LAWN TENNIS

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19759, 14 December 1935, Page 10

LAWN TENNIS

PLAY AND PLAYERS. i THE GAME IN WAIKATO. COMMENT AND CRITICISM. \ (By Umpire.) Tihe fact that •critloism had arisen as a result of the large number of teams entered In the Hamilton Suburban Tennis Sub-Association championship competitions was mentioned at a meeting of the Sub-Association management this week. Following disoussion on this question a sub-oommittee consisting of Messrs F. W. Course, V. J. Alexander, A. ‘C. Watkins, and 0. Dean was set up to'’review the competitions, with a view to sub-dividing the A grade Into two divisions, the lower to be an intermediate grade between the A and B §rade. It was realised that it was too late to make any change in the existing order this season, but the suggestion was that a new scheme should be Introduced this year. The same committee was also delegated to revise the Suburban ladder rules with the object of relaxing the regulations concerning the eligibility of players to challenge. Town and Country Match. 'Great satisfaction with the standard of play and the form displayed by players in last week’s Town and Country match has been expressed by the WaiJmto Association selectors. The fact that the officials were impressed by tho work of the players at this comparatively early stage of the season augurs well for the success of the Waikato representatives in the interprovincial matches to be played early in the New Year against Auckland, Taranaki, and Bay of Plenty. The Waikato Association has a wealth of experienced players as well as a large number of promising Juniors to call upon for Its representative teams, and ■there appears to be no reason why a strong combination should not be gathered together. The Town team’s win last Saturday was a tribute to the Hamilton Club, which contributed a largo percentage of the players. Bub-Assoolatlon President Honoured. Keen appreciation of tho service rendered to tho Hamilton Suburban Lawn Tennis Association by its president, Mr F. W. Course, was expressed by Mr A. C. Watkins, in making the presentation of a crystal rose bowl to Mr Courso at a meeting of the SubAssociation management this week. Tho presentation was mado as a wedding gift to Mr Course, who was recently married. During his four years as an official of the Sub-Association Mr Courso has been president for two years, and treasurer for a similar period, lie has been closely identified with tho game locally for'many years, and lias played a prominent part in the affairs of the Sub-Association. Waikato Titles. The Hamilton Club's grass courts in I’.nsirm or street, will again provide, the \enue for the 1936 Waikato Lawn

Tennis Association championship and handicap tournament, which will he played on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, January 30 and 31, and February 1. Although the programme has just been issued, there are already indications of a representative entry in the fourteen competitions. All ohampionship events will be the best of three sets, last set only advantage, with the exception of the finals of the men’s singles and doubles, whlclf will be the best of five advantage sets. The ladies’ singles and doubles will be decided over three advantage sets. The handicap games will be the best of 17 games, with the exception of the ladies’ singles and doubles, which will be the best of 13 games. Entries for all events must be in the hands of the secretary, Mr A. G- Ward Everybody’s Building Hamilton, by. 6 p.m. on Saturday January 25, and the draw will take place on the same evening. Banner Match. To-day was .to have been the date for a Waikato Banner matoh between the Hamilton Suburban and Waipa West representatives, but the fixture was postponed on account of its interference with the Suburban Sub-As-sociation championship competitions, with which local clubs are at present busily engaged. Lack of sufficient available court accommodation was another reason for the Suburban teams defection. Considerable difficulty is being experienced by the Suburban management in allocating courts for all the championship matches, as there are only 13 courts available for the 15 matches played-each Saturday. The championship entries, totalling 31 teams, constitute a record as far as the Suburban association is concerned, and they certainly present a problem to the management committee. After to-day’s matches clubs will have a break until mid-January, when the competitions will be resumed. Suburban Ladder. There has been little activity on local courts during the past week as far as Suburban ladder matches are concerned, although there arc still several challenges to be decided. The decision of G. L. Weir (Railway), fourth on the men’s ladder, to have his name removed from the ladder qn account of his Inability to play ladder matches is to bo regretted as Weir is a fine player, and fully deserving of his ranking. n. Lewis (St Marys), who had previously challenged Weir, is now seeking a match with the third man, B. Hindman (St Peters). Players’ Expenses. As the result of discussion on ways I and means of placing the financing of | representative teams travelling on a | a better basts, the Waikato Association ; lias adopted a new system of meeting 1 travelling expenses. Previously play- [ ers paid their own expenses, but un- 1 der tho new arrangement a levy of 5s will be made on each player In respect ! of representative matches played within the Waikato Association's district, and 10s for matches played outside this area. The Association will pay the actual travelling expenses to Hamilton, of all players residing out of Hamilton, or, in the case, of away matches, to the nearest place on the route. Items of Interest. The application of the Waikato East sub-association for permission to ;

hold Its annual tournament at Okoroire on January 1 and 2 has been approved by the Waikato Association. The parent body has also decided that 'Cambridge should toe the venue again this season for the Waikato hard-court championships, to be decided at Easter. New Sub-association. The Tukharetoa Lawn Tennis 'SubAssociation has been admitted to membership of the Waikato Lawn Tennis Association. The new subassociation has 'its headquarters at Taupo, the president being Mr Barnett D. Meihana, and the secretary Air L. S. Edwards, tooth of whom reside at Taupo. It includes clubs adjacent to Taupo. Representative Blazer. The question of introducing a Waikato representative blazer was discussed by the Waikato Lawn Tennis Association executive, and the opinion was expressed that adoption of a standard Waikato blazer, to toe worn, with appropriate lettering, by the provincial representatives of all Waikato sports bodies, would he an admirable innovation. TOWN AND COUNTRY. FORMER TEAM’S SUCCESS. THE PLAY IN', REVIEW. (By Umpire.) Interesting tennis, at times brilliant, Avas Avitnessed in the meeting of the Town and Country representatives on the Rostrevor Street courts on Saturday. The match, an annual fixture, Avas Avon by the Toavii Team by 26 sets to 4. Probably the biggest surprise Avas the'decisive defeat of Miss L. Mueller by her youthful country opponent, Miss Margaret Beverley. In the first set the latter Avon four of the first five games and by holding her service took the first set 6—3. Continuing in a winning vein she broke through Miss Mueller’s serve at the start of the second set and although the Town player Avon her service in the third game she could not Avithstand the onslaught of the Matamata player and in the last four games Avas able to score only 7 aces to her opponents’ 17. Another of the younger school to score a meritorious Avin was Miss M. Edmondson (Town), avlio defeated Miss May Beverley, C —s, 6 —5. Both sets Avere very even and it says much for the persistence of the Hamilton player that she was able to take the match from her more experienced opponent. Three ladies’ singles were strenuous three-set matches, tivo going to 7—5 in the third set. One of these matches— Miss R. Drake and Miss E. Newell, Avas particularly interesting. Miss Drake possessed more attacking strokes than her opponent but after making an opening seemed unable to take full advantage of it.

Young Players’ Success

The fact of so many of the younger ladies Avinning their matches indicates •that there is plenty of promising representative material available in the Waikato but with the exception of Margaret Beverley it appears as if

their talents are being allowed to stagnate. More experienced players could render valuable service by taking some of these players in hand and giving them that final polish that makes ail the difference between a moderately good player and a first rate player. This applies particularly , to doubles as time and again on Saturday it Avas plainly evident that a number of the ladies had only the faintest idea of courtcraft and combination. The Town men Avere definitely superior in both singles and doubles and although odd matches Avent to three sets they seemed to possess that extra little bit necessary to get them home. The match between Jenkins and Wentzel Avas one of fluctuating fortunes, due mainly to the inconsistencies of both players. In the first set both players Avon their service to 3-all but at this stage Wentzel dropped his Slid allowed Jenkinson foxtake the set a 6—4. Jenkinson did not appear to be able to settle doAATi in the second set whereas Wentzel was particularly steady and had no difficulty in Avinning the set 6—2. Still maintaining his superiority Wentzel ran, up a 3—o lead in the third set but although he AA r as leading 40—0 in the fifth game seemed to fade aAvay and a series of errors allowed the Hamilton man to take five games in a row and the set at 6—4. Roach on His Game. J. Roach had two even sets with I BroAvn but throughout Avas just a bit better. He seems to have come on his game uoav and a further meeting between him and Jenkinson should prove interesting. j Though having the best of things 1 at the start Livingstone eventually I just got home in his match against •Clow. Both played bright tennis, their driving being particularly consistent. The remaining Town players were far too good, Lucas, Andrews, t and Potter having particularly easy ! wins. The play of the two top Toavii pairs was too much for their opponents and although Lucas and Roach dropped the second set they made no mistake about the third. This match has given any aspirants for representative honours a chance to prove themselves and if they have failed to justify their consideration for future teams it Avill not be for lack of opportunity. . j