, the No. 2, deposed M. C. Gibb from hii place on the top. Martin quite outplayed Gibb, who, up to the present, , has always been regarded as the stronger player of the two. In the game last week, Gibb was right off his usual game, and had no reply to the’ challenger’s vigorous assault. Martin made no race of it by winning in two straight sets, 6 —l, 6—l. C. Scott, No; 13 on the ladder, successfully stalled oil a challenge from R. T. Dixon, the man below him. Dixon started off well, taking the first set, 6—3, but Scott then.' got going, and maintained the upper hand, eventually taking the next two sets, 6-3, 6— 4 - . . . ~ Great interest is being taken in this competition; and already several challenges have been "played. Playing for first place. Martin was lucky’in finding Gibb on a very “off” day, and, playing steadily himself, ran out winner, 6—l, 6 —l. Young, challenging for second place, found himself up against a tougher proposition, and though nearly every game went to deuce Gibb won, 10 —8, 6—2. Dixon challenged Scott for fourteenth place, but though he started off well Scott evened up, and finally won, 3 —6, 6—3, 6 —4. Several other challenges have also been arranged for this week, and it is expected that these games will do much to improve the play of all member?. „ A WELLINGTON CLUB f' — . The ,Wellington Olub have commenced their handicap events, for which record .entries have been received. As the committee has a heavy programme to get through this season, players are reminded that all matches must be completed by the , specified date. The club ha? rerived the ladder competition for both ladies and men, and the keenness already displayed augurs, well for a successful season. No sooner had the ladder been hoisted than Pigou, who occupied third place, challenged. Henderson. the man above him, and in a well-contested match won second position. He then made a tilt dt Barkman for No. 1 position, and also downed that player. Pigou thus, in his games, won his way to pride or pTace'in the ladder.. He has a strong reverse service, which is difficult to return; a good forehand, drive with top spin; and has lately altered Ins backhand with improved results. He has a natural high backhand volley? which is a distinct asset, in doubles play. This promising player would do even better if he were to sacrifice speed for placement generally. Birkman is ia strong all-round player, being effective both on the forehand and '"'backhand. He is,, however, inclined to volley from too far back in the court, but when he has made an opening he smashes accurately...to the backhand corner.