ON FIELDS OF SPORT

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 February 1940, Page 10

ON FIELDS OF SPORT

TENNIS. ROUND THE COURTS. The match played between St. Columba and Runanga. at Runanga at the week-end provided an exciting and unusually even contest, St. Columba winning by 12 sets 117 games to 11 sets 121 games. The men, especially, were evenly matched, an indication of this being afforded by the fact that three of the six men’s singles ended 9/8. A pleasing feature of the match from St. Columba’s point of view was the marked improvement shown by their women players.

Greymouth Ladder: There was a renewal of ladder matches at the Greymouth Club’s courts during the week-end, most of the games played being for places on the women’s ladder. Mrs. Rollinston again played a good set to defeat MissJßush 9/3. The play of both was marked by hard hitting. Other results were: Miss Fahey defeated Miss' Sandrey 9/2, Miss Armstrong defeated Miss Fahey 9/3, and Mrs. Wilson defeated Miss Sandman 9/2. On the men’s ladder, G. Hutt defeated E. Pattin son 9/6. j

St. Columba Ladder:

Owing to unfavourable weather and the fact that a number of players are on holiday, no ladder matches were played at the St. Columba Club last week.

Ngahere v. Moonlight: Playing at Ngahere, Moonlight were defeated by the home team by 9 sets 71 games to 7 sets 64 games. Following are detailed results, Moonlight players being mentioned first: — Mixed Doubles: M. Aynsley and Miss E. Aynsley 6 v. J. Donaldson and Mrs. Donaldson 1;U. Christie and Miss J. Aynsley 0 v. B. Dennison and Mrs. Spriggs 6; J. Aynsley and Miss E. Christie 4 v. D. Dickson and Miss Gillman 6; R. Aynsley and Mrs. McDonald 5, v. A. Gibson and Mrs. O’Loughlin 6.

Combined Doubles: M. Aynsley and J. Christie 6 v. J. Donaldson and B. Dennison 4; J. Aynsley and R. Aynsley 6 v. Dickson and Gibson 4; Misses E. Aynsley and J. Aynsley 2 v. Mrs. Donaldson and Mrs. Spriggs -6; Miss Christie and Mrs. McDonald 2, v. Miss Gillman and Mrs. O’Loughlin 6.-.

Singles: M. Aynsley 2 v. J. Donaldson 6; .1. Christie 6 v. B. Dennison 0; J. Aynsley 1 v. D. Dickson 6; R. Aynsley 6 v. A. Gibson 4; Miss E. Aynsley 6 v. Mrs. J’. Donaldson 0; Miss J. Aynsley 3 v. Mrs. Spriggs 6; Miss E. Christie 6 v. Miss Gillman 4; Mrs. J. McDonald 3 v. Mrs. O.’Lcughlin 6.f New Zealand's Best: None of the -New Zealand competitors in the Centennial tennis tournament would, in the opinion of J. -H. Crawford, visiting Australian, as yet measure up to international class. . . Among the younger players, he said, there was promising material. But it

would net develop unless it were given opportunities for a considerable amount of play against men of finer ciass. Crawford, interviewed by thei •'Sports 'MBost” after the tournament, gave his opinions reluctantly. It was, he said, almost impossible to form correct judgment of New Zealand’s tennis when it was viewed in conditions i wholly against good tennis. . He had seen many players with good strokes during the week. But he did not think any of them had developed his best form because of the wind which blew so strongly on every day of the tournament. Crawford named R. McKenzie, jun-

lor champion, S. Painter, former junior star, and J. Hamilton, all of Wellington, as young players of abundant promise.

But, he said, they would never go much further than their present standard if they were not given opportunities to meet better 'players. Their talent could not be fully exploited on home grounds. “I think visits to Australia by young players would pay you very well,” he said. ‘‘But the scheme, if any is formed, must be thorough.” Sest Woman Athlete: Miss Alice Marble, Wimbledon and American lawn tennis champion, has been unanimously acclaimed the outstanding woman athlete of 1939 by the American sports experts. She received’34 of. the 63 votes, which is the record winning margin ever attained by a winner in the .nine years history of the Associated Press annual poll With the ballots counting three, two, and one' point respectively for first, second, and third places, Miss Marble scored a total of 167 points. Her triumph put a tennis player at the top of the list for the first time since Helen Wills Moody won in 1935. Miss Kay Stammers, England’s leading lawn tennis player, received three points, and the young English skaters. Hazel Franklin and Belita Jepson Turner, each obtained one point.

Outstanding Players:

In the recent N.Z. Centennial tennis tournament, Australian girls were outstanding. Nothing to equal the power of Miss Wynne’s service and ground strokes has been seen in women’s tennis in New Zealand; and there is not a player in the country with anything to approach the all-round quality of Miss Coyne’s game.

Mismanagement Charge: .“Mismanagement was Rife at Recent Miramar Tourney” is the heading to an., article in last Saturday’s issue of the “Sports Post” dealing with the N.Z. Centennial tennis tournament. The writer of the article states Inter alia:—The New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association has been functioning for many years now, and it has conducted many championship tournaments. But there were several complaints about the Centennial tournax ment. The complaints included the choice of Miramar as a centre.for the tournament; the facilities Jfor the publie; the ball boys; lack' of atmosphere to the grounds; and’.so oh.'.Spine were: trivial. Some were'.really justifiable. A national tournament should first of all be distinguished hy a"tpurnament centre giving ,‘the "players the fullest opportunity"' .to demonstrate their prowess. Wellington .cannot- yef do that. ‘ Secondly, th,e organisation should be so developed' ■.that both \the ..pl.ayprs and the public unionsciously ■■receiye the impression.tMat the tournament .is beiiig conducted solely for' their benefit. ’ . ■■■■ '■ The players fast week were well treated. But it will’ ..be .some tinre <be-' fore the public forgets the inadequacy of the programmes, and how it sat, on uncomfortable" seats, watching the efforts' of players to overcome conditions which were ,not conducive to the production of better-than-ofdinary tennis. United Club Results: Following are the results of matches• played at the United Club’s courts] luring the week: — | A Grade Women’s Championship— I Miss McKay v. Mrs Garth, 7-5, 6-1; Mrs McKay v. Miss Blair, 6-4, 6-0; Mrs Cheyne v. Mrs Shapcott, 6-4, 6-2; Mrs Neville v. Miss Hannan, 6-2, ,6-0.

B Grade—Mrs Bunt v. Mrs Howson, 9-1.

A' Grade Men’s Championship—J. Garth v. F. Sadler, 6-0, 6-0; O. Cheyne v. E. Bunt, 6-2, 6-1; B. Smith v. L. Phillips, 3-6, 6-1, 8-6; J. Garth v. 6. Cheyne, 6-3, 6-3. B Grade—A. A’Court v. B. Bheppard, 9-6, G. Day v. J. North, 9-0.

Ladder Games—Mrs Williams v. Mrs Bunt, 9-0; J. Lindsay v, Mrs Marshall, 9-4; Mrs Shapcott v. Miss Blair, 9-7; Mrs Hughes v. Mrs P. Warnes, 6-2; P. Warnes v. P. Garth, 9-5; J. Garth v. R. Hamilton, 9-1.

CRICKET.

UNITED’S DOUBLE LOSS

Greymouth cricket enthusiasts were disappointed on Sunday last, when the keenly-awaited match, Cobden v. United, did not eventuate, owing to the non-arrival of the United team. In the absence of any explanation from the United Club, the management committee last evening, awarded the match to Cobden. Later in the evening, the committee discussed the position of the competition, with relation to the number of playing days available; decided to close the competition, and award it to the leading team, Cobden; so .that United, by their default last Sunday, not only lost that game, but also a chance of winning the competition. Cobden are worthy winners, as they are a strong allround combination. .United are scheduled to meet them again on March 3, and if the game eventuates, as it probably will, it should be a keenly-fought match. In fact, it will probably be all the keener on account of last Sunday’s regrettable situation.

Association Meeting:

At the meeting of the West Coast Cricket Association’s Management Committee last evening, when the United-Cobden match was discussed, there were present:—-Messrs J. Stokes (chairman), B. Rathbun, J. Greening, J. Leitch, J. Cornish, D. Anderson, and J. Mathews (acting-secretary). Apologies for absence were received from Messrs L. Coffey and W. Tind’ale.

Fixtures for the knock-out competition, which, it was decided, vzill open on March 3, were arranged as follows —A Division: —United v. Cobden;Marist A v. Marist B. B Division: — Runanga v. Camerons,. at Runanga; Brunner, a bye.

It was decided that the West Coast team leave the Post Office, by bus, for Nelson at 1.30 p.m., to-morrow. Third grade fixtures for Saturday next were arranged as follows: — Technical A v. Marist B, schoolground, i().30 a,m.; Marist Av. Technical B, Rec., No. 2, 16.30'. a.m.

■JSputh African Record: Eric Rowan, the South African Test batsman, set up a new individual re'ccrd ,-for jriterprovincial .South African .matches, when, with a score of 306 not .out, he helped Transvaal to defeat Mataiby hif" innings and 168 runs in a'"match "at the Wanderers’ ground recently. Dave Nourse’s record of 304 had stood since 1919. Rowan batted ■for just over six hours. Natal, who scored 147 and 293, lost nine wickets to Norman Gordon, the medium-fast bowler, who took 6 for 61 in the first innings and 3 for 86 in the second. Shield Averages: The final' Plunket Shield averages for the 1939-40 season reveal that Verdun Scotty of .Auckland, heads the batting, with' 79.00, followed closely by M. P. Donnelly and-W. M. Wallace.: The result is not altogether surprising, for Scott has shown in his several seasons of senior cricket that, in the mood, he is the most prolific runscorer in New Zealand cricket to-day. Too much should not be made of his lack of polish as a batsman. It is l

paradoxical, perhaps, that this seasvF when his club efforts have been only fair, that he should head the Shield ; average's. Last season, when his club average was round the 200 mark, he was fairly well down the Shield table. Has Potentialities: S. Wilde, Nelson representative cricketer (he was selected for the Wellington Country eleven earlier this season while still a pupil at Nelson College but was unavailable for the match) continues to show excellent form in club cricket. He is playing for Waimea now that he has left school, and last Saturday week he scored a fine not-out century in a competition game against College. Wilde had reached 129 when stumps were drawn. A solid opening bat, he should go a long way in the game. He is only IS.

Nelson .Batsman: The honour of recording the highest individual score, in Nelson club cricket this season went to W. Dee, of Nelson,Who rattled on a first-class 205 for Old Boys’ against Athletic last week. Dee Iras been a Nelson representative for several years now, but he is still young and should continue, to hold his place in the eleven for a long time yet. He is not a polished bat in the true sense of the word, but his solidity and vigour, when in the mood, mark him as the ideal interprovincial batsman. Dee, incidentally, is the fifth player to pass the 200 mark in Nelson city competition cricket.

CYCLING.

NEWS AND NOTES

Although the close finishes in the three cycling events on Saturday at Victoria Park made the races interesting, the racing -was spoilt by the heavy track which made fast times impossible. Competitors' at the; Hokitika sports next month vzill probably appreciate the faster track although the Cass Square track surface, is rough in places.

Sheldon with a first and a third on Saturday had his first track successes for over a year. M. Jones with two seconds was also more successful than usual. Malone, the outstanding- rider in the Club, added another first and a second to his already imposing list of places in track races this season. J. Archer who has been showing poor form for some time surprised with a good sprint ■which left the rest of the field well behind at the finish of the Is mile race.

Two seasons ago F. Shrives was considered one of the most promising riders iseen .in the Club for some time. Last year, however,',his .form caused most of his supporters to revise their cpinioij of his capabilities, but' in the last fevz weeks his three .firsts and a third in important faces have again shown what be can do when fit. . Morland’s Success: Newloye and .Morland, both competitors ill .the Ngahere road race 'last month, w.ere the '.outstanding cyclists at the big Wellington meeting last week; Morland Has .iibw won: .four New Zealand championships, and is still young, so he slidulcl go a long way in the.sport.