OVER THE NET

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 192, 3 November 1927, Page 8

OVER THE NET

. By..

“DEUCE”

Half- Volleys

Parnell and Eden and Epsom hold tli' ir openings oa Saturday. 'Phe North Island tennis champion - ships to I>- played at Easter, have b* vn granted to the Waikato L.T.A. The Y.M.O.A. Club, which has a few vacancies for members of both sexes, w: 1 1 open tlie season on Saturday. Tnter-club competitions will start about the second Saturday in November, as far as the committee of the L.T.A. can estimate. A new club granted affiliation with the Auckland Association is Ngataringa, Stanley Bay, which will have a total of 80 senior members.

Status challenges cannot be played until after November 20. The assopialion has decided that players must be given a few weeks to get into form.

Auckland Club has a membership of 7JO, and there are still a few vacancies. The club has six grass courts.

The Auckland provincial handicaps on December 24, 26, 27, and 28, and the championships on January 26, 27, 28, and 20, have been approved by the New 2baland L.T.A.

“It is practically certain that the French team will play in New Zealand, but at present I can give no particulars."—Mr. M. E. Denniston at the meeting of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association on Tuesday night.

To encourage young players, the liount Eden Congregational Club has given one of its three courts to the 25 junior members. The saerilice reacted on Labour Day, when that court was the only one playable! Advocates of the "personal touch," the president of the Auckland L.T.A., Mr. E. Hickson, and the secretary, Mr. L. W. Swan, have been visiting a few affiliated clubs each Saturday. The Pukekohe Club has acquired an acre of ground on property across the road from its present courts in Edinburgh Street, and a start was made this week with the preliminary work for laving down four courts. The club has four courts now. * * * « Mount Eden Congregational Club, which has affiliated on the strength of its 45 members, is having a flutter in the C grade inter-club competition. The two grass courts were declared open ‘last Saturday by the president, Mr. P. G. Blott. * * * Eight clubs are affiliated with the Cambridge Lawn Tennis Sub-associa-tion this season. Two grades of competition. on the knock-out system, are to be played. Swimming and diving, whereat she excels, occupied most of Miss Betty Nuthall’s time on the return voyage from the United States with the British Wightman Cup tennis team. At night she proved herself one of the bost dancers in the team. -4i * * Junior championship singles for girls and boys under 21 years are being held by the Remuera Club this season. The winners will be entered for tho next Auckland championships. Pour promising young players are to be coached, at the club s expense, by Mrs. Hodges.

When he commented at Remucra’s opening that the lawns had never been in better condition. Mr. R. Angus ought to have known what he was talking about. He was a member of the West End Club, Jervois Road, for nigh on 20 years. Now he is Remuera’s president.

THE BALL QUESTION

SHOULD TWO MAKES BE USED? THOROUGH INVESTIGATION Should two makes of tennis ball be chosen for Auckland, one for hard-court play and one for grass? The much-disputed ball question came before the Auckland Association at its monthly meeting and a committee was set up to make thorough investigations and tests and to recommend “the best ball procurable.” The suggestion came from Mr. D. G. Macfarlane, who said that the appointment of the committee would ensure that the association would not be “working in the dark” as in the past. Tests should be carried out, if necessary with the New Zealand Association’s equipment. The committee could report to the annual meeting. Something might be said for the adoption of two balls, one for hard-court play and one for grass. Mr. G. Ij. Taylor said that the summer was the right time to test and choose a ball. In his opinion, far too much was being paid for balls. Sydney and Melbourne had been getting balls for 18s a dozen, whereas Auckland had to pay 255? and 265. The opinion was expressed that the committee should test the ball through play on both kinds of court The committee set up was Messrs. E. Hickson, A. W. Sim, E. W. Griffiths, C. C. Chalmers and V. Clay.

This year the New Zealand Association chose the Ayres C.S. ball but the Auckland Association decided on the Spalding.

TROPHIES A-PLENTY

FOR AUCKLAND ASSOCIATION THREE NEW ONES GIVEN If “pots” make for better play and keener competition, there will be an improvement in Auckland tennis this season, for three new trophies have been promised to the association already. Reporting to the monthly meeting of the L.T.A., the president Mr. E. Hickson, Siiid that the firm of A. Kohn, Ltd., had given a handsome trophy in the form of a silver figure of a tennis A grade out-suburban clubs, grade outer-suburban competition, which had attracted eight teams. An old player, Mr. Harold Morpeth, had been told about this, and he had immediately offered to give a shield for the B grade. However, said Mr. Hickson, the Manukau people had a cup for that grade, so that the Morpeth Shield, would have to be used for another competition. It could be allotted as the association thought fit. A letter was received from Mr. G. H. Fleming, one of the guara.ntors of the art union, who asked the association to receive back the ten guineas it had presented to him and use it for the betterment of the game. Mr. G. L. Taylor: I think we should buy a Fleming trophy with the money. Suggestions were made that the Fleming trophy might be given for the 13 grade tennis or for secondary school or junior championships. It was decided to ask for Mr. Fleming’s advice before the trophy money was allocated. CANTERBURY PUTS OFF SUNDAY TENNIS IDEA (Special to THE SUN.) CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesday. Sunday tennis is played by several clubs in Christchurch, but the first move to have it recognised by the Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association and allowed on the Wilding Park courts was made last night. A strenuous debate followed Mr. F. J. Murray’s suggestion that the assbeiation should follow the footsteps of the clubs. A letter was read from Mr. J. H. Kirk, president of the Canterbury and New Zealand Associations, expressing the opinion that until public feeling was more unanimous on the question the association should not open the park on Sunday. He suggested that the question be deferred for one year. Mr. William Goss said that as a nation New Zealand was losing rapidly by regarding Sunday as any other day. The sanctity of the Sabbath should be observed. After a long discussion an amendment, that the question be deferred for a year was carried.