TENNIS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 13 November 1926, Page 12

TENNIS

Much interest and enthusiasm is being shown by clubs all over the province in the competitions arranged by the association. This week, it is understood,. the exectuive is arranging the grading of the teamsi and drawing of the fixtures.

It is believed that of all the clubs usually entered Inglewood alone has not come in with a team, and this is probably due to the difficulty of the half-holiday. That has- been the problem with other clubs, and it is good to know they were able to enter teams. As stated a few days ago, the South Taranaki entries are very good and, as the standard of play generally is pretty high, it should lead to many close and interesting matches. Every district in South Taranaki has been hampered by the excessive and continued rainfalls, and in consequence players have not been able to secure the practice to which they looked forward as a preparation for the competiThis position has been general, so that no club will have had an advantage over any other, and members therefore will enter on the matches under similar conditions. Local courts have been the scene of much “tennis life” on every day when weather conditions have permitted. This no doubt is the result of the announcement made that the competitions were to start so soon. Courts at both clubs are looking in splendid order, with an excellent sole of grass. This fact is greatly appreciated by players, and will be more so as the season progresses, but they all realise that the weeks are passing all too fast. The ranks of the members of the Hawera Club have been, it is understood, considerably strengthened this season. Among the men there will be G. Hawken, who last year played for Eltham and was a member of the South Taranaki team against New Plymouth and Wanganui. Of last years’ players M. R. Jones, J. M. Collins, Caplen, Leece, Rod. Syme, Bright, and Rae Syme will also be available, and are reported to be in improved form, so that the men’s team will appear to be particularly strong. An addition to the lady members will be Miss Whittington, a wellknown Taranaki player, who will lie a decided acquisition to the club. That very effective young player, Miss Nutting, who has been lady champion since she has been in Hawera, will appreciate her joining the club. It is a fact that, generally speaking, lady members in all clubs, in order to get into their best form, usually get that by practising among themselves, just as the men do among themselves. Miss Pease, who was lady champion at the Hawera tournament last year, and who is at present away in England. will be much missed, and all members will hope that she will return in time for the season. Miss A. Wills, next on the list, is a much improved young player, and will be available. Therefore the club should have a very strong team of ladies. The prospects of the' Hawera A team look pretty good, and they should be able ,o Held their own against anv others entered.. The New South Wales team arrives on December 21, and will compete at the Dominion championship meeting, to be played at the Stanley street courts, Auckland, during the Christinas holi-

days. Last time a team came over the test match against New Zealand : (-presen tat ives was played simultaneously with the New Zealand championships, but it was found that <-ach spoilt the other, and this time the test is to be played during January in me of the southern centres. THE RECIPE. “Tennis has undergone a great speeding up since the old days, jn all its aspects. Now you must fight for every point from beginning to end, and there is no hope for the man who will wait for the ball to bounce and rise on its journey towards him, and then drop on his racquet. “Immediately the ball bounces you must move towards it and hit it while it is still travelling upwards. I hit it as soon as it is high enough to suit me, and I gain three or four yards by not waiting for :it to drop, a lot of time, and ia great deal of added speed and pace.” —Henri Cochet.