TENNIS VISITORS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19517, 22 December 1926, Page 15

TENNIS VISITORS.

new south wales team. (MONTH'S TOUR IN DOMINION. HARD FIGHT ANTICIPATED. the absence or kalms. "Had F. W. Kalms conic, wo would have had an excellent chance of winning, but I should say wtf now have a very tcvere ahead of us, and, naturally, (ve will be delighted if wo can regain Ijio ' ashes ' we lost in New Zealand tln'ec years ago." Til's was how Mr. E. p McKay, manager of the New South 'Wales tennis team, which arrived at Auckland l>y the' Maunganui yesterday, described tlio prospects for the test match to lie played between New South Wales and New Zealand at Wellington next month. The visiting team includes several players whom previous visits to Now Zealand have made familiar, whilo the others arc visiting the Dominion for the first time. The members of the party are Messrs. .Frank Peach (captain), Norman Peach, J. McCausland, J. Fitzgerald, C. C. Brewster and Dr. A. L. North. F. W. Kalms, who would undoubtedly have been the visitors' "lirst string," was unable to come owing to illness. Ho bad eVen purchased his steamer ticket when, two days before sailing, he was ordered to bed by his doctor, and will probably remain there for a month. The team has several links with New Zealand. -Mr. McKay, who also managed the New South Wales team which visited New Zealand in 1923, is a native of Invercargill. He has been a resident of Sydney for 12 years, during a considerable portion of which period he was secretary of the New South .Wales Lawn Tennis Association. Both F. and N. Peach spent their boyhood days in New Zealand. Frank Peach was born in England, coming to tlio Dominion as a child,' while his brother was bora at Wellington.- Frank Peach yesterday recalled happy memories of years spent, at St. John's College, Auckland. A link of a different character is provided by J. McCausland, who wears a medal recording the fact that his father, the lato E. E. McCausland, was a member of the Auckland Rugby representative team which defeated A. E. Stoddart's British team, by 4 points to 0 on May 24, 1888. McCauslaud, senr.> was a member of the New Zealand Native team which visited the United Kingdom in 1888-89, arid, bis prowess as a goal-kicker placed him an easy first ia the individual record of scorers. Becorcl of the Player!!. Very cordial relations prevail between .the tennis authorities of New South .Wales ancl New Zealand, and all the members of the visjting party are anticipating the tour,' which will extend over a month, with keenest pleasure. Mr. E. W. Griffiths, president of the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association, and other officials greeted'the party at the wharf. The team will be extended a civic reception at the Town Hall at J. 2.50 p.m. to-day. Brief records of the members of the team are as follow: Frank Peach, captain of the team, has been a State representative on several occasions, and has won the doubles .championships of New South Wales several times. r This is his third visit to New Zealand as a member of & New South Wales team, the previous occasions being in 1920 and 1923. Mr. Peach is president' of the New South Wales Lawn Tennis Association. Norman Peach was a member of the Australian Davis Cup team which visited America, in 1921. He has won every State championship in Australia., both singles and doubles, being champion, of New South. Wales last year. He captained New South Wales against Victoria, the most important inter-State match, for several years. He is unquestionably the team's No. 1 man. Dr. A. L. North has been a State representative since 1919, ancl has won several important events. Ho was captain of the New South Wales team against Victoria last year, and played against the New Zealand team in Sydney last April. J. McCausland has represented the State in two contests against Queensland and has won several minor championships. J. Fitzgerald represented the State against Queensland in 1919, 1924 and 1925, and against South Australia in 1924. He is said to be a player of the solid type, with a particularly formidable backhand. • * C. C. Brewster, who was chosen to complete the team on advice of Kalms' in* ability to travel, is one of the leading colts. He is 22 years of age and a member of Sydney University team. Itinerary of the Visitors. ** The team is not fully representative of New South Wales' strength, but in N. Peach, North aud -McCausland it s has three players who are in the first flight, and two of the others have represented the State on previous occasions. The oldest member is 39 and the youngest j 22. Mr. Frank Peach paid a warm tribute to the New Zealand team which visited New South Wales earlier in the year. ''They were thorough sportsmen, both on and off the field, and everyone was very pleased with their play," he said. i"Wo are eagerly looking forward to renewing acquaintance with them." . 4 The visitors practised at the Stanley Street courts yesterday afternoon. The team will play an exhibition match against Auckland on Christmas Day, and will bo engaged in the New Zealand championships during next week. After the New Zealand tournament the visitors will proceed overland to New Plymouth, where they will compete in the Taranaki Championships, which will open on. January 3, They will then proceed to Palmers ton North to take part in an exhibition match on the third day of the tournament there. A test match against New Zealand will be played at Wellington al/out the second week in January. The visitors will then proceed to Christchurch to take part in the Canterbury tournament, which will com-, mence on January 20. The team will embark at Auckland on cither January 28 or 31. Misses N. Lloyd and J. Watson, two of New South Wales' leading lady players, also arrived by the Maunganui, and will participate in the New Zealand championship tournament.