TENNIS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 277, 27 November 1935, Page 4

TENNIS

(By A. N. Campbell, Pro., W.L.T.A.) A fine Saturday saw the grade competitions further advanced and the results in some cases were very surprising. St. John’s won their three fixtures. I B grade men defeated Wanganui by 4 matches to 2, the B grade ladies won from Wanganui 6 matches to love and the C grade was successful against Gonville by 12 to 4. Features of the B grade games were the games C’ra : g v. Miller and Miss Piper v. Miss Heise. Craig and Miller had a real marathon go and Craig just prevailed, while Miss Piper and Miss Heise continued their non-stop game by base line driving. Gonville playing Westmere at Westmere had a very close match, the score being 3 matches all, 7 sets all but Gonville scored 66 games to 54 and gained a decision. Similarly’ the Gonville ladies playing Wanganui East in the B grade scored 3 matches to Wanganui East’s 3 matches but prevailed by 8 sets to 5 sets. This coming .Saturday, November 30, competitions will be continued as usual despite the fact that several business houses will remain open. 1 hope that club secretaries will make an effort to I put teams into play, not necessarily I the usual team mates, as owing to the near approach of Christmas, grade i matches must be concluded before then. On December 7 the visit of the Wellington representatives, who play Wanganui, will upset some of the fixtures. The A grade ladies’ match Wanganui v. St. John’s will be played on the following Saturday or Sunday. The B grade men’s fixture Wanganui v. Wanganui East will take place at Wanganui East instead of at the Wanganui Chib, and the C grade match Wanganui v. Gonville will take place at Gonville. • • • « The opening of the grass courts al the St. John’s Club will take, plate on Saturday. Three of the courts appear in excellent order and Mr. E. J. Marshall deserves every credit for the energetic manner in which he has devoted so much time and energy into getting them in order. The other three courts are very hard but they should play well although in appearance they are not as forward as the other half of the grass area. Entries for all handicap and championship events for the Wanganui Club close on Saturday next and members are urged to place their names on the lists as the entries this year must be volu ut ary. Will club members and all people holding art union books for the W.L.T.A. art union kindly hand them to me on Monday next with the money. 1 would be grateful if people are prompt as the affair is to be drawn on December 12 and only this can happen if books are returned at once on the closing date.

It is to be hoped that the selectors will choose the Wanganui team, to play Wellington, almost at once. With 11. Cox not available the doubles combination of Cox and Udy, and Cox and Miss Purcell is broken up and the teams should be selected to allow for practice for the doubles.

The match between L. Udy and M. L. Lampe for second position on the St. John’s ladder was a very bright game. Both hit hard and tied for winners and Udy scored more often than Lampe whose length was usually two or three feet too far beyond the baseline. However, both players abandoned pit pat tennis and went for their shots, tactics which are seen only too rarely in Wanganui. Udy won 6-—3, 6 —l.

Miss V. Piper and Miss O. Glover had a long game when the latter challenged for sixth ladder position. Neither player seemed to take the initiative and the rallies were long and often uninteresting. I. do not wish to disparage the play of either girls but it would pay in future if they tried for more outiight winning shots and did not rely so much on the other person making a mistake.

The Wellington team will comprise N. Bedford, D. Coombe, J. Charters and K. Dyer, the adics are not yet selected. Bedford is one of New Zealand’s best players and at the recent meeting of the N.Z.L.T.A. it was stated that Bedford should be selected next time to represent N.Z. in the Davis Cup matches. Some fine tennis should be witnessed and the public is reminded that a charge of Is will be made by the W.L.T.A. for admission to the Wanganui Club’s courts in Nelson Street where the match is to be played.

Despite the adverse conditions over the Week-end several handicap matches were decided at the Gonville Club. Players will greatly assist the committee if they get their matches off as soon as possible. When the rain sot in an impromptu table-tennis tournament was organised which supplied much amusement and enjoyment. The winning team being Miss B. Craig and Mr. J. Cook to whom handsome trophies were awarded.