STEADY FINAL

NZ Truth, Issue 1149, 8 December 1927, Page 16

STEADY FINAL

Dunedin Tennis

Progress

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Dunedin Rep.) The Association's Yankee Tournament was brought to a successful conclusion last Saturday. Congratulations are due to those members of the Association who were responsible for the running of the tournament. "THE winners, Grant and Miss Foley, who were handicapped receive 12, defeated Cleghorn and Miss Anderson (owe 5) m the final. This is the second year m succession that Cleghorn and Miss Anderson have been runners-up m this tourney.

N.Z. sprint champion, who will defend his title m Christchurch this week.

Cleghorn did not P. lav ln the final as he had been playing earlier m the afternoon and he found the handicap of 17 too much to give away. Grant and his partner played very steady tennis and this is borne out by the fact that Cleghorn picked up only 6 of his handicap. A large entry has been received for the Kaituna Club's Handicap Combined Tournament. Trophies have been presented by the president, F. W. Parker, and some keen games should be seen at Kaituna during the next week or so. At a meeting of the North East Valley Bowling and Tennis Club held a few nights ago, the bowlers, by a majority of 31-29 decreed that tennis shall not be played on the North East Valley courts on Sunday. In the final game of the Moana v. University match, Duthie and Miss Moloney lost to the Varsity pair, Chisholm and Miss Witherow 9-3, thus giving Varsity the match by 11 games — sets being equal.

tiiiiiiiimiiiimiiiiniiiii mum iiiiiitiiiiiiniiitiiiiiiiiiimiiiHiniiiiiiimi! Savidan won from Gibbons at Auckland on the referee's decision of some jostling that occurred m the straight. Much inky fluid and not a little talk has taken place since then by supporters of the men as to whether the right man was penalized. Next m order of importance comes the 100 yds championship. Malcolm Leadbetter is the present champion, but he will have to run as he has never run before if he is to beat his old rival, C. H. Jenkins (Wellington), who is running like one inspired this season and has been credited with evens twice m succession, lately. Then there is that good sprintei, Ij. C. Elliott (Auckland), to be considered. Elliott is capable of running near enough to ten seconds and must be somewhere very handy when the judge is looking for the winner. The same trio should fight out the

compete, so the honors should go to either him, Allen (Wellington) or Newton (Wanganui). It is a pity that Campbell (Wellington) was unable to strike form before the trials, as he ran a sweet two-minute half-mile m Wanganui last week, and would have been a force to be contended with. Lander (Wellington) and Morgan (Otago) should fight out the 120 yds hurdles. Lander wears the crown, but his early season form was by no means convincing. However, he is now' right at top and has only Morgan to fear. The latter is running particularly well and is not to be taken cheaply. A new star has arisen m the 440 yds hurdles ln the person of Ramson (Wellington) and he is a likely winner m this event. It is doubtful if Garlick (Auckland), the present champion, will compete. If he does, between Ramson and Morgan he will have to nm for dear life if he is to retain the honors. Batstone (Canterbury) will have to beat Sutherland m order to retain the pole vault title, and he should be able to accomplish that. Peter Munro should be able to cling to his shot and discus titles, but Champion Harvey will have his work cut out to beat Leckie (Otago), who recently threw the pellet 148 ft. odd, and McHolm, who is throwing as well as ever. Stan. Lay (Wanganui- Taranaki) will, of course, be expected to again clean up all and sundry when it comes to iavelin throwing. The visiting riders will be up against it when the wheel races are decided, as many of them are unused to a raised track and Canterbury is the home of cycling. In order to "be prepared," Oakley (Wellington) and Byrnes and Wade (Auckland) have been down to Christchurch a week beforehand, and this may mean a lot towards improving their chances. • Miss Mantan, the present N.Z. champion, will be a non-starter m the ladies' events, and another notable absentee will be Miss Eastwood (Gisborne). The latter town, however, has a reputation to uphold m the world of ladies' athletic endeavor, and they have sent a worthy representative m Miss Norma Wilson, who defeated both Miss Mantan last year and Miss Eastwood this year. She will find that most competition will come from Misses Collins and Swinburne (Wellington) and Misses Boyd and Maxwell (Christchurch). • The events will be set going at Lancaster Park on Friday afternoon and will be continued there Saturday afternoon, to be wound up on Saturday night with a grand slam of cycling and running under the glittering lights of English Park.

"Fairplay" writes as follows: — "I read with surprise the names of the cyclists to represent Wellington m the New Zealand championships at Christchurch on Friday and Saturday next — Oakley, McFredries and Horsfall. I have attended each meeting at the Basin, and have kept an account of all A Grade cycle results. The points won by the leading riders for the six meetings are on 3 — 2 — 1 basis: Carswell 17, Gane 16, Oakley 14, Scarfe 12, Horsfall 9, McFredries 6. If the selectors are only counting the two meetings of scratch races, they are; Oakley 8, Carswell 6, Gane 5, Baker 5, Horsfall 4, McFredries 3, Scarfe 3. With Carswell unavailable, . Gane should be second man m the team, but has not been selected. The only reason the selector can bring forward is that he falls too often. Considering the championships are to be held on a banked concrete track, and not 'a slippery grass one, that should not count against him. Horsfall failed to win a scratch race among the local riders, so I fail to see how he is going to win a championship among New Zealand's best. The only riders outside of Carswell to win a scratch race were: .Oakley 2, Gane 1, McFredries 1. T would like to know why the centre .accepted Gane's entry and allowed him to start m test races when they had no intention of selecting him after he had qualified."

The above was referred to the sole selector, Mr. George Harrison, who stated that m selecting Horsfall he picked the man whom he considered would be the best rider from the point of view of team racing. So far as the last paragraph is concerned, the races were . open events for all A Grade riders.

was only the experienced batsmen who were able to face the trundlers with any degree of confidence. A feature of the afternoon's play was the consistent showing of the members of the N.Z. team. McGirr for Hutt against Thorndon gained 4 wickets for 32 runs and m his customary vigorous manner with the bat, hit up 65 runs not out.

For Institute against Kilbirnie, Dempster notched .73 not out, and James for Old Boys against Petone compiled 73. Other good batting displays were given by H. E. Nicholla, who ran up GO (not out) for Petone against Old Boys and R. A. Westbrook (V.M.C.A.) 58 (not out) against University. Thorndon made a very mediocre effort when facing the bowling of the Huttites. Roberts (12) and Ellerm (10) were the only ones able to get to double figures. Beard and McGh-r cleaned up the issue m quick time. Hutt, through the instrumentality of the bowling, of Beard and McGirr, gained a four-point verdict over Thorndon. McGirr rose to the occasion with the bat and at the drawing of stumps was 65 (not out). The Thorndon men could only register 51 runs m their second innings. FOUR-POINTER ' Varsity's total of 419 made the previous Saturday was too big a hurdle for V.M.C.A. The V.M.'s first innings saw a total of 152. Following on, their second venture was even Avorse than the first, for only three men obtained double figures and the total score was 122. This gave Varsity a four-point victory. Old Boys proved too formidable for Petone, eventually winning by 197 runs. Petone, m their first innings, made only 68, and m the second 145, out of which "Ginger" Nicholls accounted for 80 runs. The splendid stand made by D. S. Patrick and Barber for Midland completely upset Wellington. The Patrick — Barber partnership realized 453 runs. In the first innings Wellington made 172 and m the second 7 wickets went for 95. This let Midland home by 92 runs on the first innings. Institute gained a four-point victory over Kilbirnie. Foley (60), Banks (50) m the first innings and Dempster and Bilby m a partnership . m which they, compiled 116 runs m the second innings, were mainly responsible for Institute's victory. Institute is leading the way m the senior championship with Old Boys a close second. The question being frequently asked is: "Is there an improvement m local cricket?" The scores registered m the last few matches would indicate that either the standard of batting has net improved or the bowling has come on rapidly. "N.Z. Truth" is inclined to the opinion that there is an improvement m both batting and bowling; but it is not as general as it should be. Only a small percentage of our batsman go to the wicket and bat with a show of confidence. The majority are cramped and nervous. These faults should be corrected at the practice wickets. Freedom of action m footwork and wrist work soon beget confidence and no batsman can do himself justice unless he is confident. Too many of our cricketers depend upon Saturday afternoons to gain form. PERSONAL Beard, who shone out for Hutt on Saturday, proved himself a dangerous man with the ball when the wicket was crumpling. He kept a beautiful length throughout and as his delivery is of the easy style, he can be kept going without showing signs of tiring. McGirr is already demonstrating that so far as he is concerned the trip abroad has been of use. Before his departure his delivery was very erratic; now his length is consistent and he varies the pace with good judgment. One of the most promising batsmen m Wellington is H. Foley, who plays for Kilbirnie. He is just inclined to too much carefulness and this cra.mps his style somewhat. Once set, however, he can go for the bowling with confidence. It is a pity our younger players would not model their fielding on the example given by Dempster. There is a "go slow" policy amongst the majority of our fieldsmen which from the spectators' point of view is rather monotonous. Attention to the manner m which Dempster scales for the ball would have the effect of bringing about a much t needed improvement. It will lie noticed that Dempster always runs to meet the ball. It was his fielding that made him so popular with the Sydneyites.