SEASONABLE SPORTS

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 December 1933, Page 3

SEASONABLE SPORTS

CRICKET. PLAY AND PLAYERS. It was unfortunate that rain should interfere with the two trial matches on Sunday. Both games had reached an interesting stage when stumps had to be drawn. It is doubtful whether finality would have been reached in either, but the state of the scores pointed to Reefton having a straightout win, and Greymouth A accounting for Hokitika. The wickets were all in favour of the batsmen, for the bowlers could get little grip on the wet ball. The selectors have been given something, and somebody, outside the Grey district to think about, before announcing their final choice for the West Coast team to meet Canterbury. There is a Need. While spectators could follow the progress of the Reefton-Greymouth B match, no indication was given as to how the match on No. 2 wicket was proceeding. A second score board would supply a great need at the Recreation Ground. There are always two matches there on a Sunday, and it would not be a costly matter for the Association to secure another score board. A coat of fresh paint on the present numbers would also be appreciated by spectators from the High Street side of the grounds. First-Grade Fielding.

A splendid exhibition of fielding was given by Heasley on Sunday. His clean picking-up, and his excellent returns to the wicket were worthy ,of first-grade standard. Tie was quick and accurate in all he did. This player also uses'his feet when at the wickets, and he plays back, to a ball in approved style. It is because he divides his weight between both feet, and does not as most other players, carry his weight on one foot alone.

Shaped Well. F. Malley, of Reefton, gave a sound display of batting. He selected the right ball to hit, and his easy action, and placing of the leather showed him as one past the novice stage' of the game. It was a clinking ball from Matthews that rattled his wicket,—a ball that would beat most batsmen, one of Matthews’ fast ones, which at times he sends u,p after a period of medium-pace bowling, to catch the batsman unawares. Malley also made a fair showing behind the wickets, and he is one that the selectors will have to consider as a likely member of the West Coast team.

Was Impressive, A young Reefton player in N. Woods impressed' by his showing with the bat. He was confident, and going along as though set for a tidy score when he was given dismissal unexpectedly. He snicked one behind the wickets and it travelled high and fast to Guy. This player has been disappointing in his fielding, but he retrieved himself by taking a brilliant catch, high up, when the odds were against him getting near it. Campbell knows the play and more should be heard of him. He has good action, and a watchful eye. Had a Life.

Foreman, of Reefton, had a life when Cornish so far forgot himself as to claim responsibility for going for a catch, which obviously should have been taken by Hearne. Cornish had to

run back to the ball, while Hearne had a forward move to it. Cornish insisted that it was his ball, and he mulled it. He was cut of his territory, aud should have known it. Smart Work.

When Mclntosh, skipper of the Greymouth B team stumped Woods, of Reefton, he executed one of the smartest pieces of work behind the wickets seen this season. It has become usual to see Mclntosh as a live wire behind, but in the second that Woods lifted' his foot, as he missed a delivery from Rapley, Mclntosh had the bails off- He is still the best of the wicket-keepers on the West Coast, from all viewpoints.

Bright Batting. J. Timlin “let ’em all come on bunday and applied the willow with great success. Whether on the middle stump, or a yard off, he treated all the deliveries similarly, and smote the ball on ten occasions to the boundary, while on most others it went close to crossing the line. He kept Nightingale up.to his work, by fast-running between the wickets. Timlin s was a bright, it on most occasions a risky display, of batting. He had the confidence, and showed that it was justified against the weak bowling.

Ogilvie’s Mistake. Ogilvie kept wickets quite well against the bowling of the Hokitika trundlers, with the exception of Griffiths. He stood' too close up to the wicket when Griffiths was sending them down fast, with the result that more than 20 of the 27 byes which piled up, were due to his inability to cope with Griffith’s deliveries. Had he stood five yards further back, extras would have numbered very few. Griffiths can still muster speed, but he is not the Griffiths of old.

Useful Score. N. Bayley made a useful 10, but was fortunate in not being dismissed early, when he returned one to Griffiths, w.w was too slow in moving to get under it. Bayley thereafter batted confidently, but he played inside a swinger from Baird, which brought about his dismissal.

Held For I, Nightingale received a painful injury to the hip-from a. rising ball early in his innings, and this subdued him lor a time, lie then played attractive cricket placing the ball in open country, and while content,to allow Timlin to add runs quickly, lie jogged along scoring from the loose ones, being careful to hold his wicket until his team had reached a respectable score. He then had a. hit, and was ultimately taken by Ogilvie behind the wicket, from a ball that, he grazed with the bat.

Umpires Knew Job. The four umpires adjudicating on Sunday, knew their work. Several “confident” appeals were made by the teams, but they did not succeed in frightening the umpire into agreeing with them. Every such appeal was negatived by the umpires, and the fact that no disappointment was shown by the bowler, or fieldsmen, strengthened the belief that the bowler was being supported by his team-mates “on principle.”

Sound Defence. Baird batted soundly for Hokitika. He was watchful, and took no risks, while his defence was impressive. The ball that dismissed him deflected from his pads into Clarke’s hands, but Umpire Greenwood answered the appeal, with an 1-b.w. decision. Baird is a Hokitika High School boy, whose cricket shows distinct promise.

Running Between the Wickets: On discussing rules for running between the wickets, let us take first of all the striker. His job is to call for anything in front of the wicket, and he. should call for every hall that he plays in front of a line running from point to square-leg. Moreover, he must make his call snappy. If there is a run, call for one. If a possible two, then say so, and your partner will be ready. If no run. don’t hesitate to say so, and then your colleague, who is backing up, will have time to regain his crease. If a run is possible and you want your partner to wait, sing out, “Wait!” and then when the position is clear call “Come!” or “No!” Hesitation is almost certain to be fatal, and if you call your partner, go for the run. Don’t stop in the middle of the pitch and then change youimind. There will be occasions when a variation from these hard and fast rules may be necessary. Sometimes the ball behind square leg is difficult for the non-striker to judge, but if the main essentials are understood and followed there will he little trouble, li you ha.vo no confidence in your partner —and some cricketers, even firstclass ones, have unenviable reputations in this regard—make it clear to him that you will run only on your own call. But be certain . that this agreement is definite and binding. Bui when following the accepted rules, play strictly to them. When it is your partner’s call, watch him and do what ho says. Don’t look back over your left shoulder as you run down the pitch. When it is your call, see that ho is not gazing aimlessly around, or, one of you will go. TENNIS. / NOTES AND COMMENTS. Inter-Club Match: The only inter-club match played during the week-end was between the United and Hokitika clubs. Rain seriously interfered with play; and caused the abandonment of the match. Honours - were even, United being ahead in the kJ teams’ match, and Hokitika in the A’s match. All the United men in the B team won their games, but in fairness to Hokitika it must be mentioned that they were not at full strength. The general standard in the A teams’ matches was good, without being brilliant. A noticeable feature of the play in the B teams’ match was the confidence of most of the players, who varied their play well, and were not afraid to go all out for winners.

Kear v. Gooch: The game in which R. Rear (United) beat Gooch (Hokitika) was even, every point being well fought. Both played steady tennis. Kear owed his success mainly to his accurate driving at Gooch instead of for the corners. He caught Gooch at his feet repeatedly with well placed, forceful drives.

Auspicious Entry: Mrs. Neville was the only one of the United A ladies to score a victory, and she won after playing a good game. She made an auspicious entry into the A team.

On Their Games: L. Phillips completely outclassed the Hokitika player Guthrie. He played fine tennis, covering the court well and driving strongly on either hand. Miss R- Anderson was another United player who was on her game. She played all her shots forcefully, and her smashing was effective.

A Great Shot: Commenting on the Perry-Hopman singles match in the first Australia v. England tennis test, the “Sydney Morning Herald” says: One shot which Perry made will ever be remembered by those who saw it, and it is questionable whether a finer stroke has ever been played on the Rushcutter Bay courts. Hopman had executed a glorious volley, wide to Perry’s forehand, which seemed certain to win the point for him. Perry ran, poised momentarily, and, lo! a magnificent forehand drive, carrying terrific pace, and as true as an arrow ever sped from a bow, sailed down the sideline for a “winner,” leaving Hopman and the spectators spellbound with admiration. It was a vital point, and helped to seal the issue.

Lee’s Superb Display: When he downed Jack Crawford, winner of. the all-England, French, and Australian championships, in two sets, in the first Test match, H. G. N. Lee gave the Australian public a taste ot the skill which has won him many

matches and caused him to be graded as Britain’s No. 3 player. Lees display was greatly admired. His most punishing /Stroke was his forehand drive, and he made every use of the opportunities presented to him on that side. His backhand answered every demand; he kept the ball in Play from this corner until he got the desired opening and he also hit many winners” with it. Never before had a Sydney crowd seen Crawford running from corner to corner with such monotonous regularity. Lee had the strokes to accomplish this and he never let up. Both Perry and Hughes

stated that they had never seen Lee s backhand functioning so successfully. Crawford seemed to lack his usual concentration, and he said after the match that his condition was such that tie Pi'ind it impossible to concentrate. He seemed ill at case throughout the match, bls strokes were mostly de |[cnsivm mid he rarclv attempted to I take the net.

Question of Serving: There seems to be much doubt in the minds of many players concerning the question of serving and receiving in doubles games. The rule is as iollows: —The pair who have the right to serve in the first game of each'set may decide which partner shall do so, and the opposing pair may decide similarly for the second game. The partner of the player who served’ in the first game shall serve in the third; the partner of the player who served in the second game shall serve in the fourth, and so on in the same order in all the subsequent games of a set. The order of service having been arranged may not be altered during the set, but it may be changed at the beginning of each new set. Similarly, the re ceivers may not change places with each other for the purpose of receiving the service before the end of a set, but they may do so at Hie beginning of a new set.

Dominion Ranking Lists: The first six on the ranking lists issued by the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association, at the end ot last season were: —(D E. D. AndrewsMiss D. Nicholls; (2) C. E. MalfroyMrs H. M. Dykes; (3) D-G. Mi c s M. Macfarlane; (4) C. Angas Miss B. Knight; (5) A. C. StedmanMiss M. Wake; (6) H. A. Barnett— Miss D. Howe. The South Island have two players in the first ten men and tour in the first eleven women Misses D. Miller, of Oamaru, and T. Poole, ot Christchurch, being bracketed tenth.

Healtli Rules Disregarded: It is strange that girl tennis players, and champions at that, seem to violate many of the rules of health that men players regard as sacred in the cause of the game. Perhaps women think they are hardier (there is a tradition that says so), that they don t catch cold so easily, and that they do not “coddle'’ themselves. But no man would dream of sitting down to afternoon tea without changing fiom the damp clothes he has worn during a match to dry garments, while women will sit down and chat over a cup of tea immediately after play. Lettin o their clothes dry on them, they are running the risk of cramp, catching colds, and developing rheumatism later on. Their diet just before playing does not seem to worry many girls, either, but men have learnt to their cost that the food taken just before a match may impair their eyesight. Girls often play immediately after quite a big meal, a habit that has ■ been responsible for the breakdown of one or two well-known players, whose digestion was thoroughly disorganised as a result.

Strain Their Eyes: Many women read or knit while they are awaiting their turn on the courts. Both these pastimes are bad for their game, as they are a continual strain on the eyes. Tennis players have suffered much less from eyestrain since the introduction of the eye-shade. Most of the champions are very fussy about their shades. Eye-shades, in spite of their superior virtue in protecting the eyes, took some time to become popular, because they detracted from the appearance ot the wearer. Helen Wills Moody, who 111Ircduced- them to women in England, wore hers in a dead-straight line, but Peggy Scriven decided to wear one i{ ; ;; ,:i>j>j» v a.uglc. and tliey became »h<- < . tabli. bed headgear for tennis >n[-lew gills now w< ar Um more ittracLive bandeau, which, allhmigh if keeps the hair in place, dm;, not rejeve the eyes of strain.

No Stockings Now: Helen Wills Moody is perhaps Hie most conscietnious champion in the .vorld to-day- When training for Ing matches she gives up everything. She goes to bed at 10.30, and' will leave a dance or bridge party in the middle ot a rubber to keep her rule. Not many other champions, abroad or in New Zealand, arc so earnest about their game. She has seen some changes in women’s tennis wear, apart from the transfer from the hat and bandeau to the shade. It was only last year that girls had the courage to brave Wimbledon with bare legs. Since then it has become so fashionable to play without stockings that it is out of the ordinary there or here to see a girl among the champions wearing stockings.