LAWN TENNIS

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 5, 20 December 1928, Page 3

LAWN TENNIS

STRATFORD CLUB. COMPETITION RESULTS. This season members of the Strat- ; ford Club are showing greater interest in the ladder matches. A large number of matches have been played and several changes in the positions have resulted. Following a re results of matches played to date (challengers being mentioned first in each case): LADIES. Miss Brown lost to Miss Keightley 2—7. Miss Ward beat • Mrs. Ennis 7—2. Miss Jean Ward beat Mrs Cameron 7—3.. Miss Carman beat Miss Toombs 7-6. Miss Jean Ward beat Mrs Ennis I ,7-5. Miss Carman lost to Mrs Scoble 6—7. : ijL: Miss Joan Ward beat Miss Toombs 7—3 Miss D. Ke.igh.tley beat Miss Z. Masters 7—4 Miss Joan Ward beat Miss Carman 7—3 Mig s Weston beat Miss Mac-

key 7 — 5 Miss Toombs lost to Miss Carman 6 7 Mrs. Ennis lost to Mrs. Cameron . 2—/ Miss Caiman lost to Miss "Wairdj 3—7 Miss Brown lost to Miss Keightley . ■ & —? Miss Cook beat Miss M. KeightlQy 7—2 Miss Jean Ward beat Miss .Toombs | 7—l Miss Cook lost to . Mrs. Priest' 5—7 Mrs. Court beat Miss M. Keightley • - 7 —5 MEN. Fisher lost to Hale 3—9 Hale beat Greatrex i 9—U . Kendrick lost to Ennis 7—9 Blair beat Thomas 9—3 Hale beat Moore 9—5 Gaw- lost to Scoble 2—9 Halo lost to Cameron B—9 Blair beat Kendrick 9—2

Emiis beat Gaw 9—B Blair .beat Lawrence 9 —i Kendrick lost to Lawrence 7—9 Emiis beat Lawrence 9 —i Johnson lost to Harris G—9 Emiis lost to Scoble 2—9 Cameron beat Pooley 9—4 Harris beat Bullock 9—4, Blair beat Gaw 9—B Halo beat Pooley 9—4 Smith beat Fisher 9—l Blair beat Eirnis' 9 —ii 1 Withers beat N. Johnson 9 —5 i RANFORD BUTTONS. Scr/ern|l ma'tcntes have ajlso been j played for the Kanfofd Buttons. Following arc results : COMBINED DOUBLES. Thomas and Miss Weston. beat Lawrence raid Mrs Wes-

ton 61—4 C Kendrick and Miss Joan Ward beat Thomas and Miss Weston 61—56 Kendrick and Miss Ward beat Pooley and Miss Jeau Ward 61—57 Kendrick and; Miss- Ward beat Blair and Miss Carman 61 —45 LADLES' SINGLES. Miss Jean Ward beat Mrs. Scoble 51—43' Miss Jean Ward > beat Miss Toombs 51' —49 Miss Jean Ward beat Miss Joan Ward 51—48 Mis s Jean Ward beat Miss Carman 51 —15 MEN'S B. SINGLES. Harris beat Smith 61-46 Bullock boat Harris 61—58 N. Johnson beat Bullock 61—60 Withers beat Harris* 51—17

NOTES AND COMMENTS. : , >

SYSTEMATIC COACHING

. The committee of the. Stratford ,Lawn Tennis Club are showing much appreciated enterprise in pioneering the idea of conducting classes for the coaching of members. The classes are .free, and interest is being taken by members. Already a considerable number have handed in (their names to the committee, and it is hoped that this number will reach at 1 least 100. Th e classes are to be held principally in the mornings at 6.30. The dates are to be posted in the

club house. Handicaps are being.

given each player on joining the classes with the idea of holding a ■tournament for them later in the season, for which trophies are being

presented. The policy of the coaches is to ex-

plain and give practical instruction in the fundamental principles of orthodox tennis as recognised by the leading exponents of the art, avoiding all freak s and individual methods,

Instruction is to be carried out sys-, Ite'matieally, apd in stages, commencing with the foundation of the gabe,' viz., forehand and backhand driving, detailed explanation being given of various grips (English, American and Californian), ball rotation and spiii; and its effects. | Next, the various services, the volley, smash, half volley and lob! will be dealt with and finally court position, tactics, tennis psychology, I and match play. Three ccaches, Messrs E. C. A. j Gaw, H. E. Lawrence and J. Blair, have been appointed to conduct 1 the classes, which will be commenced in a few clays.

This year the committee of the Stratford Club have again extended

special privileges to pupils of the, school. Standard VI. have free use of the asphalt courts up to 2 p.m., when not required by members. COUBT i IMPBOTEMEJTP. 1 Thi s year the Stratford Club have : already carried out extensive im- \ provements, especially to the grass courts. Water has been laid on, a' new steel roller has been purchased, \ and new lockers, etc., have been j erected in the pavilion for the ladies. In a few days a commencement is j to be made with the laying down of a thousand yards of Colfix paving at the ends and sides of (the asphalt courts to eliminate the menace of loose stones. The asphalting is to ■ be extended to within a few feet of the netting fences. The whole ofj the courts are (jo be straightened up j wi'.h the boundary lines and shifted j about four feet 1 further north to equalise the run back at' each end, ■ and the remainder of the asphalt j courts re-surfaced with Colfix. At i

a later date it is hoped to proceed further with the Club's programme c-f improvements and provide more space between ithe grass, with 12ft at the feet between the asphalt ana 8 feet between th grass, with 12ft. at the sides next to the fences. Several members intend entering for the Hawera tournament during tl/e Xmas holidays. The championship tournament is well ahead, the second round being almost completed. Entries will now be taken for the Walters' Cup, which will be played for this year by handicap singles.