TENNIS

Southland Times, Issue 22499, 8 December 1934, Page 18

TENNIS

(By

“Chop.”)

A and C grade matches to-day. The A grade draw is: St. Mary’s v. Invercargill B at Invercargill; Central v. Southend at Southend; Georgetown v. Invercargill A at Georgetown; Waihopai v. Winton at Winton; Gladstone a bye. The C grade draw is: Section A, Waikiwi v. Invercargill at Invercargill; Waihopai v. Moana at Waihopai; Rugby Park v. Georgetown at Rugby Park; Southern a bye. Section B, Southend v. St. Mary’s at St. Mary’s; Tisbury v. Central at Central; Makarewa v. Bluff at Makarewa. Town v. Central District at the Gladstone courts to-day. The inter-electorate match between Awarua and Wallace has been postponed from to-day until a date after Christmas. Town v. Eastern at Gore next Saturday. Town v. Western at Riverton next Saturday. Entries for the Christmas tournament close on Thursday, December 13. Exciting finishes seem to be the order this season. Waihopai II and Southend provided a thriller on Saturday, the former team winning by a single game. When the last two matches were commenced —two men’s singles— Southend led by 8 sets to 6. Kean beat Wainwright 9—3 and all hinged on the Cumming-Anderson encounter. If Anderson won Southend gained the verdict by 9 sets to 7 but if Cumming won Waihopai would be the victors on games. Fortunately for the two gladiators they were unaware of the burden resting on their shoulders, though the onlookers had been informed by. honorary auditors of the state of affairs. The score mounted to 7—all, the excitement grew intense and punters began to lay the odds. There was Waihopai rejoicing as Cumming won the next game, but the smiles were on Southend faces as Anderson drew level again. Back and forwards went the ball and back and forwards went the heads. But all things come to an end and Cumming carried the day, the score sheet being audited and found correct with Waihopai one game ahead.

Miss Henderson and Miss Graham again gave Kennington a good start for the many of indifference displayed against Waihopai 1., but the men of the city club were too strong and won three singles and both doubles, as well as dominating play in the mixed doubles, all four of which went to Waihopai. The games tally of 105 to 82 shows, however, that Kennington fought hard throughout. Gladstone, a team of ups and downs, were on the crest of the wave on Saturday and won easily from St. Mary’s, though in the men’s singles there were some keen contests.

The Bluff team did extremely well to run Rugby Park so close, for the city side is strong all round. It was largely' a case of the Bluff women against the Rugby Park men, with the latter swaying the mixed doubles sufficiently their way to bring victory. The Invercargill team had another loss, but it was at the hands of a formidable side, Georgetown. The Invervargill ladies ran their opponents close, but the men were rather outclassed. Varia.

Eight Gore players paid a visit to Invercargill last week-end and enjoyed a day’s practice against Invercargill players. Doubles were chiefly indulged in and some sparkling play was seen, McCallum being probably the brightest star. The displays given by the Easterners showed that the match at Gore next Saturday should be very keenly fought. It is unfortunate that business ties prevent McKenzie’s playing, for he would greatly strengthen the Eastern team, being good both in singles and doubles.

The Gladstone seniors who have a bye to-day will travel to Winton to play the Riverton seniors. An unofficial team will also travel westwards to play a mixed Thornbury-Waimatuku team.

Arrangements are now completed for the visit to Sydney and Melbourne at Christmas of a New Zealand University lawn tennis team. The personnel of the team is not yet definitely decided, but it will probably be H. A. Barnett, A. R. Cant, B. A. Barrer and R. A. Young, with Mr R. Browning as manager. The team will sail for Sydney by the Monowai on December 13, returning by the same steamer on January 7. A match will be played against a New South Wales State team on December 19, and against a Sydney University team on December 20 and 21. On December 23 they will leave by train for Melbourne, playing a match against the Melbourne University on three days, December 26, 27 and 28. There is also a possibility of a match with a Victorian State team on December 29. In the final of the United Club’s championship Pearce beat Rawlinson 4—6, 6—4, 6 —3, 6 —3. Pearce showed excellent form in this match and though Rawlinson fully extended him in the first two sets, the latter had a great deal of running about in the last two. B Grade Matches. The defeat of Makarewa, hitherto unbeaten, was the outstanding feature of last Saturday’s B grade matches. Central must be given an excellent chance of winning the competition if they can retain the present team which dropped only three sets to Makarewa. Conditions were even hotter at Makarewa than in town and the home team suffered from the inability of Mclvor to continue his single with Robson and from the temporary collapse of one of the girls. Mclvor led Robson 7—2 by free driving, but the heat began to tell on him. He continued for three more Games which Robson won, but then had to default. In the mixed doubles Central agreed to let Callaghan substitute for Mclvor and so well did the club secretary play that he and his .partner won 7—6 against a strong pair. Stubbs was in good form against Leckie as was McGrath against Dennis, the Central players each winning 9 —2. Central celebrated their win by remaining for a dance at Makarewa in the evening. Christmas Tournament. Though entries for the Christmas tournament do not close until Thursday indications point to another highly successful fixture provided sunshine prevails. Inquiries for entry forms have been received from many country centres and both Oamaru and Dunedin will be strongly represented at the tournament. George Pearce, holder of the singles title, will be defending it and will probably be partnered with Rawlinson in the doubles. The latter is playing very well this year and is a force to be reckoned with in the singles, too. Neither Arthur nor Cyril Deaker will be playing and Syd. McDougall may elect to play in his home-town tournament (Oamaru), where he now occupies number one berth. Mrs Scott will not be defending her title. She has scarcely touched a racket this season, but may be a spectator at the tourney. Misses Baikie and Weavers, of Oamaru, should do well both in singles and doubles and the Wilson sisters will be another good pair. It will be interesting to see how Cockerill, Baird and McCallum fare against the leading visitors. Cockerill and McCallum are pairing in the doubles and should go well together. It is to be hoped the junior events will be well patronized. These are placed on the programme with the idea of encouraging younger players who get their tournament experience in this case almost free of cost, since only a nominal entry fee is charged and balls are supplied. Those under 18 on December 13 are eligible.

Players who may be regarded as being in the indifferent class will find the handicap events excellent experience and good fun. There is usually a very happy atmosphere about a Christmas tournament and whether one meets with success or defeat one enjoys oneself. The winners of the mixed doubles handicap this year will be doubly fortunate, for in addition to the £1 l/~ trophy presented by the association each will receive a high-class racket presented by Mr W. R. Patrick (late J. A. Doig’s). Two Words. In future in this column the weapon wielded by tennis players will be spelt “racket,” not as hitherto “racquet” which I have come to realize is quite wrong. The Oxford Dictionary says “racket” and here is what American Lawn Tennis says:— The correct way to spell the name of the implement used in the game of lawn tennis is “racket.” That statement is incontrovertible. Yet the extent of the mis-spelling is deplorable. It is enough to make the judicious grieve. The transgressors are wilful, perverse—and just plain ignorant. Yet they continue to write “racquet” as if they consider that anything emanating from their pens is sacrosanct. We must turn from lawn tennis to other bat and ball games to find a different spelling. Why “racquet” was hit upon appears to be a mystery. It purports to be French, but it is not. The Year Book of the Federation Francaise de Lawn Tennis (the French governing body) spells the implement of the game “raquette,” not “racquet” or “racquette.” Webster’s Dictionary says —“Racket—also racquet (F, raquette; Sp, raqueta; It, racchetta).” It is clear therefore that “racquet” is a word without a country, a hybrid, a misgotten thing that should be scorned by all. And that’s that. Another change. In future I am going to refer to the feminine wielder of a racket not as a “lady,” but as a “woman.” Sydney Championships. Tongues have been set wagging by Crawford’s defeat of Perry in the New South Wales championship final. While it is true that Crr.wford has rehabili-

tated himself in the eyes of the Australians he has to beat Perry in the Commonwealth title before one would seriously consider placing him above the Englishman. It is gratifying, however, to see Crawford victorious, for this popular Australian may justifiably be claimed to be the best player in the world from a stroke-production point of view; and superabundance of physical energy should not, in the fitness of things, always triumph over tennis ability. Last year Crawford regained the New South Wales title which Vines had wrested from him in 1932. He beat Hopman in the final 6—4, B—6, 7 5. Crawford and McGrath, who won the doubles title by defeating Hopman and Maier 6—l, 6—4, 6—4 in the final, were the defending champions. Judging from wireless descriptions Mrs Westmacott was overawed by the occasion when she met Miss Round in the women’s singles final. It was a crushing defeat, the Queenslander securing only two games. Misses Dearman and Lyle again proved their worth as a doubles pair. They must have played exceptionally well to beat such a strong pair as Miss Round and Mrs Hopman 6—4, 6—o. Perry’s only success was in the mixed doubles which he won with Miss Round. AUCKLAND LAWN TENNIS ASSOCIATION ADOPT DUNLOP. Auckland is the latest Lawn Tennis Association to adopt the 1935 Dunlop Ball for both hard and soft court tournaments. From all grades of play right through to Davis Cup matches, Dunlop has spelt success—and once again Dunlop improvements in tennis ball manufacture have revolutionized tennis ball standards the world over; new super felt and a new method of covering mean amazingly increased service and playing life; and the ever increasing demands for the Dunlop Ball are a tribute to the accuracy and consistency for which it is world famous.—Advt.