GAME IN AUCKLAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22544, 8 October 1936, Page 19

GAME IN AUCKLAND

GREAT PROGRESS MADE NOW LARGEST ASSOCIATION MORE THAN 7000 PLAYERS The growth nf tennis, which has been the outstanding feature of sport, in the Dominion since the war, lias nrv where been more noticeable than in the Auckland province, and the membership, of the Auckland Association lias more than quadrupled itself since 1914, having risen from 1500 to more than 7000. This figure gives Auckland pride of place as the largest association in the Dominion, Canterbury coining next with 5000 members. Undoubtedly the growth of organised tennis can be attributed very largely to the work of the governing body in this city. The association has now under its jurisdiction six separate sub-associa-tions, ranging from Hay of Plenty in the south, to Rodney and Kinpara in the north. These sub-associations were specially catered for last season during the jubilee celebrations by an inter-sub-af-sociation teams' competition which was held at the Stanley Street and the Windmill Road courts, Franklin proving the winning team. This event proved so popular that it is to be repeated this season. Tours of overseas players are also arranged where possible, and officials of the parent body keep in constant touch with country executives. In addition to the subassociations some seventy clubs owe direct allegiance to the association.

The tournaments conducted in the city are attracting an increasing number of entries and their management reflects great credit oil those responsible. Last season a veterans' doubles competition was run in connection with the jubilee celebrations and proved so popular that in future it will be an annual fixture.

The Stanley Street courts, the. headquarters of the gamo in Auckland, have been maintained at their usual high standard, and have been the subject of favourable comment by all visiting players. They reflect great credit on tho association's ground superintendent, Mr. E. W. Griffith^.

DOMINION RANKING

ANDREWS THE LEADING MAN POSITIONS OF AUCKLANDERS It is of interest at the present time to consider the ranking list compiled bv the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association for last season. This is as follows: — MEN I—E. D. Andrews, England. 2—C. Aligns, Canterbury. 3 —D. G. Franco, Wellington. 4—N. G. Sturt, Auckland. 5 —D. C. Coombe. Wellington. 6 —N. Relford and E. A. Roussell, Wellington. B—A. D. Brown, Auckland. 9 —A. R. Cant. Canterbury, and J. C. Charters, Wellington.

The above ranking list is not likely to provoke much argument. During Andrews' flying visits to New Zealand last season he clearly demonstrated his superiority over the home division. Aligns confined his attention to play in Christchurch nnd had wins over Roussell and Coombe. D. G. France and N. G. Sturt are well placed in the fourth and fifth positions. A. 1). Brown, the promising young Auckland player, is to he congratulated on obtaining his first Dominion ranking and he will be •watched with interest this season. The positions of Cant and Charters are perhaps not so well supported by performances as is tho case with the higher ranking players. H. A. Barrett and H. Dymond were not ranked owing to insufficient performances.

LADIES I—Miss1 —Miss D. Nicholls. Wellington. 2—Miss N. Beverley, Waikato. •i —Miss D. Miller, North Otago. 4—Misses I. Poole and T. Poole, Can-

terlni ry. 6 —Misses M. Macfarlano and J. Ram-

say, Auckland. S—Airs. N. Dickson, Wellington. 9—M isses N. Bishop, Auckland, and E Rudkin, Canterbury.

Misses D. Nicholls and N. Beverley were assured of first nnd second positions respectively, but tho issue is not so clear cut for the other positions. Auckland opinion would still place Miss Macfarlane ahead of Miss Ramsay.