LAWN TENNIS

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 117, 15 February 1928, Page 8

LAWN TENNIS

THE WELLINGTON TEAM

THE TRIAL MATCHES

(By

“Forehand").

Following are the results of trial matches played at the instigation of the Wellington provincial selectors (Messrs. W. G. Morgan and G. Penlington) for the purpose of selecting a team to represent Wellington against Canterbury; -Miss F. North beat Miss E. Brady, 6—l, 6—l.

Miss F. North beat Miss M. Williams, ton, 6—3, S —6.

-Miss JU. Brady beat Mrs. G. Fenlington, 6 —o, 6—l.

Miss F. North beat Mijs M .Williams, 6—3, 6—4.

Miss Al. Williams and Miss D. Howe played an unfinished match. Miss Williams won the first set, 6 —2, and led 5 — 2 in the second set, Miss Howe eventually winning it, B—6. The match was abandoned through darkness at 5 all in the third set. Miss Williams later intimated sho was withdrawing from participation in any further trials. Miss D. Howe beat Mrs. G. Penlington, 6— 4—6, 6—3. Miss D. Howe beat Miss E. Bradv. 9—7, 6—2. Men. J. -McGill beat T. Rhodes Williams, 6 4, 4—6, 6—o. J. McGill beat R. H. Donovan, 6— i, 2—6, 6—2. G. N. T. Goldie beat T. Rhodes Williams, 2—6, 6—4, 6—4. G. N. T. Goldie beat A. E. Sandral, 4—6, 6—4, 6—3. G. N. T. Goldie beat J. McGill, 6 —o, G—O. A. E. Sandral beat R. H. Donovan, 4—6, 6—3, 6—l. Certainties. In the men’s team the assured positions were understood to be (not in order of mention) D. G. France, A. L. Franco, N. It. C. Wilson, and C. E. Malfroy. These players, too, will comprise Wellington’s team to defend the Wilding Shield against Canterbury on February 23 and 24, whose team will be G. Ollivier, 1. A. Seay, C. Angas, K. J. Walker, in that order. The certainties in the ladies were Mrs. 11. P. Adams, Miss Al. Tracy, Mrs. W. J. Melody, and Miss Al. East (provincial champion). The trials have been conducted with a view to getting the other two men and two ladies to complete the team of six men and six ladies. I did not see all the trial matches, as it was not possible for me to be at the Miramar grounds last Sunday week. For the results of those matches 1 am indebted to .Mr. W. G. Morgan, who also informed mo that G. N. T. Goldio and Miss F. North both played very well indeed. From the number of matches each has been called on to play, and the wins eacii has secured, it seems safe to state that Miss North will be fifth lady and Goldie will be fifth man. Both have earned their positions from amongst those they were played off against. The position among the ladies is not quite so simple, and is much less satisfactory. On results, Mrs. Penlington must be regarded as having been eliminated, since she was beaten by Miss Brady, Miss North, and Miss D. Howe, while Miss Brady was beaten by Miss North and Miss D. Howe. Miss M. Williams has not played Mrs. Penlington or Miss Brady, but she was defeated by North in a game in which I have never seen Miss Williams play better tennis. I was not able to stop to see the unfinished match between Miss Williams and Miss D. Howe. The position regarding those two players is that about a month ago they played a trial match and Miss Williams won at (I believe) 7 —5 in the third set. Each succesive match that these two have played has served to bring them much closer, so that at the present time there inay ba said to be very little to choose between them, except in point of ’style of play. In that there is no resemblance whatever. It has been no part of my policy in conducting this column to take accounts of matches at second hand, and to lead the public into the belief that they were written, from personal observation of the matches described. I regret, therefore, that the trial matches played on the Sunday will have to rest simply on the bare statement of the scores. Probably some of the principals would rather have it so. The other matches, I myself witnessed. There were some practice matches also played, but those no one has any right to take serious notice of, least of all to publish the results Miss North Beats Miss Williams.

This match, played last Friday week, in a northerly wind, that demanded strong hitting against, showed both players in their best form. Miss W’illiams, although hitting harder than I have seen her do before, yet did not have sufficient speed in her strokes to win the point when, after working Miss North out of position, she played for the opposite corner. Miss North was nearly always able to get across in time. Miss Williams played almost entirely from hackcourt. She, however, made a few volleys, and many times sent beautiful shots straight down the sidelines with forehand drives. Miss North’s game was more varied, and her greater strength enabled her to keep a better length against the wind. When Miss Williams put a ball halfcourt., as was frequent against the wind, Miss North slammed it for an ace. Miss North cleverly extricated herself from difficult positions with good volleys and pick 'ups. It but remains to be said that tlie selectors should have had no doubts as to who was the better player, as that point had been definitely decided to the 'complete satisfaction of the. match committee in ihe club of which both are members. They play in the same senior team, Miss North being No. 3. to Miss Tracy and Mrs. Adams, and Miss Williams No. I. Miss D. Howe beat Mrs. Penlington. This match was played last Saturday under conditions almost ideal. Mrs. Penlington played some fine length drives, and occasionally made point winning smashes to the opposite line, after following in to the net on a ball deep to Miss Howe’s backhand. But Miss Howe, maintaining generally a good length, and placing well to keep Mrs. PenI’ington-- moving, ■ was very steady, and made good recoveries. Mrs. Penlington was unable to accommodate herself to the peculiar cut which Miss Howe puts into most of her shots, and was frequently unable to guage the direction the ball would bounce. In an effort to counteract that sho took the net, not always at the best times, and paid the penalty by netting many volleys. Indeed, most of Mrs. Penlington’s errors were in the net.

Miss D. Howe Beats Miss E. Brady. This was a match of strenuous fighting almost all the way, as neither player is inclined to give up until the last point is played. The hardest part in the first set fell to Miss Brady, as she it was who trailed almost throughout. Miss Howe started off by winning the first three games and led 4—l, but trailed 5—6, and 6—7. Miss Brady started uncertainly, but when she found herself she travelled for everything, and made numerous spectacular recoveries of diiiioult balls played with cut to her backhand corner. Indeed, Miss Brady’s backhand was outstandingly fino and safe, and tho amazing manner in which she returned the ball made the majority of the rallies -very long, the ball crossing tile net, 10, 20 and even 30 times in the course of each of several rallies. Nor was it merely pat the ball tennis down midcourt. Both players placed well to the sidelines, maintaining a fine length. Miss Howe made some smashes from the net, but sometimes she was beaten with good lobs. Towards the end of the set both displayed signs of being very tired. The effort in the first set seemed to react on Miss Brady, for she lost her grip on

the game in the second set after leading 2 love, and when new balls were procured to replace a pair too green almost to be scon she lost two games in succession to love. To get back heavily cut balls to the backhand with such wonderful consistency as Miss Brady did was a great achievement, and the way in which she chased after and got back almost impossible balls on both wings was a tribute to her magnificent lighting qualities. I would here state that earlier in _ the afternoon in a doubles game with Mrs. W. J. Melody against Mrs. R. P. Adams and Miss Al. Tracy, Miss Brady encouraged by Mrs. Melody, played, at times, a brilliant doubles game. She smashed, drove, and volleyed finely when one remembers she was in a four which included three players of national ranking, the opposing pair being holders of the New Zealand doubles title. A little encouragement and advice from among those who might be supposed to have an interest in offering it would do much to improve her game still further. G. N. T. Goldie beats J. McGill. 1 have frequently referred to Goldie as an indiscriminate hitter, who often beats himself. Last Saturday he showed a gratifying change towards more restraint in his hilling, and thus a corresponding improvement in his play. Against McGill, whom he beat 6—o, 6—o, he-scarce-ly made a mistake, his drives down the lines, both backhand and forehand, and cross-court, going right to the cornels. Lto showed himself splendidly fit by the way ho sped across the court after McGill’s skilful placements, and displayed fine control in the way he played his shots while running. McGill is a steady player, who is not easily Hurried, but ho could make no headway against the accuracy of Goldie on Saturday. He was outplaced and outplayed. That is not to say McGill did not make many fine shots. He did, but oldie nearly always went the one better. It is to bo hoped that Goldie will continue this type of game (and there is no earthly reason why he should not), and so beat his opponents rathet than himself. D. G. France’s great improvement dates from his realisation of the futility of trying to know the cover off the ball at almost every stroke, and so may it be of Goldie, whose manner of making his strokes is very tree and easy. Accuracy is still a most important factor in tennis, a factor more honoured in the breach than the observance. Since the above notes have been written the teams have been selected. The men’s team is one that will be approved in most quarters, except that C. E. Malfroy and A. L. France should bo played off for second and third positions. Goldie (as stated) has well earned his position at No. 5, and McGill follows almost automatically at No. 6. Sandral will make a very useful emergency indeed. The ladies’ team, too, is beyond criticism except in one important particular, that of Mrs. G. Penlington as emergency. Messrs. W. G. Morgan and G. Penlington, the selectors, are unjust to Miss E. Brady, whose claims to the position of emergency are clear and definite if trial matches (played specifically to select this team) count for anything. In the Wellington provincial tournament Miss Brady defeated Mrs. Penlington in the ladies’ championship singles. As will be seen siie again beat Mrs. Penlington in the trial matches, 6—9, 6—4. In the Wellington provincial ladies’ championship doubles, Miss D. Howe and Miss E. Brady (who won the event) beat Mrs. Penlingtpn and Miss Travers. The facts are all against the selectors, and further comment is useless. Surely the adoption of such an indefensible position is a matter for consideration by the Management Committee of the association. Flavors when playing for position have confideifte in the selectors that results of trial matches will count. The confidence this time appears to have been sadly misplaced, and an injustice done to a player who is every inch a trier. ,

United States First Ten. Following are the first ten players in the United States. For purposes of comparison the previous season’s “first ten” are placed in the right-hand column:— W. T. Tilden W. S. Tilden F. S. Hunter M. Alonso G. M. Lott Takuchi TTarata M. Alonso W. M. Johnston J. Hennessey E. G. Chandler Van Ryn L. N. Whyte A. Jones A. H. Chapin J Doig B. I. C. Norton L. N. Whyte G. M. Lott —. Holman Dr. G. King