TENNIS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 13 December 1924, Page 9

TENNIS.

The season so far has not' been altogether the most favourable for play, for several week ends and Wednesdays have been spoilt by the rain. There is, however, a compensating advantage, for the regular warm rainfall has much improved and preserved the sole of the grass on the courts. This means that the courts of both clubs will last much better and the dry base lines which are evident every season will he at least posptoned. The Hawera Club have their courts in very fine order and the grounds generally look extremely picturesque and pretty. Every fine afternoon there is a good attendance of players practising, but it would perhaps be wise on the part of the committee to keep in mind that the season is proceeding, and that they should endeavour to arrange as many outside matches as possible. There is no better means of increasing interest and maintaining the spirit of healthy emulation than the presence of outside players on a club’s courts or visits to other clubs. Although Manaia, Patea and Park are all playing in the Taranaki B

Grade competions and, owing to Hawera having decided not to enter, these clubs will not meet them in the competitions, it is still possible for Hawera to arrange to meet any one of them in a friendly match. There are also Eltham, : Stratfor,d, and perhaps a combined team from tlie club's in tlie Okaiawa and Kaponga district with whqm matches could be arranged. A suggestion might be made to form a combined. Hawera team and to invite and arrange matches with either New Plymouth or Waverley Clubs or even to feyite the animal fixtiire with Wanganui. There.are -a ••number of young and prpanising players ih the local clubsj and the experience" of playing against strange teams would be most valuable.

It ’ might be perhaps premature for any definite statement in the matter hut the Park Tennis enthusiasts are hopeful of. being in a position by next season ,th apply for the Taraanki championships to be held on "their courts. At their recent general meeting a strong ajid: energetic sub-committee was elected for the purpose of raising and arranging funds for th e erection of their "pavilion, and the members can rely on”;.thexn. making every effort conducing to the success of the schema. The budding.: as it appears on the plan is one that should meet the requirements' of players, and the two rooms proposed are as big as th© rooms of the Hawera pavilion. A wide and spacious verandah in front and round the sides: overlooking the courts, will provide the club with a building which will nipet their requirements for several; years id) come and will give them a pavilion equal to any In the Province. The possession of such a building will no doubt have a decided influence for good in fostering general improvement in the standard of play in the club.

A notable event in the history of Taranaki tennis was arranged for today at when the Wellington representatives meet the chosfen of Tarariaki. The Wellington team ; included L. Prance, an outstanding 'New Zealand player, and the veteran Salmond, who is still showing his best form. With them laire ’ a number of colts whose prospects are considered very good,' aiid'who, by. playing in such fixtures, are given! the opppi-tunity to improve. In the Taranaki team, is included a Hawera old ;-boy , Genders Foderi, who is reported to he "playing very well. The others are players who are sqnje of tlie best known names in Taranaki; It might be , suggested that Taranaki could have followed Wellington’s' lead and tried out in the preliminaries some of the. younger players from the southern end of the prpvihpe."''' There are a- number of very promising young players’ in the sou th. 1 ’ The weather qf late has been! most unfavourable, no less than three consecutive Saturdays'having been so wet that play could not lie held, and no doubt the local'clubs will take the first opportunity tp carry through the fupctiops contemplated, of which no less than two have had, to be postponed:. DAVIS CUP. It is admitted in Australia that the chance of regaining the Davis Gup depends entirely on' when ’ William Tildexi decides to retire from the eattie. • • -

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPIONSHIPS.

The. . New Zealand championships that ar.e to be' played at Auckland during Christmas Vy;eek,’ op tlie Stanley" Street" grounds, where there, are nine grass courts, promise to he quite up to the standard of former years. 111 . fact it is expected that all the top players of the Dominion will be in attendance. The entries close on December ,15 with th© secretary at . Wellington A. W. Sims, the'present ehampi,9P> is. now located at Wellington. .This will give, him an opportunity to. secure' regular and good, practice and so improve his chances, of retaining his position as champion. Dr. Laurenson is almost sure t* attend the meeting this year, and will take some beating, j; G. Peacock is also likely to arrive hack from England in time for the meeting. He left orders for his entry to be sent in, and if he can get some hard practice beforehand may surprise a few. E. D. Andrews has many supporters, and one would not be surprised to see him pull the'event off this year. He gave Sims the run of his life last year, and if he can show the sapie -form this year then the experience he has gained during the past season should carry hi pi along the road to victory. Still there are few older players who may tie .the younger man up that is, beat him —before he has been able to solye their gqme. Andrews will be playing with J. N. Lowry, of Hawke’s IJay, in the doubles .championship Lowry, by the way, is an unknown quantity, as far as New Zealand eliartpionShip fpi-m is coZ cerned. When in England he played tor Cambridge University, and is reported to have shown good form. Sufficient is known about liis play to say that he can be classified as having a chance in the New Zealand singles, should he attend the meeting "well

trained. If playing at his best lie should catch the eye of the selectors fpr the New Zealand team—that is what the writer thinks about his play. The following officials have been appointed for the championships at Auckland; Hon. referee, A. Goldie, of Auckland; tournament management committee, H. G. Thompson, E’ Hickson, and D. Murray Kean. The appointment of A. Goldie as honorary rtfcroc will meet with general approval throughput New' Zealand, as he is one of those reliable, quiet workers, who looks after his job, and does it as a matter of duty. Every competitor may be absolutely sure of getting a square deal from him, as there is nothing about the game of tennis that he is not familiar with. The tournament management is also in good hands, and woe betide any competitor, it does not matter who he 01 she may be, who dallies about when called upon to go into court f.or his or her match. Competitors, hi at least some of them, are inclined tp waste time in getting.their matches started, and the committee will he doing justice to every competitor if it simply “strikes the offenders out” at the first offence. Some one says, “what, scratch a champion?” Champions (writes “Huka” in the Wellington Post) should know better than to hamper th© meeting bv hot being ready to play, when called upon, and many of the players would not be cqjled npop tp play so many matches pn tlie final day if one and all were compelled to lie ready for play when called upon. If five minutes are lost on the first day at each' of the nine courts for two matches per court, then an hour and a half has been wasted, and tliat may mean everything to the management, on the final day. It may piean more to some of the players on the final day, for they may be called upon to play an extra match, which may just rum their chances in a final, it is most important, and the dillydallies .should he rounded up even if it does give them a shock.