PROMISING LAWN TENNIS PROSPECT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26918, 2 November 1948, Page 8

PROMISING LAWN TENNIS PROSPECT

Seen in action at -the Otago championships last Easter, the 11-year-old Concord girl, Sonia Cox. aro.sed a great deal of interest invtennis circles. The present junior tournament and the McMillan Cup contest last Saturday gave spectators their first opportunity of seeing the young KaiVuna player in action this year. What they saw was most reassuring, for. under the tutorship of her coach. Mr T.' Brooks, the diminutive Sonia has advanced well along the road leading Jo a sound foundation in the principles of modern tennis. All her ground strokes are correctly produced and are executed with accuracy and severity. Her net work—volleying and smashing—was surprising, not beicause it- was of the copy-book style, but on account of the confidence with which it was undertaken. Lawn tennis within the last decade has changed in character, and on grass surfaces victory goes to the aggressor. Miss Cox’s game is obviously being moulded along the line of the modem trend. her sweeping drives being definitely cf an aggressive character in themselves, as well as opening the court for her net work. With careful handling to guard against premature “ burning out,” the future career of this player should be bright. In fact, at present she impresses as the best prospect Otago has had for many years of capturing, in a few years’ time, the New Zealand Girls’ Championship, open to players under 18 years of age. Athletics in Queenstown The Queenstown branch of the Otago Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association recently held its annual meeting, and from the enthusiasm shown the year should be a good one, writes a Queenstown athletic correspondent. Opportunity was taken, during the visit to' Queenstown of Mr J. Bellwood, physical welfare officer, for instruction to be given to athletes in shot putting,, discus and javelin throwing. The branch intends to hold its sports meeting on Tuesday. December 28. This date will fit in with the Otago Central circuit, and as the gate and athletes are drawn mainly from holiday makers and campers the meeting will not affect other fixtures. The programme will consist of running, snot putt, discus, iavelin, high jump, long jump, and hop. step and jump events. Starter Honoured Somewhat belatedly, considering his more than 40 years of attachment to the sport, Mr T. W. Leslie, the official starter of the Wellington Centre of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association, was appointed as a life member of the centre. “ Dorrie ” Leslie, in his competitive career,: had many successes as s walker, and subsequently he gained such a notable reputation as a starter that he was ~ appointed to the panel at the 1932 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Actually,, he lias been starting events run by the Wellington Club for 44 years, and neither his style of starting nor his air of invincible calm, nor his moustache have altered much in that time. Batsman’s Good Start. In his first visit to the crease this season J. D. O'Sullivan. the former Plunket Shield cricketer, gave an. attractive display of batting for Dunedin against Albion-Y.M.C.A. Some of his shots may “not have been orthodox and one or two were uppish, but he showed that he was in form and his innings for 53 runs made in reasonably go6d time should give him the confidence for further good scores O’Sullivan’s runs were scored all round the wicket, and his batting was marked by some good strokerriaking. The Dunedin eleven appears as though it will be much stronger than was the case last season: and a pleasing feature was the keenness shown.,m the field. One or two catches were dropped, but generally speaking the team's out-cricket was good. McMillan Cup Tournament The McMillan Cup lawn tennis tournament, played on the points system and as a handicap event, calls for a combination 6f severity and steadiness from back-markers. It was with a display of both these qualities throughout the day that Miss C. Neave fully earned and helped to win the coveted McMillan Cup. Miss Neave was partnering A. Seelye, who also played well but had occasional lapses. The University girl’s net play was outstanding. her angle smashes and wellplaced volleys keeping her opponents constantly in trouble. It is in doubles that Miss Neave shows to advantage, possibly as her advance to the net, the position from which she is most effective, is more easily attained than in singles. While her ground strokes are not weak, they compare unfavourably with her net shots, and this player could profitably strengthen this branch ‘ of her stroke equipment and so be in a position in singles to open the way for her net attack. On Saturday she was the- strongest woman mixed doubles player seen in action.