THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 4, 1940. ·
TENNIS
VETERAN
RUMJAHNS'
BRILLIANT COMEBACK Unexpected Victory Over The
The Tsui
Tsui Brothers SIRDAR DOMINATES "SKIP'S" FORECAST FOR TO-DAY
COURT THROUGH THREE SETS
By "ADREM”
ONLY ONE result was required to make the year 1940 the most noteworthy in the history of the Colony tennis championships and that was forthcoming yesterday when S. A. Rumjahn and H. D. Rumjahn beat the doubles hold- ers, the Tsui brothers, over five sets for S. A. to complete the "double.”
If Sirdar's win on Wednesday was surprising, yester- day's result can only be described as sensational, more es- pecially as during the first two sets, the Rumjahns gave no indication of any form that would win them a single set.
There is little doubt that the hero of brains to remember how to play an the tournament just concluded has attacking stroke. been S. A. Rumjahn. Not content with winning the singles crown, which was quite against the book, he car- ried his cousin through four sets yes- terday to give a display that must rank with any during his lengthy career.
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Although by the third set all Sirdar's strokes were in working order and he was obviously feeling quite sure of himself, I still find it difficult to un- derstand why the Tsuis failed to win the match without having to go fur- ther.
H. D. was obviously terribly un- happy. Everything he tried failed. He could not produce an attacking stroke for love or money; he found it ex- tremely difficult to win a service game. But still the Tsuis failed to clinch the issue.
In the last three sets he dominat- ed the court, scoring repeatedly with his forehand drive and displaying a touch of tennis genlus that was lacking in any of the others. The final result in favour of the Rumjahns was 4-6, 3-6, 6-3, 8-6, 6-4 and the closing stages of this match proved just as trying to the nerves as
It is possible that they slackened off the singles final-and that was badunconsciously, as they are so apt to do. .enough!
Whatever it was it cost them the title. Sirdar was the dominating figure on the court in the third and the fourth sets and any lapses on the part of H. D. were compensated for by the errors that now flowed freely from the rac- kets of both the Tsuis. Wai-pui was particularly bad overhead and both men made inexplicable errors when in perfect "killing" positions,
TENSE SET
It was a remarkable achievement on the part of the Rumjahns to win the
BRILLIANT
RECORD
The Rumjahn cousins have a remarkable record in the Colony doubles event. Their first suc- cess as a team in 1925, started a run of success which was not broken until 11 years later, when they lost the title to their oppon- ents of yesterday.
With Tsui Wai-pui in Europe in 1937, they scored another success but the Tauls regained the title in 1938 and retained it last year.
H. D. has also won the cham- pionship with O. Rumjahn.
two
match after dropping the first sets. In their heyday this was quite
a common occurrence but now that
they are both in the veteran stage, it is even more than remarkable.
Like the singles final, I cannot say that the tennis ever reached a very high standard with the possible ex- ception of the final set. In the other.
four, at no stage did all four players
touch their best form at the same time, consequently the rallies were not as long as might have been ex- ..pected.
RUMJAHNS OUTCLASSED
If anyone had offered me odds of 10 to 1 on the Tsuis after the first two sets, I should not have dreamed of taking them. The Rumjahņs in every phase of the game were outclassed; the Tsuis did literally as they liked. At the net they were unpassable. Overhead they scored winners at will. When their opponents attempted to adopt the initiative they tossed up perfect lobs, It is not surprising therefore that the Rumjahus made to look very inferior more so as H. D. could not get going, and S. A., evidently feeling the effects of his ef- forts on Wednesday, had to rack his
were
The fourth set proved the most tense of the four. The Rumjahns had a glorious opportunity of taking a 5-2 lead when on Tsui Yan-pui's service, the score was 15-40. They failed to win this game and the Tsuis drew up to 4-all, led at 5-4 and 6-5 but were unable to prevent their opponents from going out at 8-6.
In the final set the Rumjahns were definitely the better pair, H. D. im- proved out of all recognition and for the first time during the match was able to adopt the initiative. His drive he developed punch overhead. Even became surer, his volley crisper, and
stage the Rumjahns kept their mis- better, he held his service. At this
takes down to a minimum, whereas the Tsuis were still falling down on the simplest of shots.
Club de Recreio "A"
Kowloon B.G.C.
Civil Service
Club de Recreio “B”
Kowloon Dock R.C.
Craigengower
Kowloon Tong
Police R.C.
*Hong Kong Các.
*Kowloon C.C.
Kowloon F.C.
H.K. Electric
Prison Officers
Kowloon B.G.C."
FIRST DIVISION,
(58) v Craigengower
(~~)
(51)
(67)
V Kowloon C.C.
(52)
(69).
V Indian R.C.
(38)
(-)
v "Hong Kong F.C.
V Police R.C.
SECOND DIVISION
(67) v Talkoo Club
(52)
(70) V Kowloon B.G.C.
(63)
(56) V Kowloon F.C.
(72)
(-)
v *Club de Recreio
(-)
(-) v Civil Service
THIRD DIVISION
()
v *Indian R.C.'
(-)
(----)
v *Hong Kong C.C. ....
·(--)
(70)
v Hong Kong F.C.
(68)
(61) v Craigengower
(58)
.Figures in brackets denote the result of the corresponding game last year.
* Newcomers to this division.
LAWN BOWLS
CHAMPIONS SHOULD BEAT CRAIGENGOWER
By ""Skip"
AT HALF PAST THREE to-day no fewer than 336 men will be on the various bowling greens in the Colony ready to initiate the 1940 season.
SECOND DIVISION
Kowloon
Ours is essentially a social game, may just about pull it off. and no matter how the score is go- Dock ought to beat the Police, I think, ing or how we are playing, there is little to prevent a good time being had by all concerned; or should I have said by nearly all, for some bowlers play as if their whole life depended on the wood's ultimate destination. The more jovial of us, however, can afford to ignore these, though their attitude may be a little embarrassing
at times!
The big attraction in to-day's pro- gramme is the match between Club de Recrelo, champions for the last three years, and Craigengower.
The former were unbeaten last year matches. and have in fact won their last 28 The Valleyites have been practising assiduously during the last week or two.
Breaking even for four seasons up Amid great excitement, Sirdar to last season, the Portuguese team served in the last game and again, as he had done throughout, the victories, the larger of which, be it once gained the ascendency by their two four previous sets, won it for game, noted at the Valley. The Craigen- match, and another championship.
gower team is experimental to a cer- It has undoubtedly been Sirdar's tain extent and I do not think it will year, To have come back at his age, be strong enough to hold the King's after having to admit the superiority Park team. of the Tsuis for so long, is a remark- able achievement and one worthy of his fine record in Hong Kong sport.
1940 TENNIS HONOURS LIST
Colony, Championship-S. A. Rumjaḥn. Colony Doubles Championship-S
and H. D. Rumjahn. Club Champlonship-M; Pagh. Club Handicap-M. Pagh. (-30.3),: Club Handicap - Doubler-§;
OʻM
Deana and Ni-Spence (-4,6}+{ Club Mixed Doubles Handicap-T. A. Pearce and. Miss, J. Armstrong (B)
EVEN GAME
More even should be the game be- tween those friendly rivals Kowloon Bowling Green Club and Kowloon Cricket Club, on the former's rinks. Each won its home match last sea- son and I think a repitition of this may well occur this year.
Civil Servants will find the. Indians rather below strength and with home green advantage look sure of the points.
Club de Recreio have a difficult task against the Hong Kong Footballers but
There should be quite a needle match at Craigengower where Taikoo, will provide the opposition. These two teams finished second and third in this division last season, the former having the edge, and I only tip the Valley team on account of the ad- vantage which their green should give them.
Kowloon Tong defeated Kowloon Bowling Green Club last season but
with the latter's players all out to vindicate their selection, I think they may just win this time.
Another visiting winner should be: Kowloon Football Club, who will be opposed to a weakish Police team.
Cricket Club would no doubt like. to commence with a win but I fancy the Club de Recreio boys will prove player in Joe Prentice is turning out too strong for them. An old Shanghai
for the Cricketers and this left-hander will prove a more than useful man to Archbutt.
K.C.C. should have little difficulty in overcoming the Civil Servants who, apart from the skips, have little ex- perience.
THIRD DIVISION
It will be interesting to all to note how the Indians fare in their first. match: it would have been more encouraging for them to have play- ed their opening game at home but the venue has been altered so as to allow the junior cricket, champion- ship to be settled. I think Kowloon. Football Club should win this game as should the other home clubs in this divisione“.