LAWN TENNIS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXL, Issue 20259, 7 November 1935, Page 14

LAWN TENNIS

NOTES ON THE GAME (By "Match Point”) The South Canterbury tennis championships will be run again at New Year, commencing on Wednesday, January 1, with all finals played on Saturday, January 4. Handicap players will have the opportunity in the men’s section of playing best of three sets. This will mean longer games, and will necessitate players being on the courts on time. The Association is to be congratulated on this departure from the usual practice, best of 17 games. The finals of all the other handicap events will also be best of three sets, third set advantage.

The two events for boys and girls under 18 years will remain on the programme. Run for the first time last year they were highly successful.

From remarks passed by members of tennis clubs unaffiliated with the Lawn Tennis Association, there is still the wrong impression existing that there is a levy of 2/6 a head on players of all clubs. This was discontinued four years ago, and at the present time the affiliation fee which the Association derives from the affiliated clubs in most cases covers the 4d a head levy which is paid direct to the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association to cover the cost of administration of tennis in New Zealand, and the cost of fostering junior play.

The South Island tennis championships will be held in Dunedin at Easter next year.

Club secretaries are reminded that all challenges for the Ross Shield must go through the secretary of the Association. Aorangi’s challenge to Timaru has now been transferred to Wai-iti. Club secretaries are advised to acquaint themselves with the rules of the Ross Shield, which can be had from the secretary’s office. The New Zealand championships will be held at Wellington, commencing on December 30 and ending on January 4.

An Aorangi team visited Waimate during the week-end, and found the local players in good form, and at the conclusion of the day, which was cut short by rain, found themselves well down in matches, although several of the players indicated that good form should be expected from them during the season. ,

Last Saturday marked the opening of the grass courts at Maori Park, and owing to recent rains there were some dead patches in the courts, which, however, are looking in good condition and the -turf should stand up as in the past to the hard season’s play.

The first round of the B grade’ was played, none of the matches providing outstanding form. The Wai-iti 1 team, emulating the example of its Ross Shield team and No. 2 team, inflicted on the Aorangi team the first defeat it has ever suffered since entering the grade. The Wai-iti players demonstrated superiority in doubles play, and the Aorangi Club jeopardised its chances of winning by playing the wrong combination in the men’s doubles.

The Baptist Club played its first match as an affiliated club, and met Timaru, who, with a stronger team in, will be the hardest proposition in the B grade this year. The first three Baptist men put up good performances and with a season’s experience, this club will greatly improve its teamwork.

It was noticed that in the Timaru v. Baptist and Wai-iti v. Aorangi matches, umpires officiated in every game, and the Association wishes to impress on all clubs its desire to have this practice carried out in every match throughout the season.

Judging by the victories the New South Wales ladies are having over the New Zealand team at present in Australia, it is evident that local form is far behind form across the Tasman. Miss D. Miller, of Oamaru, appears to be settling down better than her team mates, who in most of their matches are failing to extend their opponents. Playing on the “chip” or “en tout cas" courts, or even playing in heat, should not have such a great effect. Nevertheless it can be safely said that when these players return to New Zealand in time for the national championships they will have gained some form which will impress on the local governing authorities the great value to be derived from such a tour. These players will be of some use to the country, unlike “world tourist” players such as E. D. Andrews and C. E. Malfroy, whose presence in the country for short spells does not warrant one penny beingspent on their overseas expenses. The outstanding event of Wai-iti's field day last Saturday when they won the Ross Shield from Timaru, and both B grade matches, was the first defeat which Timaru has suffered since the war in A grade tennis and the first defeat of an Aorangi No. 1 team in the B grade. The interest which has thus been created early in the year emphasises the fact that the loss of an outstanding player like W. G. Robertson, while regrettable, has its compensations, in that tennis honours tend to go round to other clubs, and Waiiti rightly deserves the honour of coming into the limelight. Can Timaru reverse this decision in the A grade competition to be played on Saturday fortnight? On paper Wai-iti, if strengthened by the inclusion of Miss N. Sullivan and Mrs G. Guy, should score a second victory.

W. G. Reid went down to the newcomer, J. Barr —a player who is deadly overhead, can volley with precision, and has sound courtcraft. On the grass Reid should reverse the result. Barr is apt to sacrifice points in a tendency to drive returns on the full from between the service and baseline.

The doubles encounter between W. G. Reid and A. E. Sandral (winners) and J. Barr and S. Sullivan, was productive of some sparkling tennis in the short court at times, and especially in the last game, some spectacular tennis was produced.

The South Canterbury ranking list for the present season is as follows: —

Men. G. C. Reid (Timaru). N. T. Satterthwaite (Aorangi) J, Barr (Wai-iti). I. Mathieson (Aorangi). A. E. Sandral (Timaru). M. Souter (Wai-iti). J. S. Satterthwaite (Highfield) F. G. Lewis (Aorangi). R. T. Shells (Timaru) . P. S. Sinclair (Aorangi). J. Milliken (Aorangi). C. Durning (St. John’s). Women. Miss N. Sullivan (Wai-iti). Mrs Cotter (St. John’s). Miss M. Callaghan (Aorangi). Miss D. Shirtcliff (Highfield). Miss B. Sutherland (Highfield) Miss J. Eaton (Timaru). Mrs A. E. Sandral (Timaru). Miss D. Patchett (Timaru). Miss D. Andrews (Timaru). Miss M. Jefferson (Timaru).

The ranking list opens on Saturday on which date challenges may be entered.

TEAMS FOR SATURDAY Wai-iti Club A team (v. St. John’s): Barr, Sullivan, Souter, Moore, Misses N. Sullivan, E. Fraser, G. McKay, M. Tait. C team (v. St. Paul’s at Highfield): Meikle (capt), Hall, I. Bartos, H. Kingham, Misses L. McKay, R. Palliser, B. Drennan, Muriel Young; emergencies, Miss A. Holdgate and P. Walsh. Highfield Club A grade (Maori Park, 1.30 p.m.) v. Timaru: G. McFarlane (capt.), A. Sutherland, J. Ball, J. E. Winter, Misses B. Sutherland, D. Shirtcliff, M. Cave, R. Irving. C. grade, at Timaru, 1.30 p.m.: J. L. Garr (capt), J. C. Thompson, J. B. Rogers, J. Broadhead, Misses R. Tyson, H. Boal, I. McFarlane, G. Mitchell.