AUSTRALIAN SPORTS LETTER.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 33, 9 February 1928, Page 16

AUSTRALIAN SPORTS LETTER.

FRENCH TENNIS PLAYERS IN SYDNEY. BOROTRA'S DEFEAT OF CRAWFORD. BOXING OF PURDY AND TROWERX. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SIDNEY, February 3. A week of lawn tennis delight has been provided by the French trio, Jean Borotra. J. Brugnon and C. Boussus, at j Rushcutter's Bay courts, where thev have been opposed by the cream of Australia. To date, Borotra has survived all opposition to reach the final of the men's singles. The attractive Frenchman played beautiful tennis in all his matches and has won his way to Xew South Wales' heart by his sportsmanship and demeanour on and off the court. Borotra's first opponent was J. Fitzgerald, who was beaten 6—2. 6—3, 6—o. Fitzgerald's brilliant backhand driving made the Frenchman wary until such time as he retaliated by serving wide on his opponent's forehand and thus blocking the latters favourite stroke. It was the only successful way to meet the best backhand player in Australia. Another favoured counter was to take Fitzgerald's service on the rise and quickly following the return to the net, to end it by a brilliantly-angled volley. C. Sproule was Borotra's second challenger. Although the visitor did not show form equal to the opening day he won 6—2, 6—o, 6 —3. Frequently he lost games on his own service and the volleys, as a rul°. were uninteresting. In all his games Borotra haa ben amazingly quick in whipping round on a ball that has beaten him with the bounce and many times haa he been applauded for magnificent saves under these circumstances. Against L. E. Baker, the French champion had to play his hardest to pull the match out of the fire. Baker won the first set by irresistible play. His serving was acute and accurate and his speed surprising when he cut shore Borotra's attempted passing strokes. An amusing incident happened in the fourth game of the second set when Baker cut a ball short near the sideline. Borotra reached it by a quick bound but collided with the scoring board, knocking it on to R. C. Wertheim, who was reclining on the grass behind it resting after a hard five-set match with H. Hopman. Wertheim checked the board as it fell but Borotra was profuse in his apologies—so profuse that one would have thought Wertheim was a hospital case. A Wonderful Uphill Fight. Baker took the next set by hi 3 accuracy, but he began to feel the strain in the third and hi 3 strokes and footwork slackened. Borotra attacked more persistently with fewer errors, coming to the net at every opportunity on cut drives to his rival's backhand, crossvolleying the returns for winners or passing Baker at the net with perfectly controlled drives across the court or down the line. In the following games J Borotra used every device to outwit i Baker. Leading s—o in the fifth set I Borotra appeared to be very tired. He lost hi 3 service, but recovered in the rifext game, winning against Baker's delivery with a series of brilliant passing strokes to take the set and match after a wonderful up-hill fight. The score was I—6, 4—6, 6—l, 6—2, 6—l. , By far the severest test for Borotra was his match with Jack Crawford, the brilliant New South Wales colt, yesterday. The weather was most tiring, but Borotra's excellent physical condition carried him through. He was meeting the "hope" of Australian tennis under conditions most familiar to the home player, but world-wide brilliance triumphed over colonial experience. Crawford and Borotra were entirely different in manner. The Australian is cool and imperturbable. He never seems to hurry after a shot but generally gets to it in time. In this respect he appears to show less fighting spirit than the Frenchman. Borotra, where ihere is a chance, will chase a ball seemingly without the remotest chance of returning it and yet he will reach it somehow and score. Craw,ford does not do this to anything like the same extent. Before he can become a great player he must develop this ambitious enterprise and let no opportunity go begging. On yesterday's comparison he has quite as effective a serve as Borotra and his backhand is as much p. feature of his tennis as is Borotra's half-volley and net play, an invaluable scoring medium for him. The contest was mostly a battle from the baselines. Crawford was mainly responsible. He kept Borotra on the long shots as much as he could, but Borotra angled for Work nearer the net and any overhead 'shots he made were always "kills." Yet, Crawford frequently laid himself bpen to attack from this quarter. A Thrilling Game. Nevertheless, Crawford's feat against such a great player was remarkable. | The first set went to the Australian at 6—4, through his superb placing. Borotra ook the second, 6—3, with severe smashing and volleying at the net, but Crawford has his own way in the third with inspired play, and ran out 6—l. Both were at their best in the fourth. Crawford, keeping beautiful length and placing superbly, ran to a 2—l lead. Borotra evened with volleys, but Crawford improved to 4—3, leaving him Standing at the net with superb drives and half-volleys. Leading 5—4, Crawford played safe and Borotra jumped to it to win the set 7—5. This was the turning point. The "bounding Basque" bounded more than ever and, although Crawford got to 4 —5, he could score no more and was defeated in a thrilling game, 6—4. The tally was 4—6, &—3, I—6, 7—5, 6—4.

Of course, Borotra is the star of the French team, but nevertheless, Brugnon and Boussus have also played impressively. It was not because of inferior tennis that they were eliminated in the third round. Brugnon had a victory over H. Coram before he was defeated by B. O. Cummings, 6—2, I—6, 6—2, 9—7. Cummings succeeded by concentrating on * vulnerable spot in Brugnon'a game 'when deep-angle shots were 'd&ected to tte backhand

after he had been forced out of position with drives to the other side. Once Brugnon collided with a ball-boy and, when the umpire ordered the shot to be replayed, protested that he would not have succeeded in any case. He made no attempt to play the following service. Boussus, after beating R. Ford, met his victor in R. E. Schlesinger, 6—2, - —6, "2—6, (i—o, (5—3. Boussus' early lead was due to severe cross-court driving to Schlesinger's backhand. However, the Australian conquered by altering his methods again.-t the left-hander. Auckland Boxers Still Popular. To be a "Saturday nighter" at Sydney Stadium is the ambition of every boxer in Australia. It means fust-class ranking, a generous portion of the receipts, and the promise of better things to come. Ihus, as far as Charles Purdy is concerned, the Aucklander is on the royal road to success. Better still, he has pleased the crowd and critics, one and all. Grant that he is far more belligerent than he has ever been. On no previous occasion in Sydney, or Australia for that matter, has Purdy showed to better advantage than on Saturday night in his drawn bout with Ernie Izzard. The Aucklander was right on form in his bouts with Johnny PilkiDfton some weeks ago, but even then he did not force matters and go after his man to the extent that he did against Izzard. Ihe latter is virtual lightweight champion of England, and has a fine record. Mason, who took the title from him through Izzard declining to go on at Holland Fark when a riot seemed imminent, refused to meet him again, and handed back the Lonsdale Belt. Besides, Izzard beat Mancini. who won every tight he had in America, although it is most difficult for a visitor to triumph there. Judge, then, the merit of Purdv's display "and the fact that he went the full distance to be considered the better man in many quarters. Purdy, who weighed 9st 7]lb, conceded Izzard half a pound.

As is so often the case when swift movers meet, the bout was not outstandingly exciting. There was none of the breathless moment of wrestling, but nevertheless it was a treat to watch the sparkling action of the "jazz artists" as thev glided beyond each other's reach. Too ofteu, however, were they in clinches, and keeping the referee on the move. In close, Izzard was the better tactician. He defended well, and employed a well-delivered left with splendid precision. At the best of times Purdy is a hard mark to hit, and as he was at his best on Saturday it will be realised how difficult was Izzards task. But the Englishman led in the early rounds in spite of Purdy's fourthround superiority. The fight became more vigorous toward the end, Purdy making up all leeway, although in the twelfth Izzard rushed him through the ropes. When the referee gave his decision there was a mixed reception in favour of New Zealand's ex-lightweight champion, but the fight was so close that the men could hardly be separated. A return fight seems certain.

Although Reg. Trowern, Auckland's second boxing representative in Australia, has not attracted the same notice as Purdv, he has earned a good name, and is still sought by stadium managers. Recently Trowern beat Barnes in Melbourne. On Wednesday evening he met Jimmy Pearce, of Newcastle, at the Stadium. Pearce was a good representation of the Newcastle coal miner. His burly frame overshadowed Trowern, and made his weight advantage of 71b appear even greater. In the first stage Pearce promised to be too strong for the lighter-framed Aucklander, and for five or six rounds he had a clear lead on points. But even a sickening righthander in the ninth could not depose the plucky Trowern, and he kept up a fusillade of blows to the head and body. By the twelfth he had magnified' the Newcastle fighter's weakness, and had him down twice. Pearce went outside the ropes for eight through a left rip to the body and a furious twohanded attack when he returned sent him down again for the same time. Now after a tired opponent, Trowern' increased the advantage, and the last! three rounds left no doubt as to the success of pugnacity and an iron body. Trowern has not reached the same prominence as Purdy, 'but he is very popular with those who admire pluck combined with a fair amount of skilL

Dominion Swimmers' Programme.

On Saturday next (February 11) the New Zealand champion lady swimmers, Misses Ena Stockley and Kathleen Miller, are billed to swim in the 100 yds and 440 yds New South Wales ladies' championships. Competition of the keenest order may be expected in the State events, and they will practically amount to Australian salt-water tests, for New South Wales' ladies are easily the pick of the country's swimming talent.

The 100 yds will attract a first-class field, with the two visitors opposed by Edna Davey, Ettie Robertson (Australian title-holder), Thora Dennis, Violet Armstrong and Betty Taw. Misses Davey and Armstrong have recorded very good times this season, and will be hard to beat. The New Zealanders are also in fine form, and it is certain they will better the fresh-water records they created in Dunedin a week or so ago. The Domain Baths are much faster than the Dunedin pool. Last time New Zealanders were the guests of the Ladies' Association in Sydney Mis 3 Stockley was first, and Miss Piri Page second, in the Australian 100 yds in the Domain Baths. It remains to be proved whether this feat can be repeated. The record of 6m 3 2-5s should go Ti. SSeS Miller and Davey contest the 440 yds. Miss Miller's 6m 9 2-5s at Dunedin is much better, comparatively, than Miss Dayey's 6m 12 3-5s for the 400 metres Olympic test at Manly Baths, and I feel sure the Dunedin champion will score, as she has never been in better fettle. Her 2m 51s for 220jds, if repeated, will win her the Australian title also.

From Sydney the visitors go to Melbourne for the Australian championships. These will be a repetition of the State events, with the same girls competing, but they will be decided over shorter laps than 110 yds, and in fresh water. Additional events are the 220 yds free-style and 100 yds backstroke.

The 220 yds free-style and 100 yds backstroke State championships will be swum off on the return of the teams to Sydney, and the New Zealanders will then visit Wellington (New South Wales).