ON HARD AND LAWN COURT

Taranaki Daily News, 16 February 1933, Page 9

ON HARD AND LAWN COURT

TARANAKI TENNIS ACTIVITIES

APPROACHING CHAMPIONSHIPS.

VISIT OF THE AMERICAN PLAYERS.

(By

“Half-Volley.”)

Play in Taranaki tennis has been severely handicapped by the weather during the past week. Several clubs in the north are close to the finals in their competitions, but have been unable to bring the events to a conclusion. North Versus South.

The annual match between North and South Taranaki will, weather permitting, be played at Eltham on Saturday. The fixture was originally set down for the Saturday before last, but rain prevented its being held. The North team is as selected with the exception that B. Barnett replaces R. S. Jones in the juniors. The association still hopes to arrange for two juniors to represent South in the ladies’ team. The match between junior representatives of each end of the province which was to have been played at the Rotokare courts, New Plymouth, on the same day as the North v. South fixture, has now been combined with the senior fixture. Pukekura Park Results,

Results of matches played at the Park Club, New Plymouth, during the week Ladies’ championship singles:—Semifinal: Miss J. Walton defeated Miss J. Medley 6—2, 6—l. . Ladies’ handicap singles:—Semi-imai. Miss E. Tait (31) defeated Miss M. Henry (27) 60—58. Final: Miss G. Baunton (owe 20) beat Miss E. Tait (31) 60—50, . _ .. Ladies’ handicap doubles:—Semi-final. Misses Medley and Pepper (18) beat Misses. Henry , and Frethey (30) 62—60. Combined handicap doubles: Miss Broome and Bullpt (34) beat Miss Medley and Lynch (12) 60—57. In a ladder , match W. Shrimpton defeated C. Little for second place 6—l, 3—6, 6—4. Tournament for Juniors.

Entries for the association’s junior championship tournament will close on Saturday. It is reported that entries from the New Plymouth Girls’ High School will .be up to last year’s entry, and it is expected that other schools and clubs will send in as good an entry and make the tournament the success it was last year. The matches will be played on the courts of the Park and Waiwaka clubs, New Plymouth, on the mornings of February 25 and March 4. The tournament is open to players under the age of 18 and will comprise boys’ and girls’ singles and doubles. The object of the tournament is to encourage tennis among the younger players, and its ■ success . depends on the measure of support accorded to an association activity that will help to strengthen tennis in the province.

Residential Championships. The North Taranaki residential championships will be played on February 26 and March 5. Entries close on Saturday next. Visit of the Americans.

The major event in New Zealand tennis during the past week, during the whole season in fact, has been the visit to the Deminion of the four American players, H. E. Vines, W. L. Allison,. K. Gledhill and J. Van Ryn. Several Taranaki players made the trip to Auckland to see the second test match against New Zealand and found there were many lessons to be' learned. There was not a great deal separating the standards of play of the Americans and the New Zealanders. :but the most noticeable difference was the infinitely larger variety of shots played by the Americans. This was especially apparent in the game between Van Ryn and A. C. Stedman. It became apparent that there are too many players in New. Zealand who rely on one style of- game, but the Americans were masters. of every shot. Their volleying at the net was startling and showed that weak volleying would lead nowhere. The Americans also disguised the direction of their, shots better than has ever before been seen in New Zealand. Malfroy was the outstanding New Zealand player. He undoubtedly excelled himself and. played perhaps the best match of his career, rising at times to magnificent heights. France a Winner.

France began nervously against Gledhill, serving double faults and breaking down oh easy shots. With a 4—o lead against him France showed a decided improvement and Gledhill began to use a large variety of shots, but went off his gamp badly. He had two set-points but lost them and from then onwards France was decidedly on top. Gledhill won only one of the next 13 games. Gledhill made most of his mistakes by netting, volleys, chops and slices failing to go over. France, when he settled down, played with great determination, going for every possible shot. Malfroy—Vines Encounter. Malfroy won the first point in his encounter with Vines, but Vines won the next with a sizzling drive that left Malfroy standing and made the spectators think that if Vines were to do much of that there would be only one man in it. Vines appeared to be playing against his will and the first set opened quietly, but when the players settled down they provided splendid patches of play. Vines displayed very powerful shots, both backhand and forehand. Vines hardly used his best service until the last set. Malfroy surprised the crowd by making strong drives off Vines’ service, at times leaving Vines standing. Neither player showed any weakness and both revealed a wide variety of shots. Malfroy did not use the net to the same extent as he did when he played in the Taranaki championships, and when he did he was often passed with stinging drives that clipped the sideline. When Vines went to the net his volleys were so severe that they were rarely returned and if they were the return provided him with an opportunity for the winner. From five-all in the first set both played really well, Malfroy being especially determined in going for everything. In the second set Malfroy frequently had Vines racing across the court to chase deep drives. Malfroy volleyed very well, too. The third set was perhaps the best set of the day. Vines was then playing great tennis and though Malfroy stood up to him exceptionally well Vines was doing the attacking all the time. Right through the match was marked by brilliant shots and wonderful, recoveries. Van Ryn’s Versatility.

The match between Stedman and Van Ryn promised at the outset to be a duel of driving. Stedman was nervous until he settled down, when both drove with accuracy and strength. If the court had been faster and drier it would have suited Stedman more because he plays a driving game. But when the games were three-all Van Ryn began to vary his shots and from then on he was definitely on top. The match was a splendid illustration of the advantages the Americans had dver the New Zealanders by their ability to vary their game and bring every known piece of courtcraft into the attack,

Angas off Form. '■ Allison opened quietly against Angas, both players using a variety of shots, but neither displayed any brilliant form until near the end. Then Allison became brilliant and Angas had no chance whatever. Allison did all the attacking. Angas, compelled to defend, occasionally showed glimpses of his better form. Allison, who also has a very powerful service, used it only at times. Angas service was very medium paced, with a kick in it at times. Brilliant Doubles Match.

Splendid tennis was seen in both the doubles matches. In that between Vines and Gledhill and Malfroy and France Vines displayed great form and his shots were at times unplayable/; Gledhill, began erratically but later improved and for the remainder of the game he was splendid. There was no comparison between his form in this match and that against France. The Americans followed through to the net with their service and stayed almost on top of the net. They were particularly good at angling good returns of their service to impossible positions. Their volleying was always strong. They never made a weak shot from the net. Malfroy was outstanding and was perhaps better than either Vines or Gledhill. His volleying was very sure and though he was not as brilliant as the Arheriggns he was more certain. He made very few mistakes in his return of service and he followed his own service well in to the net. France was the weakest of the four. Though he began well he fell into errors in the return of service.' Rain interrupted the match and on the resumption Vines played in socks and the other three in spiked shoes.

World Champions Extended. The other doubles match was perhaps even more interesting. On the face of it it would not appear to have been so interesting but those who saw it thought it the better match. The New Zealanders played well, and Van Ryn and Allison, practically world’s champion doubles players, though they were all out to win the second set, went down to the Dominion pair. Van Ryn at times was brilliant but at other times he failed on easy shots. Allison was good throughout and occasionally he was brilliant - Together they played with faultless combination. Stedman’s smashing was a superb feature of the match. A ball he smashed never returned and generally he played well throughout. Angas was the most surprising player of the four. Some of his recoveries were wonderful, but he had a bad habit of failing on easy shots. He did not follow his service as closely in as the others and he often had to volley from low down, but nevertheless his volleys were good. His smashes were well placed but not so deadly as Stedman’s.

Soffe Cup Third Round. The third round of Soffe Cup fixtures will be played on Saturday. The draw is:- 1 -

■ Waiwaka v. Park,, at Park. New Plymouth v. Inglewood, at New Plymouth. Waitara v. Rotokare, at Rotokare.

Included among the teams chosen are: New Plymouth: P. Bennett, K. P. Tompkins, T. Macallan, G. L. Wells, E. Griffiths, A. V. Sowry, Misses R. Thompson, F. Evans, M. Clarke, M. Ruby, Mrs. D. Morgan and Miss W. Gay ton. Park:—A team at Park: Miss G. Baunton, Miss P. Walton, Miss J. Medley, Mrs. Winiki, Miss W. Webster,. Mrs. E. Webster, W. Shrimpton, C. Little, J. Henley, T. Dickson, R. Jones, W. Dickson. Rotokare:—A team at Rotokare: R. Ninkie, R. Yates, H. Rowe, A. Berry, J. Thomson, T. Webster, Mesdames F. Sole, R. Yates, F. Lobb, Miss M. Bennett, Mrs. R. Lovell and Miss E. Johnstone. B team at Waitara: J. Knapman, E. Jackson, C. Aberley, J. Quirk, A. Evans, A. Gilbert, Misses J. Evans, M. Hawkes, J. Wood, M. Sole, A. Marsden, I. Gilbert. Emergency: Mrs. H. Lobb.