LAWN TENNIS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1259, 14 October 1911, Page 12

LAWN TENNIS.

9 PEACTICE FOE TEE PROMISING. [By "Footfault."] Local Inter-Club Arrangements. The following are tho arrangements for the inter-club matches, which start on October 23. Thero will bo separate competitions for ladies and men. Thrco grades for ladies—shield, cup, and pennant—and four grades for men—shield, cup, pennant, and racket. Tho teams are to bo composed of four members, and each will play a single and a double. In the men's shield and cup matches tho best of three sets straight will decide the winner; in the pennant and racket tho best of seventeen games straight. In tho ladies' shield matches each match will bo the best of three sets straight, and, in the cup and pennant, each match will bo the best out of thirteen games straight. Tho question of playing combined matches in the various grades again cropped up this year, but, for a number of reasons, the Management Committee of the Wellington competition has found that it is impracticable that they should bo included in this season's programme. Many clubs are, unfortunately, not well off for lady members of the standard necessary lor the higher grades, and, consequently, they would bo handicapped in sending "in suitable teams, and also handicapped on account of the limited number of available courts for ladies' aud men's matches, if both were included in one team. Why Cannot We Bring Out Our Best? At this time, wheu players arc no doubt eager for practice in view of tho forthcoming match'-:;, a few remarks thereon may bo of interest:—Good practice cannot be too highly valued, and, therefore, players should endeavour to obtain tho best available. Unfortunately, in Wellington, even for our best players there is a sad dearth of really good practice. Here our good players have only tho opportunity of taking part in a few inter-club mutches, and in only one tournament a year, when other first-class players are" met with. In high-grade tennis, under existing circumstances, tho Australians, and in fact all tho good players in England and America, are much better oif than New Zealand players. Our players are unable to meet the numerous first-class players who have had tho experience of playing through tournament after tournament on perfect courts, and under ideal conditions—an exporienci which brings the Australian, English, and American play up to tho highest pitch. As a proof of the good result obtained from steady and good practice may be instanced the progress of Doust. When lie played in Nelson some throe years ago he would probably hnvo fallen in the singles play to any one of our leading players. Yet, by dint of the good practico which he has been having in the course of his travels since that time he mav bo classed with tho world's leading players. Then, again, Wilding has reached his present position by continuous practice with every kind of player. The playing of tho game is, to him, now almost mechanical. With these examples before us wo cannot but. think that, if our players, Peacock, Swanston, Fisher, and the other leading plavers were enabled to practiso with sbmo of tho Australian cracks they would, likewise, in the course uf time prove their equals. For this reason it is to bo greatly regretted that J. 0. Peacock, as present holder of the New Zealand championship, could not be prevailed upon to spare from business the time necessary to play through tho big fournamcuts that aro held in Australia during Novomber, and thus obtain tho practice which would undoubtedly make him a near starter in the Davis Cup team. Let us come to players who aro not im to this standard, and, indeed, some who aro a very long way behind. There must be, among the younger players at least, a few who are worthy of consideration, but thero does not appear to exist the faci ity for bringing on the more promising. Could, not a club bo formed with really first-class courts, and tho membership limited as to numbers, the qualification for which would be a certain standard of play, say, for instance, winners aud run-ners-up in club championships? There is no doubt that a club of this description would afford a means for obtaining tho best results for the standard of tennis here, and would prove a goal which enthusiastic players could endeavour to reach. It is evident that something should bo done, if not during this season—the season of all seasons when, not only may examplo and experience be obtained from the many fine Australian players who will be sure to participate in the NewZealand championship mooting at Cliiristmas, but also from what should prove a brilliant exhibition in the contest for the Davis Cup—then, in the near future, in ordor that our best players may be enabled to obfctin good hard enjoyable practice. Then, and then only, we may see one New Zealand champions confidently take their stand with tho pick of the other countries mentioned. Merely a Note or Two. Now that there is so much agitation about the Daylight Saving Bill, tennis enthusiasts would do well to support the passing of it with might and main as ths means of obtaining practice under the most favourable conditions as regards light and time, would bo thereby obtained. Mrs. Hdllyard, wifo of that fine old player, Hillyard, has tho mo6t wonderful career of any player living, for as Mim Bingley sho won the champiomiliip of England in ISSfi, 'S9, 'M, '97, '9D, i3OO, and tho "mixed" with E. Benshaw 'SO, Baddcley '93, and Brookes '07. Twenty-ono years of championships to 1907, and still in the front rank! Even A. W. Gore, of England, Lamed, of America, Miss Nunneley, of New Zealand, Miss Parr, of South Australia, Jlorrie Rico, of New South Wales, and Victoria's Alf Dunlop, must yield the paJtn to such a lengthy record.