LAWN TENNIS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 66, 18 March 1936, Page 4

LAWN TENNIS

i By

A. CAMPBELL,’ Pro. W.L.T.A.)

Another line week-end allowed clubs tu push alhe-ad their club events and. in connection with this 1 have been asked to announce that on Saturday next the St. John’s and Wafiganui Clubs will hold a match day. Every player who is still concerned in club events must attend or else give reasonable excuse to the secretary before Friday veiling, otherwise he or she will be scratched.

A feature of the junior championships which concluded at Wanganui East last Saturday was the coincidence attached to the way in which the winners were paired. Elizabeth McLean defeated Ruth Hewitt and the pair won the doubles in the senior girls’ events. J. Luke, a runner-up in the girls’ singles, junior, won the doubles with L. Hair, while Webster, who defeated R. Williamson in the junior boys’ singles paired with him tu win tlhc doubles. N. Gowan, who annexed the senior boys’ singles, won the doubles with O’Brien, a semi-finalist whom he defeated. Another coincidence was the fact that Nga Tawa, Marton, won bo tn senior girls’ events, Wanganui Technical College, both juniors boys, Hunterville both senior boys, while Friends’ School ami Girls’ College shared the honours of the junior girls’ titles. Of the tAdve now title holders only eight individual players shared tne honours.* J was pleased to s>-e how the boys and girls hud benefited by the coaching they had received and there wa-s no doubt that the standard of tennis was higher than previously. Elizabeth McLean, and Lil Marshall had great tussle in a semi-final match. Mice McLean trailed at U —4, but after that her more aggressive play gained her victory. In the other round Ruth Hewitt defeated Lorna Metckiugi. in a game in which steadiness out-matched steadiness. Both girls kept a good J.-ngtn but Miss Hewitt’s drop sho'.s and net play greatly assisted her. The all Nga Tawa final produced good tennis, although both girls were tired. K .McLean was dottn to B. Hewitt bv four games nt the start and the latter Jed al but Elizabeth McLean changed her game to stonewalling tactics until seven ah was reached and eventually won II 7, alien several exciting rallies. At times both girls went to tire net for decisive volleys, but it was mainly a base-line game. Two Convent girls, J. Bolger and N. Sporle, did well to reach the semi-final of the senior girls’ doubles and produced several brilliant iiidiviaual shots against the eventual winners, E. McLean and K. Hewitt, but their play was patchy and their lack of net attach caused their defeat. Two Nga Tawa pairts contested the semi-final and Vivian Bunny and June Bell defeated Joan Hogg and Nan Rishworth. Play in this game was full of incident and the girls gave a bright exhibition of fast play., Joan Hogg, v.tho, incidentally, took the trophy lor the best stylist, was particularly good with her net attack. The final was easily won by Elizabeth McLean audj, Huth Hewitt, whose aggressive net attacks carried tire day. Mi«s McLean has one of the severest ovotlhead smashes 1 have yet seen on a girl and she volleys and angles well. Dorothy Dickie iWaverb-y ami Friends’ School) won the junior girls’ singles in a convincing fashion. Joyce Luke, the other finalist, took her match without much seriousness, and Dorobhy carried on the tennis fame ot the Dickie’s by annexing her first championship, and not her last if 1 am any judge. Dorothy should practice Her »aeKhand a lot, as it is her weakest stroke but her fordhand is well produced and carries plenty of pace for a small girl. One of the outstanding features of the tourney was the sportsmanship shown by all the contestants and the cheerful manner (hey accepted victory or defeat and their willingness o umpire at any time. 1 dhould especially like to make mention ot Lorna Mete kingi who, after she was beaten, was good’enough to stay behind and scout balls for the contestants who were still plaving. This act. ot Lorna’s made her very popular with the players and officials and she showed the right spirt in not. dashing away direct y ner game was finished. It was decided b.V 'be Management Committee of the W.L.T.A. 10 send a B grade representative, team Io l.aetini and Hunterville and a C grade team to Taihapc this season. As c.ub events are backward loealy captains ot clubs are urged to send to Mr. Peacock, secretary of the W.L.T.A., the names ot B and .c grade players wire can be spared to make the trips, which would probablv eventuate on Saturday week oi

the week-end following. The association is very anxious to send these teams and the country clubs concerned are keen to receive the visits, so players who can get away should let therr ctuo captains know at oncm The W.L.T.A. Match Committee has decided that it would not be possHi e to send a rep. team to Wairarapa this Saturday and it has been decided to Std a'team in December,. and Warraraoa by visiting Wanganui in 1 ebruary and March, would keep the venue of trips in ord«r. *

among most competitors was noticeable f tendency to use a low and somewhat straight arm «eovery. Both Newell and Symes roll a gteat deal. Malthus and J. D. O’Driscod were probably the only two swutimers who used a fairly high elbow recovery. Miss S. Gotlieb, the women s 103 yards ehampion, ’ as a long actlon propriate to her height, bhe should, however, give further attention to rm laxation, for on tiring she is apt to shorten her stroke considerably. Miss N Basstian impressed the writer greatly with her robust action, which has been described by a scribe “as more befitting a man, u she is endowed with unusual strength and her style suits her physique ad™Tweil known Auckland coach told the writer that when Miss B? sst i a " can obtain as strong a stroke with the right arm as she does with the left, in his opinion she will be unbeatable in New Zealand.

will be holding their annual reunion, a contest for Highland Pipe Bauds is scheduled tor Cook’s Gardens, the N.Z. Rowing Championship's for eights will be decided on the river, the bowling tourney will attract many entries and the Castlecliff Golf Club Easter tournament will attract many. With all these fixtures to be (held an advertising campaign could be well conducted with benefits co all concerned. I believe several entries for the tennis will come from Hawke’s Bay, including J. N. Lowry.

. Mr. W. M. Horton, of the N.Z. Golf Council Green’s Research Committee, will give an address in the Wanganui Jockey Club’s rooms ou the evening oi 111 arch 24 on the subject of grasses suitable for golf courses, bowling greens, tennis lawns, etc. It would pay tennis club committees to listen to .Mr. Horton’s talk as lie is a world icnowned expert on the subject. A general invitation is extended to all. The following members of I lie St. John’s Chib must be present on Saturday next under penalty of being scratched for club events; — Men.—Axes, Bassett-Smith, Evans, Falkner, Hagan, Hartnell, Miller, Parnell, Stodart, Taylor, Wilson, Windley, Lampe, Cox, and Ldy. Ladies.—Mrs. Evans, Misses Cox, Davies, J. Glover, O. Glover, Greaves, Hair, Marshall, Maule, Piper, K. Purcell, Mary Purcell, Margaret Purcell, and Mrs. Smith. Club secretaries are reminded that next week’s notes will be- the last of the season and j shall be glad to receive suitable club paragrapiis by then. No Jess than 28 matches were decided at t>ae Gonville Tennis Club during the week-end. All events are now into the semi-finals or final. Ju fact, the men’s doubles, handicap, has bven completed, W. Roberts ami R. .Davidson running out the winner by defaulting M, Biuadhead and J. R-e\’iiuids 9--7. Eadies’ Championship Single-.—This event has proved most interesting. Miss A. PeHcrs is to be congratulated on defeating Miss E. Fitzgerald 5—6, 6—3, b—3. Miss iC. Owen also wou honour by acoeunling tor .Miss N. Brown 4—6, G (i 4, in each of these matches the winner, after losing the first set, was aole to take the next two by placing steady, accurate tennis. No uoubt the fitness of the players was a big factor which earned the wiuneis t-heir points. Miss Owen and Miss Peffers will now meet in the final. Men’s Championship Singles.—N. Broadhead eliminated .E. Lynsky 6 J, 6—o, and will meet G. Orr in the semifinal. Ladies’ Championship Doubles.— Semi-hnal ; Misses North and Maires play Misses Meuli and Ciaig. Misses Annette and Fitzgerald defeated Misses Peffers and Owen 4 —6, 6 —2, 6 —2. Men's Championship Doubles.—Semifinal, J. Reynolds’ and G. Orr defeated W. Roberts and M. Broadhead 6—2, 6—5„ while in ihe other half D. Vaientimc and A. Naylor accounted for L. Lynskey and I’. .Markham, 6 —4, 6—o. Combined Championship.—Semi-final Miss Fitzgerald and FenneJl are to play Miss Meuli and Meuli. Miss Z. Healey and Reynolds are to play Miss Brown and Naylor. Men’s B Grade Singles Championship.—Final, J. Cook is to meet N. Owen. Ladies B Grade .Singles Champion fjhip.—Scmi-linal, Miss Kaveirey plays Miss Lonergan and Miss North is to meet Mi.-s Bourn?. All the handicap events are nearing completion. N. Owen meets M. Broadh«ad in the final of the men's singles. The semi-finalists in the ladies’ singles are Miss Lonergan v. Miss Peffers and Miss Meuli and Mrs. Fennell. On April 4 the Gonvillc Club is holding a dam-o in V ictoria Hall. Jt is the aim of the Match Committee to have all events completed by this date as this will .mark the end of the summer season and the beginning of the winter tennis. By all accounts there will be a lot of play on the Gonville courts this winter. On Saturday last a team from the Waverley Club visited the Wanganui East Club and, after several interesting games, Wanganui East proved victorious. The teams were representative of the club grades and the matches, although contested were not in the nature of “test” matches. Players paired together irrespective of dub ladder ability and the practice gained was of benefit to all. » * * ¥ I would suggest that this winter the hard court clubs conduct winter competitions and try and revive the interest in tennis during the fold months. £ would suggest teams of tour men and four ladies, each team being captained by a front-rank player, and each team containing players in the proportion of two A grade, one B grade, and one C grade, or one A grade, two B grade, and one C grade. Each team could have a distinct name such as are given to basketball teams or school teams, and matches be only men’s and ladies’ double and combined doubles. If the weather is good, a singles day could be held and the tCams could play off their singles events. The members of the Minor Association’s clubs could be asked to join in and play would not only be interesting, but practice could be obtained against many players who do not meet in summer competitions. I would be glad to hcai of suggestions re a contest on similar lines and possibly a meeting of players desirous of playing winter tennis could be held.

In the death of Miss Doris Pawsoij, Wanganui has sustained a severe loss as Miss Pawson was of great assistance to the W.L.T.A. at tournament times for her work in the ice-cream stall and refreshment tent. At Monday night’s meeting of the Management Committee of the W.L.T.A. a motion of sympathy with Miss Moira Pawson was carried. Miss Moira Pawson is a wellJcnown performer at Wanganui, Gonville, and Wanganui East Clubs.

Wanganui’s challenge for the Christie Cup was not very successful and Hawke’s Bay retained the trophy by 16 matches to 8.

Reporting to the Management Committee of the W.L.T.A. on Mondaylast, M. L. Lampe, captain and manager of the Wanganui team, stated that the Napier courts were very