LAWN TENNIS

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 23, 28 January 1928, Page 24

LAWN TENNIS

•V " HUK»" FRENCH VISITORS IS POINT-THROWING SPORTING? A SPLENDID EXHIBITION, WELL MANAGED The much talked about visit of the French team is over, and the only regret is that the visiting players' time in New Zealand "was so limited, but Jean Borotra, the captain of the team, Jacques Brugnon, and Christian Boussus made it known that it was their desire to revisit the Dominion. They have seen just enough to long to see more. That return visit may possibly be looked for in two years time, if not before. These champion players made it known that any tests would .always bo on Davis Cup lines, and unless the next visit can be'so arranged as to work in with the New Zealand championship meeting, there is little chance of seeing the Frenchmen in action against one another. Borotra was quite satisfied that New Zealand has good material for the future, but the players must be brought together more often, he said, and when champion players from abroad are expected the Dominion's selected should be trained most carefully. The general arrangements for the gathering on the Miramar ground were excellent, more especially when it is considered that the ground as a whole is only in the making. On the morning of the first day the pavilion, which is only a third of what will eventually be built, was not nearly ready for using, but by a special effort the Management Committee were able to bring it into use. Borotra and his team mates were specially pleased with the court us«d, which they said was as good as any they have played on. The members of the Management Committee —Mesßrs. M. E. Denniston (chairman), 6. Gore, H. I. Graves, A. G. Henderson, W. D. Irons, S. A. Longuet, and P. WhiieParsons—were divided up into several sub-committees, each doing a multitude of work, with assistance from Mr. L. J. Berry and a few others. Messrs. Graves and Irons had a very busy time on both days finding room for spectators who had not booked their seats, and these two committeemen saw Txttle or nothing of the matches. The kingpin behind all the sub-committeea was the secretary, Mr. D. Murray Kean. His work began early and ended late, but his efforts were rewarded aa everything went without a hitch from start to .finish. The chairman, Mr. M. E. Denniston, was also ever on the alert, and he. was a tired man by the time he passed Borotra safely on board the steamer at the very last moment on Friday afternoon. Borotra has the habit of cutting things very fine, but he also has the happy knack of "getting there" every time, without ruffling any "feathers"—his own or others. These Frenchmen are charming men, and were prepared to fall in with whatever was arranged—in fact, they were as happy as sand boys all the time, and from, the very start made the local people feel that they had been close friends for quite a long time. This was especially the case with Borotra, who said that he felt that he was really at home as soon-s-or even before—he landed, after having been met by New Zealanders. Miramar appealed to these champions as1 a very fine ground in the making, and a place where many players could be assembled for the benefit of the game, and they all thought it wonderful that New Zealand had gone in for such a big scheme. They were also considerably surprised when told that Christchurch and Auckland had similar big grounds, with many courts, and that Dunedin and Timaru were going to do likewise. They were pleased with the form shown by New Zealand players, and eagerly asked if we had more like them. When told that there were six or eight others likely to be in the same class, they were impressed, and expressed the view that New Zealand should soon be visiting Prance with a Davis Cup team. Now that the ice has been broken and European champions have played iv the Dominion, it will be much easier to get others to visit New Zealand, as the late visitors will carry back to Europe many impressions, short as their stay was. In fact, the whole three could greet all-comers quite well in Maori after a very few lessons, and their last words were "Kia ora." The Flay Discussed. The writer has been asked what impressed him most during the two afternoon's play. Well, it was not exactly the "Bounding Basque's" bound, although that in itself was a masterpiece performed by an athlete whose muscles must be all in tune, but that, when Borotra landed after the terrific bounding effort, he could gain control of the ball. That effort, coming from such a champion as Borotra, should be an object-lesson to all those who wish to excel, as it goes to show that this great player never believes that a ball has beaten him until he fails to return it.' The Frenchmen tried after everything, and their quickness off the mark, as well as their speedy running, can well be followed by New Zealand's champions to the latter's advantage. Point Throwing. The linesmen put in two heavy afternoons with few mistakes. v The gallery, and even the. players themselves, were wrong, when the linesmen were right, although it was thought that the linesmen had erred. Borotra threw a point away because he considered that a linesman had given a ball, returned by his opponent, "out" when he (Borotra) considered it was good. Borotra was wrong. The ball was out, and ho should have abided by the linesman's decision. An umpire cannot over-rule a linesman's decision on fact, and Borotra must have known that. Mr. G. A. Hurley, who wrote to the Editor of "The Post"' upon the subject a few days ago, was on the right track, but possibly many are not aware that a player, according to the rules, makes a very serious breach when he throws a point away in an endeavour to make up for what he considers as an error of the linesman. In the first place the linesman is in the best position to judge, and it is somewhat of an insult to the official appointed when a player defies his decision by word or action anyway the throwing away; of a point does not necessarily level matters, as the other player might have won the next point. If a player threw the whole game, there might be something in it. Would Borotra or any other champion throw a point when within match point for the Davis Cup? One wonders what the nation, that the point thrower represented, would say then. Again, what would happen in a match when, say, Jones threw away; a pom* because he consid-

ered that the linesman had made a mistake in giving the ball "out" that was played by Smith, and the latter, who considered tho linesman was correct also threw tho next point. Possibly Jones, being a determined person, would again throw a point and Smith being equally firm would do likewise, and so it would go on until the match would end in a farce. It ia very hard to get good linesmen. In fact, no one cares for the job, as players and the spectators are inclined to think that they are in a better position to judge, which they arc not. The most notable asset of lawn tennis is the high standard of sportsmanship developed by its players and followers, and players should accept the umpires or linemen's decision whether it is for them' or against them. No umpire or linesman would object to a player drawing attention to what he considered a mistake, but both do strongly object when a player having drawn attention to what he considered an error, and being ruled against, immediately bunips two services down on his side of the net, so causing a double fault, or hits a ball wildly out or into the net. Some of those looking on applaud and say, "He is a great sport," but what about the poor unfortunate linesman who has been doing his job and doing it well all the afternoon? Even allowing if he has made an error, it is not a kindly action to bump him so that one and all know that he has been bumped; if a player desires to return the point he considers has been given in error, he can do it later on in the game, thereby not advertising it or playing to the gallery. Champion players should "play the game and by reading and knowing the rules, play right up to the letter of them. When a player throws away a point the linesman, or even the linesmen, as a whole, would be quite right in declining to act any further in the match. The player must respect the official's decision, or ask to have him replaced, and it is not sporting to dispute by word, look, or action, the decision of any official. In other sports players can be ordered off tho ground for so doing, and the tournament regulations also provide for a competitor being disqualified for misconduct. The referee has the power to remove an urn-' piro or a linesman upon the appeal of a competitor, but he shall first of all decide whether the competitor's appeal is well grounded, and not act simply on the player's appeal. He must be fair to both. In the match between France and New Zealand, the linesmen did their job on ,the afternoons of both days in a most creditable manner, and if all such big matches are judged with as few mistakes the competitors will have nothing to complain about. Frencli men and New Zealanders erred badly when they threw points.

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