LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 936, 1 October 1910, Page 12

LAWN TENNIS.

[Br Back-Line^]

Club Competitions.' The management, committee of the looal association has written to 'the oity olnbs asking them to' consider a proposal for this season's club competitions. ' The proposal submitted' provides for separato competitions for men. and. ladies. Each competition to be'divided into grades; four for men, and three, for ladies. The grades to bo known as the A, B, C, and D grades, instead of "shield," "cup," "pennant," and "racket.". All teams to consist of four members each, and cach member of a team' to play a single and a double. In tho A and B grades in the men's competition, and in the A grade in tho'ladies' competition tho matches to be tho best two out of throe straight sets. In the C and D grades in the men's competitions the matches to be the best out of seventeen straight. In'tho B and C grades; in the ladies' competitions tho matches to be the best out of thirteen games straight. The success of this proposal, if put into praotice, will depend ■ largely'i on the drawings. The ladies' matches should be drawn to bo played- on the. club's courts, so that the members of tlio teams will be able to obtain tho assistance of players for umpiring, and i£ this is dono the proposal should meet : with general support. Tho reduction in tho numher. of. players in the A. and B grades teams will do much

to improve the standard of play in all grades, which is wanted badly. Last seacon some of the teams were composed of players who could easily have been placed in three grades. The management committee should exercise its right to classify a team according to the performances of its players. Another matter that 'requires attention is the continual defaulting by teams. A team that defaults more than twice should be asked bo withdraw. Davis' Cup. Tho withdrawal of the English Association's challenge for the - Davis Cup leaves Australasia the holder for at least another year. As matters stand at present,'it would appear that, if ever the cup leaves Australia, it will go with an American team, and tho fact that' Ame-' rioa would not send a weak team this year shows that they have estimated the difficulty, and they will not miss an opportunity of bidding for tho coveted trophy. The team that the English Association proposed to send out could not be termed strong. Certainly it would have' kept the contest going, but it is questionable whether the result would have increased-the public's interest in the game, or helped the association finan- : daily. The counter attractions to tho English and American teams in the form of the former's visit to South Africa; arid the proposed visit of Australia's best to Am©-' rica. and England, may have had some-, thing to do with the present state of . affairs, but they are both in the interests of the game,'so'perhaps air has happened for the best. ■ ]•' Miscellaneous, The Madeley and Khandallah Cluba opened their. seasons last - Saturday and Monday respectively. The 'first annual report of the Wanganui Lawn Tennis Association shows 1 , a most successful season.'. Although, there, are only seven - clubs in the association, the first year's working: resulted in a profit, of £Zt 145.11r. Cyril Goldsbury has been re-elected hon. secretary. Six of the seven - dubs forming this association were affiliated to the Wellington As-',-sociation until the beginning of this year. There is a.large number.of players in the city who enjoy'their tennis on Wednesday, afternoons, and: some of these players are quite keen for a Wednesday competition. The time is ripe'for. an-inno vation : m this direction .in-'local: tennis. |.A;. series' of . home-and-home .'.matches might be. instituted, which-could .develop along the lines, of tho Saturday afternoon competitions. ' Jt is rumoured /that the Newtown Club will' not be_ competing ; in the club' competitions DMause the/men do : not, like , playing without .'the ladies, or vice: versa. Tlus/is unfortunate,, because, there' are many enthusiasts' in' this club who enjoy these competitions, but, ;of course,, if it is a matter of principle .with the'.club, these players . must....support, their, club, -or,, join -.clubs .that .cater for their tastes. ' '• There is a movement in the direction of forming a tennis club by the Wellington: College .Old . Boys'' Association.. The: association has lost its., cricket ...club,' through the district scheme; and the proposed tennis-club is intended to supply the members', want for a summerj sport. There should .be no - difficulty in getting a very strong club : together, ■ and the . writer could .pick ■ at: least two: senior teams from the "Old Boys." A team, of Australian tennis and golf plavers has arranged a trip. to England. and America.. The tennis .players ,in • the team will be Messrs. N. E. Brookes, A. W. Dunlop, R. Heath,; and- H. ; ' Marsh. It' is thought probable that A. 'Wilding will join the team: Such a team will be hard to boat, and it will.bfe interesting to see how they get on. against America's .best. 1 This trip should be the making of Heath.