LAWN TENNIS.

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19451, 15 December 1934, Page 19 (Supplement)

LAWN TENNIS.

PLAY AND PLAYERS. THE GAME IN WAIKATO. COMMENT AND CRITICISM. ('By “Umpire.”) ■Nearly three weeks have passed and the Suburban ladder remains in its original order. This seems to be either a tribute to the ability to the ability of the seleotion committee responsble for the formation of the ladder, or an indication of lack of Interest in'the positions .oL the players. Only one match has been played to date, 11. Tattley (Fairfield), twentieth on the men’s ladder, trying conclusions with V. J. Alexander (St. Peters), sixth on the' list. 'Tattley failed in his quest for a higher rung, Alexander winning the match, 9—2. G. Simpson (Presbyterian), fourteenth man, has challenged Alexander, while J. Tietjens (Dairy) is seeking A. Dempster’s ('Unity) place on the ladder. Dempster is at present in ninth place. These matches will probably be played next week. It is rumoured that J. Craig (‘Railway), R. Casey and C. 'Gillespie (Fairfield) • intend to lodge challenges. In the ladies’ division Miss L. Webster (Unity), second on the ladder, has thrown down the glove to the top lady, Mrs Attwood (Hamilton East), and their match will probably be played next week. An interesting match is indicated. All matters in connection with ladder challenges are in the hands of Mr J. Tietjens, whose -’phone numbers are 1885 and 3541.

Brough Doing Well. The present holder of the Hamilton Club’s championship, G. Brough, who was transferred to Opotiki at the beginning of the season, made his. debut in a match against Whakatane, .when he easily accounted for the first string of Whakatane at the score 6—2, 6—l. -This is the first occasion for a number of years that Opotiki gained a win over Whajtatane, and their recent dose victory was attributed to the superiority of play of the exHamiltonian.

Perry For Hamilton? Application has been made to the New Zealand Association by the Waikato Lawn Tennis Association for a visit to Hamilton by F. J. Perry, the famous British player, and ■ world ohampion, in the event of his returning to the Dominion to play in the New Zealand championships at Auckland, at the end of January. The controlling body of the sport in this country is hopeful that such a visit can be arranged. Another exhibition match on local courts by this famous player should prove a big attraction. Representative Challenges. „

The Waikato Association is anxious to challenge for the Wilding Shield and the Nunneley Casket this season. The former is the premier trophy for a men’s team and the Tatter for a ladies’ team in New Zealand. Each team consists of four players. Both trophies are held by the Wellington Association. Challenges are entered by zones and not by associations. The Northern Zone consists of the North Auckland Association and . the Waikato Association, and it will be necessary, of course, for the local association, to work in conjunction with the North Auckland body. Auckland forms a separate zone. The Waikato executive has also decided to invite the Taranaki Association to send a team , to play at Ilariiilton about the middle of February.

INTERESTING JOTTINGS.

Single Court Competition. What has 'become of the Suburban Association’s proposal to introduce a single court competition in Hamilton? ' There is a considerable number of these courts in the borough and a competition involving them could be developed into an important annual fixture, besides offering the means of holding some enjoyable social functions. It would be a matter for regret If the proposal were completely lost sight of, and it is to be hoped that the Suburban management will give further consideration to a competition of this nature.

Racquet Ornamentation. It is apparently becoming the fashion among younger city celebrities to have such interesting objects as hearts, stars and arrows painted on the central strings of their racquet. A hard-bitten and more ancient player has had painted as his coat of arms a bottle with a glass beside it. The possibilities of this diverting form of racquet decoration have not been extensively explored in Hamilton, but there are many objects of local interest which should afford inspiration, such as the water tower, the dairy cow, the new Fairfield bridge, and a milk pail, or possibly a hay fork.

Strong Membership. An indication of the progress made by the Hamilton Club in the past year or two is provided by the fact that the club is playing three representative teams to-day, including two Waikato Banner matches. The /Hamilton 'Club has some outstanding players in its ranks this season, and should fare well in forthcoming representative engagements.

A Sporting iClub. Among the clubs in the Hamilton Suburban Sub-Associaition thiere (is probably none which is deserving of higher commendation than Rototuna. Handicapped by a very small membership, this club' has had a hard struggle to find sufficient' players to fulfil its inter-olub competition engagements,’. but it has oarrie'd oh, and although defeated on several occasions by substantial margins, it has not yet responded to the temptation to default its matohes. Rototuna’s example ts indicative of true tennis sportsmanship.

Jenklnson on Form. In a well-contested match this week F. Jenkinson beat J. Roach, 6—2, '6—2, to take his place at the top of the Hamilton Club ladder. Jenklnson is playing * great, tennis this season, and is justifying his promise of last year. Third place on the club ladder is occupied by A. 'Potter, former Whangarei champion, who beat D. Livingstone, Junior, 7—9, 6—3, 6—3. Miss 'E. Madeley is top of the ladies’ ladder, having beaten Miss E. Newell. The next places are occupied, by Mrs. A. C. McCracken and .Miss'-' J. Mueller, both of whom are playing good tennis. Matohes Marred.

Experiences In recent matohes in local competitions emphasise the need for greater attention to punctuality on the part of many players. Instances have been reported of teams arriving at the courts of another club, for an inter-club match, to find only a handful of the home players on the scene at the scheduled time for the commencement of the match. Besides ■being a grave breach of tennis etiquette this sort of thing indicates lack of interest, on the part of the latecomers, in their club, and creates a bad impression. The starting time for the matches is late enough to give the majority of the players ample time lo get to the courts before the opening games. Late starting and other delays usually mean that the singles are sacrificed, and only two or three of these are played, while it is also unfair to the other players. Tennis Forum.

Dear Umpire,—While watohing a match the other day I saw a player smoking a cigarette all the time he Avas playing a double. I think that this Avas distinctly bad manners, In the first place, and it struck me that the player could not have been taking much Interest in the game. While I have not the slightest, objection to smoking I do think it should not be Indulged in on the' courts by participants in a match, as, in my opinion, it lowers' the tone of the game.—l am, etc., -Miss Baseline. • Dear Umpire,—The Waikato ranking list for 193'4’-35 has been announced, and no doubt contains the names of many of the best players in the association, but I consider that some of the placings could have been improved upon. What I Avis'h to know is upon what basis are the rankings made? Are the players selected for their experience, age, or playing ability? Several of those included in the lists have suffered defeat at the hands of players not mentioned there, and it would be interesting to know the basis of ranking.—l am, etc., Centre Court,