TENNIS

Southland Times, Issue 25417, 19 October 1935, Page 18

TENNIS

(By

“Chop.”)

Senior A and C grade matches today. No matches next Saturday. The A grade draw is: Waihopai v. Invercargill at Waihopai; Central v. Georgetown at Georgetown; Southend a bye. The C grade draw is: Section A— Gladstone v. Southern at Southern; Rugby Park v. Clifton at Rugby Park; Moana v. Bluff at Bluff; Georgetown v. Tisbury at Tisbury. Section B— Waihopai v. Makarewa at Makarewa; St. Mary’s v. Wallacetown at St. Mary’s; Southend v. Waikiwi at Southend; Invercargill a bye.

Carnival commences in Victoria Hall on Friday. Victoria Hall will be the the locale again on Saturday, and the carnival will conclude with a sports gala and Mayfair night at Rugby Park on Monday. The result of the queen carnival contest will be announced at 10 p.m. on Monday. The Makarewa Club, always keen to help the association, is holding a dance on Wednesday evening in aid of the tennis princess. Here’s a good chance for city enthusiasts to enjoy themselves and help the cause. Central Club members can vouch for the attraction of dances run by the Makarewa Club. The coaching committee’s activities commenced last Saturday when Mr Deaker gave a lecturette to Moana Club members, this being followed by a men’s doubles exhibition. Visits to numerous other clubs will be paid when the carnival is over. The Winton Club is holding its usual doubles tournament on Labour Day. Entries close to-day. The Western District Sub-Associa-tion is also holding its usual Labour Day tournament, with both Riverton and Otautau courts in use. SENIOR B MATCHES. The closest match in the senior B competition last Saturday was that between Gladstone and St. Mary’s, two of the teams fancied as first holders of the Rea Cup. Gladstone won by 9 sets to 7, but it was anybody’s game right up to the finish. As a number of the players were wielding a racket for almost the first time this season the standard was not particularly high, but there were some very interesting matches. Miss B. Hoyles played many good shots against Miss Mahoney who was hard put to win 7—6. Miss McKay created a surprise by defeating that reliable match player, Miss Marjorie Fitzgerald. At the net the winner was effective and she played many fine passing shots. Miss M. Hoyles had one game to spare against Miss Mary Fitzgerald, but Miss Lush found Miss Shepherd’s sliced shots very hard to deal with. It was the Gladstone men who played the chief part in their side’s victory, for they won both doubles and three of the four singles. Bert Walsh, who this year is playing cricket instead of tennis, filled a breach to such effect that he was the only male success of the afternoon. When he wants to win a match his opponent has an unenviable task. Don Hamilton and McEwan displayed good form for Gladstone and R. S. Mclnnes came to light nobly by winning three matches. The Central and Invercargill teams waged an even battle until it came to the mixed doubles. Then Invercargill were routed. From 6 sets all the score went to 10—6 in Central’s favour. It rather looks as if mixed doubles were neglected on the Invercargill courts, but perhaps it is a bit too early in the season to judge. Hodgson had a sweeping victory in his singles but the other men’s matches were well contested. Miss Mackrell and Miss Wann showed good form for Invercargill. The unusual feature of the George-town-Rugby Park match was the annexation of all four men’s singles by Rugby Park and the loss of one men’s double and all the mixed doubles by the Park side. It usually happens that the men dominate the mixed doubles, but this did not- occur in this match. The Georgetown women, regarded as being relatively weaker than the men, won three singles and both doubles and gallantly assisted their male partners in the mixed doubles. The Rugby Park men fail to make full use of the net position in mixed doubles, but there is good material in the team. Jack Hughes represented Southland about six years ago and should soon qualify as top man unless his touch has deserted him. The Henry sisters played well for Georgetown and Mrs Croad, formerly of Southern, is an acquisition. Intermediate Grade.

There were some keen matches in the intermediate grade, with the teams from outside the city doing much better than the metropolitans. Bluff seem to have a new lease of life, which is most gratifying, for all Invercargill players wish them well. They beat St. Mary’s by 11 sets to 5, showing definite

superiority in all departments save the men’s and women’s doubles. There is distinct promise in some of Bluff’s younger players. Tisbury, with the Mclntosh tartan again to the fore, overwhelmed Invercargill. It was an auspicious opening in the intermediate grade and if keenness counts the shield may come Tisbury’s way, though their task will be harder than that facing them in C grade last year. Makarewa, rivals to Tisbury in keenness, also had a good win, accounting for .Georgetown by 12 sets to 4. The Georgetown men put up a good fight but the Makarewa women outclassed their opponents. Mclvor is driving particularly well this season. He won all his matches comfortably. Kennington, rather dubious at the beginning of the season which grade to enter, must have been reassured by their good win over Rugby Park. With Miss Henderson, Miss Graham and Mrs Fox in the women’s team Kennington are sure to trouble opponents, particularly as two stalwart members of the Henderson clan are reinforcing the men. The Waihopai intermediate team appears to be a strong one. It encountered a good team in Southend but won convincingly. Doubles Ladder. The entries in the men’s doubles competition are satisfactory, but there has not been such a good response from the women. The idea of drawing the names out of a hat to determine the order has proved popular. The ladders are as follows:— Men. 1 Barnes and Breen. 2 Shand and S. Jones. 3 McCallum and Gray. 4 Padget and Graham. 5 Strang and Cockerill. 6 Baird and Clarkson. 7 Mcßobie and Gordon. 8 Fortune and Raines. 9 McDonald Bros. 10 Hughes and Richardson. 11 Twemlow and O’Kane. 12 Wood and Hodgson. 13 Deaker and Hanan. * Women. 1 Misses Mahoney and Hallamore. 2 Misses Murdoch an dCutt. 3 Misses Shand and Basstian. 4 Miss Shepherd and Mrs Prendergast. 5 Miss Rein and Mrs Hanan. 6 Misses Fitzgerald. 7 Mesdames Clarkson and Salisbury. 8 Misses Mehaffey and Kelly. The strongest pairs in the men’s doubles appear to be Strang and Cockerill, Deaker and Hanan and McCallum and Gray. Deaker and Hanan were perhaps unfortunate in drawing the bottom rung; but the pairs they challenge should gain much profitable experience. Mrs Hanan and Miss Rein should soon get to the top of the women’s ladder, in which there seem to be some very even pairs among the remainder.

Ladder Rules,

All challenges must be previously notified to the ladder secretary (Mr I. D. Jack) to whom the results must be communicated on completion of games. The matches are to be the best of three advantage sets, while the locale of the match and the provision of balls are to be the subject of mutual arrangement. The matches must be played within seven days after the notification to the ladder secretary. It has been decided that the losing pair is not entitled to challenge the winning pail- until a period of seven days has elapsed. It is obvious, however, that if broken weather is experienced, difficulties will arise by reason of the non-completion of the matches in the prescribed time through the bad weather or the inability of one or more of the players to be available on any particular occasion. In the event of the challenge not being plaved within the seven days, it has been decided that the placings on the ladders will remain unaltered. It is realized that this may react harshly in some cases, but equally so would a general rule that no results obtainable, the challengers be placed above the challenged pair. The main danger in the above lies in the fact that the challenged pair may endeavour to evade the match, hut in such a case (surely only hypothetical) representations can be made through the ladder secretary. In the event of weather conditions precluding any chance of play the ladder secretary may, in his discretion, enlarge the time for playing of the matches on the application of the challengers. Otago Ladders. Tire Otago ladders are as follows: Men’s Singles. 1 Boddy. 11 Phillipps. 2 Guy. 12 Stevens. 3 Rawlinson. 13 Kaye. 4 Pearce. 14 Morrow. 5 Bryan. 15 Highet. 6 Jolly, G. 16 Gourley. 7 Falconer. 17 Smith. 8 Robertson. 18 Broadley. 9 Swallow. 19 Barclay. 10 Ross. 20 Clarke. Men’s Doubles. 1 Boddy and Fulton. 2 Rawlinson and Falconer. 3 Duthie and Guy. 4 Bryan and Pearce. 5 Robertson and Ross. 6 Jolly Brothers. 7 Jensen and Sherriff. 8 Grimsdale and Phillipps. 9 Clarke and Smith. Women’s Singles. 1 Miss Pattison 8 Miss Cameron. 2 Miss Barton. 9 Mrs Turton. 3 Miss Partridge. 10 Miss Walker. 4 Miss Beckley. 11 Miss Edwards. 5 Miss Jolly. 12 Mrs Foxcroft. 6 Miss Hqwison. 13 Mrs Clarke. 7 Miss Balthrop. 14 Miss L. Brown. Hints to Beginners. Tennis is a game which most beginners have to pick up as best they can. In Southland a coaching committee is doing its utmost to assist clubs, but it cannot hope to reach a large proportion of those who are just taking up the game and who wish to begin correctly. Here are a few hints which may obviate some of the commonest faults. 1. Try to develop a free swing of the racket, starting the stroke well behind the body, finishing well in front. Do not push the ball over with bent elbow. You may win points by skilful placing with push shots, but your game has no foundation on which to build. 2. Shots should always be made with the shoulder to the net', not facing the net. The left foot should be forward for the forehand stroke, the right foot forward for the backhand stroke. Bend the knees slightly and don’t stand flat-footed. The weight should be transferred from the rear to the front foot at the moment of impact. 3. It is essential that the racket should be gripped firmly. For ground shots the hand should be near the end of the racket. For volleying a slightly shorter grip is best. A great many “foozled” shots are due to a slack grip. 4. Never take up a position in midcourt. Shots have sometimes to be played from there, but this should only be through necessity, not from choice. There are only two safe positions, either behind the baseline or right up at the net. A great many beginners are apt to take up their stance near that fatal spot, the service line. 5. When volleying keep cool. Growing excited, jumping in the air and watching the opposition instead of the ball are sure to spell disaster. A firm shot with the head of the racket above the wrist and a chopping action as the ball is played will mean many winners. Either go for an acute angle or volley deep, to the baseline, unless you can

place the ball at the feet of an incoming opponent. Don’t be afraid to go to the net, even if you are only a beginner. You will get many kills if you keep a cool head and a firm wrist.

6. Smashing and serving go together. Your smash should be your serve. Stand side on whether smashing or serving and hit with confidence. Never make the net your objective. More smashes go astray through being dragged into the net than through being overhit. There is some satisfaction in hitting a lusty smash that just goes out. But it is galling to net a smash. 7. When you are playing in ordinary practice don’t be too keen on winning points and games. Far better to practise strokes, irrespective of whether they go out or in. The canny player who pushes over winners may beat you this season, but he will stay where he is, while the free hitter, when he settles down, may win the Sports Trust Cup. 8. Because you can drive freely, don’t imagine that you can hit a winner from every ball. Many returns of your opponent have to be treated with respect. At the same time don’t be afraid to hit out when the right ball comes along. 9. Don’t get into the habit of playing in your ordinary clothes. Both your tennis and your health will be better if you change into tennis attire. It’s well worth the few minutes it takes up; and it looks far better. 10. Don’t be discouraged by the difficulty of hitting into court shots made with the free backhand; or forehand swing. Better to pepper a neighbour’s yard with balls hit correctly than sent into court puerile push shots. Control of the ball will come with practice and then there will be a steady improvement. A TENNIS BALL WITH EXTRA WEAR Follow the lead of the N.Z. Lawn Tennis Association, which has adopted the Dunlop Fort Tennis Ball for all matches under its auspices for the 1935-36 season. The ball has a surface of close and tough untrimmed nap, which means amazingly increased service and playing life. You can place every confidence in the accuracy plus consistency plus extra durability of the 1936 Dunlop Fort. At all Sports Dealers.—Advt.