THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 2, 1940.
TENNIS
RUMJAHN'S GENERALSHIP GIVES HIM FIFTH title Slows Up Game; Tsui Thrown Right Out Of Gear ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING GAMES IN TOURNEY'S HISTORY
(By "ADREM")
THE DREADFUL tennis served up hitherto in the Colony tennis championships was compensated for some- what yesterday on Stand Court of Hong Kong Cricket Club, where veteran S. A. Rumjahn created the biggest upset in the past decade in beating the champion, Tsui Wai-pui, over the whole distance, the scores being 6-8, 6-2, 6-1, 2-6, 6-3. Not that the tennis served up yesterday was good the contrary it was probably as bad as any this year the excitement of the closing stages, when both men strove desperately one to stave off defeat, the other to obtain
on
but
S. A. RUMJAHN
ARMY HOCKEY: FINAL
དྷྭ, ་
The final of the Army Large Units' Hockey Tournament will be played at Sookunpoo this afternoon, when Kumaon Rifles will meet the H.K.S., Royal Artillery.
The G. O. C. Major-General Gras- sett will present the Cup at the con- clusion of the match.
KWONG WAH SPORTS
The Kwong Wah Athletic Association are holding their Annual Sports on Sunday, at 10 a.m., on the Police Football ground, Boundary Street.
All members and friends are cordially in- vited.
4
Jewish Recreation Club beat Y.M.C.A. 7-2 at badminton last night at the Jewish Club. The only Y.M.C.A. pair to win were E. Zulauff and R. Johnston. A return match will be played on May 15.
that elusive match point → kept the gallery at a fever-pitch MANILA TOURING TEAM
of excitement.
No fewer than five match-points did Tsui save before he attempted a smash which landed off the court to end a match that for sheer excite- ment has probably never been equall- .ed in a Colony tournament,
In striking contrast to all previous games on Stand Court, seating ac- -commodation yesterday was taxed to the uttermost and I don't suppose - there were more than half a dozen seats unoccupied in either section of the court.
CONDITIONS IMPROVE
Conditions at the outset must have been rather trying to the players as there was a distinct glare, When the sun went down, however, it was ideal, the heat of an hour earlier giving way to pleasant coolness.............
of tennis yesterday would not have
As mentioned earlier, the standard
been favourably received in a club junior tournament and for that Rum- jahn was the chief cause.
.. of gear.
noticeable that
RUMJAHN'S SPECTACULAR COMEBACK
S. A. Rumjahn, in beating Tsui Wai-pul yesterday, prevented the Hformer champion from winning the title for the third year in succession. It is noteworthy that
S. A. last won the title as long ago as 1935, since when he has only been in the final once-in 1937 when Taul was in Europe and H. D. won the title.
Rumjahn's first title was secur- ed in 1927 and subsequent suq- cesses were in. 1932/3 and 1936.
strain of a five-set match.
and
terms
WIN LAST MATCH
(By SPORTSHAWK.”)
AFTER A VERY THRILLING and well-contested match, Chung Hwa Girls' Basketball touring team from Manila, who played three full "quarters" without a single change, revealed their superiority to beat Hong Kong Stars by 15 points to 13, after leading by only one point (7-6) at the end of the first half.
a
The game was played before cappacity crowd at H. K. Chinese Y.M.C.A. last night in aid of the Chin- ese wounded and refugees. It may be recalled that the visiters were beaten by H. K. Stars in their first match by 27 points to 23.
ར
Miss Alice Chen, captain of the team, was very reliable and gave an excellent performance. She scored 4 points (one goal and two foul goals);
the only goal she netted was a very
clean shot at about 20 feet range.
Miss Josefa Go worked as hard as in her previous games and she defend- ed stoutly, giving Ititle scope to Hong Kong forwards. She also netted two foul goals.
any! When he saw an opportunity he crashed home a winner either' over- head or on the volley, but for the most part he was quite content to play the same game.
In the eighth game Rumjahn, on his own service, led 40-15. Tsui drew up and levelled, subsequently to take
set, rarely attempted to hit hard, and thus placed himself on equal with his opponent whom he might have beaten by speed
speed As I saw it he realised that the
alone.
He did have the better service, as only way to beat Tsui, by far the
final several useful aces in the
set better player in every respect normally, was to make him play
were witness, but it cannot be said that he was the master of Rumjahn in the game that least suited him. And that is what he did.
any other phase of the game. On very few occasions did Rumjahň
Nevertheless I think that it was as make any effort to
as speed up the much over-confidence anything rallies-rather he concentrated on that caused the champion's downfall. slicing and slow half-court shots When he pulled up from a deficit of which threw Tsui's whole game out 4-5 in the first set and eventually won it at 8-6, he appeared to have It was distinctly
overcome the unorthodox methods the game. when Sirdar did let loose a which Rumjahn was pursuing. Appar- In the ninth, the final game, Tsui drive, Tsui usually returned it ently content with having established had the lead but his opponent drew with interest. Consequently. [ his superiority, however, he was very up to deuce on a net-cord and failed do not think that Taui's defeat casual in the next two sets, probably with two. match points before Tsui can be attributed to the fact that refusing to believe that the former bungled his smash to end the strain he was off form but rather to
'champion could possibly stand the both to the players and the spectators. Rumjahn's fine generalship,
This match will probably go down Rumjahn's most impressive stroke
When he began to open up in the in history. in both his matches against his cousin, fourth. set and forced matters some-champion, apparently as firmly estab- In my recollection no was his top-spin forehand drive, with what from the forecourt, it appeared Ushed as Tsui, has ever been dethron- which he showed remarkable acthat he had the match in hand. curacy. Yesterday he preferred the He took this set at 6—2) and slice, which kept low and made a hard
once again appeared to have return a virtual impossibility. On no
established his mastery. occasion did he attempt. anything
When Rumjahn took the first two spectacular and in the second and third sets, which he won, it was chiefly on games in the fifth set, however, Tsui, who until how appeared quite confid- Tsui's errors that he secured his ent of the outcome, began to show points.
Sirdar, except in the last two sets, was never lobbing with his wonted accuracy, although when he did go, in to volley, he was seldom found want ing. In this connection special men- tion must be made of his spectacular TSUL PLAYED AT OWN GAME cross-court volleys on the forehand, usually made when Tsui was least ex-
a lead of 5-2, It was felt that pecting anything in the nature of an only a miracle could save Tsul from attacking shot.
defeat, and so it transpired. In the closing stages he resorted to pat-ball SPEED MIGHT HAVE WON methods, tossing the ball high in the disconcer by Sirdar's, pat-air and hoping for mistakes from hall and slicing methods
first Rumfahn.
atter was not having
some doubts. He secured the third game for 1-2, lost the next, drew up to 2-3, after Rumfahn had made a great effort to take a 4-1 lead, but there he stayed..
with
ed. It is particularly fitting that the man to accomplish this feat was Sir- dar Rumjahn, one of the most gallant and sporting figures
ever to have played any game in the Colony. CLUB HANDICAP :
FINAL
An interesting game was witnessed at the Hong Kong Cricket Club yes- terday, when the final of the Club Handicap Doubles was, decided.
Her co-guard, Miss Sally Wong gave her every support and stored one good goal (two points) in the second "quar- ter."
GOOD COMBINATION
The forwards, composed of Miss Alice Chen, Miss Victoria Tan and Miss Cary Ong, appeared much faster and stronger than the H. K. Stars. They combined very soundly with long and "short inter-passing and improved as
the game progressed.
Hong Kong turned out their full team except for Miss Lau Sui-kwong, who was not available last night.
The defence was rather weak and on many occasions allowed the visiting forwards to get into throwing range. caused much worry The forwards, however, did better and to the Manila guards.
and
THE PLAY Hong Kong opened the scoring through Miss Suen Yuk-ming, when she was awarded a free throw. The visitors were, however, given two similar opportunities, equalised took the lead through Miss Victoria Tan. Miss Lee Shun-yu registered a clean shot, shortly after one of her forwards was awarded a free throw, for Hong Kong to lead by two points. Near the end of the first half, Miss Cary Ong netted two goals in quick succession to place Manila girls in a returned with a goal through two points' lead. Hong Kong however, Miss Chán Chal-chan to equalise. The latter team were given a free throw and led 7-6 before the interval. tried hard but were unable to score
In the second "quarter," both sides.
until the last three minutes when Misses Sally Wong and Victoria Tan
*** (Continued on Page, 18)
THOMPSON'S SUCCESS
(21) and J. M. up: Moffat :
::(15) (ilkinson (15) three
G. Thompson. (22) won the second British War Organisation Fund com- B. O'M Deane and N. Spence petition at Fanling in March and April, (minus 4.5) won, beating C. B with a score of five up. Other scores Nicholson and G. V. Hobbs by two were M seta to one, after losing the first set.
Nicholson was unfortunate to sprain and G♬
SCORE
and C.") B. O'M Deane and N. Spence (-4.5) (18) (twice beat C. B. Nicholson and G. V. Hobbs
4-6, 6-8 and 6-9-0
his leg.
(16) two up Barce
·ong