LAWN TENNIS

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 94, 15 January 1935, Page 6

LAWN TENNIS

Wilding Shield Team INTER-CLUB MATCHES Two Coming Champions (By “Forehand.”) On January 18 and 19’ Wellington and Canterbury teams will do battle for the Wilding Shield. The teams will be:— Wellington: D. G. France, N. Smith, R. Ferkius, N. Bedford. Canterbury: C. Angas, 11. A. Barnett, T. Rhodes-W illiams, and 11. Diamond. The Wellington association selection committee deserves great credit for the way that it has carried out a difficult—even thankless task. There is no question that it has chosen the best men on peifornutnees, although E. A. Roussell and D. Coombe must be considered unlucky. None of the players is in the team by chance. With the exception of France —who is there by his known superiority over any other player in Wellington—all the others are there as the result of exhaustive and exhausting tests, and the results of the Wellington championships. The most consistent performer has been N. Smith, who has crowned a hard-fight-ing career by winning the Wellington championship without losing a set. Because his doubles play is in such marked contrast to his singles play, Smith was something of a puzzle to the selectors, as the Wilding Shield depends as much on doubles as it does on singles play. Even before the Wellington championships the play of Smith was such that it would have been unjust to leave him out. D. G. France. There is only one man in Wellington capable of making up N. Smith’s deficiencies in doubles play, and that man is D G. France. With the refreshing wisdom that has characterised all the actions of the selection committee in matters relating to the selection of this team. France and Smith have been paired together. It is a bold stroke, and success may be the reward, because of the very boldness of the strategy. Previous experience has shown that D. G. France in Wilding Shield matches touches the heights in his play, and N. ■Smith is known for his fighting qualities. It will be well if Smith and France are left alone to develop their own combina-

lion and to work out their own salvation. Bedfold and Ferkins. There is no reason why Bedford and Ferkins should not prove themselves a solid combination, for both have got good strokes, and both can move and think quickly. That the battle with Canterbury will be hard fought and the result close goes, I think, without saying. Canterbury has a strong teanF —stronger and more balanced than it has had for years. This is particularly the ease in singles. He would be a bold man who would prophesy the result. J. J. McCarfliy. lu the inter-club matches, which were I resumed last Saturday, one of the most interesting matches was that between J. J. McCarthy, who has just returned from Australia, where lie was playing with the New Zealand University team, and N. Smith. It went to three sets, Smith winning. But the most interesting thing was not the result, but the great improvement shown in stroking in McCarthy’s game. This was particularly so on the backhand, which he was playing much more easily and accurately than before he went away. There was not the jabbing at the ball as of old. There was better timing, and easier, stroking and smoother hitting. He is showing the benefits to be derived from a tour abroad, and constant play. Miss F. Fertile. Another interesting match was between Miss Margaret Whyte and Miss Freda Fernie, won by the former in the third set. The chief agents in her victory were her more consistent driving and a better length. Miss Fernie played her strokes with greater ease, but she lacks the consistent length and also the ability to volley decisively from the net when she goes in. Miss Fernie has the makings of a fin'. 1 player, but she still has a great distance to go. At present there is too much of a sameness about her game. Her driving is beautiful to watch, but in the class of tennis in which she is playing her shots present no difficulty to any opponent who can get properly behind them. That is not hard to do, for Miss Fernie telegraphs where she is going to put the ball. What she must learn now are variations —probably a cut stroke, a drop shot, and a lob, to be used in with her staple game. If there is no one in her club prepared to take her in hand to show her how to develop these strokes essential to a first-class player’s equipment, then it speaks little for the enthusiasm of players in that club, and less for their appreciation of a good- player and a keen player when they see one. Scotland Surprises. A player who surprised many on Saturday was' Scotland, of Newtown, who took Bedford, of Brougham Hill, to three sets,

The game was an interesting one throughout. Scotland was driving beautifully, and he showed speed in getting to short shots and angled ones, and he very often sent back a winning passing shot. Sco..land fought with the greatest determination. . .

Vere Dixon, playing his first game in senior inter-club tennis, had the misfortune to meet such an experienced player as K. Dyer, and did exceedingly well. Though beaten he was by no means disgraced. He played coolly and conhdentIv and considered no ball too difficu.t to have a try at. Some of his sideline shots and his lobs beat Dyer completely. Another player making a first appearance in senior grade was Miss D. Masim, and she played a sound baseline game to win nil her matches. Coming Champions.

There are in Auckland two little girls who, it seems clear, will develop into champions. They are the daughters ot Mrs. Hodges, formerly Miss . Baird, and an ex-New Zealand champion. She is coaching them, and to such good purpose that their play in the Rotorua tournament was the subject of much favourable comment. Their performances also showed that even though they are only 10 anu 12 years old respectively, they are more than a match for players who have been regular participants in tournament tennis. Their stroking is correct, they maintain the right court position, and they never get bustled in the fiercest exchanges.