LAWN TENNIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18356, 23 March 1923, Page 6

LAWN TENNIS.

FIXTURES.

Schools' championships, Stanley Street, Saturday. Northcote and Birkenhead Easter tournament. , To Aroha Easter tournament. Whangarei Easter tournament. Waikato provincial tournament. Hamilton, Easter. Canterbury provincial tournament. Christchurch. Easter. Otago provincial tournament, Dunedin, Easter. ... Open handicap and championship tournament, St. John's courts, Wanganui. New Zealand Team's Itinerary.— of Sydney tournament, now: Batnurst. March 26; Dubbo, March 28; New South Wales. April 6 and 7; Orange, April 25. i

INTER-CLUB MATCHES.

AUCKLAND ASSOCIATION.

The final matches in the B and C grade competition will be played at the Stanley Street courts to-morrow, when Parnell will play Onebunga in the B grade and Remuera plays Mount Albert in the C grade. The following are the teams:— B GRADE. Parnell v. Onehunga.—Parnell: Messrs. E. Entwistle. H. A. . Robinson. A. C. Jacob, O. L. Martelli, A. H. Lamb and C. C. Biernacki. Misses Colebrook, Ziman, Frankham. and Battersby. Onehunga.—Messrs. H. Keith. A. Ohlson, I. Keith, G. Russell (captain), S. Harrison and H. G. Rose. Misses Worrall, Lloyd, Mrs. Taylor and Miss Litten. C GRADE. Remuera v. Mount —Remuera: Messrs. Gillies, Martin, Keesiijg, Christmas, Hart and Elliot. Misses Suttie, Robertson, Richardson and Lamer. Mount Albert; Messrs. N. McLean, R. Potter, A. Bailey, A. Shackell, R. McLean and A. L. Caughey. Misses Mann, Wakerley, Butler and Mrs Caughey.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. The secondary schools' tournament will be finished to-morrow. The girls' finals, singles, and doubles being played, in the morning, and, the boys' singles at 2 p.m. Tli'o boys' doubles final was won by N. Stuart and H. 0. Thomson, Auckland Grammar School, who combined well, but went through without dropping a set. The play, on the whole, was well up to the standard of past years: in the boys division it probably exceeded previous years. In addition to Knott and Stuart, those displaying good form were H. 0. Thomson, E. Thompson, Rishworth, Hayr, and Rod cliff e. The chief weakness in the play of the juniors is in court position. Many, after serving, stand a. yard or so inside the back line, and are frequently caught by goodlength balls. This is especially noticeable among the girls. After serving, in singles, the player should stand at least three feet behind the back line, and as near the centre of the court as possible. It is easier to go forward to a ball than move back. The former also gives one opportunity to use body weight into a stroke, whereas being forced back generally fcrces the weight on to the right foot and causes a defensive rather than an attacking stroke- > Ju As one. would except, there was a marked difference between the singles and the double play, combination in the latter, which is essential., being woefully absent at times. The winners of the boys' doubles played with good combination, which showed a knowledge of the doubles game, which stood to them throughout, but even they were caught too far from the net when coming in on their service. It is pleasing to see both girls and boys adopting volleying tactics. Considering the poor playing facilities at the schools and colleges for pupils, it is surprising that the tennis reached so high a standard. The tourney was well patronised by masters and "mistresess from the various schools. Special mention .should be made of Mr. Harvey, of the Mount Albert Grammar School, who, on this and poet occasions, rendered valuable help in umpiring. The doing of the New Zealand team in Australia have been full of interest to followers of the game- The results of this trip so far prove that, with more match play, our team should be within striking distance of the players on the other side. It is noteworthy that in the Metropolitan match, the first of the tour, none of our player* were outclassed, and that A. Sims beat an international representative in Norman Peach, and the internationals, Anderson and Peach, should have been beaten, according to the cabled report, by Ollivier and Peacock. - . v , Sims' great match against Peach in the City of Sydney championship, which lasted three hours, and was only won by the latter in the fifth set, proves that the result of their meeting in tho Metropolitan match was no fluke. - ' . ■ - Robson has met with fair success so far, and is favourably commented on by the critics for his hot driving. Evidently he has yielded to the advice of his friends and adopted this style in preference to his iontinuous cutting. It will surprise the writer very much if Robson does not return a vastly-improved man. With his variety of strokes it needs plenty of regular practice to nerfect them. i The new "chip" courts of the Birkenhead and Northcote club were thrown open for play on Saturday, and proved an -unqualified success. The club now has ten hard courts in use. The five sand courts have been top-dressed with metal waste, which is a dull slatey colour, binds much better than river or sea sand, and, what is also very important, is free from the unpleasant glare that is so trying on a sunny day in the case of sand courts. Preparations are now well forward for the forthcoming Easter tournament, and the club is sparing no efforts to make the meeting a success. Special arrangements have been made for the comfort and convenience of competitors and their friends. The local bus services enable players to refill th« court# thirty minutes after leav< . US Queen Street.

' A prolific crop of : challenges have been issued ; for the ladder matches, - hut several have been played during the ; week. E. L. Bartleet beat Griffiths, 6— 3—6, 6—l, J®l becomes No. 1. This result was expected, Bartleet having been graded one down to comply with tne committer's rule m connection with players who failed to compete in the grading: matches.' A. v- Johns beat Ohleon, 6—2, -6, p 6—l, and takes. second Slace. Johns played excellent tennis, and ©serves his' : win. Fotheringham won - from Brinaden, with one set in three, all in second set, 1 when the match wa« abandoned by the latter, owing to a previous engagement. Fotheringham takes ninth piace. Horn© beat F. C. Ewen, —6, 6—l, 6—2. In the ladies' ladder Miss Payton beat Mrs. Scott-Watson. B—6, 2—6, 6—3, and takes third place. The following have yet to be played:—Page v. Griffith*. Fotheringham v. Ohlson, V. Johns v. R. B. Bartleet, Miss Payton v. Misa Knight, Mrs. Hoben v. Mrs. Scott-Watson. • ;' i:; The following is the ranking on the Wellington association's ladder:—Men: France (Brougham Hill), Peacock (Thorndon), Swanston (Thorndon), Parker (Thorndon). Barkman (Wellington), almond (Thorndon), White-Parsons fThorndon), 'Power (Thorndon), Hollingg (Lyall Bay), Berry (Thorndon), Ooldie ' (Brougham Hill), Young (Victoria College), Fathers (Newtown), Wright (Wellington), Ward (Brougham Hill). • Ladies.Mies Curtis (Petone), Mrs. Melody (Wellington), Miss Travcrs (Thornton), Miss Tracy (Brougham Hill), 1 ' Miss Howe (Brougham Hill). Mrs- Peacock (Thorndon), Mrs. Parkinson (Petone). Mies Williams (Brougham Hill), Miss Walters (Petone\ tylrs. Turnbull (Brougham Hill). Miss Shearer (Sola-, manca), Mrs. Norriu (Brougham Hill). Trials to decide the representatives of the Auckland University College at the forthcoming inter-university tournament to be held at 3>unedin at Easter, have been conducted for some time past, and have brought out some promising talent. Mr. E. X». Bartleet is sole selector for. the university, and has decided on the following team:—Misses Knipht and H. Meu'ler,. Messrs. En+vnntle, A. Turner, N. Hubble, J. A. F. Watson. This is a strong team, and should make a good showing. ;;