LAWN TENNIS NOTES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 58, 10 March 1937, Page 4

LAWN TENNIS NOTES

WANGANUI'S REPRESENTATIVES

My A. N. CAMPBELL. Pro., W.L.T.A. Congratulations to our sole selector, Mr. N. B. Barkman, for his selection of the three colts in Foster, Gordon, and Rountree to play Hawke’s Bay next Saturday. The other members of the team are Cox, Udy, and Cavaye, so youth is well to the fore.

For two long have the improving young players been passed over and the selector in announcing the team has struck the right note when he stated that the standard amongst our leading players is not improving and the idea to infuse new blood is an excellent one. When all is said and done the selector of these three young men may not be a permanent one and this is the opportunity to consolidate their position and vandicate their selector. There are players who have beaten them, but most of those performers are not likely to improve whereas these three will. Who knows perhaps, whether they may not be Wanganui’s “three musketeers” and keep the W.L.T.A. flag flying, as did Lacoste, Cochet, and Borotom for France. Condidates for representative honours must be prepared to sacrifice time for practice and if any of these colts considers he is gocci enough without practice, and not for a moment do I think that that is their contention, he should seek another sport nit so exacting. I trust that ah players will assist younger and promising players to their utmost, especially our leading representatives whot'* duty it is to the association to foster tennis, and help them to improve their standard of play. At the same time some of our leading players could materially benefit their own game as scintillating tennis to watch as a change from this base line dwelling and foolish errors which were so apparant in some of the residential fixtures.

Again Harry Cox has secin'd the triple residential crown and Leo Udy had to acknowledge defeat after leading s—l in the deciding set. The tennis was not good. Too many ba l errors were committed. There were occasional bursts of good tennis but the standard was not that expected from our two leading players. When leading s—l Udy lost 19 points ti Cox and won 4, of the 19, 15 were losj in succession. He hit the ball under the net, into the net, into the backstop, and anywhere but into the court, and I must confess I have never seen him so worried. Up till tnen his game was not so bad. but it deterior ated to the utmost depths and Cox who had suffered likewise during Udy’s spurt, took the offensive and collected six games in a row to secure the match. There were too few ne’ rallies and the game was such as could be expected from two players who had not practised for a fortnight, or touched a racket during that period. Goodness knows what would have happened had it been a five set go. Probably the ambulance would have been required. Fitness is essential and I am afraid some of our players do not appreciate the fact. However. Cox is to be congratulated on his achievement for the second year in succession and he has definitely proved his superiority over the others, although it would have been interesting to see how Cavaye would have fared.

Miss Mary Purcell regained the ladies’ title that Miss Duncan won last year and in doing so accounted for Miss Greaves in the final. These two have met so much in recent years that they have a healthy respect for each other’s play and the game m consequence was robbed of any spectacular play. Miss Greaves attempted to get to the net but only succeeded in getting half way and became an easy prey to Miss Purcell’s backhand passing shots.

The men's doubles were won by Cox j and Udy, but only after a close "flghi against Lampe and Smaller. The! game did not produce the dash and! sparkle usually associated with Cox' and Udy. Lampe played well but his partner. Smaller, was issuing too many instructions in tones that put Lampe off at times. Gocd doubles pairs rarely talk and Cox and Udy know each other’s play so

well that they combine perfectly. Cox was the mainstay of his side most of the time with Udy very uncertair overhead.

Cox and Miss Greaves took the combined event from Lampe and Miss May Purcell after a good game Lampe, I think, plays his best in combined doubles these days, as he Is so reliable overhead, but Cox’s height and reach were telling factors.

Very good tennis should be witnessed at the Wanganui Club's courts on Saturday when Hawke’s Bay and Wanganui will meet in a representative fixture. Hawke's Bay will be represented by some very well known performers in Noel Wilson. Jim Lowry :and Mrs. Milbourne and Mrs. Cotterill ; besides others. It will be interesting 'to sec how Cox and Udy, North Island doubles title holders, will fare | against Noel Wilson and Jim Lowry, ■■two great doubles players. Wilson has I held several New Zealand doubles .championships, whilst Lowry captainied Cambridge University tennis and ;also led the combined Cambridge and I Oxford tennis team in the U.S.A, over ’l4 years ago. The W.L.T.A. has <!e- -; elded to make a slight gate charge :of Is and it is to he hoped that the i public will attend in force. School ’children and boys and girls from th” ! colleges should attend if possible as I great tennis education can be gained Iby watching good tennis, and this clash should certainly be interesting. I It is 13 years ago since I represented i Hawke’s Bay province and I shall br I interested to see how my old doubles partner Bert Milbourr.e is playing.

The Wanganui junior championships are to be held on Saturday, April 3 and Saturday 10 if necessary. The lateness is regrettable but bad weather and the fact that schools have just resumed make it imperative thal to be held at ail the fixture must he after Easter. It was suggested that the junior events be held on the Girls' College courts in, Dublin Street, and the Wanganui East courts, and the senior events on the Technical College and St. John’s Club courts. As all these courts are asphalt, events will commence shortly after 9 a.m. and only heavy rain will cause any undue hitch in the proceedings. Boys and girls please note that no refreshments will be provided as owing to four clubs being used it will not be possible for the ladies to superintend the tea arrangements as belore. A'l schools are to be circularised ana entry fees remain at Is each per event. Boys singles and doubles, girls singles and doubles in junior and senior grades will be on the programme and those who wish to enter should commence practising now. A sub-com-mittee consisting of Messrs. Ward (Wanganui East School), Greenhill (Tech. College), Hawkins (Wanganui East Club), G. P. Williamson (Wanganui East Club), Miss Andrew (Tech. College), and Mr. A. W. J. Peacock (hon. sec. W.L.T.A.) and mvself was appointed by the W.L.T.A. at its last meeting to conduct the tourney.

The Wairarapa Association is to he informed that a Wanganui representative will play Wairarapa on April 3, at either Masterton or Carterton it is presumed. This date is not really late, as Easter is so early this year. The Wanganui L.T.A. decided it Its last meeting that it should endeavour to play this fixture and Manawatu will meet a Wanganui team at Palmerston North on March 30. With all these rep. fixtures to be playea I hope that representative players will not hold up club events and that these will be finalised as soon as possible Last season through bad weather, some clubs were not able to reach finality and such a state of things is very disappointing to the keen players who have done their part In pushing ahead their own games only to be stonewalled by the lazy ones.