TENNIS NOTES.
AN UNSOUND DECISION. CANTERBURY'S OPPOSITION TO. WILDING SHIELD SCHEME. LBy Service.] JL suggested, revision of the regulations governing the Anthony Wilding Shield and Nunneley Casket competitions, under which they would he controlled by the New Zealand Association, was unanimously opposed bv the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association at its meeting on Monday evening. The revision, which was designed to stimulate competition for both trophies, provided for the division of affiliated clubs into nine territorial groups; the playing of all matches during one fixed week of the year; and, most important, for the payment of the travelling expenses and, where possible, accommodation expenses of visiting teams. There were, apparently, only two speakers on the proposals, both members of the Management Committee of the Canterbury Association. Mr W. Goss said that "the competition had been a great source of revenue to the association in Canterbury, and he thought it would bo a pity if the competitions were to be given into the control of the New Zealand Association- The Management Committee was opposed to tho proposal as the scheme for a week's tennis for such competitions was too cumbersome and altogether impracticable." Mr R. Browning agreed that "the proposal was a very unwieldy one, and would do local associations more harm than good." A motion opposing the scheme was then carried unanimously. The true reason for the association's opposition was obviously its fear of losing funds. Otherwise, just how the scheme would be cumbersome, unwieldy, and impractical, and just how it would do local associations moro harm than good, it is difficult to see. The facts of the case arc worth a more serious and a wider study than they were given. In recent years Canterbury and Wellington have been the only challengers for the Wilding Shield. Competition has languished chiefly because of the expense to individual associations of sending teams away. As for the Nunneley Casket, which was presented two seasons ago by a very fine player and a very fine sportswoman, for the same reason not a single challenge has so far been received. In tho past, it may be remarked, the financial arrangement has been that after a deduction of 10 per cent, by the New Zealand Association, the net profits are halved by the challenging and the challenged Associations. When Cantorbury held the Shield, and matches were played at Christchurcli, the association made almost as much as £SO. At other times, however, when the challenge was played at Wellington, it made nothing and lost £2O or so in expenses. Quite apart from the fact that the timo has come when the competitions must be stimulated as national competitions, and quite apart from the fact that, so stimulated, they will greatly raise the provincial standards of play, it may bo seen that unless a province holds the Shield and is active enough to arouse public interest in the challenge contest, financially it does not benefit greatly, if at all, under the existing regulations. The new scheme would give the associations no, lujnp profits, but it would assure travelling and, perhaps, accommodation expenses for the challengers. Most valuable of all, it would stimulate keen nad consistent competition, improving provincial standards to an extent against which a small and doubtful loss in profits cannot be balanced. If the Canterbury Assocmtion persists in its opposition, and unless it explains tho vague charges of its members against a good scheme, it open to the charge that it is putting provincial before national welfare and doing even this unsoundly. Senior Competitions. The senior inter-club competition will begin at Wilding Park next Saturday, and the women's mid-week competition almost certainly on the following Wednesday, December 3rd. The men's draw and the individual teams have already been announced. Ten entries have been received for the women's competition, and these will be divided into A and B grades, probably as follows:—A grade: New Brighton, St. Albans, Avonside, Sumner 1., and Fendalton; B grade: South Christchurch, Woolston, Elmwood Sumner 11., and United. ' Damage at Wilding Park. Much to the consternation of the groundsman (Mr H. Haile), several players in the A grade competition, most of them women, went on the grass courts at Wilding Park last Saturday with raised heels and did some damage to the turf until they were made to change their shoes. Players on these courts, it is emphasised, must not wear shoes on which the heels rise above the level of the soles. Even slight indentations in the turf prevent a true bounce. Particularly since tho New Zealand championships are to be played at the park in a few weeks, this regulation is to be strictly enforced.
The new courts, in excellent condition were opened for play last Saturday, and were used by members of the Avonside Church Club.
Ranking Matches. on^tho C (>, 8 ,, , pl^ during the last week lists resulted M SBo ? iation ' s ranking iun lino* -A eni singles: W. Gosb, Place ZTr,?-*- for 17th J. h' w' <n! ' Patterson beat fin « o ' !s,lc PPard for second place, Ftah.frH J " A ' Cour beat J. W. d! Tnlrfat u 12th Place, 6-2, 6-2; J. R. l " Sto " b « at E. H. Orbell for 9th Beartl> e 5 A - E - Cant beat H " Gdon hi J P lace > 8-6, 5-7, 6-3. Men's ! T L °"gWn and H. Dymond beat R. Browning and S. W. Field Ia t P Ce > 6 " 3 > 9 " 7 ; J- H. Griffiths ana u Kissg] beat H TiUman and T . * ieming for 20tli place, 6-2, 7-5: N. Anderson and H. A. Barnett beat J. « o rC ,°« and J - O'Malley for 14th place, o"~ri ' Women's doubles: Misses b. Cross and E. Rudkin beat Misses M. Sowden and I. Morrison for 6th place, 6-4, 7-5. Mis 3 M. Andrew, the Canterbury champion, and Miss M. Sowden have both asked that their names should be removed from the women's singles list. Their removal will further weaken a liet that is already the weakest in some years. In one of the most interesting ranking matches of the season, D. F. Glanville beat W. S. Somerville for fourth place, 5-7, 7-5, 7-5, at Wilding Park last evening. Although Glanville led 5-8 in the first set, Somerville, playing good and steady tennis, worried him persistently, and won the next four games. The second set went to Glanville by a narrow margin. In the final set, Somerville led 4-2, and 40-love, 4-3, 5-3, and 5-4, and 40-15. By this time both were playing rather too steadily, and hitting short. Somerville served well. Two matches were played in the men's doubles. J. R. Crawshaw and J. R> Johnston withstood a challenge from J. A 'Court and J. W. Fisher, for Bth place, winning 6-2, 8-6. R. Browning and R. W. Field fell another place at the hands of T. W. Patterson and P. Allison, who defeated them 6-0, 6-3. Though he has of late years rarely played in competitive tennis, Allison is a fine doubles player and had good, steady support from his partner. Bound the Clubs. In a match for 12th place on the Avonside men's ranking list, G. Palk beat W. Angas, 6-3, 6-1. Addington is now calling entries for seven championship evonts, including men's and women's junior singles. The draw for the handicaps is now posted, and the only match so far played has resulted: A. E. Holland (owe 3-0 15) beat B. Robins (owe 15 3-6), 9-0. Miss I. Askew and L. W. Penrose won the Yankee tournament at Fendalton last Saturday, defeating Mrs E. A. Lee and R. A. Cuthbert in the final. Tho handicap events are just now being started. Entries for seven handicap events, including two men's singles and two women's singles, close nt Linwood on Saturday week, December Gth. Tho three courts which it was necessary to re-lay when Stanmore road was widened are expected to bo finished by December 16th. In the meantime, a new system of drainago over the whole area of the courts has been completed. The monthly Yankee tournament will be held on Saturday, and will be followed in tho gvening by a dance. Entries for the championship events at United will eloso on Saturday. The men's singles and doubles are played to the best of five sets. It is hoped to have at least two rounds completed beforo tho New Zealand championships start at Christmas. The new block of courts at the bottom of the row is to be set aside particularly for championship matches. New Zealand Championships. In the dispute between the December dates and the January dates sfor the New Zealand Championships, it was urged that the advantages of the Boxing Day "gate" and the Boxing Day weather in Christchurch would bo outweighed by a decline in the standard of play, because of the early season. This criticism may well prove true. In Christchurch the season began late, and, with two wet Saturdays and many wet week-days, the championship players have not had adequate time for practice, nor will they in the bare month that remains before the meeting opens. In Wellington the handicap of circumstances and the weather has been even more serious. Tho Wellington Association 's courts at Miramar are not yet opened for the season, inter-club matcheß started only last Saturday, and as yet there are no ladders! Tho chief ohampionship entrants, D. G. Franco, A. L. France, and N. R. C. Wilson, have had scarcely any play on grass courts. Discussing championship prospects, "Forehand," of the Wellington "Dominion," says of D. G. France: "He has had scarcely any practice this year so far, and none at all on grass. If Saturday's play is any indication, he is at present well below form"; of A. It. France: "He has given up all hope of winning a New Zealand singles championship. He has taken to yachting, and that is now taking the time that he used to devote to tennis"; and of Wilson: "Up till quite recently golf has claimed his attention, and tho few tennis games I have seen him pliy this season, show him to bo very much out of form." The leading Canterbury players are certainly not in such a sorry plight as this; but Angas, for instance, is equally certainly not playing as he was at the opening of the championships last year, after playing through the North Island tournaments.
0. E. Malfroy at Home. C. E. Malfroy, who is now playing Rugby football for Harlequins, finished the tennis season in England in a blaze of glory, and was noticed by the principal papers as "the most improved player in England." "A striking feature at the Gleneagles tournament," said one exchange, "was the defeat of H. K. Lester, 6-1, 6-4, by the Cambridge Blue, C. E. Malfroy, one of the most improved players in the country." "A secondary sensation," said another, "was the defeat of Lester by Malfroy. These New Zealanders have a nasty habit of cropping up to block the path of our best young Britons."' In the same tournament he defeated A. Baird Murray 6-4, 6-4; and A. H. Fyzee, *5-4, 6-4. At Wimbledon he defeated I. G. Collins (here with the last British team) but Collins had his revenge at Gleneagles. One of Malfroy's most impressive victories was his defeat of F. J. Perry, 7-5, 4-6, 7-5 in the final of the Norwich tournament. Malfroy flew to Holland, where he won a doubles tournament, in partnership with the Dutch champion, H. Timmer. In the semifinal of the North of England championships he lost to J. C. Gregory, 4-6, 7-5, 1-6.
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Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20095, 26 November 1930, Page 7
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1,927TENNIS NOTES. Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20095, 26 November 1930, Page 7
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