1940-03-12 — Page 17

THE CHINA MAIL, MARCH 12, 1940.

COLONY TENNIS

MOST

LOCAL

Page

IMPRESSIVE

DEBUT

Umetani Displays Brilliant Form At H.K.C.C.

HUSSAIN'S BIG LEAD IN TENSE FIRST SET

(By "ADREM")

[O. Umetani beat S. A. Hussain 9--7, 6-2.]·

THERE WERE SOME sparkling rallies in the Colony singles tennis tie played yesterday at Hong Kong Cricket Club between O. Umetani, the Japanese, and S. A. Hussain, leading K.I.T.C. player.

Recovering brilliantly from a very poor start, Umetani became accustomed to the difficult conditions and then swept through to a decisive victory, making one of the most

· auspicious local debuts for many years.

Full credit must also be given to Hussain, who touched his best, form at various stages to bring off some most spectacular shots. It was not for want of trying that he lost-on his performance yesterday he would have beaten many of the entrants in

the tournament.

Opening stages of the first set found Umetani struggling hard to gain con- trol of his strokes. He gave me the impression of being right out of pras tice and unused to grass courts. The low bound of the ball made it difficult to bring his flat-racket forehand drive into action and, on the occasions when he did try to hit hard, the ball almost invariably finished up near the screen.

At this period Hussain was in irre- sistible form and, with accurate driv- ing on both hands to either sideline, gave his opponent little time to make his strokes. Losing very few points, Hussain swept through with the ut- most ease to lead 5-0 and it looked any odds on his winning the set.

A.CHANGE

TENNIS SCORES AT A GLANCE

OPEN SINGLES Maraland Ма boat A. R. Kitchell

11-0, 0-3.

O. Umetani beat S. A. Hussain 97,

6--2.

CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP L. M. S. Lloyd (-2/8) beat H. D.

Bidwell (-2/6) 6—8, 9—–—–7.

J. S. Theobald beat V. R.

11-9, 3-6, 6-3.

Gordon

CLUB HANDICAP DOUBLES A. Lade and G. W. Sewell (-6/6) boat

M. Pagh, and · E. Zulauf (-30.1) 86, 3

W.

G. Harvey and. A.-CH, Barwell (scratch) beat C. C. Stark and C. M. Stark (3/8) 6-4, 6-1.

ARMY SPORTLIGHT

(By “SQUADDY")

THE Third Division of the Football talent to put up a show in both Divi- League is not yet complete but twosions but "The best laid plans of mice of the teams have managed to finish and men gang aft aglae" and the crisis off their matches to schedule. These was the fly in their ointment. and curiously enough they are con- are the 24th Bty. R.A. and R. Signals cerned in opposite ends of the League table. R.A. have been fighting to get to the top and Signals fighting to get away from the bottom! The situation regarding the Gunners' position is

Some of their first team were sent away with the result that players had to be drawn from the second team to fill their places. Both team's therefore, were weakened considerably, and the Third Division team was the one that suffered more. Towards the end of the season other units were probably to sit back and wait for RA.S.C. to surprised to see one or two of their complete their fixtures. Whether they Second Division players in the Third win the championship or not they de-Division team but this, I understand, serve credit for the good performance was the result of the players being ' they have put up throughout the sea-reinstated to fill in further vacancies

common news now and they just have

son.

which had occurred. Signals have had no complaints from other units so this swopping about has evidently been taken in the true spirit- which, of course, is as it should be.

Signals have succeeded in their ef- forts to avoid the foot of the table and their case is rather a peculiar one. They are only a small unit side and were rather venturesome when they entered one team in Second Division THE M/X had to drop out of both and one in Third Division. It was con-

cricket competitions owing to milj- sidered, however, that they had enough|tary duties and the C. S. Units who were to have met them in the Large Units. K. O. on Sunday received a walk over into the final of the com- petition, which takes place on March 23. The second competition M/X had to scratch from was the S.U.K.O. and this gives the RE.'s entry into the semi-final on March 16, when they will meet the winners of Signals V R.A.O.C. which takes place on Thurs- day.

TO-NIGHT'S BADMINTON

JUNIOR PLAYERS SHOULD DO WELL

(By "ADREM")

Two combinations

ships.

in

from

**

Tuesday on the occasion of their

carried the issue further. His drives

RAMC, ran riot against R.A.S.C. on were not lacking in pace but they "B" Division of the Badmin-s. U. Rugby League match. The Ser were rarely deeper than half or three-ton League will provide the vice Corps were no match for their. quarter court, and his opponent had

fast-moving opponents and went down little difficulty. in returning them. On attraction

to-night's to the tune of 37 points-to-unil-Medi- occasion the K.I.T.C. player was bril- Colony badminton champion-cals brought Capt. Barclay in at full A change came over the match from liant, varying his length and pace with the sixth game, however, as by that great skill. He also pulled out some time Umetani was finding his touch. nice passing, shots but was not equip- His drives were made more confident-ped for a forecourt attack as his vol- ly and were of such a length as to leying was most erratic.""

with the experience of forecourt, where he brought off sever-conditions obtained yesterday, should al crisp volleys.

do very well against the best in the Hussain's most accurate drives were Colony. picked up with ease and returned with interest. Although requiring one more game for set, So for did Umetani dominate matters that I can- not recollect the K.I.T.C. player ever getting to set point.

enable him to force the issue from the!

only

As was inevitable, Umetani levelled the scores. Hussain made a big effort in the next game and led 6-5 but that was the last occasion in this set that he was again in front and 'Umetani went out, in the 18th game in a most❘ entertaining set.

Hussain again started well in the second set. He took the first two games and, made a great effort to win the third but Umetani staved off the challenge and went out for set and match without losing another game.

In the later stages of the match, Umetani was at his bestand a very good best it proved to be. His fore- hand drive was very accurate and of perfect length and yesterday paved the way for most of his net attacks. He slices his backhand but for the most part it skims the net with pace and 'control;:

Umetani,

TO-DAY'S MATCHES

Open Singles J. L. C. Pearce v Peter U (1).

Open Doubles Wong Hok-nang and Lee Chi-man v T. C.

Monaghan and T. J. Gould (6).

Club Handicap Singles

D. M. Macdougall (~15.2) v P. W. Blyth (2/0) (6).

G. W. Sewell (4/6) v A. T. Dow (3/6) (7).

Club Handicap · Mixed ́Doubler

T. A. Pearce and Miss J. Armstrong (~15)

v Mr. and Mrs. G. C. Burnett (-15.2) (2)

Club Handicap Doubles

D. Lloyd and W. R. Lambert (scratch) J. R. M. Smith and D. J. S. Crozier

scratch) (4)~.

ADAMSON CUP

these

back, a position which this player Both are from St. John's, favourites filled with credit. Morgan, their regular for the Junior Badminton League title. full back, went into the threes and First match at King's College will be celebrated the move with a wonderful Eardley and Norman day's work. He started off with a drop between H. Smith, and J. J. Remedios and L. A. goal and followed up with two tries

in quick succession. Both' of Carvalho. The latter pair have al- ways been prominent in the Senior emanated from the Coombes-Whybro League, although this is their first ap-quarter which has become so danger- pearance together in the champion-ous of late. Not content with this he converted his own two tries. Later an ships, while Eardley and Smith, on the few occasions that they have been seen in action, have created a very favourable impression.

JUNIORS SHould win

:

Both the latter are extraordinarily hard hitters and, provided Smith does not become overawed by the occasion, I expect the junior players to win.

Similarly, I expect the steady Kwok brothers to prove too good for C. K Cheah and T. T. Chin, although the issue is likely to be carried to the third game.

he kicked two fine penalty goals given against R.AIS.C. for offside, thus com- pleting a fire day's work with a total score of 19 points: While Morgan was being kept quiet, Minney added two tries, Whybro one try and Wiggles- worth, one of their hard-working for- wards, one try. Minney converted three of these.

It was really a fine show by the Medicals and their display can be put down to fine team spirit and the fact that they know now to make use of their three-quarters. R.A.S.C. must be sympathised with for meeting this team when they were in such fine form, especially as the Service Corps at present have great difficulty in turn-

At Taikoo, F. Koh and C. Y. Yung, of Chinese Yould have little dif- ficulty against "H. T- Voo and K. Ling out at full strength. They must be Lul of King's.

7

The following Ja the draw, for the first round of the Adamson Cup Competition:

Bye, S, T. Butlin (12); G. E. Willerton J. (1) v E. Ebbage (18); T. J. Price (9) v F. Buckle (18); A. J. Macfayden (18) v |G, W. Reeve (13); D. Humphreys (7) v His volleying improved as the match Hugh Smith (8): G. Davies (10) v J, Forbes progressed and in the last few games (0)). D. S. Edwards. (3) y E. Tuck (14); was very piercing. Overhead he was bye, W. W. C. Shewan (7)){ de le erratic but nevertheless scored many points with his smashing which was never a half-hearted stroke.

18GAIN'S FINE SHOWING

fsgain, been able to maintain

PROGRAMME

'OPEN DOUBLES;

J. Remedios and L. A. Carvalho

H. Eardley and N. L. Smith.

· (King'A¬ College, 3.00: 2:00

congratulated on their keenness in turning out regularly with the odds against them.

THIS

win gives RAMC, the cha pionship and all Units will join

me in congratulating, them on their

C. K. Cheah and T. T. Chìn v. F. H. Kwok fine performance. On the completion

and bKwök.

(King's- College, 8.45 p.m.).

[of the remaining fixtures it is hoped

H.T. Woo and K. L. Luf v F. Koh and to arrange a match between the Med-

c. Y. Yung.

the first round is to be payed on or be fore March 24; the second round,APHI U semi-final, April 31; and final, April 26, Players are asked not to leave matches till with a score of 77-0 ~~ 68. - last available dato. The first in each brac ket is the challenger, and the winder.

"for the resnit.”

cals and a team picked from the best of the other Units concerned in the Eff© After the match the Cup will ented to the winners.

UND