LAWN TENNIS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 32, 8 February 1939, Page 4

LAWN TENNIS

COMMENT ON RESIDENTIAL CHAMPIONSHIPS. (By A. Noble Campbell.) It is with great regret that we record in these notes the death of Mr. W. A. Izard, of Wanganui, and tennis is poorer by his passing. Mr. Izard was a vice-president of the Wfmganui Lawn Tennis Club, an old member of the committee when the courts were situated in Campbell Street and one of its leading players prior to the war. No tournament or match held on the Wanganui courts was missed by Mr. Izard and he was, right up to his death, one of its keenest supporters. Mrs. D. W. Earle, his eldest daughter has held many Wanganui titles, and Misses Suzanne and Grace Izard are young players of promise.. All players will extend to Mrs. Izard and her family their sincere sympathy in the death, of a great sportsman. Good progress was made in the residential championships during the week-end and the semi-finals and finals will be contested this coming week-end. The courts are showing signs of lumpiness and irregularities of bounce of the ball due to the great amount of play in recent tournaments and the winds that have played havoc with the baselines. However, the Wanganui Club does not possess these drawbacks on its own and heavy rain and a good rolling will work wonders.

In the men’s singles nothing untoward happened in the first round, but the second round did produce a surprise or two. Earle, who was playing very indifferently, just

scraped home against K. Craig and E. Tippins defeated J. Finlayson in straight sets. I expected Finlayson to do much better but to give the winner his due he certainly played well, and for a change played an attacking game and did not allow Finlayson to get into his stride. Now that Tippins has played that type of game it is to be hoped that he will relegate to the discard his old stonewalling methods. C. Fenwick had a long game against R. Broad and managed to get home in the third set and entered the semi-final by accounting for Tom Latham. Fenwick is probably the most promising lad we have had for some years but his shots lack pace and he has not yet acquired tennis tactics. He too often is content Io keep the ball in play instead of trying for placements. Hay Campbell met L. Mailman for the third time within five weeks and won in straight sets. He also entered the semi-final by defeating Mr. L. Lampe rather easily. The winner played really well and did not allow Lampe any quarter. Lampe is a great lighter and has to be congratulated upon his match playing qualities but he is not as young as he was and consequently not as agile and accurate as a few years ago. He is still ? force to be reckoned with, however, and will continue to be so for a few more years, but his doubles play is now stronger than his singles prowess. Leo Udy is playing himself into form but Earle took him to three sets and it was the best men’s singles of the series. The four senior finalists are Udy v Tippins, Hay Campbell v. Fenwick.

The present residential champion Miss Margaret Purcell, had to lower her colours to Miss M. Clarke in the two sets. Miss Clarke Is a very steady player and she outplayed Miss Purcell in that department. It has been stated here before that Miss Purcell’s backhand is too weak and incorrectly played and it was this stroke that let her down. The heroine of the meeting was Miss Joan Coull. She played a marathon against Miss I. Glover of 41 games and an hour later defeated Mrs. Don Evans in 33 games. This was an excellent achievement considering that both Miss Glover and Mrs. Evans are represetnative players. Miss Coull still lacks sufficient pace with her volleys and although she places well her stroking needs to be hurried a bit more as she too often delays over her shot and allows her opponent time to regain court position. Miss Peggv Wylds by defeating Miss Coull advanced to the final against Miss M. Clarke and this meeting should be an interesting one in as much that Miss Wylds has held many Taranaki titles but is a newcomer to Wanganui residential fixtures. She is diminutive but hits her strokes cleanly with plenty of pace. * ¥ * » The men's doubles did not produce any surprises nor any good tennis, in fact some very poor exhibitions. 'Those who should have won in straight sets were led to three sets and there was a definite- lack of sting in the play. Reg Hoskins, of St. John’s however, was easily the best performer and his exhibition with C. Beadle against Hay Campbell and O’Toole could not have been improved upon. He was everywhere on the court and volleyed and smashed in great style. Play in the ladies’ doubles could be defined as typically of Wanganui type. Long baseline duels, weak volleying and drab tennis characterised the games. Of course there were a

few bright patches but too few. The art of doubles among women is not high in Wanganui and the reason is hard to find. Possibly players oppose each other too much but I am inclined to think that they play doubles on the singles game theory instead of working together as a team. Really extensive practice will soon develop any doubles combinations but the players concerned must learn to volley and smash and that is where our players fail. * ¥ * * The combined doubles were not advanced as much as other events and it is still very open. No outstanding match was seen and all the best pairs survived the first round. * * * * Jack Kidd" and O. Welsh are two lads who must play singles against each other at least every day of the week and they are the finalists in the B grade singles. This match should be very interesting and Kidd should win if he continues in form. The women’s B grade singles attracted a very small entry for some reason or other and Miss F. Jones, Okoia, is a finalist. This event should be the most popular on the pro-

gramme for in Wanganui there are enough B grade players to make it a success. These players of our fair city are either lacking in interest or cash, probably the latter, but a fee of 4s for an event is not very much. The sole selector of the W.L.T.A., Mr. D. G. O’Toole, was an Interested spectator at the residential and as the Taranaki representative matches in both A and B grades are to be held on Saturday fortnight, the personnel of the teams will soon be selected. It is to be hoped that the teams will be announced shortly to allow doubles’ combinations to be tried out early.