1938-05-16 — Page 19

THE CHINA MAIL, MAY 16, 1938.

Borotra's Views On

Cup Scheme

The Biennial Idea Is 'Heart-Breaking'

WOULD BE BAD THING FOR AMATEURISM

(By "A. WALLIS MYERS")

London, April 19.

MY recent articles about the proposal to "bien- nialise" the Davis Cup-a proposal which the American founders of this world competition are strongly resisting-have drawn a sympathetic let- ter from M. Jean Borotra, one of the famous "Four Musketeers" of France, and probably next year's president of the French Lawn Tennis Federation.

"IS IT POSSIBLE,” HE WRITES FROM PARIS, “THAT THE DAVIS CUP TRADITION, WHICH HAS DONE SO MUCH FOR THE YOUTH OF MY OWN COUNTRY AND HAS SPREAD THE GAME ALL OVER THE WORLD, BRINGING SO MANY NATION- ALITIES TO WIMBLEDON, IS TO BE INFECTED WITH THE REVOLUTIONARY SPIRIT OF THE TIMES AND BE BROKEN? I CANNOT BELIEVE IT. IT WOULD BE HEART-BREAKING.” Having competed in more Davis Cup matches than any player, living or dead, Borotra's opinion as to the value of the competition, both in recruiting players and in promoting international team cham- pionships which engender good will, deserves every attention.

He declares that France will never accept the every-other year. principle so long as the United States, which he describes as the nursery of champions," uphold the annual tradition. As well hold Wimbledon every two years!

WHY THE L.T.A. SUPPORT

Borotra believes that the British L.T.A. have been induced to sup- port the biennial proposal, which was first put forward by South Africa, because of their anxiety to protect young amateurs from interruptions to a working

the

career

cohesion, and perhaps their enthus- iasm. It would be a bad thing for

amateurism."

In his heart of hearts, I am sure, Borotra does not believe the bien- nial plan will ever go through. Nor do I.

which several months' Davis Cup BRADMAN AGAIN

campaigning might involve.

"If this is their fear."-he-says,

REACHES

"I do not think the solution is to DOUBLE FIGURES

be found in making the competition

are.

So

a biennial event. There many good sportsmen in England who should be willing to release a young employee for the necessary time, recognising the educational

Close Of Play Cricket Scores

London, To-day.

Davis

Jean Borotra, the "Bounding Basque," seen above, gives his opinion on the question of making the Davis Cup series à biennial event, in the adjoining article.

Mixed Double League Commences To-day

-

THREE INTERESTING MATCHES

HREE interesting matches in the Mixed Doubles League to-day will set the ball rolling in the 1938 Lawn Tennis League season, and some interesting play should be witnessed, especially at Cox's Road, where the strong Chinese Recreation Club team, who are fa- voured in many quarters to win the title, visit Kowloon Cricket Club “A,” who also have a fairly strong team.

Much interest has been aroused over two of the new entries, the Hong Kong Cricket Club, and the Ladies Recreation Club, who clash on the former's courts. In the third encounter to-day, the United Ser- vices Recreation Club, holders of the title, meet K.C.C. "B."

TO-DAY'S TENNIS

PROGRAMME

The following is to-day's Lawn Ten- PLAY SHOULD BE CLOSE

nis League programme:-- In all three of to-day's matches, with the possible exception of the K.C.C. (A) K.C.C.. "A"-C.R.C. match, play H.K.C.Č.

should be very close.

-Chinese-Recreation Club_look_U.S.R.C.. very strong on paper, but they will come up against three well-balanc-

and, ed pairs, in K.C.C. "A" upset at this stage of the League, is not altogether out of the ques- tion.

an

"The Hong Kong Cricket Club

value of world travel, and the fact At Lord's, before a capacity look stronger than Ladies' Recrea- that winning and holding the Davis crowd of 32,000 spectators, the tion Club, and should win comfort- Cup brings prestige to the nation." gates having to be closed,

the Australians put up another mam THROUGH DAVIS CUP moth score in their match against

the M.C.C., on Saturday. Borotra himself became a captain | At the close of play their score of industry partly through bring-was 428 for 5, to which Don Brad- ing into his own business the energy man contributed 257 not out and which he has so often exhibited on Hasset 57. court that is to say, he became a better business man through his Davis Cup training-and partly through the opportunities for travel which lawn tennis offered. Borotra worked hard off the court as well as on it..

The following were the close of play cricket scores:-

་

·

At Lord's: M.C.C. v. Australians. Australians 428 for 5 (D. G. Bradman

257 not out, A. L. Hassett 57). At Nottingham: Notts v. Sussex. Sussex 307 for 2 (Jim Parks 131 not

out, Cox 101). At Cambridge: the University v. Northants. Cambridge 209. Northants 96 for 4. At Gloucester: Yorkshire. Yorks: 266 (Sutcliffe 110), Gloucester: 20 for 0.

Gloucestershire

Finally, he makes the point that if the governing bodies of the game were foolish enough to cut the Davis Cup in half they would not only cripple an institution which has been of such inestimable benefit to themselves, but they would be -- unwittingly, of course-assisting Warwick: 215 (Clay 5 for 59). the promoter of promicuous pro-Glamorgan: 67 for 4. fessionalism.

At Birmingham: Warwickshire Glamorgan.

v.

At Ilford: Essex v. Lancashire. Lancs:: 491 for 8 (Iddon 114, Oldfield

115).

-Reuter.

MORE CIRCUS TENNIS

"There would be more circus ten-

This year you see a Scots team built

core derived from Preston! round nis," he says. "Davis Cup teams,

North End. But Preston is a good trained and organised by the asso Scots name-Proston Fans, you remem- ciations, would tend to lose

their ber-C. B. Fry,

ably, but I cannot say the same of the U.S.R.C., who look, if anything, weaker than their visitors...

The following are to-day's teams:-----

TO-DAY'S TEAMS

W. C. Hung and Mrs. Enid Lo- Litton.

Tsui Wai-pui and Mrs. Chiu Chun-

chiu.

Paul Kong and Miss Yeung Wai--

pan.

K.C.C. "A" TEAM

E. C. Fincher and Mrs. Williams. E. F. Fincher and Mrs. Burnett. G. C. Burnett and Mrs. Clarke.

K.C.C. "B" TEAM S

A. E. P. Guest and Mrs. Knight. S. A. Gray and Mrs. Sweeney.

G. E. Clarke and Miss V. Bradbury.'

1

H.K.C.C.

Mrs. J. P.

H. Owen Hughes and Mrs. Findlay. H. J. Armstrong and Whitham.

T. A. Pearce and Miss D. Dodwell.

A LADIES' R.C.

+1.

J. J. Ferguson and Mrs. Waddell. Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Storey. N. Bailton and Mrs. Oliver, or Miss E. Abrahams, or Mrs. Hyde Lay.

U. S. R. C. AT L. Goldman and Miss A. Tylor Cdr. E. G. A. Clifford and Miss M. Grimths.

Lt. D. C. Misra and Mrs. K. E. Holmes,

V. C.R.C.

v. L.R.C.

_v.__K.C.C._(B)_

YESTERDAY'S BASEBALL

RESULTS

Recreio lost their unbeaten record in the Baseball League yesterday, when they were beaten by 6 runs to 1, by the Hong Kong Baseball Club, at Caroline Hill.

In the first game the Chinese Base- ball Club avenged their defeat of last week, when they accounted for the U.S.S. Mindanao by 11 runs to 4.

NORTHAMPTON'S NEW

PLAYER

Northampton Town have secured the transfer from Everton of Patrick Hurel, the inside-forward who went to Goodison Park from Jersey. two' sen- sons ago. He is 20.

CHILDREN

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