LAWN TENNIS NOTES

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8367, 1 March 1913, Page 14

LAWN TENNIS NOTES

COMING EVENTS. Wellington Provincial Championships and Palmerston North Club’s Handicap Tournament Palmerston North, March 22, 24, and 26. (Entries close March 18thu) N-Z. University Championships Wellington, March 22nd and 25th. North Island Interprovincial Championships—New Plymouth, Easter. Wanganui Tournament —Championships and Handicaps, Wanganui, March 21at, 22nd, and 24th.

THE REPRESENTATIVE MATCH.

Last Saturday’s contest between Wellington and Canterbury was undoubtedly spoilt by having to be played at Brougham Hill instead of on the beautifully. prepared courts at Thorndon. This fact alone would account for the mediocrity of the tennis in view of the fact that most of the Canterbury players are grass court exponents, while five of Wellington’s six representatives in the men’s team were Thomdonites. In the men’s match four of the six singles were won easily, including what was billed as the star attraction, Swanston c. Ollivier, the Canterbury player always holding the upper hand. Swans ton has seldom been able to find his drive at Brougham Hill, and he would probably have done better had be gone in to volley instead. Fisher started very badly against Goes, who at one stage was within an ace of victory at two sets straight, but the'Wellingtonian finished strohgly und eventually won with something to spare. White-Parsons and Sheppard had a warm three set encounter as far as scores go, but the tennis was very ordinary. Peacock, Brown, and Bevy scored straight set victories for Wellington against Pearse, Greenwood and Seay, respectively. Wellington did not lose a set in the doubles, of which the first (FisherPeacock v. Ollivier-Goss) provided the best tennis of the afternoon, the opening set running to 9—7. In the ladies’ match the Wellington ians were too superior, the only rubber going to the southerners being the fourth single, in which Miss McDongall defeated Mrs Goldie after the later had taken the first set in promising style. In the writer’s humble opinion the Wellington selectors should give the colts a trial next season. For one thing, Thomdon did not take part in the inter-cluh competitions this season, and accordingly White-Parsons and. Smythe could very well have been excluded in the present contest for players like Cleghom (Victoria College) and Crewoa (Newtown). At any rate the team to go south next season should include at least three of the following: Cleghorn and Parker (Victoria College). Crewes and Martin (Newtown), Ward and Eller (Wellington), Butcher and Reeves (Brougham Hill).

FRANCE THE COMING NATION. An English writer, commenting on the French, successes in lawn tennis at the Olympic Sports, ventures the opinion that at lawn tennis the Frenchman is the coming force. In giving reasons, he says that the English boy, with an inborn love of sport, is, from the earliest moment, encouraged to take part in games, both directly and because he sees them played around him. If he shows any form xn any particular sport, he may forge ahead and get the best coaching at )ns school or ’Varsity or club, and thus develop the talent that is in him, together with that spirit of “never say die which the Englishman gives to any game. _ 'X'b.e French, boy, on the other hand, has to get along the best he can until hcleaves school for college, ana it is seldom that ho has a chance to play any game until he is about seventeen or eighteen years old. Those who have been allowed to start games before that age reap the benent, as is seen in the case of W. Laurentz, who at the age of seventeen won the covered court championship of Paris in a great match against Wilding, And the victory was the more startling because this young player won after losingjthe first two sets. Against these disadvantages, let us see what the Frenchman has on his aide, apart from the question of temperament. When he begins lawn tennis, he starts straight away on a court which, for the most part, belongs to one of the good clubs which are to be found nowadays in all large French towns. This court is made of gravel, cinders, or some other hard, well-rolled material. The youth’s education begins, therefore, in the best conditions and freed from the technical difficulties that beset the English boy. Here is a splendid court, level and smooth, such as in England one gets only at the best of clubs. The French boy does not have to wait to see which way the ball bounces or in what particular hole it will finally settle. No, nothing of the sortl Every time the ball comes over the net he has nothing to do but to get at it and try to slam it back. Thus, by degrees, comes that wonderful smash and hard drive which, added to the Frenchman s vim, and controlled by bis cool, calculating brain, makes bim tbe victor be ta Agam™the French boy seldom goes to school, as we understand it in Eugiana , he is generally a home or day-boarder, with the result that every Thursday, when all schools have a whole he is free fo play tennis. An English boy is playing cricket, of course v m,u ever heard of tennis at public school as a school game? At how many would it be possible to get a game unless the court was lent by some well-disposed master ? Lawn tennis is admirably suited to the French temperament. It is a game one plays by one’s self; there is no question of considering one’s side, which is the great point (and an object of training) in all English games. Thus the Frenchman, who, from lack of training as a boy, becomes an individualist, finds this very, characteristic gives distinction and fore© to his play. The Frenchman' is a splendid athlete.

able to nm a bit faster than the average English boy, quite as strong, and only lacking in tenacity—but it would not be wise to count even upon this.

GENERAL NOTES. In the semi-final of the Hutt Qnb’k championship singles last Saturday afternoon, P. W. Jackson defeated’!. M. Power, 6—l, 6—L P. Brown is hia opponent in the final. The only other championship uncompleted is the combined doubles, which is out to the final, where C. Brown and Mjss EL Wilson meet J ackson and Mrs Wagg. The Newtown Club’s championships will be commenced next week. The men’s handicap singles has almost readied completion. Redward (scr) is out to the final, where his opponent will be either Martm (10) or Jones (12), according to whichever wins when they meet m the top semi-final. Results of some of the ladies’ events will be published nest week. In the Muritai Chib’s handicap singles, J. F. O’Leary (owe 10) has reached the final, where he meets the winner of the C. Howden (owe 10) and F. McDonald (20) match m the semi/ final.