TENNIS

Southland Times, Issue 22475, 10 November 1934, Page 14

TENNIS

(By

“Chop.”)

A and C grade matches to-day. The A grade draw is Invercargill B v. Southend at Invercargill; Central v. Invercargill A at Central; St. Mary’s v. Winton at St. Mary’s; Georgetown v. Gladstone at Georgetown; Waihopai a bye. The C grade draw is: Section A— Waikiwi v. Georgetown at Waikiwi; Waihopai v. Rugby Park at Waihopai; Moana v. Southern at Moana; Invercargill a bye. Section B—Bluff v. Tisbury at Bluff; Central v. Southend at Southend; St. Mary’s v. Makarewa at Makarewa. Perry, Miss Round and the other touring international stars will be playing in Christchurch to-day. A few fortunate Southlanders will be spectators at the exhibition matches. Championship Points. The following tables show how the various competitions stand:— —A Grade.—

Western v. Northern. While the B grade players in Invercargill were casting their eyes skywards wondering how long the rain would hold off, the Northern and Western representatives, playing at Wendonside, were complaining about the heat. That was certainly the only possible cause for complaint, for the courts were in good order, an excellent sporting spirit was in evidence and the baskets brought by the ladies made afternoon tea not a formality, but a pleasure. Western are unquestionably the stronger team, for they do not possess such an obvious tail as Northern, but the latter have every reason to be gratified at the steady improvement they are effecting. The standard in some of the men’s singles was so good as to make one wonder why the sub-association. players . do not fare better when pitted against town seniors. If Welsh, Bruce, Grant and Burgess, for instance, reproduced Saturday’s form against some of Invercargill’s best they would be anything but disgraced. It will certainly be interesting to see some of the games this year in the Town-Western and TownNorthern matches. On the other hand the town players probably have greater variation of play and are more skilled tacticians, and this may account for their past successes against sub-association men whose stroke equipment is not a whit inferior. Welsh has a good forehand and backhand and volleys and smashes well; but there are obvious weaknesses in his armour which a seasoned player would exploit. Perhaps it was because he was out of touch in the earlier part of his game against Bruce that he played purely on the defensive throughout. His was certainly a great recovery but one would like to see a more definite plan of attack from a man who has such excellent strokes. In this respect Bruce was his superior but he failed on too many comparatively simple shots. Burgess has distinct possibilities and Grant, though he failed to do himself justice in his double has built up his game on very sound lines. Banks is another with a

fine, free style who, from what one can’learn, requires a little more match experience before he takes the place that should be his by reason of his stroke equipment. Rivers has a useful cross-court forehand and is a trier from start to finish, it being largely his determination which gave him a 9 8 victory over Banks. There is plenty of talent among the younger ladies in each team, though faults which are barring progress were in evidence. Several players did not stand with shoulder to the net when driving, adopting the face-on stance which prevents the body being brought into the stroke. Others overlooked the fact that for the forehand drive the left foot must be advanced and for the backhand the right foot. Miss Sanson and Miss Thompson would improve considerably if they remembered these fundamental principles. Both have fleetness of foot, but fail when it comes to the actual playing of the shot. It should also be borne in mind that serving, smashing and volleying should be done not facing the net but side on to it. The majority of the players swung their racquets freely, but their faulty footwork prevented full use being made of this good swing. It must not be thought, however, from these remarks that surprisingly good progress has not been made in both districts. Compared with the standard of a few years ago play was a revelation of what has been accomplished by keenness and exchanges of visits. On both sub-association executives there are men who are not only sound administrators but who possess the knowledge to assist their players by advice. At Wendonside there was a big representation from both executives, although some had to travel 75 or 80 miles to be present. It is most reassuring to see such enthusiasm and such fine sportsmanship. The Mataura electorate, although acknowledgedly strong in men, will have to look to its laurels if it hopes to regain the Hamilton shield from Wallace, for the team chosen after, Saturday’s match is formidable throughout. B Grade Matches. This is certainly going to be a very interesting contest for supremacy. The defeat of last year’s champions, Waihopai I, by Makarewa in the opening match showed that there was nothing cut and dried about the competition; nor does it mean that Waihopai are out of the running. Each team takes part in 11 matches and it will be surprising if any comes through unbeaten. Last Saturday Georgetown won from Gladstone by a margin that was rather surprising in view of the Gladstone team’s good win over Central. Georgetown played well up to form; Gladstone did not. Hence the result. Makarewa made no race of it against Bluff, though a number of the individual games were close. Miss Dixon, always a good match player, saved her side from utter rout. Bluff do not need to be discouraged, however, for Makarewa won’t be far from top of the list when the competition closes. Central proved stronger than Invercargill whose B grade team suffers by the fact that two senior teams are entered. St. Mary’s had a narrow win over Kennington who are weak on the male side and the Rugby Park players again proved themselves formidable opponents. Varia.

There appears to be a misunderstanding among some players regarding the purpose of the doubles ladder. It does not represent a ranking list of the doubles pairs of the city area; it is simply a useful medium for doubles practice. Consequently the order in which the pairs are placed at the commencement of the competition may not be strictly in accord with their respective merits. The more challenges the greater is the value of the ladder. Mrs Sturman has again generously consented to coach some of the promising girls in Invercargill. The Invercargill Club has placed courts at the association’s disposal on Monday afternoons and an excellent start was made this week. Those in the class are certainly fortunate, for there is probably no one in the Dominion more fitted to impart instruction on tennis—and no one who does it more pleasantly. The September issue of American Lawn Tennis has a splendid continuous account of the men’s singles championship of the United States which was retained by Perry in a five-set duel with Allison. There is no publication in Britain on a par with the American official organ. Its first editorial is entitled “Glory for Both” and while giving full credit to Allison for his great fight it is very generous to Perry. “Certanly Perry has a physical and mental equipment that makes him equal to the gigantic task (writes Stephen Wallis Merrihew, the editor). He has all the strokes and the knowledge of when and how to use them, as well as the ideal temperament. He is tireless, courageous; he has the prescience that enables men to scale heights. No feet of clay has this truly great player.” In an article entitled "Some Sidelights” appears another reference to Perry: “Of all the players Perry was the most talkative and had the most amusing antics for the gallery.” Both in town and country the Southland Tennis Association’s coaching committee is working in an endeavour to get beginners to start on sound lines. Browns, Hedgehope, Makarewa, Spar Bush, Tisbury and Nightcaps have been visited.

In a ladder match for first position in the Invercargill Club Cockerell beat Deaker 6 —l, I—6, 6—2. The winner stormed the net in the first and third sets, his excellent volleying being the deciding factor in the match. Misses Henry and Oughton (Georgetown) have gained a place on the doubles ladder by beating Misses Deegan and Stead in two well-fought sets. Other doubles ladder results are: Anderson and Raines beat Twemlow and O’Kane 6—3, 4—6, B—6; Misses Shand and Basstian beat Misses Lamont 6—3, 3—6, 6—4; Breen and Gray beat Baird Bros, by default. The Waihopai seniors, who have a bye, travel to Wyndham to-day to play a friendly match against the Wyndham Club. Three Ways. “Which is the best path to championship honours?” was a question put to Mr G. L. Berry, chairman of the Wilding Park Committee the other day. Mr Berry has been connected with the Avondale Tennis Club for many years, and his name is to be found on all the championship trophies —on the doubles championship trophy six times. Mr Berry has represented his province at football, rowing and tennis, and to-day goes round a golf course in under 90. “There are at least three ways by which a man can become a champion in tennis,” said Mr Berry, “and only one is easy—easy to the few fortunates who are bom with what, for want of a better name, is called a good eye. Angus is one of the few. His game is founded on the instant response of his brain and muscles to a keen eye. But while the quick eye is an asset success can be achieved by nearly everyone. To the plodder achievement is in every way as certain, and skilful play can be reproduced long after the eye is dimmed. Ollivier’s artistry was built up by concentrating on producing all shots perfectly. The rhythm of his strokes was built up by a mind keen on perfection; by one to whom the result of the game was nothing compared with the actual stroke production. The third course is physical fitness. At the end of the third set the fit man will beat the player with greater skill but poorer physique. It is within the power of everyone to build up stamina by training. How often do you see the game change when the tired man fails to reach the ball and lacks the ability to call on reserves when a point is needed? Anthony Wilding’s ability came

more than anything else from being a great athlete. Perry is a fit man with a wonderful eye and the perseverance to perfect his shots.”

EASTERN SOUTHLAND NOTES.

(By “Volley”)

Competition matches were again played in beautiful weather conditions on Wednesday. Citizens A and Gore A now stand even in the competition, each having won two matches and lost one. Wyndham have not yet scored a win. D. S. McLeod had a comfortable win over A. Hall in the Gore-Citizens match on Wednesday and F. McKenzie also easily defeated Chapman. On recent results D. S. McLeod and McKenzie are the outstanding players in the district at present. The former is a better player as the season wears on, being slow in striking his best form. McKenzie has beaten him for rung one on the Citizens men’s ladder and future matches between these two players should provide exceptionally keen tussles.

Miss M. Kelly is back in the town and played third lady for Citizens on Wednesday. By defeating Miss B. Oswin 7—o she showed that she had lost none of her skill and was in fact playing better tennis than ever. Miss J. Wilson is playing steady tennis and easily accounted for Mrs Martin on Wednesday. In the B grade the Citizen’s team are leading the field and defeated Edendale, the second team on the ladder, by a surprisingly large margin of sets on Wednesday. The St. Andrews team, who were runners-up in the competition last year, appear to have slipped a little this year and are well down the ladder, having secured only one win. The position of the teams is as follows:—

DAVIS CUP AND DUNLOP. Most countries, like individuals, seem to have their preferences when it comes to Tennis Balls; Austria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Rumania and Yugoslavia have all adopted the Dunlop Ball for their Davis Cup Matches; Spain has adopted Dunlop for the qualifying round, and for the Davis Cup Match India v. Switzerland the Dunlop Ball was again selected. Finally, Dunlop Tennis Balls were used in both semi-finals for the 1934 Davis Cup, and in three out of four second round matches in the European Zone. Where quality counts, you will always find Dunlop Racquets and Dunlop Balls.—Advt.

Team Played Won. Waihopai 2 2 Invercargill A 2 2 Gladstone 2 2 Central 2 2 St. Mary’s 1 ■ 1 Invercargill B 1 — Southend 2 — Winton 2 — Georgetown 2 — —B Grade.— Team Played Won. Makarewa 2 2 Georgetown 2 2 Rugby Park: 2 2 Waihopai I 2 1 Waihopai II 2 1 Gladstone 2 1 Southend 2 1 Central 2 1 St. Mary’s 2 1 Invercargill 2 — Bluff 2 —— Kennington 2 —— —C Grade.— Section A. Team Played Won. Rugby Park 2 2 Southern 2 1 Moana 1 1 Waihopai 1 1 Invercargill 2 1 Georgetown 2 —— Waikiwi 2 —— Section B. Tisbury 2 2 St. Mary’s 2 2 Central 2 1 Southend 2 1 Makarewa 2 — Bluff 2 —

—A Grade.— P. W. L. Tl. Gore 3 2 1 4 Citizens 3 2 1 4 Wyndham 2 0 2 0 —B Grade.P. w. L. Tl. Citizens 4 4 0 8 Edendale 4 3 1 6 Mataura 4 3 1 6 Anglican 4 2 2 4 Gore 3 2 1 4 St. Andrews 4 1 3 2 St. Patrick’s 3 0 3 0 Wyndham 4 0 4 0