OVER THE NET

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 944, 10 April 1930, Page 6

OVER THE NET

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“DEUCE”

The tennis season, as far as grass court play is concerned, is rapidly drawing to a close, and some clubs have already closed courts for topdressing. All the inter-club competitions have been decided, and most of the finals in the club events have been played. sj> * * University Tournament The annual Inter-University tournament is to be held at Easter on the Stanley Street courts. Auckland will have a strong team and should have a great chance of winning the shield. It would appear that A. L. Stedman will meet with little opposition in the singles and Miss L. Roberton on "her recent performances should go very close to winning the women's championship. Remuera Club Events Miss Macfarlane retained her title of club champion, beating Miss Ramsay after a close match, 6—4—9 —7. Miss Macfarlane has almost held a monopoly over this event for the past few years. Miss Xapier and Miss Ramsay brought off rather a surprise by beating the Misses Macfarlane, S —6, G—3, in the final of the women’s championship doubles. The winners played a very steady game, and Miss Ramsay received every assistance from Miss Xapier, who has shown much improved form lately. In the junior singles, Miss L. Foberton beat Miss Ruth Taylor, 6—2, 7 —5, after a very good exhibition of the game. Both these players will prove formidable opponents to leading senior players in the near future. * * *■ - In spite of the heavy concession which Mesdames Tonks and Hickson (owe 15 1-6) had to give- to Misses Connell and Blakey (rec. 30), the match was extremely close, and they only lost in the third set, 7 —9. The handicappers have reason to congratulate themselves on providing such a

Stedman and Sturt made short work of Bartleet and Robson in the final of the men’s championship doubles, losing only four games in three sets. Sturt and Stedman were at their best and made some wonderful recoveries. Bartleet was distinctly off his game, and no doubt realises now that a round of golf before a tennis match is not good training. Robson was a different player from the days when partnered with Bartleet he won the Dominion Championship. He has* not taken the game seriously enough this season to expect to be able to produce • anything like his old form. Morrison Wins Four Events at Eden and Epsom M. M. Morrison must have created a club record this season. He won the championship and handicap singles and doubles. He beat V. R. Johns in the final of the championship singles. After being badly beaten in the first set he settled down and won the next three comfortably. His win in the handicap singles from owe 50 was particularly meritorious. Primary and Secondary Schools’ Games From the record number of entries received for the primary and secondary schools events, it is apparent that the game has how got a strong hold in the schools. There were no fewer than 120 entries for the girls’ singles, the entries for the boys’ events being slightly below this number. All the competitors displayed great keenness, and are undoubtedly anxious to learn all about the g*me. Xow is the time that these youn? people should be taken in hand and put on the right path as regards correct style and methods of stroke production. The association has already done a great deal in this direction 'but could go still further by enlisting the services of some of the older players who should be willing to devote some time in coaching the school children. School children should, if possible, be afforded an opportunity of seeing players with good styles in action as they can then form a mental image of

me manner :n which dinerent strok.es are produced, and this should be a great help toward developing their game along the right lines. * =£= * Visit of Hauraki Plains' Team A very enjoyable contest was staged between a local team and a team from Hauraki Plains on Saturday at Stanley Street. The country players s lost by 11 matches to 3. Although beaten, they were by no means outclassed., and in most cases ,rhe matches were closely contested. It is generally recognised that country players are keener than the majority of the city players, and any matches arranged by the association are always greatly appreciated by the country clubs. Success of Campbell Park Club Campbell Park Club won the B and C grade interclub championships, and was runner-up to Pukeora in the ID grade. Both these clubs enter into the competitions enthusiastically, and this, no doubt, accounts to a large extent for their success. The iinal in the ID grade between these t\Vo clubs provided as thrilling a finish as could possibly be witnessed. Barraekers from each club were present in full force, and cheered or sighed according as their side won or lost a point. Pukeora won the first set in the last and deciding match. In the second set the games went alternatively to the serves, until 5 all was called. It was the Campbell Park player’s serve, but he lost the first three points, making the score o—4o. By means of a service ace, a great drive and a wonderful smash he evened the score at deuce, only to lose the game and match eventually after deuce had again been called. The Pukeora players were carried off the court by their enthusiastic supporters. The Net-Cord Strode For many years the present rule of allowing net-cord shots has created a great deal of controversy. Sir F. Gordon Lowe, the well-known English player, claims that most points won by this shot are the result of flukes, and he is one of the latest advocates of the rule being altered and treating net-cord shots the same way as “nets” in the service. It is interesting to read the following opinion of “The Field” on the subject, as this English paper is regarded as a very reliable authority on all sporting controversies:—

“Mr. Lowe’s second proposal is to abolish the net-cord stroke, which lie describes as a Telic of barbarism.’ Surely in 1929 it is time,’ he pleads, ‘to alter the rule on this subject and make all “net-cords” which occur during a rally a “let.” as they have, since time immemorial, been on the service.’ “Players less competent to express an opinion than Mr. Lowe have pleaded

for this change. That they have pleaded in vain is all for the good of the game. 1 or what would it mean to replay all net-cord strokes? Firstly, it would place unconscionable penalty on winning drives, and there are many such, which merely graze the band of the net in their flight. The skilful Peter would be robbed at the expense of the lucky Paul. Secondly, for rules are not only made for umpired matches, but for all matches pursued on club on private courts, there would, in many cases, be a lack of unanimity as to whether the ball actually touched the top of the net. “Further, to replay every net-cord stroke would so extend the time of tournament matches, that an extra day to finish the meeting would probably be necessary. In any event, there would be an arbitrary interruption to many excellent rallies. Mr. Lowe does not appear to have considered his proposal from every angle. Xet-cords are Tubs of the court.’ galling and sweetening in turn: over a season their luck is evenly distributed.”