LAWN TENNIS

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1924, Page 5

LAWN TENNIS

INTER-CLUB COMPETITIONS. PARK DEFEAT NEW PLYMOUTH B. Even contests were a feature of the Inter-club tennis competition match on Saturday between Pukekura Park and New Plymouth B, Park,, on whose courts the match was played, winning by 11 sets to 8, and 122 games to 99. A gusty wind was blowing, but this scarcely interfered with play. In the following details Park playbis are mentioned first:—

Men’s Singles. —Blair lost to Shaw 4—-9; Bosworth beat Wagstaff 9 —-8; Haase beat Brown 9 —2; Kelly lost to Valentine 5— 9; Boon lost to Andrews 8 — 9; Thompson beat Hughes 9 —l. Men’s Doubles.—'Blair and Bosworth lost to Shaw and Wagstaff 2—9; Haase and Kelly beat Brown and Valentine 9 7; Boon and Thompson beat Andrews and Hughes 9—5. Ladies’ Singles.—Miss Malcolm lost to Miss Valentine 6— 7; Miss Baker beat Mrs. McWilliam 7 —2; Miss Pepper beat Miss Carthew 7—3; Miss Thompson beat Mrs. Weston 7 —2. Ladies’ Doubles.—Misses Malcolm and Baker beat Miss Valentine and Mr.s McWilliam 7 —4; Misses Pepper and Thompson lost to Miss Carthew and Mrs. Weston 5 —7. Combined Doubles. —Blair and Miss Baker lost to Shaw and Miss Valentine 4 —7; Haase and Miss Malcolm beat Wagstaff and Mrs. McWilliam 7 —o; Bosworth and Miss Pepper beat Brown and Miss Carthew 7 — ; 3; Kelly and Miss Thompson lost to Valentine and Mrs. Weston I—7. Totals.—Pukekura Park 11 sets, 122 games; New Plymouth B, 8 sets, 99 games. DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIPS. Messrs. Wallace and Dickie, the wellknown Taranaki players, were in New Plymouth yesterday. They leave for Auckland by motor to-day to take part in the New Zealand championships. DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIPS.

FINE ARRAY OF TALENT. THE DRAW ANNOUNCED. (By “Wimbledo n.”) Those fortunate enough to spend the Christmas holidays in Auckland can promise themselves a rare treat by attending the championship meeting, which opens on Boxing Day. The entries and draw for the tournament have just been announced, and, unless appearances are very deceptive, some tennis of a brilliant and exhilarating order will be served up for the delight of the enthusiast.

The men’s singles will, of course, claim most interest, and there seems good ground for the prediction that the title will change hands as A. W. Sims will be very fortunate to emerge triumphant again. In this event the seeded players are; G. Ollivier,. J. M. Lowry, E. D. Andrews, E. L. Bartleet, W. A. Fotlieringham. A. W. Sims, J. T. Laurenson, J. C. Peacock, A. L. France, and A. G. Wallace.

Some say that Dr. Laurenson, the 1921 champion, will be hard to beat. It seems more likely, though it may be a bold assertion, that E. D. Andrews, the young Palmerston North player, who won the last two Taranaki championships, will be the most serious contender for the title. Little has been heard of him so far this season, but he is practising hard and can be depended upon to make the fight of his life at Auckland next week. On scanning the names of the seeded players one is forced to the admission that a splendid array of talent has been gathered together, and the deciding of the issues should be : fro light with great interest. The men’s doubles, too, should produce memorable struggles. Here the ; seeded players are Bartleet and Robson (holders), Peacock and Sim> France and •France, Lowry and Andrews, Ollivier and Seay, and Laurenson and Griffiths. Taranaki’s renowned pair, Wallace and Dickie, have entered, and will also compete in the singles.

But the men’s events should not monopolise interest in the tournaments. Brilliant displays are also promised in the ladies’ singles, in which department Miss Spiers will be called mpon to defend the title she gained last year. Mies Lloyd (Australia) is among the entrants, the seeded players being Miss M. Spiers, Mrs. W. J. Melody, Miss Lloyd, Miss Mary Macfarlane, Miss McLaren, and Miss Knight. Among the competitors is Miss E. M. Ballamyne, of New Plymouth and Otago University. In the ladies’ doubles the seeded players are Misses Lloyd and Knight, Mrs. Marshall and McCormick, Mrs. Melody and Miss McLaren (holders), and the Misses Macfarlane. Interesting play should be seen in the combined doubles. Here the following pairs have been seeded:—Mrs. Marshall and Bartleet. Miss McLaren and Andrew, Miss Macfarlane and Robson, and Mrs. Melody and Wallace. In this event Miss Baflantyne and Smyth are partnered.

METHODS OF PRACTICE. Valuable advice on methods of practice are given by C. P. Dixon in English Lawn Tennis. He says a player should first of all pay special attention to any weaknesses in his game, endeavour to strengthen them, and bring up his play to a uniform and all-round excellence. Let me point out at once that it is a mistake to use your best stroke incessantly to the sacrifice of your worst. For instance, your backhand is very poor; your tendency in taking strokes on this wing is to run round them and play them with your forehand. In addition to the extra running and exerjfon such a procedure entails, it also gives innumerable openings to your opponent. A player who adopts this method has to be very, quick and fleet-footed to be successful. In spite of its disadvantages I am well aware that certain players using these means have risen to the very first rank, but Sa'di cases are exceptions, and this style of play is certainly not to be advocated for the general ruck of players. On the other hand, if backhand is weak, it is far better to use it more frequently With a view to strengthening it. Again, your service is below the average. Take half-a-dozen balls out and serve continuously, and in quite a short time you can get some very useful practice in this line. No better illustration

of the advantages of all-round practice can be adduced than that of the late Anthony O. Wilding. For years lie assiduously paid attention to any shortcomings in his .play. To improve Ids smashing he procured someone to lob him continuously, solely practising this one stroke. The question of winning or losing a match should not be made the paramount consideration; it nearly always is. The strengthening of cue’s weak •strokes, and the cultivation of general all-round strength, should be the main objects kept in view by the player. In serving one important fact should be borne in mind. Always try to keep your opponent guessing and moving (having, of course, regard to his weakness). In other words, plaecment is more important than pace. That terrific hard first service one so often sees is. as a rule, for t'hc average player a mistake —how very few points are gained by its use during a match, and if the first service happens to lie a fault it is succeeded in many cases if not by a double fault, a very poor second. Cultivate, therefore, a moderately paced service for both your first and second delivery, with varied direction. Especially is this method the best when you propose to follow your service to the net and volley the return. In driving, also, good length and direction should first -he considered, rather than pace. Afterwards, when one has gained confidence in control of the ball, more force may be imparted to the stroke.