TENNIS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 3726, 1 December 1906, Page 3

TENNIS.

[By N.8.0.K.]

Yesterday, the first match for the Country Cup contest, under the auspices of the Wellington and Provincial Lawn Tennis Association, took place on the Foxton Courts between Otaki and Foxton and was won by the former by i x sets to ior 90 games to 47. The results are as follows Otaki reading first Singles.—Hartman 9, v. Marshall 6; S. Simcox 9, v. Clemett 4; M. Simcox 9, v. Chisholm 4; Penn 6, v. Stiles 9; Miss Aitkin 7, v. Miss Wanklyn 3; Miss Simcox 7> :s. v. Miss Austin 3. Doubles.—Hartman and S. Sim-

vcox 9, v. Clemett and Marshall 4; wJtenn and M. Simcox 9, v. ChisJfelm and Stiles 3; Misses Aitkin and Simcox 7, v. Misses Wanklyn and Austin 1. Combined Doubles.—M. Simcox and Miss Aikin 9, v. Marshall and Miss Wanklyn 4 ; S. Simcox and Miss Simcox 9, v. Clemett and Miss Austin 6. Although there is a big margin between some of the scores the games were well contested and there is no doubt if the local players had had more practice in both singles and doubles the scores in some cases would have been reversed. In the double and combined double Otaki 'played with better combination than did Foxton. The umpiring, which was carried out by two members ot the match committee of the local club, was very strict. This will ultimately prove of great benefit to Foxton players. When playing a club that has been used to adhering strictly to rules it seems hard to be. penalised for breakages of rules, but this appears the only remedy to make players study the rules closely and play tennis in a more scientific .manner. This will at the same time tend to improve the play, as it is only by strict attention to the fine points of the game that one can hope to excel. Will the local team bear this in mind and at the same time practice hard in view of the return game which takes place at Otaki on Saturday Bth December. The principal infringement of the rules in the match, was placing the xeet on the line whilst serving, hitting the - ball on the full outside the Court, and also letting the ball touch some part of the body even though the ball was going out of bounds. , In some cases the umpires gave what appeared to onlookers to be questionable decisions, when the ball might be either out or in, but umpires are only supposed to be human, and can make mistakes as well as anyone else. .. It is, to be hoped that the team that did battle yesterday will be „ ,>able to travel, for I do not think /they can be improved upon, but I would suggest that they play ' among themselves particularly in the combined game. Each week I intend to give a few hints worth knowing and which should prove of interest to players. Here are a few—do not turn to watch your partner serving—eyes front. Practice your weak strokes,' but cover them up in a match. Watch as much first-class play as possible. There is no better way of learning how the game should be played. Never make a practice of volleying from beyond the service line. In a double game partners should always come to some arrangement as to who will take the strokes which are going down the centre of the Court. When waiting for the ball to come to you, stand with the heels slightly raised from the ground, the body at the same time being thrown slightly forward.