LAWN TENNIS

Otago Witness, Issue 3802, 25 January 1927, Page 53

LAWN TENNIS

STANDARD IN\ DOMINION.

LADIES’ PLAY DETERIORATING. WELLINGTON, January 19. In the last few days it has been demonstrated that there is very little wrong with New Zealand tennis, so far as the men are concerned, but the position in regard to ladies’ tennis is not so reassuring. Miss May Spiers, an ex-New Zealand champion, has stated quite emphatically that ladies’ tennis in New Zealand is slipping back. Miss Spiers, however, did not think that the ladies were to blame —rather she blamed tho men, who, she declared, thought only of themselves and would not spare a little time to help the ladies. “Is Miss Spiers right?’-’ Mr M. E. Denniston, chairman of tile Management Committee of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association was asked to-day. “I have come to the conclusion that ladies’ tennis is not as good as it was when Mrs Sturmer—frequently misnamed Mrs Von Sturmer —was at her best,”, he said. “She played better tennis than any girl playing now. The reason rests partly with the ladies themselves. For instance, I know one leading player, who shall bo nameless, who has repeatedly been offered advice by men and has consistently declined to take that advice. The ladies' tennis at Auckland this year was, in my opinion, not as good as that shown at Christchurch last year when Miss Spiers herself won the championship. This was partly due to lack of concentration prior to the tournament, and an undue over-anxious-ness to win their games which resulted in their getting away from their natural style. They went for safety instead of playingnaturally. That was particularly noticeable in Miss Spiers’s own case. If any reason is to be assigned for Miss Spiers’s defeat in Auckland it can be put down, to. use the words of Mrs Hodges (formerly Miss Eva Baird), a well-known New Zealand ex-champion, to ‘faulty footwork.’ I remember attention being drawn to this in Christchurch last year. Mrs Hodges, by the way, is a player of repute, a keen critic, and a shrewd judge, and is in a position to give advice which I am passing on second-hand. “The leading men players cannot — rather than will not —spare the time to give the ladies the benefit of their advice and expert play. Very few women players go to the trouble of watching the stroke production of the leading players, and that is one way in which one’s game can be improved immensely. lam sure the men players would respond if they were invited by the ladies to help them. It is difficult for a man to volunteer his assistance when there is a chance of its being refused. It rests with the ladies themselves to seek the advice, assistance, and co-opei’ation of those men who have the best interests of the game at heart.”

A VISITOR’S OPINION

DOUBLES PLAY WEAK. WELLINGTON, January 19. In the opinion of Mr Frank Peach, captain-of the New South Wales lawn tennis team, New Zealand has improved since th last visit of the team, especially in singles play, although, to his mind, sufficient attention is not paid to the doubles. Harder- and more accurate hitting is noticeable, but in doubles play the server- is left all too often to chase lobs over his head, making it impossible for him to concentrate on getting into th— net. The short deep shot making the opponent hit up to the player is neglected, and hard hitting in doubles is too much indulged in, while the possibilities of the lob might be more fully exploitco, particularly in the return service. The better pairs could crowd the net more with advantage, as in doubles the pair which could hold the net won.

Smashing, which was a weakness when he was last in New Zealand, had greatly improved, he said, and Wilson, D. France, Knott, and Lanrpe were particularly good. Overhead, Lampe was a much better player than he was given credit for. Mr Peach holds that Ollivier is the best doubles player in New Zeeland, being particularly effective when partnered by Wilson. Singles play is strong, and Andrews, with more experience, should develop into a champion. Next to Andrews he placed Noel Wilson, who is one of the few players able to take a ball on the rise. Malfroy showed great promise for one so young, and, provided he was not overworked in the next year or so, should go a long way. Sturt was also a very fine player, but his backhand was in need of improvement. Coaching by older players should go a long way to remedy that defect. Seay was a real stylist, but his backhand was also in need of improvement. Don France and Bartleet were also fine players.

DANNEVIRKE TOURNAMENT. DANNEVIRKE. January 19. The following finals were decided in the Dannevirke lawn tennis tournament: — Men’s Singles.— Sandrall (Palmerston North). Ladies’ Championship Singles.—Miss Howe (Wellington). Men’s Championship Doubles.—Sandrail (Palmerston North) and Griffiths (Auckland). Ladies’ Championship Doubles.—Mrs Hetley and Miss Snow Clark (Napier). Ladies’ Handicap Singles.—Miss MTarlane (Auckland), owe 10. RE-ADMISSION OF GERMANY. LONDON, January 18. Following on the International Lawn Tennis Federation’s decision to re-admit Germans to tournament play, the English Association has removed the prohibition on Germans, Turke, and Bulgars competing in Britain, and on British players competing in Germanv. It also favours Germans competing for the Davis Cup. AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS. SYDNEY, January 22. The commencement of the Australian lawn tennis championships tournament was made the occasion of the opening of the Victorian Lawn Tennis Association’s splendid new ground at Kopyong, which took place in fine weather. ’ There was a’ big crowd. The early stages of the championship matches produced some splendid struggles between the leading players.

DAVIS CUP. NEW YORK, January 22. Hungary lias challenged for the Davis Cup. This is the sixth European national challenge for the Cup. AUSTRALIAN TEAM'S TOUR. NEW SOUTH WALES DEFEATS WAIRARAPA. MASTERTON, January 17. The New South-Wales lawn tennis team played a match to-day against a Wairarapa team, supplemented by G. Ollivier, N. R. C. Wilson, and C. E. Malfroy. The visitors were successful by seven matches to two. The results were as follows: — SINGLES. N. Peach beat Ollivier 3—6, 6 —4, B—6. A. L. North beat N. R. C. Wilson 4—6, b —2, 6 —l. Fitzgerald lost to Malfroy 6 —4, 9 —ll, 4 —6. M'Causland beat Welch 7 —5, 6 —3. Brewster beat Miller 6 —3, 6 —l. F. Peach beat J. Martin 11 —9, 6 —2. DOUBLES . Peach and Peach lost to Ollivier and Wilson 's —7, 3—6. North and M'Causland beat Malfroy and Hodder 6—2, 6 —4. Brewster and Fitzgerald beat F. W. Martin and Taverner 6 —l, 6 —-3.

LADIES’ LAWN TENNIS. MISS ' SPIERS INTERVIEWED. ; CRISTCHURCH, January 17. “Ladies lawn tennis in New Zealand ia slipping back, because the men think only of themselves and will not spare a little time to help the ladies along. It is a great pity, and the men ought to realise it.” Thus Miss May Spiers expressed her opinion in an interview to-day. She declared that the ladies’ tennis at the championships was the poorest championship tennis she had ever seen, that the Auckland weather conditions were not favourable to good play, and that she considered herself lucky to reach the final in the ladies’ singles. Miss Spiers attributed the general poor standard of play to the small entries in the ladies’ section, but saul that it was never more evident that the services of coaches were required to help the ladies along. “Auckland is not a good place for visiting tennis players. There isa something in the air that make one feel hopeless,” she said. “It affected me that way, and it affected all the other visitors too. It was just the same with the men as with the ladies.’’AUSTRALIA AND THE DAVIS CUP. MELBOURNE, January 17. The Australian Lawn Tennis Council has appointed a committee to watch the form of the contestants in the Australian championships at the end of this month, and pick a team, if thought advisable, to participate in the 1927 Davis Cup matches. The council agreed to permit matches between amateurs and professionals, provided that the State associations were placed in full control of the matches and that the proceeds were devoted to some lawn tennis purpose. It was also decided to vote in favour of Germany being allowed to enter the Davis Cup, contest, and to favour tne cup being competed for annually. | CANTERBURY ASSOCIATION PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. CHRISTCHURCH, January 22. Thei Canterbury Lawn Tennis Championship tournament was concluded to-day in hot weather. Results :— MEN’S SINGLES. Semi-Final.—N. Peach (N.S.W.) beat C. Brewster (N.S.W.) B—6, 6—2; G. Ollivier beat I. A. Seay, 6 —4, 6—2. Final. —G. Ollivier (Canterbury) beat N. Peach (N S.W.), 6 —4. 6 —o, 6 —3. It was a close game in the first set, although Ollivier might have won bv a bigger margin. In the second set he was unplayable, and in the third he was always comfortable, returning everything that Peach sent down, and displaying far greater courtcraft. Throughout the 'match he ’ always had a little bit in reserve to finish ' off a rally in his favour. ' LADIES’ SINGLES. • X Semi-Final. —Miss M. Wake beat Miss M. Macfarlane (Auckland), 6—l, .6 —2; Miss J M. Soiers beat Miss E. Partridge, . 6—2. ' . ; Final. —Miss Spiers beat Miss Wake, 6—3, 6 —2. ; MEN’S DOUBLES. r Semi-Final. —J. Fitzgerald and C. Brewj ster (N.S.W.) beat J. H. W. Sheppard and > C. Angas (Canterbury), 6 —3, 6 —4. Final. —A. L. North (N.S.W.) and J. M'Causland (N.S.W.) beat C. Brewster (N.S.W.) and J. Fitzgerald (N.S.W.), 6 —l, 1-6, 6—l, 6—3

LADIES’ DOUBLES. Fourth Round. —Misses M. Spiers and J. Ferrier beat Misses M. Macfarlane and B. Cotterill. 6 —l, 7 —5; Misses M. Wake and E. Partridge beat Misses N. and L. Saunders, 6—4. 9—7. Final.—Misses Speirs and Ferrier beat Misses Wake and Partridge, B—6, 6—3. MIXED DOUBLES. Patterson and Miss M. Spiers beat J. Peach and Miss M. Macfarlane. 6—l, 4 —6, 7—5; A. L. North and Mrs M. Beale beat N. Peach and Miss M. Wake. 6—3, B—6. Final. —Patterson and Miss Speirs beat North and Beale, 6- 4 -0, 6 —l, 6—o. ’ SATURDAY’S GAMES. The Otago Lawn Tennis Association’s matches were continued on Saturday afternoon in fine weather. The results of the various matches were as follows: — A GRADE. COSY DELL v. OTAGO (Cosy Dell names are given first). Men’s Singles.—Bell 3, Bray 9; Jensen 9, Haggitt 8; Sherriff 9, Hislop 8: Hunter 9, Sise 8. Men’s Doubles.—Jensen and Sherriff 9, Bray and Haggitt 6; Bell and Hunter 9, Hislop and Sise 5. Ladies’ Singles.—Miss Hart 6, Miss Cook 4; Mrs M'Dougall 6, Miss Finch 1; IMrs Jensen 6, Miss Hartmann 3; Miss H. Smith 6, Miss Allen 0. Ladies’ Doubles. —Miss Hart and Mrs M'Dougall 6, Misses Cook and Finch 3;

Mrs Jensen and Miss Smith 6, Misses Hartmann and Allen 3. ■ Mixed Doitbles. —Mr and Mrs Jensen 1. Bray and Miss Cook 7; Sherriff and Miss Hart 7; Haggitt and Miss Finch 3; Bell , and Mrs M'Dougall 7, Hislop and Miss Hartmann 4: Hunter and Miss Smith 6, Sise and Miss Allen 7. Results: Cosy dell, 13 sets <lO5 games); Otago, 3 sets (79 games). MOANA v. KAITUNA (Moana names are given first). - Men’s Singles.—Guy 8, Dr Moody 9; Duthie 8, Phillips 9; Gale 4, Cleghorn 9; Nieolson 3, Angel 9. Ladies’ Singles.—Mrs Gale 6, Miss Anderson 5; Miss M'Adam 2, Mrs Parker 6; Miss Heywood 6, Mrs Roydhouse 0; Miss Moloney 6, Miss Ronaldson 4. Men’s Doubles.—Guy and Duthie 9, Moody and Angel 6; Gale and Nieolson. 6, Cleghorn and Phillips 9. Ladies’ Doubles. —Mrs Gale and Miss M'Adam 6, Miss Anderson and Mrs Parker 3; Misses Heywood and Moloney 6, Mrs Roydhouse and Mrs Ronaldson 3. Mixed Doubles.—Guy and Mrs Gale 7, Moody and Mrs Roydhouse 4; Duthie and Miss M'Adam 7, Cleghorn and Miss Anderson 4; Gale and Miss Heywood 7, 3; Nieolson and Miss Moloney 4," Phillipps and Miss Ronaldson 7. Results: Moana, 9 sets (95 games); Kaituna, 7 sets (90 games). ROSLYN v. N.E. VALLEY (The Roslyn names are given first). Men’s Singles. S. G. M'Dougall 9, Rawlinson 6; MaePherson 9. Black 4; C. M'Dougall 9, Turbott 6; Webling 9, Leggett 8. Ladies’ Singles.—Mrs Tregear 6, Miss Yeoman 1; Miss Gregory 2, Miss R. Hinkley 6; Miss Sonntag 2, Miss Anderson 6; Miss E. Ilinkley won by default. Men’s Doubles. —S. G. M'Dougall and MaePherson 9, Rawlinson and Turbott 4; C. M'Dougall and Webling 9, Leggett and Black 5. Ladies’ Doubles. Mrs Tregear and Miss Gregory 5, Misses Hinkley and Yeoman 6; Misses Anderson and Hinkley • -on by default. Mixed Doubles.—S. G. M'Dougall and Mrs Tregear 7, Rawlinson and Miss Hinkley 4; MaePherson and Miss Gregory 7, Black and Miss Yeoman 6; C. M'Dougall and Miss Sonntag 7, Turbott and- Miss Miss E. Hinkley 5; Leggett and Miss Anderson .won by default. Results:—Roslyn, 10 sets (90 games); North-East Valley, 6 sets (86 games). BALMACEWEN v. WAIKOUAITI. (Balmacewen names first.) Ladies Doubles.—Misses Duke and MTntosh 6, Mrs Preston and Miss Townsend 4; Misses Esther and Mrs Stevenson 6, Mrs Hallam and Mrs Sutherland 4; Misses Hindle and Mathewson 6, Mrs Ross and Miss Carson 2. Mixed^ Doubles.—Smith and Miss MTntosh 6, Kerr and Mrs Prescott 5; Buehler and Miss Duke 6, Hallam and Mrs Hallam 5; Stevenson and Mrs Stevenson 6, Templeton and Mrs Templeton 4; Seymour and Miss Esther 3, Ross and Mrs Carson 6; Hindle and Miss Mathewson 6, Sutherland and Mrs Sutherland 4; M'Millan and Miss Hindle 6, Ward and Miss Ross 4. .Men’s Doubles.—Smith and Buehler 6, Kerr and Templeton 3; Hindle and Seymour 2, Hallam and Ross 6; M'Millan and Stevenson 6, Sutherland and Ross 4. Ladies’ Singles.—Miss MTntosh 6, Mrs Hallam 5; Miss Duke 6, Mrs Prescott 5; Mrs Stevenson 5, Miss Carson 6: Men’s Singles.—Smith 3, Kerr 6; Buehler 3, Hallam 6; Hindle 6, Templeton 4; Seymour 5, Ross 6. Results:—Balmacewen, 13 sets (99 games); Waikouaiti, 6 sets (88 games).