Lawn Tennis: Wilding Shield and Nunneley Casket

Evening Star, Issue 25950, 15 November 1946, Page 5

Lawn Tennis: Wilding Shield and Nunneley Casket

(By Recorder.)

The Auckland Association has put in its challenges for the Nunneley Casket and Wilding Shield interprovincial trophies, the former at presept being held by Canterbury and the latter by Hutt Valley. The suggested dates are; For the Nunneley Casket, December 6 and 7, and for the Wilding Shield January 21 and 22. It is to be hoped that the Otago Association will issue challenges for both these trophies. McMillan Cup. The mixed doubles Yankee tournament for the McMillan Cup, which was to have been played last Saturday afternoon, had to be postponed to Saturday, November 23, on account of the weather. All matches put down for play on November 23 will now be postponed and played at the end of the season, if necessary.

Primary Schools Tennis. The annual primary schools tennis tournament will be played at Logan Park courts on Saturday mornings, November 23 and 30. A limited number of players from each primary school take part in this annual tournament, and the keenness of these youngsters makes a visit to Logan Park during their tournament well worth while. Asphalt Courts.

The latest issue of the ‘ Auckland Tennis News ’ has an interesting article by iMr Paul Haege on asphalt courts. Mr Haege was ranked No. 4 in Victoria in the late 1920’5, and lie will be remembered for his defeat of Buster Andrews in the final of the Manawatu championships in the year in which Andrews won his New Zealand singles title. Mr Haege has travelled the world and played tennis in many countries, and his views give food for thought. “ I was astonished to see that New Zealand still goes in for asphalt courts, which type of surface has been given up in all tennis-playing countries,” writes Mr Haege. “ Melbourne was one of the diehard asphalt areas, and the gradual eclipse of Victorian tennis was mainly due to this fact. Asphalt players rely on heavy top-spin drives, good volleys, and hard service can never develop a good backhand on asphalt. Gerald Patterson is a typical example of the ‘ asphalt-spoilt ’ tennis player at his best, i.e.,' excellent .service, powerful smash and volley, complete lack of backhand, a player relying oh speed more than placement and fitnesse. “ Asphalt is an .obsolete • surface which tends to spoil the gracefulness of tennis, the correct stroke execution, and blunts the finer points of the game. A good grass court is the ideal court, but for winter play in New Zealand, I would suggest the" En-Tout-Cas, which type of court is now universal, and on which many Davis Cup matches are played.”

Max Cleghorn. Max Cleghorn, the ex-Kaituna player and winner of the Otago doubles .-title-with W. Bray, in 1923 and 1927, is still kefenly interested in tennis. Cleghorn, who is known as evergreen “Max” to Wairarapa folk, is now living in Greytown, and can still more than hold his own with most 'local players. Umpires’ Association. The first meeting for .the season of the Umpires’ Association will be held in the Y.M.C.A. on Tuesday, November 19, when Mr E. D. Duthie will give a talk on the rules of the game. An endeavour is being made to increase the membership, and all players and those interested are asked to attend.

Davis Cup. The New South Wales championship meeting, completed last weekend, is one of the two tournaments to be played before the final selection of the Australian Davis Cup team. - The fact that both Bromwich and Pails won their way to the final in straight sets indicates that these two will be the singles players to meet the United States challengers in Melbourne. The American Davis Cup team is due to play exhibition matches in Auckland on November 21, and the New Zealand players. McKenzie and Edwards, of Hutt Valley, have been invited to take ipart. .