TENNIS.

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 April 1933, Page 3

TENNIS.

SEASON’S REVIEW.

(By

“Volley.”)

On the whole, the season just concluding has been successful. Bad weather has marred some of the major events. The matters most pleasing are the large increase in the number of piayers, the improvement in the standard of the junior players, and the visits of outside players. Much credit is due to the outside players who attended the annual 'tournament, as these players showed the standard which local players must attain. It is hoped that the Association will make every effort to obtain the attendance of outside players of good calibre, not only at the annual tournament, but also at different clubs for exhibition matches.

Coaching Required: Some effort should be made, also, to enable younger players to have sufficient coaching. Coaching is of the utmost importance so far as junior players are concerned. A good start will make or mar a player. The time has arrived on the Coast when one coach could be retained' and kept fully employed coaching at various clubs. The Association has no other matter of equal importance. At the annual tournament there were several young players of great promise making the most deplorable mistakes. These would soon be cured by a good coach.

Promising Players: This year has produced two young men of exceptional promise—Pattinson and Kear. In about two years, when they both acquire experience, these players should endeavour to participate in the New Zealand championships. Kear won the United Club’s championship without being seriously extended. Unfortunately, Kear and Pattinson did not meet during the year, but they both should endeavour to play each other frequently next year.

Championship Delayed: The Grey Club’s Championship has been delayed by bad weather. A. K. Smith looks to be the winner. This with training, could extend any player on the Coast to-day. His brother is improving, but should devote more thought to the service and tactics of the game.

Brains Beat Brawn: The writer remembers seeing Norman Brooks play Patterson, just before the Davis Cup contest in 1921. Patterson at that time was remarkably severe, and wonderfully agile. Brooks was then on the retiring age. They played five sets. The outstanding feature of the game was that Brooks never seemed' to run. His power of anticipation was amazing. Yet he himself states that this was purely a matter of study—that a certain shot played in a certain way would almost inevitably be returned to a certain definite position. This is so, as the writer has found by experience. Our players should study this point, and if they do so, will find their game improving tremendously. Experience, after all, is not a matter so much of the number of games played, but the amount of knowledge derived from each game. In other words, brains are of more importance than brawn.

, Gooch, of Hokitika, was one of the Coast’s best players, though past his heyday. He later defeated Kear comfortably in an inter-club match. His win was due largely to his brains and his knowledge of court-craft. Ladies’ teams produced no one new. The old hands were still about the same, and the younger ones seem to lack concentration. Lack of opportunity is the main trouble with their tennis, as the material is there. Genieral Notes: More ladder and club matches should be played. The club matches should be for all grades, not only the top players. The weaker players are entitled to match play, and should get it. They will then gradually develop, and an occasional “star” will be unearthed. It is pleasing to see Runanga taking a front place in inter-club competitions. This club must be one of the strongest on the Coast to-day. A shield' should be provided for in-ter-club competition, as this would serve to stimulate competition between the various clubs. It would be pleasing to see these inter-club competitions in full swing next year. No player can get too much match play. Minor Clubs: Considerable progress has been made by what may be termed the “minor” clubs in the district. Runanga have come to rank as one of the strongest, while St. Columba have also advanced. Cobden and Paroa, two new clubs, have unearthed several players of promise, but next season these clubs should endeavour to arrange more matches with the stronger clubs. United Ranking Lists: The positions on the United Club’s ranking lists at the virtual close of the season are as follow: —Men: (1) R. Kear, (2) P. Warnes, (3) A. Warnes, (4) A. McKay, (5) C. Burley, (6) J. Gebbie. Ladies: , (1) Miss M. Warnes, (2) Mrs J. Cassells, (3) Miss D. Blair, (4) Miss M. Seebeck, (5) Miss M. McKay, (6) Miss C. Brooks. R. Kear won the men’s “A” grade championship, and I. Dabscheck, the men’s “B” grade, Miss Warnes, the ladies’ “A” grade, and Mrs Neville, the ladies’ “B” grade. Grey Club List: Men: (1) M. C. Smith, (2) A. K. Smith, (3) E. C. Schnackenberg, (4) R. A. Frost, (5) R. H. Clay, (6) L. B. Phillips. Ladies: — (1) Miss M. Costello, (2) Miss N. Tennent, (3) Mrs W. Fletcher, (4) Mrs Fuller, (5) Miss L. Schaef, (6) Mrs L. McGlashan. Men’s Doubles: (1) M. C. Smith and R. A. Frost; (2) J. W. Bruce and H. Dodson; (3) N. B. Clark and R Rollinson; (4) H. S. Ray and L. B Phillips. In the final of the ladies’ champion ship doubles, Mrs Fletcher and Miss Hopkins beat Misses N. and C. Ten nent 6/2, 6/1. In the final of the men’s handicai singles, “A” grade, R. H. Clay (rec 5, defeated H. S. Ray (rec 5) 50/3G. Miss N. Tennent (owe 5) beat Mis: C. Brown (rec 10) 50/47, in the fina of the ladies’ handicap singles “A‘ grade. Miss M. Costello retained the lac ies’ championship singles title, defea

ing Miss N. Tennent in the final, 6/2, 6/1. A. K. Smith and M. C. Smith have yet to play the final of the men’s championship singles.