LAWN TENNIS

Evening Star, Issue 20055, 21 December 1928, Page 13

LAWN TENNIS

[By Recorder.] The most interesting B grade match last week was that' between Roslyn and Moana. Both are near the top of the section, though Roslyn have had one loss previously, and Moana a draw. On Saturday Roslyn won by five games, sets being equal. The Roslyn men gave their side a good start by winning 5 sets, 51 -games, to 1 set, 30 games, but the Moana ladies equalised matters with 5 sets, ,33 games, to 1 set, 15 games. The mixed doubles were evenly divided, but Roslyn held their advantage _in games, thus winning an interesting match. No Roslyn player had three wins, M’Dougall, with 9-2 and 7-3 wins, having tho best results. As usual Mrs Hopkins won all her events for Moana. Indeed, thq writer cannot recollect this player having lost a single event in matches this season, a very creditable record. Cosy Dell remains unbeaten in this section, scoring a 9-7 win over Anderson’s Bay last week, Pearce putting up a good performance for the losers. Messrs Chisholm, Fulton, Earle, and Mercer, the four payers who turned out for University against Roslyn a week or two ago, were all successful in the final examinations recently, Earle in dentistry and the other three in medicine. 'Chisholm will be stationed in Auckland for the next twelve months, while Fulton, Earle, and Mercer have received appointments at the Wellington Hospital.' S. G. M’Dougall, who has previously won the Southland singles championship, should go close this year to bringing the trophy back to Dunedin. His hardest opponents will be the Sumpter brothers and T. W. Patterson if he competes. The Sumpter brothers will probably be favourites for the doubles, but will bo extended by M'Dougall and Fulton. A story that went tho rounds in London, and was greatly enjoyed by all, had to do with one of the big dinners held in connection with the Wimbledon championships. It appears that a young player, a visitor to the English metropolis, was keenly desiroun of attending the dinner _in question. Being ingenious, the visitor rang up one of those most prominently connected with the function, and a conversation something like this ensued: “Was an invitation to the dinner dance sent me? If so, it never reached me.” An admission came over the wire, and the expression of regret that no invitation had been sent. “ Well, that’s too bad,” was the reply. “ I’m all dressed up and nowhere to go.” Yielding to what he regarded as the inevitable, in view of tho circumstances—tho dinner was already on—the badgered gentleman remarked: “ Oh, come along if you wish,” So an extra place was set, and tho number of guests was increased by one. It was a new thing to hear of forged tickets at Wimbledon, _ but this year that unpleasant happening occurred. It is a significant happening and one likely to check ticket profiteering more effectively than any possible precautions that may be taken by the All-England Club. The public are always warned against purchasing tickets from hawkers outside Wimbledon, and do so at their own risk, but this year many were caught by unscrupulous potty thieves. _ E. D. Andrews has discontinued his studies at Cambridge (says a northern exchange), and has entered business in England. Knott and Sturt brought back a rumour from Australia to the effect that ho had turned professional, but this has not been confirmed, and appears unlikely. In any case it is problematical when lie will return to New Zealand. UMPIRING THE UMPIRES. One rends in ‘ Lawn Tennis and Badminton’ of tho successful inauguration of the Lawn Tennis Umpires’ Association in England. Mr C. J. Meads, tho secretary, writes: “ Quis custodiet custodes ? An endeavour to solve the question as applied to lawn tennis was made recently when the first official test meeting to determine the competency of candidates for certificates was held by the L.T.U.A. The kindness of the committee of the Magdalen Park Club had placed at its disposal not only courts, but players, who took a keen interest and a very effective part in the proceedings. The scheme of procedure was that, while the candidate umpired from'the chair eight games in the usual way, his colleagues, acting,as linesmen, but without making known their decisions, checked his decisions and calls, and, on tho conclusion of the test pointed out to an examining commit:3o any errors or improper procedure on his part. Marks, on a prearranged scale, were given for accuracy, pomptness, clearness in articulation, and proper conduct of proceedings. The practical is followed by a searching oral examination on the rules of the game and umpire’s duties. The players had been specially instructed to commit purposely breaches of the rules of the game; they foot-faulted, fouled the net, served or received from the wrong court, or out of sequence, volleyed the rervice, stopped ‘ outers’ and behaved reprehensively to the man in the chair so as to give the candidate as many chances as possible to detect ut fail to detect irregularities Developments were not only instructive, but distinctly amusing. The players entered keenly into tho spirit of the business, and devised ingeniqus and insidious methods of ‘ beating the umpire,’ being applauded by the onlookers for successful coups of tins sort. “ . . . . For players a new spice to the game—‘downing the umpire’— has been discovered, although one wonders whether such a riot of foot-faulting and other misdemeanours on court, ns well as the spirit of irresponsibility evoked, can bo good for one’s serious tennis. Always play with Ayres’ Championship Stitchless Tennis Ball, used by all the best players. Selected as the official ball of the Otago Lawn Tennis Association this seassn. British and best— [Advt.]