OVER THE NET BY "DEUCE"

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 586, 12 February 1929, Page 14

OVER THE NET BY "DEUCE"

Half Volleys j

Remuera is likely to fly the A and B pennants from its staff in the next .season again. In the final of the A grade inter-club its first eight meet Eden and Epsom. The final of til* B grade it fights out between its two teams. It was an all-Eden and Epsom semifinal of the A grade on Saturday, though one team was called Varsity The collegians, though loyal to their college, prefer the grass of Eden and Epsom to the desolate chip of the Varsity courts. Club-mates met in the matches, and there was keenness without captiousness. Alan Stedman, held by military discipline despite the efforts of legal friends, was a bad loss to Varsity. As it was, they lost three out of four singles, the steady Nicholson being the only player to bring in a match His defeat, ol Morrison was meritorious, a net attack and inspired volleying doing the trick. The Miller sisters had a day off, both ol them being beaten in singles and doubles. Miss Ramsay was out to win from the jump against Miss Rat Miller and Miss .Delia Newton was too steady for Miss D. Miller. ®oth the mixed doubles went to Varsity through attractive combination, but the side failed by four matches to six. At 5—3 Eden was in a winning position. it having five -iets in. Stodman's single might have made all the difference.

Remuera’s first B team had a comparatively easy win against Onehunga, none of the men losing a game. This • tub’s second B team had a more even go with Varsity. Fred Lucas, who beat J. C. Stedman in the B grade championship, went down to the same man in two sets. Milne, a junior player, had a good win over J. C. Andrews, who. however, was not up to his standard. All the singles went to Kernuera, both Mrs. Clay and MissJean Macindoe getting good wins.

At present in the city is Mr. H. A. Parker, who was one of the outstanding figures of the game in Australia and New Zealand. In this- country lie held the singles title lor six years, in 1902-3-4-5 and 7, the men’s doubles for seven years, playing with men like Lycett, Doust and Swanston, and the mixed for six years. He is now managing director of Slazengers, Ltd., Sydney, and he talks of starting a racket factory in New Zealand. >* * *

Among his claims to a lasting fame, Mr. Parker has his name on the championship roll of every State in Australia. He was a member of the New Zealand team which beat New South Wales in 1896, and he captained the Dominion side which beat New South Wales in Sydney in 1904.. He played for many years for New South Wales against other States, and his last success in tourney play was his win in the Sydney singles in 1913. When in England in 1901-3, he won the singles of Sittingbourne and Frinton and Norwich, and was in the final of the doubles at Wimbledon. He took the European doubles title at Homburg. * * *

In 1905 Mr. Parker played in the Australasian Davis Cup team, and it is to his record that he beat N. E. Brookes in an inter-State match in 191'). Born in Christchurch, he learnt his tennis at Wanganui Collegiate School, where he was coached by the Rev. J. M. Marshall, champion of New Zealand in 1890 and ’96. Tennis was not his only sport. He was a good cricketer, and he won numerous prizes at the less strenuous game of chess. In 1901 he was runner-up in the Auckland chess championship.

In the “lawn tennis” section of the Badminton Library, Mr. C. G. Heathcote places on record what may perhaps be termed a minor fatality, viz.: •It the annals of lawn tennis tend to repeat themselves in successive years, one event of 1884 is hardly likely to be often repeated. At Stockton on July 5 a ball in play struck a sparrow very much in earnest and killed it on the spot.”

The Wellington Tennis Association is keen to be awarded a New Zealand championship tournament in the near future, and already there is a move on foot to secure next summer’s meeting. It is so long since Wellington staged a championship tournament that local enthusiasts have almost forgotten what championship tennis looks like. The chief trouble of recent years has been the fact that the Wellington Association has been unable to provide courts with sufficient stand accommodation to encourage the New Zealand Association to entrust the tourney to them. This difficulty, however, is well on the road to be overcome, and already arrangements are in hajid for the erection of stands at Miramar, in which case there could be no possible objection to the tournament taking place in the capital city. Already the change of policy adopted by the Wellington Association in regard to the Miramar grounds is bearing fruit, and with the major portion of the pavilion completed, the existing courts in excellent condition, and a definite forward move in the direction of providing accommodation for public as well as players, there seems to be no reason why Miramar should not rank equally with the wellequipped courts of Canterbury and Auckland.

“BAGNALL WILD” Man Who Invented Drawing System HOW TO WORK OUT BYES Everybody—almost—knows that the method of drawing employed in lawn tennis tournaments is known as the “Bagnall Wild.” But who “Bagnall Wild” was, or whether he happened to be two persons (as the name is usually hyphenised), is quite something else. To set that and some other matters clear, the following paragraphs are reproduced from the chapter “The revolution of lawn tennis” in the lawn tennis section of the Badminton Library, sayo “American Lawn Tennis.” Tilc method —certainly not known to all tournament committees in Auckland —is worth while remembering. “A remarkable innovation on the old method of pairing the competitors in a tournament was also first suggested in this year by Mr. R. B. Bagnall Wild. The object was to place all byes in the first round, so that no competitor should sit idle while another is playing a hard match. This was secured by taking the power of two next above the number of entries and deducting from it the number of entries. The difference would fie the number of byes in the first round, e.g. with 9 entries, 16-9 equal 7 byes and 1 match; so, with -1 entries, 32-21 equal 11 byes and 5 matches, in each case bringing the players in the second round to a power of 2.

“This system has in principle been universally adopted, and will be again referred to; but it is impossible to pass over altogether an invention so ingenious, the consequences of which have been so remarkable. Such an innovation required time and consideration before it could be generally accepted, and the principal matches of 1884 were arranged on the old system. “This was the last year in which the old system of byes was retained, for at its close the meeting of representatives recommended, and the All England Club adopted, Mr. Bagnall Wild’s scheme with trifling modifications, and thenceforward the absurdity and unfairness of a bye in the later rounds of an important match has been an impossibility.

STATUS CHANGES GRIFFITHS BEATS STURT RESULTS OF RECENT MATCHES Among the recent matches for positions on the Auckland tennis ladder, the most important was that between E. W. Griffiths and N. Sturt for the third place. Sturt, the challenger, went down 4—6, 6—2, 4 —6, Griffiths coming to light with his shrewd and steady game and regaining the edge after a slump in the second set. V. N. Hubble got a walk-over from Brinsden, who seems to have a few weeks’ play at the championships each year to keep him in form. G. Martin has made his first upward step by beating C. C. Chalmers for the 15th place, 6—4, 6 —2. Miss D. Miller (Varsity) has climbed to the sixth rung by beating Miss Marion Macfarlane (Remuera) in three sets, the score being 6 —4, 2—6, 6—4. Miss M. Potter (Parnell) has attained the 15th place on the ladder by a win by default from Miss M. Napier (Remuera). On the women’s doubles ladder Mrs. Herrick and Miss P. Frankham, a Parnell pair, have been showing considerable activity. Not satisfied with beating their club-mates, Misses Potter and Fearnley, fairly easily, the score being 6—2, 6 —3, they challenged the strong Varsity girls, Misses Whitelaw and Mueller, for fourth place. The Parnell pair won in two sest, 6—4, 6—3. On the junior ladder, W. I. Forbes beat A. S. Hopper, 4 —6, 6—l, 6 —4.

HAURAKI TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP PLAY (From Our Own Correspondent 1 NGATEA, Monday. The Hauraki Plains Tennis Association’s annual championship and handicap tournaments were commenced on the Ngatea Club’s courts on Saturday. Record entries were received. Details of the matches are as follow; Championship Singles—Dr. T. Miller beat E. Pulman, 6—l. 6—2; F. C. Robinson beat A. E. Ludlow, 6—o, 6 —o; W. Murphy beat V. O’Connor. 6—l, 6—2; S. Coppins beat J. Duffy. 6—2, 6—l. Championship Doubles—Coppins brothers beat V. O’Connor and E. Pulman, B—2, 4—6, 6—l; F. C. Robinson and T. Miller beat W. Murphy and L. Cotter, 7 —5, 4—G, 6—4. Women's Championship Singles—Mrs. Speedy beat Miss Benny, 6 —2, 5—7, 6—2; Miss Duffy beat Mrs. Bertelsen, 6—l, G—2. Men's Handicap Singles—H. Hayward (scr) beat E. R. Alexander (owe 4), 70—54; D. Pike (owe 12) beat G. Birken-

head (owe 4), 70—15; H. Vowles (6) beat R. C. Abel 1 10), 70—50; W. Tteney (15) beat G. Clark (IS), 70 —6S.

Men’s Handicap Doubles—Coppins brothers (owe 30) beat W. Murphv and G. Birkenhead (owe 17), 70—6 S; C. Malloy and W. Williams (5) beat T. Miller and F. C. Robinson (owe 25), 70 —55; A. Vowles and H. Morgan (owe 11) beat H. Sparrow and C. Abel (12), 70—62; A. Stanley and G. Clark (18) beat S. Hewitt

and W. Teeney (183, 70-—56; L. Cotter and H. Hayward (owe 2) beat D. Pike and J. Duffy (owe It), 70—60.

Women’s Handicap Singles—Mrs. Speedy (owe 12) beat Miss McKay (12), 50 41; Miss B. Duffy (5) beat Mrs. Bertelsen (scr), 50—43; Miss Benny (2) beat Miss Vowles (6), 50—38; Miss Griffiths (scr) beat Miss Madge Beaver (scr), 50—40; Miss Sparrow (16) beat Miss Mavis Beaver (scr), 50—42; Miss D. Hunter (owe 2) beat Miss Paul. (16), 50—39; Miss C. Hunter (owe 4) beat Mrs. Reed (owe 4), 50 —32.

Women’s Handicap Doubles—Misses Hunter (owe 6) beat Mrs. Miller and Miss Griffiths (4), 50—36; Misses Wheeler

and Sparrow (10) beat Misses Candy (owe IS), 50—40; Misses Duffy (owe 20) beat Mesdames Cotter and Jackson (owe 6), 50—42.

Mixed Handicap Doubles—A. Stanley and Miss McKay (10) beat A. Blake and Miss Vowles (6), 50—-27; W. Nicholson and Miss Hegh (10) beat E. Alexander and Mrs. Jackson (owe S), 50--44; W. Williams and Miss Birkenhead (owe 4) beat H. Sparrow and Miss Wheeler (10), 55 -53; E. Coppins and Miss Beaver (owe 20) beat G. Clark and Miss Sparrow (1C), 50—43.

SATURDAY’S GAMES

INTER-CLUB DRAW The following is the draw for city and suburban inter-club matches of the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association on Saturday:— CITY GAMES Grade C—Pukeroa No. 1 v. Mount Albert, Stanley Street, 1,2, 3; Ngataringa v. Prince of Wales, Ngataringa; Seddonian v. Ngatira, Seddonian; Takapuna v. University, Takapuna; St. Hellers Bay v. Carlton, St. Heliers Bay; Y.M.C.A. v. Devonport, Devonport. Grade D—Ngataringa v. Seddonian, Stanley Street, 4,5, 6; St. Heliers Bay v. Aratonga, Aratonga; Campbell Park No. 1 v. Pukeroa No. 1, Campbell Park; University No. 1 v. Birkenhead and Northcote No. 1, University; Campbell Park No. 2 v. Ngatira, Ngatira; Pukeroa No. 2 v. Otahuhu, Pukeroa. OUTER SUBURBAN Grade A—Papatoetoe v. Papakura, at Papakura; Mangere East v. Manurewa, at Manurewa; Clevedon v. Valley, at Clevedon; Howick v. East Tamaki, at Howick. Grade B—Papatoetoe v. Papakura, at Papatoetoe; Mangere East v. Manurewa at Mangere East; Clevedon v. Valiev, at Valley; Howick v. East Tamaki. at East Tamaki.

COUNTRY GAMES

FRANKLIN COMPETITIONS (From Oxer Own Correspondent) PUKEKOHE, Monday. Results of the second round’s play in the Franklin Lawn Tennis Association’s competitions are as follow: — Special Grade—A teams: Pukekohe beat Aka Aka, 7—3; Waiuku beat Onewhero, 7—3. B teams: Onewhero beat Waiuku, 9—5. The Pukekohe-Aka Aka match was postponed. A Grade—Zone 1: Bombay beat Tuakau Domain, 7—3. Zone 2: Buckland beat Patumahoe, B— 2. B Grade—Zone 1: St. James’s beat Buckland, 9—5; Pukekohe Hill beat Bombay, 11—3. Zone 2: Patumahoe beat Mauku; Otaua beat West End. 74 games to 72. Zone 3: Pokeno beat Tuakau Domain, 11 —5; Tuakau Central beat Tuakau Domain.

THAMES BEATS PAEP.OA (From Our Own Correspondent i THAMES, Monday. Thames beat Paeroa by 8 matches to 5 in the Laurence Cup competition. Results:— Singles—Dr. Gray beat A. A. Ruston 9—o; S. Danby lost to H. Thorp, 6 9Garland beat Simpson, 9—l; Poulgrain beat Steedman. 9—4; Mrs. Danby lost to Miss V. Shand, o—7; Miss Hediey beat Miss J. Ellis, 7—6. Doubles—Gray and Danby beat Ruston and H. Thorp, 9—5; Garland and Poulgrain beat Steedman and Simpson, 9—l; Marshall and A. Danbv beat F. Thorp and Swann, 9—4; Mrs. Danby and Miss Hediey lost to Misses Shand and Ellis, 3—7; Mrs. Garland and Miss Boyle lost to Misses O’Grady and Taylor, 3—7; Mrs. Garland and Marshall lost to Miss O’Grady and F. Thorp, 5—7; Miss Boyle and A. Danby beat Miss H. Taylor and Swann, 7—5. WIN FOR KUMEU Kumeu beat Hobsonville by 7 games to 6 in the first round of the M.K.W. Tennis Cup. Results:— Singles—W. Boucher last to T. E Clark, I—9; G. Pengelly lost to W. Wiseley, 7—9: Giles beat M. Clark, 9—5; Giles lost to M. Shaw, 2—9; Miss Boucher beat Mrs. W. Wiseley, 7—5; Miss Shuttleworth beat Mrs. J. Birch, 7—5. Doubles—Boucher and Pengelly lost to Clark and Wiseley, 4—9; Giles and Giles beat M. Clark and Shaw. 9—2; Kinloch and Parton lost to Gunn and Armisted, 2—9; Miss Boucher and Miss Sliuttleworth beat Mrs. Wiseley and Mrs. Birch, 7—6; Miss Barnes and Miss Grant beat Miss M. Sinton and Miss Ockleston. 7—5; Miss Barnes and Kinloch beat Miss Sinton and Gunn, 7—5; Miss Grant and Parton lost to Miss Ockleston and Armisted, 2—7. TAURANGA v. MATAMATA (From Our Oxen Correspondent. ) Waikato East beat Tauranga at Matamata by 23 matches to 4. Results:— Singles—Miss N. Beverley beat Miss Hall, 7—3; Miss M. Beverley beat Miss Mountfort. 7—5; Miss Bell beat Mrs. Baigent, 7—6: Mrs. Bonney beat Mrs. Heald. 7—l: Miss Dunlop beat Mrs. Bent. 7—f»; Miss Oates lost to Miss Broad. 6—7: A. C. Thompson beat R. J. Phelan. 12—3: R. D. Ward beat R. Baigent, 12—6; A. Bassett beat A. Hardy. i 2—6: J. Wells beat L. Simmonds. 12—5; R. Dunlop lost to R. Renshaw, 5 —12; H. Keeley beat C. Jordan. 12—6; J. Hawes beat H. P. Butts, 12—9; S. Egan beat R. H. Phelan, 12—2. Doubles—Thompson and Ward beat J. Phelan and Simmonds. 9—6; Bassett and Wells beat Baigent and Hardy. 9—B; Dunlop and Keeley lost to Renshaw and Jordan. 6—9; Hawes and Egan beat Butts and Phelan, senr., 9—3; Misses N. and M. Beverley beat. Misses Hall and Mountfort, 7—3; Miss Bell and Mrs. Bonney beat Mrs. Baigent and Mrs. Heald. 7—5; Miss Dunlop and Miss Oates beat Mrs. Bent and Miss Broad. 7—5; Thompson and Miss N. Beverley beat J. Phelan and Miss Hall, 9 —3; Ward and Miss M. Beverley beat Simmonds and Miss Mountfort, 9—4; Bassett and Miss Bell beat Mr. and Mrs. Baigent. 9—S; Wells and Mrs. Bonney lost to Renshaw and Mrs. Bent, B—9: Dunlon and Miss Durilop beat Hardy and Mrs. Heald. 9—3; Keeley and Miss Oates beat Butts and Miss Broad, 9—6.

RIVERHEAD GAME Riverhead beat Mount Eden Congregational C grade team by 94 games to 79. the sets beign six all. Results. Mount Eden names first:— Singles—E. Cameron lost to B. Gould, I —9; G. Savory lost, to B. Lew, 3—9; Miss D. Eccles beat Mrs. Gould, 9—6; Miss Eileen Yeoman beat Miss W. Davis. 9—2. Doubles—E. Cameron and G. Savory lost to R. Gould and B. Long, 2—9; G. Jackson and C. Burnett lost to G. Lew and W. McKibbin, 7—9: Miss D. Eccles and Miss Eileen Yeoman beat Mrs. Gould and Miss W. Daxis. 9—6; Miss E. Yeoman and Miss J. Head lost to Miss M. Hall and Mrs. McKibbin, 6—9; E. Cameron and Miss D. Eccles lost to R. Gould and Mrs. Gould. 2—9; G. Savory and Miss Eileen Yeoman beat B. Levy and Miss Davis, 11—9; G. Jackson and Miss E. Yeoman beat G. Levy and Miss M. Hall, 9—6: C. Burnett and Miss J. Head beat Mr. and Mrs. McKibbin, 11—9.