LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 122, 17 February 1926, Page 6

LAWN TENNIS.

(By

"Forehand”)

WELLINGTON v. WANGANUI VISITORS OVERWHELMED. Playing on hard courts, a surface to which the visitors were unaccustomed, and using balls that are strictly only for grass-court play, the best representative team that the Wanganui association could possibly gather was overwhelmed at Miramar last Saturday by a Wellington team which, with the exception of J. C. Peacock and E. D. Andrews, was the strongest team Wellington could put in the field. Smyth, L. France, and Wilson are among those asked by the New Zealand Association whether, if selected, they could proceed to Australia. But it is on the performances of the ladies that Wellington has every reason to congratulate itself, for it is in that department Wellington tennis has shown, heretofore, its greatest weakness. S. Powdrell and M. L. Lampe, are formidable in any' team, but opposed by the strength of Smyth and the guile of L. France they were unable to make any impression. Barkman played his usual aggressive game and strenuously chased almost impossible balls, making many remarkable returns. He could not, however, cope with the brilliant and effortless game of N. R. C. Wilson, who drove close to the side lines, and took the net to volley or smash the next point for a winner. Marshall, ever, a fighter, found R. H. Donovan’s game altogether too clever for him, although he played a strenuous match with Russell Young. These latter were evenly matched almost to their style of play. Jack Powdrell found his impetuousness a disadvantage against Malfroy, who played his side line shots with exceeding cleverness. J. Powdrell was always in too great a hurry to win the point.

Miss Calver had some beautiful shots, principally cross court to the backhand, and she won many points with it. Miss Tracy, however, is nothing if not versatile, and by means of playing deep, and taking the net to kill the return, she placed the issue beyond doubt from the start. Miss Travers can only be beaten by a good net player, and her drives were going too well to permit of Miss Myers, who is a fine player, getting to the net except in brief spasms. During a double Mis. Bogle, when failing to return one of Miss North’s naturally and heavily cut shots, was heard to remark that she would not like to oppose Miss North in a singles. She was destined to meet Miss North in just such a match, Miss North winning 6—o, 6—o. Miss East played a game against Mrs. Barkman quite the equal of that she played against Mrs. T’cnlington in the provincial championships. Perhaps one expected the ladies to perform well in the singles, but would they do equally well in the doubles and the combined doubles? Except Miss Tracv and Miss Travers their efforts in the provincial championships gave cause to doubt. Their play then was largely mere pat ball. On Saturday thev hit about them with a right royal will, and their success was assured. May they do the same against Canterbury on the Thorndon Club Courts next Saturday. Men’s Singles.

Smyth was in his best driving form, and his severe drives, deep to the sidelines, combined with judicious advance to the net, gave Lampe no rest. The Wanganui representative was able to collect only one game in the first set, the touith. Lampe, however, is a man who is hard to beat, and playing with steadiness, driving solidly, and lobbing whenever Smyth* took the net, he took the second set 6—3. Both plavers started out on the fourth set with a fixity of purpose characteristic of them. Smyth* speeded up his drives, returning nearly everything that came over, and quickly ran into a 5-love lead. Lampe took his only game of the set, the sixth, to love. Against S. Powdrell, L. France held a good deal in reserve. There were many strokes he did not resort to. This statement, however, must not be taken to be a reflection on Powdrell’s play. The Wanganui veteran won the first game superlatively, and might have won several others. But his years are against him. Powdrell had not placed on hard courts this season. The last game but one in the second set went to six deuces before France won it.

L. France and M. L. Lampe have met tnauv times and' each time the Wellingtonian has triumphed. Saturday was no exception to the. rule, France winning 6—o, 6—4. Lampe worked hard. He ran to all parts of the court after balls which France placed with delightful certainty. He was drawn close to the net by a ball dropped short, only to be passed clean bv France’s next shot. The heavy cut on France’s shots and the consistency of his lobbing whenever he resorted to that stroke kept Lampe ever moving a'nd always uneasy. Lampe made a bold bid in the second set by winning' three games in a row with the loss of 5 points and drawing level at 4 all. The effort, however, was too great against a man like France playing with plenty of reserve force. For the first five games of the first set, when he led 4—l, S. Powdrell, by brilliant placing, had Smyth tearing along the back line from side line to side line. Had he been able to maintain the pace lie might conceivably have won. But it was too much to expect. How much was the falling off may be gathered from the fact that the four consecutive games he won cost him 13 points, while he only scored 5 points in the five consecutive games that Smyth won. Three of those games .Smyth won to love. The only games he 'won in the second set were the first and the seventh. None of the games in that set were love games. Wilson played effortless and brilliant tennis to beat Barkman in the first set 6—l, with the loss of but 12 points. Barkman only got one point in each of four games. Although driving well, Barkman was outplayed. While Wilson scarcely bad to move except to come to the net to volley or smash, Barkman was kept hard at it rushing from one side of the court to the other. After leading 5—2 in the second set, Wilson fell into a slump of netting which, combined with Barkman’s good driving and dogged fighting, enabled the Wanganui man to reach to 4—5, before Wilson was able to place the issue beyond doubt bv taking the tenth game after being down o—3o and 30—40. In the second set Wilson scored 37 points to Barkman’s 34.

Although it was hardly to be expected that Jack Powdrell (a left-hander), would bedt C. E. Malfrov, the ease of Malfroy’s victory, 6—2, 6—l, and 73 points to 47, was due in a certain measure to the Wanganui player’s impetuousness. His hitting and serving were too wild. Nor did he exercise discrimination in coming to the net. Malfrov’s side-line drives all too frequentlyleft him standing. Powdrell makes also too manv double faults. Despite the fact that Donovan beat J ones 6—3, 6—3, there was only seven points between them in the two sets. Both were placing exceedingly well, the variableness of Donovan’s game giving him the critical points. Donovan had a much more decisive victory over Marshall. It was left tq Russell Young io play

two strenuous three-set matches, and win both with a good finish against Jones, whom he beat 6—2, 2—6, 7 5, and against Marshall, whom he beat 7_5 >2_6 7—5. Young relied on a good service, sound driving, and a chance to come to the net to volley or smash In coming to the net he was many times, although bv no means ah wavs passed clean. The closeness of the match with Jones may be seen from the fact that Young scored 86 points in the three sets, and Jones 84 points. In the third set Young led ±_2 and Jones 5-4, and was . once match point. Fighting, hard to win he fi t ‘ t 7—5, Young slumped in the second set, which Marshall, who never slackened for a moment, took at 6—2. Marshall went off with 2-love and a 3—l lead in the third set. \oung, driving well, and never despairing and frequently dropping balls short after deep driving, led 5—3 With lus mind set on winning at least one single for Wanganui, Marshall played everv ball hard, and equalised at 5-ah. Young led 6-5, after five deuces in which the ’vantage rested with Mar_ shall four consecutive times. Young took the next game, with the loss of one point, and the match

Ladies’ Singles. Miss Calver used with great effect a strong drive, and she made some astonishing recoveries. At no time, however could she keep Miss Tracy from taking the net, from whicn place she always won the point. In the two sets Miss Tracy won GO points to Miss Calver’s 42. Miss Calver is, however, a game player, who does not play in tournaments. With that experience she would improve greatly. Miss Myers fought very hard against Miss Travers but the ex-New Zealand champion’s strength and hard driving proved too much for her opponent. Miss Myers could not gain the net position for long. Whenever she did she met with but partial success. In the two sets which Miss Travers won, 6—l, 6—l, Miss Mvers scored 38 points to 64. Miss North made short work of Mrs. Bogle, who was unable to deal with the heavilv cut balls she was getting, Miss North winning 6—o, 6—o. Tn the second set Miss North lost ’only 5 points. In the first set she lost 11 points, two of the games going to deuce.

Miss East played a hard driving game, against Mrs. Barkman, who was unable to cope with the pace set.

Men’s Doubles. The volleving at close quarters of the Wellington provincial champions (France and Wilson) was too much for Lampe and Powdrell. Indeed the Wellington pair were superior in all departments of the game. The peculiarity of tennis as a game was exemplified in the match in which Smyth and Malfroy beat Barkman and Powdrell, 6—l, I—6, 6—l. Barkman was the real hero of this match. All through he pldyed a hard, and as far ns within him lay, an aggressive game. Smyth drove, volleyed, and smashed well in the first and third set. Wellington slumped badly in the seconil set.

Donovan and Young started well against Marshall and Jones bv taking tlie first set 6—3. After that they were never in the picture, the Wanganui pair, combining admirably, and not missing a single chance, took the second and third sets. 6—l, 6—l. The Wanganui pair were solid rather than brilliant. Ladles* Doubles.

With Miss Travers driving from the backline and Miss Tracy smashing and volleying brilliantly from the net, Misses Calver and Myers, even though playing their hardest at a sort of all court game, had no chance against the Wellington representatives. Misses North and East played a hard driving game, with Miss North frequently coming to the net to volley, against Mesdames Bogle and Barkman. The Wanganui pair fell into many avoidable errors.

Combined Doubles. In the combined doubles Wellington were far too strong for Wanganui. Malfroy made the great mistake of poaching on Miss Travers’ territory against Marshall and Miss Myers. This nearly cost Wellington the match. Miss Travers is too fine a player to be dealt with in this manner, even by the junior bov champion of New Zealand. Because of his proclivities in this direction Marshall made Malfroy look foolish many times. Wilson and Miss East were in brilliant form against Mr. and Mrs. Barkman. . Miss East made some fine winning drives, while Wilson was deadly overhead, and at the net. The net play of France apd Miss Tracy was the decisive factor in their beating Lampe and Miss Myers. MIRAMAR GROUNDS . The necessity for the resealing of portions, if not all, of the Miramar courts already sealed, serves to call attention to the most important question as to whether bitumen, as at present laid down in Wellington, is a suitable surfacing for tennis courts. The difficulty is to prevent it from “bleeding.” It has been stated in several quarters by people experienced in the work, that it is not possible to prevent this, although it might be reduced to a minimum. The “bleeding” is due, so I am given to understand, to the oil in the mixture, and the only way to get rid of it is to “tread” it out and to spread sand to absorb it. This, of course, takes time, and may run into two or more years. The necessity for putting sand on the places where any “bleeding” is noticeable is likely to prove a dangerous experiment on courts much used. There is no worse fault that can befall a tennis court than that it should "bleed.” It might not be without advantage, therefore, to all parties concerned if the Advisory Committee of the Miramar grounds decided to surface the eight unsealed courts on which matches have already been played, with No. 2 restar, which, being near to pitch, has strong surfacing qualities. Very shortly also seed is to be sown on the section set apart for the 16 grass courts. Last year the grass was coming on well when unfortunately heavy rain and strong winds succeeded in effectually spoiling the whole of the effect. It has been maintained that it will be impossible to get that evenness of grass which is absolutely essential for a tennis court unless the ground at Miramar is turfed.

It is the intention of the Advisory Committee to spend HO,OOO whenever they get so vast a sum, on the construction of a residential pavilion equipped in a luxurious style. In my opinion, they would be better advised to spend about half that sum on the pavilion and endeavour to cover in at least eight courts and light them to permit of night play. The eight sealed courts at the north end of the grounds are admirably situated for covering, and such a covering would also form a break-wind and give protection to some of the other courts.

Such a covering is bound to be expensive, but if, for night play, and even for play on wet days, the association _ made a charge to all users of the courts'

(whether life members, club members of Miramar, or not) they could, I feel sure, be made a good paying proposition. On the occasions also when the association is running tournaments or interprovincial fixtures those courts could be used in wet weather, thus ensuring a completion of events in the stipulated time. JUNIOR TENNIS AND HANDICAP EVENTS Two matters of considerable importance came before the Management Committee of the Wellington Provincial Lawn Tennis Association at its meeting last week. They related to handicap events in the association’s tournaments- and to junior tennis. The programme for the Easter tournament was under review, and Mi. Morgan had moved for the deletion from that programme of the junioi events, when Mr. N. A. Foden said; “We must take steps to foster junioi events independently of the adults. We ought to take steps to hold an annual junior tennis tournament by itself. We cannot devote to the juniors the time and attention we ought by running their events in the way we do now. We cannot do justice to them. ’ Mr. Clere opposed Mr. Foden’s contention, and advocated the inclusion! of junior events in the Easter tournament. “There is no one,” he said, “able to devote their time to running a junior tournament separately.” Similar' views were expressed bv Messrs. Graves and Reid.

Concerning the handicap events, Mr. Swinburne suggested that the singles (men’s and ladies’) ought to be divided into A. and B. classes. It was ridiculous, he said, to give players ihandicaps of 35 to 40 points in a 60-points-up game. Mr. Reid opposed the suggestion on ■the grounds that the association’s finances would not stand it. “It would involve giving two trophies instead of one.” He admitted, however, the force of the argument in favour of the divi sion into two classes.

Mr. Morgan opposed the suggestion on the grounds that the tournaments were already too unwieldly. “The time is coming,” he said, "when we will have to hold the handicaps and the championships separately.” “We would overcome the financial difficulties,” said Mr. Foden, “by the increased number of entries that would be received as a result of the division into A and B grades. It is not in the interests of tennis to give such long handicaps and so reduce, the playing of the game to a few points.” Players were entitled to what he . termed a repiesentative game. A motion by Mr. A. J. McLennan that the handicap singles (men’s and ladies’) be divided into A and B grades only if the number of entries in each event exceeds 60, was carried.

L. FRANCE' DEFEATS C. E. < MALFROY

C. E. Malfroy put up a hard fight against L. France in the second round of the Thorndon Club championships, but at no stage of the match, which France won, 6—3, 6—3, 3—6, 6—2, was he at all dangerous. Malfroy dealt confidently with France’s heavy cuts to the backhand, and frequently made some beautiful drives down the side-lines. His service was good without being brilliant. The match had not progressed far, however, before it was seen Malfroy was lacking in experience. France" played just that game calculated to give his opponent the maximum amount of running about, and reduce his own movements to a minimum. He did this chiefly by playing deep, and then, from the back of the court, returning Malfroy’s drive with a delicatelv-plaved drop shot to just over the net.' Many of these Malfroy refused to run for. Others he just failed to reach, while nearly all those he did get back France neatly lobbed over his head. In running for a short ball in the third set, Malfroy came a nasty cropper. France was never pushed, and even the loss of the third set never disturbed him in the slightest. He was always able to respond to the demands made on his skill. There was very little volleying throughout, the match being fought mainly from backcourt. In the third set France, instead of continuing those tactics of versatile and variable play which had Malfroy guessing all through the first two sets, settled down to deep hitting, a game in which Malfroy proved himself quite at home. In the fourth set France went back to his winning game, and from then to the end Malfroy had no chance. He played merely as well as he was allowed" to. The majority of France’s errors came from his just failing to clear the net with his drop shots from near the base line. Malfroy. has still a long way to go before he will be able to extend France. FOR AUSTRALIA It is understood the following players have been asked by the N.Z.L.T.A. whether, in the event of their selection, they are prepared to make the trip to Australia:— L. France, D. France, E. B. W. Smvth, N. R. C. Wilson, J. C. Peacock, E. D. Andrews (Wellington), G. Ollivier, I. A. Seay (Canterbury), E. L. Bartleet (Auckland). The team, which is expected to comprise seven players, will leave Wellington on March 19, and the match against New South Wales is set down (unofficially) for April 3 and 5. CANTERBURY v. WELLINGTON The team to play against Canterbury on the Thorndon Club Courts on Saturday has not yet been selected. Canterbury has advised the association that March 5 and 6 will be suitable dates for playing the Wilding Shield matches at Christchurch. In view of that match some members of the Management Committee, at a meeting on Monday, expressed a desire to have Smyth, France, and Andrews tried out’ to determine their relative positions. It was remarked that France was top of the Wellington ladder, and that Andrews had beaten both Smyth and France. The suggestion did not meet with the approval of the majority of the meeting, it being held that the principle was fixed that the provincial champion was entitled to play in No. Imposition, provided he was resident in the area of the association of which he is the champion.

Avre’s Championship Tennis Balls have been used at all Davis Cup matches plaved in Australia. When Davis Cup matches are played in America, British balls are not used.— Advt.

An Aberdonian and a Jew decided to run a << pirate ,> omnibus. On tlie first morning thev both turned up dressed as conductors.

Sincerity means all she saVs. Folly says all she means