LAWN TENNIS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 100, 30 April 1927, Page 23

LAWN TENNIS

•V "HUKA." ISLAND CHAMPIONS

DON FRANCE WINS IN THE NORTH CHAMPIONSHIP

T. W. PATTERSON SOUTHERN

VICTOR

The Easter tournaments throughout the Dominion practically ended the tennis season as far aa match play is concerned, although club members continue ■whenever the opportunity offers to continue playing the game. In fact, many players endeavour during the fine winter days to improve their game by giving attention to their many faults, ■while others are eager to cultivate new strokes, but there are also a large number who contend that a few sets on a dry winter afternoon once or twice a week are sufficient to kepe them in good training and health. Tho season closed, it may be said, with the North and South Island championship meetings—the former being held at Miramar, and the latter, at Christchurch. Both tournaments have already been i commented upon, but the men's cham- j pionship singles were not completed at! that time, and the finalß are worthy of some remarks. Patterson Beats Johnson. •Taking the South Island championship first, it is interesting to note that the finalist, T. W. Patterson (Christchurch) and D. C. Johnston (Timaru) are both fairly young playors, the lat- j ter, in fact, being only 20 years of age. Patterson defeated Don Prance (Wellington) in the Anthony Wilding Memorial Shield competition, the Wellington player being put right off his game by the yielding surface of thecourt at * Wilding Park, but Lea France beat Patterson in the Shield match, and also in the contest between Canterbury and 'Wellington. Therefore Patterson's win in the South Island championship final from D. C. Johnston, 12-14, 6-2, 6-1, 6-4, is of more than ordinary interest when compared with the North Island championship final. Seemingly the tournament at Christchurch was played on the hard courts at Wilding Park, which should have suited the Timaru player. It was a neck-and-neck struggle in the first set, which Johnston won at 14-12, -but the playing of those 26 games were' the undoing of the colt. He does not appear to be over strong, and as, he plays a hurricane driving game may have slightly overdone it in the past, and should eaa up, also build up his strength, so that he may bo able to play bigger tennis in the future than he has done in the past. It has been laid down as an incontrovertible fact that to win. a- closely-fought five-set match the player must be absolutely fit and in the pink of condition. ■ i Those people who have not experi- j enced what such a match really means 'cannot have the very remotest idea of the amount of exertion, mental as well as physical, which it entails, and some of our young players have had their health sapped by playing in high-grade matches when unfit and off colour. In the second and third sets Patterson, who is a very sturdy and strong player, held command and won both sets easily at 6-2, 6-1. Johnston fought back hard in the fourth get, but Patterson had his measure, and won, 6-f. Johnston drives well on both hands; in fact, he has a splendid aggressive backhand drive, which he is able to put across court or straight,down the lino like a shot out of a gun when occasion demands, but Patterson thrives on any hard stuff that may be belted at him, and more often than not scores a winning ace oft* the shot that his opponent believes has him beaten. Patterson is hailed as the i South Island champion, and ho richly deserves tho honour. Tho •men's doubles match was stopped at the end of the fourth set as Innes-Joncs and Johnston had to leave for their homo town, Timaru, about 6 o 'clock that night. Seeing that the visitors were compelled to go, it was unfortunato that tho match had not been put on earlier in the day. Walker and Seay seemingly win by default, tho scoro being 6-1, 5-6, 1-6, 6-0. Don France Wins. Now we come to tho final of the North Island championship, which was played last Saturday at tho Miramar courts between Don Franco and Lon France. -Don's game this'soasdn has i been somewhat misleading. At times ho has been playing well enough to beat oven Geoffrey Olliyier, but on other occasions he has had- his supporters in.the depths of despair. Then suddenly he would lift his game and carry all before him, only to drop bnck to continued errors. Tho whole fact of the matter is Don Franco is only coining on to his true form, he strikes it now and again, but has been unable to retain it for any lengthy period. As ho builds himself up for these strenuous contests so will he hold his form and improvo on it. In last Saturday's notes "Huka" mentioned these facts, and they were written bofore tho final was played. In the first sot Lon Franco won as ho liked by six games to love, as Don eithor drove 3.43 clas«: ono mil* and a. half.—Pearl Fisher scr, Marshal Wood scr, Antolopo acr, Zoalou» scr. LUtfe Gold »cr, Boada's Child acr, Go-Won Grattan bet, Willie Mack ser, Teddy Aiisel scr, Oliver Thorpo scr, Joy Bird acr, {Treat Eyro scr. Queen Audubon scr, Andover ncr, Araroa scr. Signer 12yds bhd, Ansel Bell 24yds bhd, Blucwood 36yds bhd, Golden Park 30yds bhd, Lois Reklaw 48yds bhd. Cambridge Trotting Cup (harness), of 325 son; '1.42 class; two'miles.—Blngen King scr, Undo Bort scr, Ruapere scr, Grattan Thorpe scr, Koklrltea"~scr, Golden Hope scr, Festivo Morn 12yds bhd, Heather Girl 12yds bhd. Scandal 24y<ds bhd, Master Councillor 48yds bhd Itock Hlhton 60yds bhd. Respect COyds bhd. Nelson Tnskor 60yds bhd. Lord Nepoan 72yds bhd, Lndy Dunmore 72yds bhd, Goldman 96 yds blul. Doctor Dillon 108 yds bhd. ■ ' Hautnpu Handicap (harness), of 150 both; 3.1 class; one mile and a quarter.—Pearl Fisher, scr. Single Mint scr, Tho Duchess scr, Antelopo Bcr, Little Gold scr, Boada's Child scr, WUUo Mack acr, Teddy Ansel scr, Oliver Thorpe scr. Great Eyre acr, Slgnor bet. Golden Grattan, scr. Black Ballln 12yds bud, Silver Link 12 yds bhd, Beauty Spot 24 yds bhd, , Gaza 24yds bhd, Fotorson 36yds bhd, Dealer 36yds bhd, Lola Reklaw 36 yds bhd, Ekoeranel 36yds bhd, Lacklewood 06yds bhd, Tul Zolock 96yds bhd. President's Handicap (saddle), of 150 soys; 2.56 class; one mile and a quarter.—Surveyor scr. Mars scr, Concertina scr, Aggie Bell scr, Beatty scr, Percy Dillon scr. Verve scr, Our Plrato scr, High Sea 12yds bhd, Moko Pote 12yds bhd, Marlonetto 24yds bhd, Undo Bert 24yds bhd, Scandal 24yds bhd, Tatparo 48 yds bhd. Grattan Thorpe 48yds bhd, Ruaporo 48yds bhd, Amarls 48yds bhd. Respect 48yds bhd, Huon Grattan 48yds bhd, Liberate 48yds bhd. All Bell 06yds bhd. Lord Nepcan 96yds bhd. Barowle Handicap (harness). of 200 soys; 4.56 class; two miles.—Roma Blngon scr, Colonel Thorpo scr. Tiki scr, Peter Brown ser, Direct Action scr, Florallno 12yds bhd, Kllmar 24yds bhd, Amberlto 36yds bhd. Anaollno 48 yds bhd. Boa 801 l 48yds bhd. Scan Truibhlas 60yds bhd, Tlßer Salvo 60yds bhd, Peterson 72yds bhd, Natlvo Star 72yds bhd. Wild Nut 108 yds bhd, Tho Tartar 108 yds bhd. Stowards' Handicap (harnoss), of 100 uovs; 3.57 class; one mllo and live furlongs.—Great ."Eyre scr, Signer scr, Lola Reelclaw scr. Ansellne scr. Golden Park scr, Black Ballln scr, Bluewood scr, Araroa scr. Red Star 12yds bhd, Tiger Salve 12yds bhd, Haroto 12yds bhd, Dealer 24yds bhd. Mars 60yds bhd. Concertina 72yds bhd, Moko Pete 84yds bhd, Festive Morn 96yds bhd, Marlonetto 108 yds bhd.' Farewell Handicap (harness), of 100 soys; 2.20 class: ono mile.—Ekoeranel 12yds bhd, Longford 12yds bhd. Surveyor 12yds bhd, Mars 12yds bhd, Typist 12yds bhd, Tul Zolock 12 yds bhd, Admiral Lock 12yds bhd, Master Hula 12yds bhd, Blngen King 12yds bhd, Aggie Bell 12yds bhd, Percy Dillon 12yds bhd. Beatty 12yds bhd, Koklrltca 12yds bhd, Childe Audubon 12yds bhd, Heather Girl 12yds bhd, A'an Rich 12yds bhd, Rock Hlnton 24yds Bhd, Taipare 24yds bhd, Hypo 24yds bhd, Amoris 48 yds bhd. Liberate 48yds bhd, Respect 48yds bhd, Rockaway 48yds blid, Goldman 48yds bhd, Master Councillor iSydt bhd. Kelson Tasker 09yds bhd,

out or into the net with such regularity that his chances of winning the ■ match appeared most remote. In the second set Don 'a drive began to f unction properly, and he collected the points by sheer merit, winning 6-2. Both fought hard up to 3-all in the third sot, then Len speeded up his attack to win 6-3. Don was agaia aggressive in the fourth set. and nothing that his brother could do Keld him back, for with a succession of brilliant shots he evened the sets with a 6-2 score. The final set saw another hard fight for each game up to 3-all, but Don France was on his game, and by winning the seventh game he had a chance if he could capture his brother's service game. He went for his shots with great gameness, while Len played to break down his accuracy, but Don France won the game and led 5-3. He was after that last game, the ninth of the set, with great keenness, and took it with set at 6-3—that gave him the match and the North Island championship. These two brothers have been chopping at one another for many seasons, but it as only this year that Don has shown that he is beginning to get the measure of his brother's game. To win he had to beat Len France right out for'the point, as the latter got back seemingly winning shots with an uncanny regularity that should have been sufficient to break the heart of his most seasoned player. Congratu lations to the North Island ■ champion . —Don France—for by his win he has again established himself as one of the most promising players in the Dominion. Now that the North and South Island championships are established it is to be hoped that they will be annual affairs, and if the winners of all the ovents.could be brought to headquarters to decide who is who, the general Tmblio would soon become interested in good tennis. The whole trouble is that the good players are not brought up against one another often enough in the one season, and consequently tho game as a whole suffers. It can be rectified if tho powers be willing. School Championships. It is always a pleasure to know that tho young players are being caterpd for, and sometimes the efforts put forth by the smaller districts aro an object! lesson to some of the*, large associations. The competitions for the tennis cups presented by Mr. H. J. Thompson for competition between the Takaka district schools was held on the Hiawatha Club's courts. The following schools were represented;— Central Takaka, Lower Takaka, Motupipi, and Tarakohe. In the final of the boys' singles J. Bensemann (Lower Takaka) beat J. Griffin (Tarakohe), 30-22, and the.girls' singles waß won by E^ Griffin (Tarakone), who beat D. Raharuhi (Motupipi) in the final. At the end of the play Mr. H. J. Thompson presented the cups to the winners, and expressed, tho wish that in future it would bo possible to obtain entries' from more schools in the, district, Mr. Thompson deserves congratulations on his endeavours to foster the sport in' tho Takaka district, and the Nelson Association will feel the benefit in tho future when the ydung champions mature.. The Davis Oup. Twenty-five nations have sent in their challenges. for the 1927 contest for the, Davis Cup, and, as the "United States will have to defend the title in the final or challengo round, there will be 26 teams competing for that famous trophy this year. . The cup was first played for in 1900, and only two nations—America and tho British Isles competed that year, but the list kopt on growing,

until in 1925, challenges were received from 25 nations, and this year, notwithstanding that Australia and New Zealand are standing out,-the record is the same. America has 11 wins, Australia 7, and the British. Isles 5. For four years, during the war period, the competition was dropped, and in 1901 America had a walk-over, as Australia had in 1910. Last year, with Australia and Now Zealand standing out, the yearly increase in entries did not take place, but no other sport can claim the world-wide competition among so many nations that lawn tennis has. Extra interest -will be taken in this year's contests, as it is generally admitted by all good judges that the United States, who aro the holders, will have a hard task to field a team capable of beating the Frenchmen, provided that Lacoste is not held up with military services. It is also considered that Japan will, make an extra effort this year to lift the trophy, besides there may be a dark horse among the other nations. America will be without Eichards, and will have to depend upon Tilden, Johnston, and Williams again, as so far no colts have proved themselves good enough to oust those players. The draw is as follows for the European zone:—First Round: Spain v. India, Sweden v. British Isles, Denmark v. Holland, Switzerland v. Austria, Ireland v. South Africa. Tho following nations drew byes and-meet in the second round as follows:—Czechoslovakia v. Greece, Belgium'v. Poland, Jugoslavia v. the winners of the Spain-India contest. In thp lower half of the second round Portugal ■ plays Germany, Hungary meets Italy, and France should have an early practice match against Rumania. Little or nothing is at present known as to ihe_ strength of the teams that tho various nations will enter, but it is taken for granted that France can win the final of the European zone, but it must be remembered that Germany has now some players that will have to be reckoned with, and it can be taken for granted that a great offort will be made by that nation to lift the cup. • In the American zono, Japan meets Mexico and Cuba playß Canada. Japan should win the final. There have been suggestions of late that the rules of tho Davis Cup competitidn should be altered, some nations contending that it is a^hard- .- ship to send teams abroad year Rafter year, but with the splendid entry received this year it would appear that the majority are satisfied to keep on trying, hoping that they may win, and have just as good a .harvest as America and Australia have had in the past. It is well to leave things as thoy are, more especially when they have proved a success generally. New Zealand has. the makings of a Davis Cup team, but the players may never quite reach the standard unless more five-set matches aro played between the leading players of the Dominion, and the "rast" between sets, cut out altogether. The players can be built up much better in our own home land than by sending them abroad, not excepting Australia, if proper invitation matches aro arranged. ' , '