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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 13, Issue 11 (January 1, 1939)

Neil Edwards—

Neil Edwards

(Continued from p. 49.)

ures and retirements elevating him from ninth place. At the end of the season he had succeeded in reaching Number One position among Wellington players! He was chosen as Number One in the Wellington team to play Canterbury in the Wilding Shield contest, but lost both singles—to Angas and Barnett. In the Wellington open championship he was defeated by the veteran Don France, and in the New Zealand championship tournament lost to Bobby Pattinson (runner-up to A. D. Brown in the final). He won his club championship, but lost the final of the Wellington Champion of Champions to Denis Coombe. Playing in the Easter tournament he lost the final to Noel Bedford. Not altogether a successful season, but Edwards was in a transitionary period—he was remodelling his stroke equipment and preparing for better things to come.

So we come to the present season—Edwards's best to date. In ranking matches he has lost to Ferkins and Roussell, but in championships he has won the Wellington Open title and the New Zealand title.

Although “seeded” last season, i.e., so placed in the draw that he would not be called on to meet those considered to have the best chances of reaching the finals until the quarterfinals had been reached, Edwards was not among the select eight “seeded” in this year's national tournament. To win the national title he defeated four “seeded” players, a unique feat in New Zealand tennis history. Edwards, in the vernacular, was “a rank outsider,” according to those who “seed” the players, but his form warranted him being given a better chance of success.

In many of his matches, Edwards came from the back to win. Here I think is the secret of his success: he does not allow himself to get worried, no matter which way the tide may be running. Spectators at the national tournament recently concluded are unanimous that Edwards did not vary the tempo of his play; he allowed the other man to do the worrying and make the mistakes. Of such calibre are champions made. Instead of straining to produce something better when in arrears, Edwards realised that his play was good, and a continuation might see his opponent fall into an error. His psychology was correct. In each case, Edwards came from behind, without extra effort, to win the match. Would a younger player have shown the same common-sense?

With only three years of “big” tennis, Edwards has had few opportunities of meeting oversea players. His biggest match was against Stedman, the New Zealander, immediately after Stedman's return to New Zealand. Edwards won only three games in two sets, but learned plenty about the game.

“Stedman proved to me that our tennis is not fast enough,” said Edwards. I could not match him for speed and was all at sea. However, I met him in a friendly—non-competition—game later, and did much better. Were New Zealand tennis players given the opportunity to meet leading players at more frequent intervals—and allowed to play a series of games in succession—I feel sure our standard would improve.”

I asked him if he had ambitions to play at Wimbledon. He smiled when he answered: “I have ambitions. I would like to play at Wimbledon, if only to get experience and improve my game; but tennis is only a game and I have work to do. If ever I get the honour of being chosen to represent New Zealand abroad, and can get leave from employment, I would be thrilled. But, work will come first, and tennis next.”

There you have the true sportsman. He sees sport in its proper perspective. Win or lose, Neil Edwards will always remember that tennis “is only a game,” and when he goes down to defeat he will do so without any theatricals.

Using a 13 1/2 oz. racquet, Edwards has never been coached. He has not knowingly modelled his style on that of other players, but admits that, unconsciously, he may have developed a composite style based on strokes used by many star players. He has experimented with his strokes, and grips, and this season has changed to a partial “Continental” grip, instead of changing his grips when playing backhand or fore-hand.

His best stroke is the smash. “A natural stroke,” he explains. “I just hit the ball with all I possess.”

At the Newtown Club, Edwards plays on hard courts, but in inter-club and ranking matches plays on grass courts. He has a liking for the grass and finds that better stroke-control is possible. The hard courts do not produce the same tricky shots as are possible on grass and do not assist to speed up the game.

Edwards has not had the same success in doubles as in singles. A modest champion, he will not blame his partners for this lack of success. It has been said that Edwards is just as capable a player in doubles, but is in need of a partner. Such a statement could be made about any singles champion. Doubles play calls for two players with thoughts alike; two players who will help each other, encourage one another when things are not going right, and two players who prefer not to get the limelight. Neil states that the ideal doubles combination in New Zealand is Roussell and Ferkins. Two players with common interests and solid play. They may not be as good individually as others but, as a team, they are outstanding.

From the New Zealand Railways has come many outstanding New Zealand athletes. At the Festival of the Empire—the forerunner of the British Empire Games—Mr. W. A. Woodger, recently retired Railways District Traffic Manager, Wellington, was elected as New Zealand sprinter. Unfortunately, at a time when he was showing brilliant form, he contracted a chill, later developing into pneumonia, which prevented him from competing.

At the Olympic Games in 1928, the Railways were represented by Alf Cleverley, light-heavyweight boxer, and also had representation at the British Empire Games in 1938. Cecil Matthews, famous as the most outstanding distance runner in the British Empire, is a son of a Railway employee.

In golf, too, a Railway employee came near winning the prized Amateur Championship, Bill Riley, of the Locomotive Superintendent's Office, Wellington, being runner-up to Pax Smith in the national tourney played at Dunedin.

Neil Edwards must be added to this list—a list by no means complete—and New Zealanders will follow with interest the future sporting career of a champion who waited until he had developed a body to stand the strain of competitive play before embarking on strenuous sport. Edwards is not a veteran player—either in years or in actual play. He is a mature player, and there is need for such players in New Zealand representative tennis.