ON HARD AND LAWN COURT

Taranaki Daily News, 23 November 1929, Page 30 (Supplement)

ON HARD AND LAWN COURT

- TARANAKI TENNIS ACTIVITY » INTER-CLUB MATCHES IN SOUTH. FUTURE CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES

(Ry

"Half-Volley.”)

Marlborough, at Blenheim.—December 25, 26 and 27. Nortli Otago, at Oamaru— December 25, 26 and 27. J . Southland, at Invercargill—December 25, 26 and 27. ' ■ Mid-Canterbury Sub-Association, at Ashburton.—December 26, 27 and 28. Auckland Championships, at Auckland. —December 26, 27 and 28. Auckland Handicaps, at Auckland. — December 28 and following days. Canterbury, at Christchurch.—December 26,- 27 and 28. Poverty Bay and East Coast, at Gis- ’ .borne. —December 26, 27, 28 and 30. Canterbury, at Tiinaru. —January 1,2 and-3. Wanganui - North Island Championships.- at 'Wanganui.—January 1,2, 3 and 4. 7 Waikato East Sub-Association—Janu-ary 1,2, 3 and 4. Taranaki, at New Plymouth. —January 7,8, 9, 10 and 11. Manawatu, at Palmerston North. — January. 13, 14, 15 and 16. The committee, which a meeting of enthusiasts at Eltham decided recently to set up, has been formed to combine with tho Taranaki Association in the administration of- tennis in South Taranaki. The playing of inter-club matches was, considered, the value of such matches being fully realised by the committee, but the difficulties of conducting a competion- to timetable were found too great to overcome. The committee was determined not to allow ii/er-club contests. to go unneglected and expects to obtain a challenge cup which will be open for competition among the southern- clubs. ‘ The idea that friendly matches should be arranged between clubs and play for the challenge cup will bo carried out during the match. The- enterprise of the enthusiasts in the'sou th is worthy of comment and they are to bo commended for their energetic endeavour to do something to bring about what has so often been stressed, but has proved difficult of accomplishment.

SOUTH TARANAKI LADDER. There' has been little activity so far on 3 the South Taranaki ladders, which were drawn up only a little over a week ■ difficulties in the way of ladder match play in the south, many Thursday players being at a disadvantage. For tiiat'reason some who could easily hold positions on the ladder do not find it worth while to do so. Wisely, of course, the southern authorities do not lay too much stress on ladder matches. For the selection of teams ladder matches can take their place along ' with other contests, such as club championships, as an indication of a player’s form, but there should be no attempt to force players on to the ladder. There are some who simply have not the time for, the playing of challenge matches as well as club events. Their rights should 1)6 recognised. To make a position on . the ladder, necessary before a player can be considered for representative matches is wrong. The ladder competition should stand on its .merits, and coer.cion is neither necessary ndr desirable. 'ln North Taranaki the state of the ladders has not yet even been announced, and it is time the committee in charge set to work. The idea originally was that representatiw) teams should be chosen according to the positions on the ladder and it is now not much more than a fortnight before the scheduled date of the North versus South Taranaki match, December 7. There will be changes in the ladders since the end of the. previous season but these cannot' be effected satisfactorily at such a short notice. The departure of C. G. 8. Ellis and C. Dorre.cn, who represented the north against the south, will' leave gaps, while it is understood that L. Berg, the top man on the southern ladder, has left Stratford for New Plymouth. Miss Taylor, who camp to New Plymouth from Auckland last season but was not placed on the ladder, must occupy a prominent position, and in view of such certain alterations in the high places the committee is not to be commended for its surprising lack of energy. AMATEUR AND PROFESSIONAL. , The executive of the United States Lawn Tennis Association has cabled to the International Federation a proposed amendment to the latter’s regulations which is designed to bring into open competition amateurs and professionals, and would allow each national association to sanction such competion by giving written permission, states a recent cablegram. The amendment is scheduled for discussion and action by the annua) meeting at Paris in March. If passed by a two-thirds vote it will become effective immediately. The question of the professional especially the player-writer, has long vexed the controlling authorities, but at last a step towards a broader view of the situation has been taken in the United States. It is to bo hoped the proposal . bears fruit, but it does not seem likely yet that a two-thirds majority of the International Federation will be in favour of .the dreaded contamination of the amateur. Some interesting figures are given by an English writer relating to service in the last seven matches played after the last eight players had been reached at Wimbledon. His figures show' that the percentage of games won on service was highest in men’s doubles —75 per cent.; and lowest in the women’s singles, 59.3 per cent. Cochet’s percentage of games won on the service was the highest, with 68.8 per cent, in three matches; then came BOrotra, with 68 per cent, in three matches; and Tilden, with 64 per cent, in two matches. Since Cochet beat Borotra and only .8 of a point separates the two, it would seem the latter’s service was the more effective of the two. Service would appear to be of little account in women's singles, as on the figures given only about one out of every two deliveries is won. The Racing Club de France, the governing sporting body of that country, claims paternity of a new system of handicapping which it intends co use at the autumn meeting. Briefly, the handicap works as follows:—If A wins the first game (which is level) he com cedes 15 to B in the second game; if he wins the third game he gives 30 in the fourth. But if B wins the third game he only receives 15 in the fourth, going

back to equality if he is again the victor. The advantage of the system is that it equalises the game when unknown form is in