N.Z. TENNIS PLAYERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 79, 5 April 1926, Page 7

N.Z. TENNIS PLAYERS.

THE TOUR IN NSW

SOME SUCCESSFUL GAMES

SYDXEY, April 4.

The New Zealand tennis team created a favourable impression in the opening matches of the tour against the New South Wales colts, sweeping the boards in the singles by six rubbers, 12 sets and 70 games to New South Wales' tally of no rubbers, no sets and 27 games, and scoring three rubbers, eight sets and 61 games in the doubles to New South Wales' tally of two rubbers, five sets and 54 games.

The ground was a trifle slow as a result of recent rains and possessed no terrors for the visitors. Seay impressed the critics with his left-handed display, his disconcerting forehand drive repeatedly finding Hofman out of position.

Wallace and Wilson gave excellent all-round court exhibitions, the latter keeping his opponent always on the tiptoe of expectancy.

Andrews and Smyth both won easily. They indicated something superior when pitted against the best players in the State next Friday. Andrews especially revealed glimpses of speed and versatility calculated to place him among the leading players when developed by conflict with the stars of the tennis firmament.

France, though not altogether faultless, was sound and reliable i!i each of his contests!

Summed up, the first impression of the visitors was good. Their services are fast and their returns are srond. They drove with force and exercised good judgment in placing. Superior combination by the local team explains the reverses in the doubles, which right till nightfall were brimful of interest to the small crowd unclaimed by the show or the races.

Details are: —

Singles—Seay beat Hofman, 6 —4, 6—2; Wallace beat Sproule. C—3, 6—4; Wilson beat Crouch, G—o, 6—2; Smyth beat Crawford. 6—l. 6—2; Andrews beat Colvin, 6 —2, 6 —4; France beat Dunlop, 6—2, o—4.

Doubles. —Smyth and Wallace beat Crouch and Sproule. G—3. fi—l; France and Seay beat Colvin and Dunlop. 6—l, 6—4: Smyth and Wallace beat Colvin and Dunlop, C—4, I—fi. 6— i; Crawford and Hofman beat Andrews and Wilson, f> —7, o—4,0 —4, G —o: Crouch and Sproule l>pat Franco and Rcav, I—6, o—2, 7—5. (A. and N.Z. Cable. 1

GRAND DUKE NICHOLAS.

SERIOUS MOTOR ACCIDENT.

(Uecpired 1.30 p.m.)

PARIS, April 4.

The Grand Duke Nicholas of Russia has been seriously injured in a motor accident.— ("Sun.")

EXPLOSION IN PRAGUE.

FOtJI PLAY SUSPECTED

PRAGUE, April 4.

The newspaper "Narodni Listy" states that the recent explosion in the main street of Prague, the capital of Czechoslovakia, when five wagons, fully laden with ammunition, were blown up, was due to foul play.

The newspaper asserts that a bomb, to which a time-fuse was attached, was deliberately included among the ammunition.

The perpetrator of the outrage is not known.—(A. and KZ. Cable.)

While the main street was crowded with promenaders in the lunch hour, live wagons, laden with ammunition, were blown up. When the smoke cleared away it was found that over 20 people had boon killed and over 100 others had been injured. Several houses were demolished. The explosion was due to a box of hand-grenades falling to the ground off one wagon and setting off the entire transport. Two soldiers were blown to atoms. Another one was hurled through a third-storey window. Glass, stones, bricks and masonry were scattered over a wide area. The hospitals were soon filled with victims of the explosion. Some of these had lost both legs. Horses, shockingly maimed, dashed wildly through the panic-stricken crowds. The animals had to be caxight and shot. Pedestrians were soon running through the streets with torn clothing and blood streaming from their wounds. The whole city seethed with excitement. The crowds were enraged because the munitions were alleged to have been transported in unprotected wagons.

THE SAAR BASIN

FRENCH OCCUPATION OVER

PARIS, April 4

It is announced that the Government has ordered the complete evacuation of the Saar Basin by French troops. The latter ■ have been maintaining order under a section of the League Commission until the local gendarmerie was recruited. This has now been done, and the local force has been organised. — (A. and N.Z. Cable.)