LAWN TENNIS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 93, 14 January 1929, Page 6

LAWN TENNIS

WAIRARAPA v. WELLINGTON N. MILLER BEATS N. R. C. WILSON VISITORS FIND OPPOSITION MUCH TOO STRONG (By “Forehand.”) Th« Jlalln B enl «nt Committee of the ” ellington Provincial Lawn Tennis Association is to be congratulated on paying the Wairarapa /Association (one of the youngest as it is one of the most enthusiastic associations in New-Zealand) the compliment of putting its strongest available team in the field in the interprovincial matches played on the Association Grounds at Miramar on Saturday. The only absentees from the Wellington team were T. Rhodes Williams, Mrs. R. P. Adams, and Miss D. Nicholls. That Wairarapa should be quite outclassed by a team that contained four men and two ladies of New Zealand ranking was only to be expected, for the Wairarapa is not as yet noted for a particularly high standard of play. There is no reason why they should not develop to a much higher standard in the future. In meeting Wellington's best the Wairarapa players were enabled to see just how good they were. They knew the reputation of those they were meeting and were fully prepared for their defeats. The only question that could arise was by what margin would the defeat be. Great credit is due to the Wellington Management Committee for the manner in which it treated the visitors, its own team, and all who were in any way connected with the advancement of Wellington tennis. I tin not remember, in recent years, the Wellington committee doing the honours anywhere near so royally. Defeats even lost their significance in the pleasure of the social side. The weather, too conspired to make things most enjoyable, for the day was perfect, except for the breeze (not disconcerting to the player, but strong enough to influence materially the flight of the ball) that is inseparable from the Miramar locality. So much, at different times, has been said of the Wellington players that the public generally should have a good idea of their type and game. As (except in the Wilson-Miller. Miss WilliamsonMiss Card, Wilson-A. L. France v. Welch-Warsaw matches) the home team were not unduly pressed nnd could therefore play freely, easily and without great fear of consequejices. very little descrintion of their play is necessary. It should be remarked, however, that even with victory well within sight, none of the Wellington players eased up. They re» speeted their onponents and plaved for every point. That was as it should be. The visitors, too. showed to better advantage, generally, in doubles than in singles. Men’s Singles. The great surprise of the day was, of course the defeat of N. R. C. Wilson by i • Miller, who repeated his performance . s \ being the only member <>t the Wairarapa team to win a match Wilson was right off form. Miller, 1 think, would be the first to admit that tor, with both on form, the result could not be in doubt. But the play must be estimated on facts not on probabilities, and on the day Miller was unquestionably the better man. Indeed, he was unlucky not to win in two sets straight, for iii the second set at 4 all he was 40-love, only to lose it on easy nets. Wilson was miss-hitting repeatedly, netting and outing in most disheartening fashion, and serving double faults. Nor were all these errors brought about by any forcing tactics on the part of Miller, for that player remained almost throughout on the baseline. But when these allowances are made the fact remains that Miller played a fine heady game. His reverse service always gave Wilson trouble, while he on his part never, had any difficulty, with Wilson’s service. When playing against the wind, and Wilson followed into the net, Miller would send up lobs which invariably won the point. At times he managed to drive sharply cross-court for winners, the final point of the match being a' beauty. While Miller was playing finely he threw nway valuable points by foolishly overdoing what might be termed his sliding drive. He seemed to slide the racket under the ball rather than endeavour to hit. One does not want.to. stress the point too monotonously., but it niust again be emphasised that Wilson would not hnvc made so many errors had he not persisted in playing the ball so early. Miller, too. kept a deener and more consistent length than Wilson nnd used the wind in the playing of his shots. To Wilson's credit it must he said that when things looked darkest against him he,scorned to profit by errors nf the umpire in his favour. Such sportsmanship is always a pleasure to see. With his height, reach and build B. P. Welch should be n much better player than he is. He does not . make the best use of his advantages. Because he will not use his height his service is poor when it ought to be fast nnd deadly. It ought to be well within his power to serve an untnkenble cannon-ball service. Certainly D. G. France carried too many guns for him. but Welch could not be consistent, falling on even the ensy shots. His driving was better than his volleying or overhead work, but France placed brilliantly and compelled Welch to keep covering the court. Welch had patches when he fought on even terms, with France nnd gave glimpses of what he might well be.

E. M. Hodder wns never allowed to he in a position to play his shots. Malfroy with beautiful placements making him run unceasingly. Warsaw, while he made good returns which beat M. France. . was outplaced nnd outplayed. France netted at times when he had Warsaw right out of posi-

tion. . , , What chances Taverner might have had against G. N. T. Goldie he threw away by double faults on service, and. in driving, snatching at the hall instead of swinging freely to it. Taverner did not seem to have the courage to tflny solidly any short or weak shots that Goldie sent over, especially when Goldie had the wind against him. The principal feature of Martin s play is a very severe first service, which, fortunately for the opponent, came in but seldom. He showed too great a tendency. also, to belt his drives rather than to stroke them steadily. Both he and Taverner played much better in the doubles. The pair, however, left too many openings down mid-court, after the first set. Martin’s smash, like his service. is severe but erratic. It must, however. be said that the foundation for a sound game is there. Ladies’ Singles.

Mrs. B. Booth found Miss M. Tracy playing much better than she had been doing a few weeks ago. Miss Tracy placed finely, and while Mrs. Booth executed some good drives down the Adelines. and won points by a sharp crosscourt shot from the backhand, she was unable to make any impression. In speeding her drives Mrs. Booth netted a

lot. Mrs. K. Groves concentrated on Mrs. Melody’s backhand, and it was a pleasing feature to see that the Wellington representative accepted the challenge, and did not run round to play the ball on her forehand as she usually does. Everything to her backhand Mrs. .Melody played with the correct stroke, aud showed that confidence is all that is wanted to develop her backhand strength. Mrs. Melody gave Mrs. Groves no rest, but kept her moving with her cut drive to ‘he corners. Miss D. Howe was too steady for Mrs. J. Steel, who made most of her errors over the sidelines and the baselines.

The strongest part of Miss R. Card's game is a remarkably steady backhand, the ball being nhiyed with a cut, and, at

times, almost a chon. Miss Williams made tlie mistake of playing to that backhand in the -econd set. and paid the •■enulty by losing the set, I—6.1 —6. Jt was

no mean achievement for Miss Card to take a set off such a steady player as Miss Williams Miss Card's forehand was strong, but not so steady as her backhand. She was, however, caught too often by. balls at her feet as she stood inside the backline. She showed courage in following to the net when brought in to play a short shot.

Miss E. Brady was too energetic for ' Miss Cameron, whose faulty court posi- ■ tion between the service line and the baseline. compelled her to play shots from most difficult angles and places. Miss Brady was also steadier in the rallies, and wns able to cover the ground faster. Miss Cameron, too. would cease to run after the rally had been in progress n little while. As Miss Cameron went in to. return a short one. Miss Brady would win the point with a lob. or drive clean ’ past her. Miss M. Preedy was too strong all round for Miss G. Rend, the Wellington lady taking the net whenever she forced the visitor on the defensive, which was frequently. The Doubles. In the men’s doubles Miller and Hodder could make nothing of the combination and cleverness of D. G. France and Malfroy. Wilson and A. L. France were not a good combination, and it was only their mistakes which caused the match against Warsaw and Welch to go to three sets. Goldie and Rollings, after losing the first set on hard hitting, settled into better combination, in which the man at the net availed himself of the openings made by his partner. The Wairarapa pair were too much hanging about the service line or just behind. The net play of Miss Tracy and Mrs. Melody quite overwhelmed Mesdames Booth and Steel. Tlie Wairarapa pair could not dislodge them, the wind upsetting the accuracy nf their lobbing. Misses Howe and Williams were not a good pair. Thev did not seem to fit it. The bulk of- the work was done by Miss Williams. Miss Card won points with some fine crosscourt drives, but was not so steady ns in her singles. Mrs. Groves nlnyed better and more steadily than in the singles. Misses Cameron and Read were no match for the all-round play of Misses Brady nnd Preedy. The mixed doubles do not call for any snncial comment, although Taverner and Miss Cameron played a dose first set against Goldie and Miss Williams. A. L. France still pursued his policy of nlacing little reliance on his partner, making combination most difficult. At times ho made spectacular returns, and nt others only succeeded in making himself and his partner look foolish.' Miss Howe experienced difficulty with Miller's service, hut what work her partner left her she did well, her drivin" being steady and accurate. an fl her lobbing consistent in its donth. Miller netted many smashes for the few he succeeded in making winners. Following are the detailed results,Wellington players mentioned first : — Men’s Singles. D. G. France beat B. P. Welch, 6—3. 6—3. N. R. C. Wilson lost to N. Miller. C. F. Malfrov beat E. M. Hodder. 6—o. 6—o. A. L. Franco brat Warsaw, 6—l, 6—3. G. N. T. Goldie beat Taverner, 6 —2, 6—3. W. Rollings heat Martin, 6—2, 6—2. Ladies’’ Singles. Miss M. Tracy beat Mrs. B. Booth, G—O. 6—o. Mrs. W. J. Melody beat Mrs. K. Groves, 6 —o. 6—o. Miss D. Howe beat Mrs. J. Steel, 6—l, 6— 1. Miss M. Williams boat Miss R. Card, 6— 3. I—6, 6—3. Miss E. Brady beat Miss Cameron, 6-0. 6—l. Miss M. Preedv beat Miss G. Read. 6—l, 6—l. Men's Doubles. D. G. France and Malfroy beat Miller and Hodder, 6—3. 6— o. Wilson and A. L. France beat Welch and Warsaw. 6—l. 5—6, C— 2. Goldie and Hollings beat Taverner and Martin, 5—6, 6 —3, 6—l. Ladies* Doubles. Miss Tracy and Mrs. Melody beat Mesdames Booth and Steel, 6—l, 6—l. Misses Howe and Williams beat Mrs Groves and Miss Card, 6—4, 6 —l. Misses Brady nnd Preedy beat Misses i Cameron and Read, 6—o, 6 —o. Mixed Doubles. D. G. France and Miss Tracy beat Hodder and Mrs. Booth, 6—2, 6 —2. Wilson and Mrs. Mel.ody beat Welch and Mrs. Steel. 6—l. 6-—O. A. L. France and Miss Howe beat Miller and Miss Card. 6—4, 6—3. Malfroy and Miss Preedy beat Warsaw and Mrs. Groves, 6—3. C—2. Goldie and Miss Williams beat Taver ner and Miss Cameron. 6—5. 6—l. Hollings and Miss Brady beat Martin I and Miss Read, 6—l, 6—3. !

MANAWATU TENNIS TOURNEY

MISS CARTY LADY CHAMPION. Palmerston North, January 13. The final of the Manawatu ladies’ singles championship at the Manawatu tennis tournament was completed to-day. Miss M. Carty, who led fi—l, 3—2 when rain necessitated a postponement yesterday. won the match and. championship from Miss N. Astle in straight sets, 6—l, B-3. Miss Carty made the most of her powerful driving, bringing it into use on every possible occasion with good results. Miss Astle was unable to cope with her opponent’s forceful driving, and failed to play her usual steady game. Ayres' Championship Stitcliless Tennis Ball—the official ball of the Wellington Lawn Tennis Association —has been selected by eleven principal New Zealand associations for their championships tournaments this season.— Advt. Spalding plugless Tennis Balls are first choice with recognised world's champions and leading players. Used in Davis Cup matches, 1921-1927 inclusive. Unsurpassed for durability and uniformity in size, weight, bound, and compression.—Advt.

For tennis championships the balls are chosen with infinite care—size, weight, bound, and uniformity are all considered. It’s a significant fact to New Zealand players that the Slazenger Ball has been exclusively selected for Wimbledon championships since 1902.— Advt.