AMONGST THE TENNIS CLUBS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 279, 25 November 1936, Page 4

AMONGST THE TENNIS CLUBS

WANGANUI EAST AND GAIUS

By

A. N. CAMPBELL, Pro., W.L.T.A.

Perfect weather on Saturday attended tennis players and all clubs were crowded with enthusiasts. By opening the grass courts for play, the St. John’s Club is the last club to be in full swing. Grade matches commence next Saturday and in this respect I wish to congratulate the Marton Club upon its sporting action in entering teams in the A, B and C grades and playing in the city competition. Raetihi will compote in the C grade aim will meet the winner of the city section. It is to be hoped that clubs and players will contest the inter-club fixtures in a keen manner and attention is drawn to the rule which states that all matches must be played to a finish even if a decision has already been arrived at. Last year, too many teams, once a decision had been gained, refused to play the remaining matches, with the consequent result 'that many players did not get their full quota of games. Next Saturday. November 28. a Yankee tournament will be held at the St. John’s Club in aid of lhe Sports Queen. Exhibition games will be played during the afternoon and the attractions will include a produce stall and competitions. The fixture held on the Wanganui Club courts last Saturday in aid of the same queen candidate realised £4 odd and was won by Miss M. Purcell and G. H. White. On Saturday I visited lhe Wanganui East Club and gave a talk and demonstration to players there and afterwards played several sets of doubles with them, all of which I enjoyed exceedingly. The courts should stand up to the season’s play very well as there is plenty of grass on the surface, but a heavy rolling is required after the first heavy downpour of rain. This club, with its 17 grass courts, caters for a very large membership, but what struck me forcibly was the fact that players did not arrive until nearly 2 p.m. and then immediately played doubles. Contrast this with the Wanganui Club, where play commences at 12.30 and singles are in full sway until nearly 2 p.m. Players cannot expect to improve their tennis unless they indulge in singles play and I would advise lhe Wanganui East players to start their tennis earlier and then to play two or three sets of singles before they start playing the doubles game. In lhe course of my play at Wanganui East it was noticeable how players endeavoured to score outright, on return of service instead of concentrating on getting the ball back into play and working into position to score the point. The “hit and miss” artist will never get very far in the game and it is the idea in doubles play to return the service effectively and open up play. Another weakness amongst players I noticed was lhe manner in which low balls were played. Very few members realised that it is necessary to bend lhe knees for low ground shots and volleys and to sweep the ball forward, not lift'it up, as so many do. Of the service I saw many weird styles that could be made more effective if a more orthodox swing was used. Practice makes perfect and serving is not really as hard as many people make it out to be. F. W. Langbcin has a most effective delivery, one of the best in the district, but his ground shots are not quite so good. Of the members I played with, nearly all of them could improve their game to advantage, but Cameron. Ward, Gilbertson and A. Walker seemed to predominate in that their play is more orthodox and they have experience behind them. * * * * It was pleasing to see Mr. John Anderson at Wanganui East again and he was well to the fore in arranging games for newcomers and generally looking after players. These days impetuous youth often decries the efforts of age and few realise how tennis clubs and sporting bodies are kept together through the efforts of enthusiasts such as Mr. Anderson. In the early days of this club Mr. Anderson not only guaranteed the club's finances, but he worked on the courts as a labour of love and devoted many a weary hour with spade and shovel, mower and roller. Il is through the unselfishness of Mr. Anderson and others that the youth of this city enjoys the privileges of the Wanganui East Tennis Club and you young players have the honour and the opportunity lo carry on the good work. In lhe autumn of your own days in years to come try and emulate his example and remember now that, even if you do not. agree with all of Mr. Anderson's views, he is honest in his convictions and he has the interests of the club at heart.

In company with Mr. M. L. Lampe, 1 paid a visit to the Cains Avenue Tennis Club on Sunday and enjoyed many sets with club members. I always think that the two courts of this club possess the finest surface of any hard courts I know, and even though the heat made it hot underfoot, the courts were not at all unpleasant to play on. The ladder has seen many changes of late and the plaeings are Foote 1, Foster 2, M. Pidwell 3, Mailman 4, E. Pidwell 5, Lowe 6, James 7. Mrs. Foote .1, Miss Johnson 2, Mrs. Murray 3, Miss Ferris 4, Miss Webb 5, Miss Atkins 6, Mrs. Tarr 7. M. Pidwell. despite a disability to the right hand, has easily the prettiest style and being a left-hander makes him an awkward opponent. His service is free and has plenty of pace, but his backhand and volley on Ihe same wing are slightly erratic due to the fact that he does not face around enough for his backswing. In other words he stands a little too square on. Mailman gets results from a style that is not altogether desirable. He Islands square on Io the net for al! I shots and how this affects his play can be seen in his backhand which often 'lets him down. He is a very forceful ' player and gets remarkable speed from h : s forehand slam, and overhead I ' he is very deadly. 1 Foote and Foster arc on a par and ■they are orthodox in stroke production. Foster had an excellent record in Wanganui open tennis last year and it will be interesting to see how' each fares this season. Of the ladies, Mrs. Foote is the best, but the club was unlucky in losing its four top Indies last year, which fact has decreased the strength of its top team. The play of the ladies is verysimilar and safety rather than scoring strokes is the most noteworthy fca- | It was the intention of the Wanganui L.T.A. sole selector-, Mr. N. B. | Barkman, to commence the ranking {matches this week-end, but unfortunately various clubs have not supplied the required lists of nominated players and consequently play will be held |up for another week. Clubs who have | failed in this respect are urged to send in lists at once, other-wise players j will have their committee to blame if they are not included in the ranking I matches. * * | A common fault among many of lour leading players is. the casual manner in which they play when giving club member’s of moderate ability a game. It is not courteous i toy” with an opponent even if you Si defeat him 6 -0, 6—o, and it docs not do his tennis, nor your own, any good to play pat ball. Your opponent will not thank you for it, because pat ball is his daily lot and he or she is duly thrilled to be asked to play with a good player and expects the play that becomes a champion. Therefore take my advice and if you are playing singles with a weaker player give him a handicap and then play your hardest to defeat him. If playling doubles and you arc paired with a weaker player against a similar or weaker combination, play as if a championship depended upon it and win as quickly as possible. The hard shots you play may not be returned, but they will give the enthusiastic average person more and better practice. Above all, do not play the fool and look bored for there is no forgiveness for that. I Gonville ( hit). i Fine weather over the week-end ‘saw many good games played off on ■ the Gonville courts, both ladder games and handicap events. Players are reminded that the first round of the handicaps must be played by the end of this month and it is the duly of everybody who has a match to play to get in touch with their opponents and arrange a suitable time. Competition is keen for (superiority on the ladders, the positions at present being as follows: | Men.—l, J. Meuli; 2, M. Broadhead; 13. E. Fennell; 4, J. Reynolds; 5, W. Roberts; 6. A. Naylor; 7, R. Davidson; 18. J. Cook; 9, D. Valentine; 10, N. |Owen; 11, F. Dear; 12, W. Finlayson. | Ladies.—l. Miss A. Peffers; 2, Miss |M. Mason; 3, Miss C. Owens; 4, Miss |N. Brown; 5, Miss B. Craig; 6, Miss |B. Higginbottom; 7, Mrs. SmithPilling; 8, Misses B. Barker; 9, Miss D. Robinson; 10, Miss J. Mairs; 11, I Miss R. Christensen; 12, Z. Healey. ■ Some of the challenges played so far w-ore:- Cook beat Valentine, 9-5; Fennell beat Roberts, 9—3; Broadhead 'beat Reynolds, 3—2; Roberts beat Naylor, 9—7; Owen beat Dear, 9—7; |Fennell beat Reynolds 9—4; Davidson I beat Cook, 9—l.