INTER-CLUB COMPETITION

Northern Advocate, 1 December 1937, Page 9

INTER-CLUB COMPETITION

Tennis

By “Smash." The matches in the inter-club tennis competition commence on Saturday. This year, benefiting by the experience gained last year, the N.A.L.T.A. has made several changes, which, it is felt, will be for the betterment of the competition. The teams this year comprise four ladies and four men. but each player j will have three matches in the aftorj noon. The extra game should be welcorned by all. With the aim of improving doubles | play in the district, each doubles pair ! will play two doubles against differI ent opponents. The partners will not I change, thus developing a combination, which is very essential. The doubles game is essentially a team game and only through consistent practice together may good pairs be built up. Arranging Doubles, “Smash” would like to give a word j of advice to team captains in arrang- j ing their teams. Once your players | have been announced, consider your I team and play them to the best advantage. j The two best singles players, usu- j ally the A, and B. in your team, will naturally play singles. Therefore C. and D. will play the combined doubles, but C. man need not necessarily play with C. Indy, but. If the combination is improved, may play with D. lady, and then D. man will, of course, play with C. lady. Now comes the important point. You have got to get the two best double pairs from your team of. A.B.C.D. Perhaps A, and C., and B. and D., will give the two best pairs, or A. and D., and B. and C. Then play them that way. This is quite permissible, but once your pairs arc arranged they must play both matches with the same partner's. The same will apply also to the arranging of the doubles for the fourlady members of the team. Grading- of Players. Team captains should be certain that they are not playing players who have played either last (for the first match) or this season (for the third match) two matches in a higher grade. Once a player has played two matches for the E grade he is considered a B grade player until ho has been regraded by the management committee of the N.A.L.T.A. A team last year was disqualified for not respecting this rule. “Smash” knows that it was done through ignorance and warns team captains to watch this rule for the protection of their teams. Only by such a system of grading may the competition be fairly run. If team captains wish to have a player regraded, they should immediately get their club secretary to apply for regrading to the secretary of the N.A.L.T.A., stating the reasons why the player concerned should be regraded. Starting Time. Captains, especially those from country teams, should note that the rules allow for matches to start before 1 p.m. where it can be arranged. Those who wish to start earlier should make the necessary arrangements well beforehand so- that there may not be any misunderstanding. Of course, all captains should note that they must have matches ready to start by 1 p.m., and will find it a good idea to start with men’s singles, as Is done in other centres. This year, too, the responsibility is placed on the captain to have at least two persons who are willing to act ns umpires. Now, all players know how an umpire can either mar or make a game, and captains would be well advised to see that the people whom they ask to act know their duties.

Whangarei Beat Mairtown

During the week-end, the Mairtown Club visited Whangarei. The Whangarei Club has started well this year, already having arranged two visits, one at home and one away. It is, however, a regrettable feature that-club captains have had difficulty in fielding teams as promised. Players who promise to represent a team and at the last moment withdraw without a valid excuse, should realise the trouble and inconvenience they are causing and keep these appointments more faithfully. Otherwise, they may find that at future times they will be passed ever for some more reliable, though perhaps not as good, player. Mairtown staged several good and close games against their more experienced opponents. Sissons staged a good win by defeating Wilson, who seemed to tire in the third set. Potter and Rarity fought a very close finish, but the match went to the man with more experience. In the. ladies’ games the cross-court driving and consistency of Mrs Booth gave her a well-earned victory. In fact, the ladies were more evenly matched all round and on their own courts the Mairtown ladies might have gained more decisions. Results (Whangarei names first): — Men’s singles: K. Eoardrnan beat F. Booth, 6—4. G —l; J. Shaw beat C. Chitty, 6—l, 6—3; K. Wilson lost to J. Sissons, G—4, 5 —G, 2 —o; K. Potter boat J. Rarity, 6-2, 3—G, B—6; A. L. Dyer beat L. Martin, 9—o; F. Smith beat J. Morrison, (3—5, G—l. Ladies’ singles: Miss Ryder lost to Mrs- Booth, 4—6, .o—6; Miss Griffon beat Miss R. Tibbits, 4—6, 6—o, G —2; Mrs Neale lost to Mrs Portecus, 4 —6, 5—6; Mrs Wilson lost to Mrs Barry, 3—o; Miss Nicholls beat Miss Morrison, 9—7; Mrs Riley lost to Mrs Harrison, 7—9. Men’s doubles: Shaw and Wilson beat Chitty and Rarity, 4—o. 6 —l. G—4; Roardman and Potter boat Booth and Martin, G—2, 6—3; Smith and Dyer beat Sisson and Morrison, G —4, 6—2. Ladies' doubles; Mrs Riley and Miss Nicholls lost to Miss Morrison and Mrs Harrison, 4—G, C —4. 4—C; Miss Griffon and Miss Ryder lost to Miss Tibbits and Mrs Booth, 6—9; Mrs Wilson and Mrs Neale beat Mrs Barry and Mrs Portecus, 9—7. Combined doubles: Smith and Miss Nicholls beat Sissons and Miss Morrison. 9—B; Dyer and Mrs Riley beat Morrison and Mrs Harrison, 9 —4; Shaw and Miss Ryder boat Chitty and Mrs Booth. 9—B; Potter and Miss Neale beat Rarity and Mrs Porleous, 9—5; Boardman and Miss Griffon beat Booth and Miss Tibbits, 9—l.