Southland’s C Grade Handicap Tennis Tournament Was Unqualified Success

Southland Times, Issue 24001, 16 December 1939, Page 21

Southland’s C Grade Handicap Tennis Tournament Was Unqualified Success

By

TOPSPIN

“An unqualified success in every respect,” was the summing up of Mr J. S. Clarkson, president of the Southland Lawn Tennis Association, when referring to the C grade handicap tournament which was completed at the Waihopai courts on Monday evening. Mr Clarkson also said that the management committee was more than pleased by the response of the C grade players, their enthusiasm, and the manner in which all competitors had come forward to assist with the umpiring, and generally make the tournament a success. He said it was obvious that the association would require to make more ambitious preparations if the tournament were held again next year, and he personally would like to see some provision made when drawing up the matches for the season, so that at least one .Saturday afternoon would be set aside for the tournament, to obviate the necessity of playing matches in the evening. However, the competitors in this tournament did not seem to mind. There were postponements because of rain on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, but they turned up in force on Saturday afternoon at short notice when it was found possible to arrange court accommodation.

For most of the players it was their first tournament. The score sheets showing owed odds, or received odds frequently puzzled players and umpires alike, but always there was the genial president to help along with a word of advice or encouragement, although even he was forced to express a little doubt at time whether the players fully grasped the significance of the scoring. One of the most interesting results of the matches was that some players showed considerably better form than in club games, while several of those reaching the final rounds were a good fifteen better than when they played their first matches. WON FROM SCRATCH Harold Sayer came through a very big entry to win the men’s singles oft scratch. He 'has all the strokes, a sound forehand and backhand, and ' plays well overhead, but in the final his win over the Otatara player, C. McMillan, was due as much to shrewd placements. L McMillan, too, plays a sound allI round game and when he has more ■experience and speeds up his shots She will be a much improved player. KR. McCormack was without doubt Mae most outstanding player of all the He went out to Mcin the semi-final, but might been able to carry' his handicap l5 had he hot been so anxious Ms hit winners off every ball. W There were some really good games Fin the men’s doubles, and it was dis- ' appointing that the event had to be awarded by default because of the failure of one of the finalists to put in an appearance. Sayer and McCormack looked a likely pair on the owe 3-6 mark, but in the semi-final they just failed to" hold their handicap against Stevens and Foster after recovering from 3-6. Stevens and Foster were more steady than brilliant, and made use of their handicap of receive 3-6 to carry off this event.

Forde and O’Brien, on scratch, created something of a surprise in eliminating two back markers, Dunne and Butler, of Moana, in the first round. O’Brien plays steadily, but, probably as a result of his table tennis, he is inclined to mistime the ball, and play a little too soon. Forde has a glorious, sweeping backhand drive that many an A grade player might envy; he has, too, the right idea of volleying, and if only he could improve his forehand by eliminating a tendency to chop, get his feet into correct position, and follow through with a flat racket and upward swing to produce a topspin drive, then he would need only practice and experience to make of him a player much above the ordinary.

OUTSTANDING WOMAN PLAYER Miss M. Crawford, of the Invercargill Club, was the outstanding player in the women’s singles, and was never really extended to win this event. The other finalist, Miss J. Lynch, relied on steadiness, and a good lob drive to defeat opponents in the earlier rounds, but this was not a sufficient counter to Miss Crawford’s firm and well directed drives in the final.

Miss Hinchey had been playing impressively in earlier games, and one of the best women’s games on Monday evening was her match with Miss Pat Hardy. A young player of promise, Miss Hardy plays freely on both hands, and is not loth to take the net. She recovered well to make it 6-all after being down 3-6. A tendency to hit balls that are going out costs her valuable points. Miss Hardy paired well with another promising junior, Miss N. Collings. They were, however, rather outclassed in the final by Misses Crawford and McDonald, who maintained a good length with firm, consistent driving. It is difficult to single out players from a very big entry in the mixed doubles event, for several played very well in earlier rounds although not figuring in final rounds. The Otatara pair V. McMillan and Mrs McMillan were deservingly successful after a succession of convincing wins. This pair showed a good understanding, V. McMillan serving strongly, and putting away loose ones at net, while Mrs McMillan exploited a very useful crosscourt forehand drive. The other finalists were not so well balanced a combination and while McCormack served and drove with great vigour, his partner, probably with not much experience of match play, appeared nervous, and did not do herself justice, playing returns short to give McMillan opportunities at the net. The one semi-final was full of interest when McCormack and Miss Brumby came from well behind to win narrowly from McArthur and Miss Kennedy. Miss Kennedy drove freely backhand and forehand, while McArthur brought off a number of winners at the net. Had McArthur shown more confidence in his partner, and ■maintained a better court position there seems little doubt that they would have reached the final. PLEASING STANDARD As a result of watching some of the C grade inter-club games on successive Saturday afternoons, the writer had come to the conclusion that generally much of the C grade match play was of a pretty poor standard. It was something of a pleasant surprise to note the general high standard set in this tournament. The form of young players like Ron Frampton, only 12 years of age, Keith Williams, perhaps two years older, O’Brien, Forde, Miss Hardy, Miss Collings, and others is concrete evidence of the results being achieved as a result of coaching in schools. This work must reflect itself in the standard of tennis a few years hence. The forthcoming Southland championships to be held at Christmas time, and the speculation about the winning of the various titles brings pointedly to mind the fact that older players ap-

pear likely to dominate the open events. There is a gap between the experienced players, and the more promising younger players of the province. All players who intend to compete are reminded that entries close at noon on Friday of this week.

The events are: Men’s singles championship (holder, C. H. Baird). Men’s doubles championship (holder, R. Howe and C. Baird). Women’s singles championship (holder, Miss I. Henderson). Women’s doubles championship, provided entries are sufficient. Mixed doubles championship (holder, R. Howe and Miss K. Cutt).

There will also be junior championship singles for boys and girls who are under 18 years on December 25, 1939. There is also a full programme of handicap events including a men s handicap singles for B grade players. The draw takes place on Monday, December 18, and play is set down from December 25 to 28. R. A. H. Howe will make a bold bid for the singles he failed to win last year, and will form a strong combination with C. A. Sharp in the men s doubles. Howe and Miss Cutt are defending their mixed title. Miss Cutt and Mrs Hanan are pairing. Mrs Bruce and Miss Wilson are doubtful starters, and Miss Henderson was not definite whether she would defend her singles title. CRAWFORD’S ARTISTRY All Jack Crawford’s old artistry of stroke play was exhibited in his victory over Adrian Quist in the recent interstate tennis match in Sydney, says an Australian writer. Shot after shot re-

called to the spectators the Crawford who once led the world. The crowd roared its approval as Crawford took the lead and won the first set, 6-3. Quist was forcing him to take the short return, which helped to tire Crawford. Quist played well and may do better in the state championships. He has not had much opportunity to .find his game yet Continuing to play his best, Crawford delighted his many admirers by taking the second set at 6-2. It was a splendid performance, even although Quist was below form. Crawford’s back-

hand and forehand shots were excellent. In Christchurch too the wonderfully consistent player C. Angas maintains No. 1 ranking in the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association provincial ladder. He recently beat R. G. Pattinson 8-6, 3-6, 10-8 in a gruelling challenge. Last year Angas went down to A. D. Brown who is not yet playing in competition tennis this season. Angas has a fine record in championship tennis and has dominated ranking match contests in Canterbury for upward of a decade. SATURDAY’S GAMES A feature of the inter-club games last Saturday was the rather severe defeat of Southend at the hands of Central, which now leads the A grade competition with four wins and no losses. Winton is also unbeaten but has played only three matches. Winton registered a good win on Saturday over Rugby Park. J. Coward, with three wins, was the outstanding player for Rugby Park. Invercargill was not at full strength, and Bluff came close to gaining a win on its home courts. Playing top for Bluff, J. McC. Hamilton maintained the good form he has consistently shown in singles to beat I. Shand, of Invercargill. Ladder matches for the week have resulted as follows: I. Shand beat D. Bruce 7-5, 6-4; A.'McKay beat J. Marriott 5-7, 6-0, 6-4; G. Barnes beat D. Perrin 6-3, 6-2. Perrin and Marriott beat Coward and Hodgson 3-6, 6-4, 7-5. — Mrs Bruce and Miss Woods beat Mrs Hanan and Miss Cutt 6-2, 5-6, 6-4; Mrs Hughes and Miss I. Morton beat Miss Henry and Mrs Harvey 5-6, 6-4, 6-4. Fixtures set down for today are as follows:

B Grade. —Rugby Park v. Southern, at Southern; Invercargill v. Tisbury, at Tisbury; Kennington v. Southend, at Southend; Clifton v. Central at Central; Waihopai I v. Georgetown, at Georgetown; Waikiwi v. Waihopai H, at Waihopai. The Makarewa v. St. Mary’s game has been held over until later in the season.

C Grade. —Invercargill v. Bluff, at Bluff; Southend v. Rugby Park, at Rugby Park; Tisbury v. Collegiate, at Collegiate; Southern v. Moana, at Moana; Collegiate II v. Otatara, at Otatara; Waikiwi v. Makarewa, at Makarewa; St. Mary’s v. Clifton, at Clifton; Waihopai a bye.

Central District will be called upon to defend the Hamilton Shield for the second time this season when it meets the challenge from Northern District in a match to be played at Winton this Saturday. Members of the Davis Cup team know all about souvenir hunters, says a Melbourne writer. They were relieved of everything that was not screwed down on the 'American trip. Rackets, trousers, shirts, ties, shoes and socks disappeared alarmingly. .A rumour went the rounds that Quist was giving away rackets. Bell-hops, chambermaids, chauffeurs, taxi drivers and goodness knows who approached Quist. Jack; Crawford left Sydney with a dozen' rackets. He returned with «ix; and reckoned he was lucky, He does not remember giving any away.