Half Volleys

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 534, 11 December 1928, Page 16

Half Volleys

Entries for the New Zealand championships have to be in Wellington by Friday. * * * An umpire is allowed to call only outs, faults and the score. Some of the people on the ladder seem to think they have to say “Right.** He should cultivate a crisp call and a sharp eye. • • • Edgar Bartleet and “Jimmy” Laurenson will do their best to retain their doubles title here, and they should be able to do so, considering that the runners-up of last year and former champions Knott and Sturt are parted by the Tasman. It is likely that Sturt will partner C. E. Malfroy (Wellington). A strong pair should be Noel Wilson and G. N. T. Goldie, of the >vindy city. * * * Several, though not many, Canterbury players have definitely arranged to come to Auckland for the New Zealand championships at Christmas. Miss May Speirs will defend her title in the women’s singles, and will pair with Miss M. Wake in the womens doubles, and C. Angas in the combined. D. Glanville will probably be in Auckland, though it is not certain whether he will play. Angas is partnering A. L. France in the men’s doubles. # • « Revived interest is apparent in the Auckland ladders and challenges are coming along briskly. So far only one match has been played, A. K. Turner staving off a challenge for 14th place from C. C. Chalmers. The score was 6—3, 7—5. * * * Why on earth are not the most important games in the inter-club competitions played at the association courts at Stanley Street? It seems to be part of the policy of the governing bod:' in the province to reserve the best courts in tho city for C and D grade players. * * * Perhaps there might be a “gate” in the semi-finals of the A and B grade competitions if they were decided at Stanley Street. There is also the consideration that it would lessen the congestion at the large clubs on Saturday afternoons. Loud and long were the objections raised to the taking up of courts by the inter-club match at one club on Saturday. It is no joke sitting on the bank for hours with sunshine wasting. There may be fewer teams in the competitions next year as a result. • * * Vincent Richards a short time ago compiled a ranking list of the world’s best ten and on© of the surprises of it was that he put Austin below Crawford. The pair met a fortnight ago in the match England versus New South Wales, when Crawford won 6—2, 6—4. Reports state that Austin had an off day and looked as if he needed a spell. * • • “Because New South Wales succeeded in defeating Great Britain by a narrow margin last week, it must not be assumed that Australia can do the same. The visiting team will be in better form and more used to our conditions on their return: a more powerful combination in both singles and doubles,” says tho Sydney “Sun.” Tennis announcing is becoming as formal as that of boxing. When Henri Cochet and Frank Hunter had finished their knock-up, and the match for the championship of the United States was almost ready to begin, umpire Rufus Davis made this announcement to tho Forest Hills gallery: “Final match for the championship of the United States, between Henri Cochet, of France, champion of France, and member of the French Davis Cup team, and Francis T. Hunter, of United States, member of the United States Davis Cup team, and champion of Holland. and No. 2 in the national ranking.”