LAWN TENNIS Englishmen’s Good Start To Tour

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30045, 1 February 1963, Page 10

LAWN TENNIS Englishmen’s Good Start To Tour

(New Zealand Press Association)

TIMARU, January 31.

The English tennis players should feel confident of giving a good account of themselves against New Zealand in the first unofficial test at Dunedin tomorrow, for in the opening match of their tour at Timaru today, they won three of six games and brought about the defeat of the national singles champion, L. A. Gerrard (Auckland).

A gallery of more than 500 saw Gerrard, fresh from his victories at the Dominion championships, go down in three sets to the left-hander, R. Taylor. The well-built Englishman outclassed Gerrard, who became over-confident after an easy 6-0 win in the first set. and suffered some bad lapses in the second. From a spectator’s point of view, it was not a very bright match, most points being scored off service, a department in which Taylor was more than a match for the New Zealander. Against Robson, whom he beat in three sets, Cox, who is a left-hander, was faster off the ground on the forehand and more decisive in overhead work. However, a suspect backhand lost him many points when Robson concentrated on this weakness. The game did not rise to any great heights, but there were patches of brilliance, with Robson still playing an accurate and steady game. Crookenden, the only New Zealander to win a singles, had a hard game with the 17-year-old junior champion of the United Kingdom, S. Mathews. Long rallies and accurate smashing and lobbing were features of this match.

The first set was won by Crookenden, 6-3, buit Mathews, a son of the famous soccer player, evened matters in the second, which he took 7-5. Both players fought desperately for every point in the vital third set. Crookenden got away to a 4-1 lead, but the Englishman fought back to get within one game of his opponent after surviving 10 deuces. The Aucklander’s long reach and fine volleying told and

Mathews did not win another game.

The highlight of the day was the doubles play in which the New Zealanders proved the superior cbmbinations.

Results:— Singles.—M. Cox beat J. E. Robson, 6-2. 4-6, 7-5; G. Stilwell beat G. C. Judge, 4-6, 6- 6-2; R. Taylor beat Gerrard, 0-6, 6-1, 6-4; S. Mathews lost to 1 S. Crookenden, 3-6. 7- 3-6. Doubles. Cox and Mathews lost to Crookenden and Judge, 7-5, 3-6, 2-6; Taylor and Stilwell lost to Gerrard and Robson, 3-6, 10-12.