Lawn Tennis

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 71, 16 December 1937, Page 12

Lawn Tennis

"Volleyer. ")

CHAMPI0NSHIP PLAY Mrs. Hassall's Form in Women's Matches DUTIES 0F UMPIRES

(By

The remark most frequently heard among spectators at tennis tournaments in, "If only that umpire would call the score!" Bearing in mind the fact that Hawke's Bay has no tennis umpires' association, I propose to mention a few of the dutjfis which players expect from an umpire. (1) When ealliug the score, or proliounciiig a ball "out," piteli your voice so that it can bo heard tbivty yards away. If you speak quiotly, the players, who are concentrating on the gamt, cannot always hear, and spectators who are soine distanee away cannot follow the progress of the game. (2) Call for every ball that is out, a fault, or a let, but unless a doubtful shot has ended a rally never say "good ball." (3) If a ball from another game rolls ori to your court during the course of a rally, stop play and hnve tlie point replayed. If a player is hindered by spectators or by a competitor from the next court, the same rule applies. (4) Never allow a decision to be infkienced because a player merely stops a ball which. he should have played. It is the player 's duty to continue a rally until a call is made, or the ball lands in the net. The most necessary qualifications for a good umpire aTe a loud voice and a confident manner, but those who possess these talents frequently use them to evade their share of an unpopular task. Club Championships. Not for many previous seasons has such intere'st been shown in the Hastings club championships. In all the events several rounds have already been concluded, and some interesting resulls have been recorded. By defeating Mrs Lambe and Miss Fryer, Mrs Hassall has proved that she is still one of the best match players in the district. On these results it looks as though Mrs Hassall should again be offered a position in the provincial team for when partnered by a good net player she is also very good in doubles. The chief "upset" of the early rounds was eansed by a new member^ R. L. Dennis, who defeated J. N. Lowry in straight sets. Against an opponent who stays away from the net Dennis 's ground strokes are most impressive, and he should be allotted a game in the next series of ranking matches. It is, howe,ver, possible that the ranking committee may exclude him because he does not expect to be in this province for very long. In the seini-finals and linals of these championships some most interesting tennis will be seen. In the final of the ladies' singles it is likely that Mrs Cotterill will ineet Miss Glenny. As far as this writer is aware these two have never yet met in any single played under match conditions, and in this case no prophecies will be made. In the men's singles final Noel Wilson •will probably meet the winner of the Elliott-Sharpe single. Although both the latter have played in Hastings for a good many seasons, their single will be the first they have ever played. It remains to be seen whether a player who relies on a forehand drive will defeat one who relies on volley and smash. If Wilson is in his usual form it is unlikely that he will lose a Set in the final. ' Coombe in Hawke's Bay. During the week D. C. Coombe, the present New Zealand singles champion, appeared on the coiurts in both Hastings and Napier. He is at present making a tour of the country on behalf of an English sports firm. In Hastings Coombe appeaxed to be having troubfe with his ground strokes. but his overhead work was well worth watching. The Hawke's Bay executive has wisely declined the offer of exhibition matches with Stedman and Coombe. If such an exhibition could have been arranged for the early part of the season, it might have been a success, but in the latter part of January it wocild have been foredoomed to failure. Only in the thr^e main centres can tennis exhibitions be staged successfully, for a majority of tennis players prefer to play rather than wateh others. From nearly every point of view this principle is quite right. I' =aSBSg LJ