LAWN TENNIS

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 35, 5 November 1928, Page 8

LAWN TENNIS

NEW ZEALAND v. BRITAIN LOCAL TEAM OUTCLASSED ON FIRST DAY D. G. FRANCE SECURES ONLY VICTORY (By Telegraph. —Press Association.) Auckland, November 3. The visiting British tennis team met the New Zealand representatives in the first day of the test matches to-day under perfect weather conditions, and won five out of the six matches played. The New Zealanders, ' though plainly outclassed, were not disgraced, and play was not always so one-sided as the scores indicate. But they lacked the finish and the condition of the visitors, and were given lessons in courtcraft. - Particularly did the Englishmen excel in attacking play at the net, coming-in close at every opportunity, while in the majority of cases their opponents hung to theiback of the court, where they were more at home in long-range driving and placements. Austin and Gregory excelled among the visitors, playing with almost faultless style, finish, and strength. D. G. France was outstanding among the New Zealanders, securing, the only win for his side against Higgs. France played a, careful, heady game. Hi’s overhead work was very sound, and he most readily accommodated himself to the English style of game. There was an attendance of about 800. The teams were:— Britain: H. W. Austin, E. Higgs, J. C. Gregory. I. G. Collins. New Zealand: G. Ollivier, E. L. Bartleet, D. G. France, and N. R. C. Wilson. Austin Brilliant. It took 40 minutes for Austin to defeat Bartleet, and until the end of the first set the New Zealand captain hung tenaciously to the brilliant young Englishman. Austin took the first set, 6—4, after sustained driving duels. In the second set Austin maintained perfect control of his driving , on both wings, keeping Bartleet on the run. Although the Aucklander never gave up he was unable to capture a game. Gregory’s Revenge. Gregory reversed the result of his Christchurch match with Ollivier in most decisive fashion. In the first set Ollivier lost the first five games, but by strategy prevailed against Gregory’s pace sufficiently to score three games before the set went to England. Gregory hammered through the second set 6 —2. France Steady and Versatile. France’s steadiness and versatility carried him through in his match against Higgs, who netted most frequently, although his fast and shrewd placements showed what he is capable.-of when at top. France, after losingdhe first two games in .the first set, took it 6 —4, and the next 7—5. Wilson Fails to Last. Wilson did well to run Collins to three sets. In the first the: young New Zealander looked all over a winner, his poise and condition backing his forcc-

ful volleys from mid-court and net and effective placements to the sidelines. He took the first set 6 —4, but the next two went to his young English opponent 6—3, 6_l, Wilson appeared to lose his length, and Collins made a brave recovery to stabilise his game. Playing with remarkable judgment and far greater power than in the first set, his anticipation which lie then displayed nullified much of Wilson’s game, which liad proved so successful in the opening set. However, had Wilson maintained his first set’s play the result would have been very close., He was beaten by experience. The Doubles.

Gregory and Austin had a runaway victory over Bartleet and Wilson. Wilson was beaten continually in attempting ■to come in, and the combination of the Britishers was far more effective in covering the court than that of Bartleet and Wilson. The Englishmen won 6—2, 6—2. The contest between Higgs and Collins and Ollivier and France provided interest for half the distance, the New Zealanders winning the first set B—6,8 —6, after many brilliant rallies nt close quarters. France often excelled, but Ollivier was far from his best, and became worse ns the match progressed. France made heroic efforts. but"the smoothly-working combination of the visitors, their exploitation of the net game, and their steadiness, carried them through comfortably, 6—l, 6—2, in second and third sets. ■DETAILED RESULTS Following are the detailed results, English players mentioned first in each case. Singles. H. W. Austin beat E. W. Bartleet, (* 4 fj 0, E.’ Higgs lost to D. G. France, 4g-6. C. Gregory beat G. Ollivier, 6 —3. 6—2. I. G. Collins beat N. R. C. Wilson, 4 —6, 6 —3, 6—l. i Doubles. Austin and Gregory beat Bartleet and Wilson. 6—2, 6—2. Higgs and Collins boat Ollivier and France, 6—S, 6 —l, 6 —2. NEW ZEALAND CAPTAIN INTERVIEWED VISITORS DEFINITELY SUPERIOR Dominion Special Service. .. Auckland, November 4. The lawn tennis Test match games between England and New Zealand. were characterised by a definite superiority of the visiting team. Far below form through lack of practice at this early stage of the season, the New Zealanders were no match for the agile and accurate British team, Wilson being the only one to show any real form, although he tailed off towards the end. His match with Collins, the Scottish champion, was the most thrilling and spectacular of the afternoon. Austin-was master of the situation all through his match With Bartleet, who was properly off, while the hard-hitting . Gregory had matters almost his own way with the New Zealand champion,' G. Ollivier. ' After playing the first few strokes of his match against Bartleet, Austin complained to the. umpire that the voice of the: broadcasting man troubled him. “Can’t you have that man removed? he asked “It’s : absolutely impossible to play with him talking like that.” The man with the microphone was comparatively silent after that.

“Will Do Well in Australia.” B. L. Bartleet, captain of the New Zealand team, chatting after the day’s

play, said he thought the British team would do well in Australia, lhey were all tine players, and were now very nearly at the top of their form. “Austin was too hot for me,” he said. "He is a great player, and it must be remembered Hint he ran Lacoste to five sets. He has got a beautiful style, and his biggest asset is the fact that lie hasn’t got a weakness. At least, I couldn’t find one, he added, with 11 Ul 'tiie New Zealand team were very pleased with the exhibition given by Wilson “He was playing some brilliant stuff,” said Bartleet, “and his match produced easily the best tennis of the day. It is rather a pity we are not in oettci form, and not able to give the visitors a better game. But there it ,s -. ihe U® too good for us. and that s that. Be would have all liked very much to have met them when we were playiiit, better tennis. We may do better on Monday. Bartleet was very enthusiastic about the play of Gregory. lie mentioned, especially,'Gregory’s driving, and said some of his 'ground shots carried equally as much pace as those of Tilden, when he was here. “His backhand is- a beautiful stroke, and his all-round court-craft is excellent. I think Gregory was playing easily the best tennis of both teams on the day. He hits as hard as any international player I have met, said Bartleet. . - BROUGHAM HILL CLUB HANDICAP MATCHES Following are the results of handicap matches played on the Brougham Hill Club courts on Saturday:— Men’s Singles.-C Hesketh (26) beat C. Hain (28), 52-50 ;M, «• 1 t ) beat E. C. Wear " e 1 1 24) ;.*’ 0— Howe (18) beat K. Bauckham (32) oQ—--43; T. G. Williams (14) beat A Kingsford (30), 50—40; E. Ellison (26) beat S Crimp (28), 50—39; W. Smith (28) beat G. McLachlan (28), 5 ®7^7f 4 L A' West (24) beat W. Fisher (24), oO—3o. Men’s Doubles.—Holt ™d Barrett (28) beat Playne and Hitching (24), 50—46, P Williams and Barnes (18) beat 11. ami Roy Howe (10), 50-47; Bundle and Harbison (16) beat Holt and Barrett (28) 50 —43; P. Williams ami Barnes (18)’beat Kennedy and Ellison (22), 51 -49; McLachlan and Nicols (24) beat Kingsford and Smith (28), 50—46 ; C. F. and T. S. Williams (owe 5) beat McLachlan and Nicols (24). 50—41. Mixed Doubles.—Hesketh and Miss Yeoman (20) boat Wearne and Miss Hansen (20), 40 —30; Service and Miss Dorman (16) beat Hesketh and Miss Yeoman (20), 40—38; Kennedy and Miss Bennett (20) beat R. Howe and Miss Tucker (16), 40—38; P. Williams and Miss Kennedy (18) beat Jenkins and Miss Conibear (28), 41—39; Dobie and Miss Lapworth (fO) beat Harbison and bliss Hepburn (20), 40 —32; Pearce and Miss Nicholls (10) beat Service and Miss Dorman (16), 40—31. Ladies’ Singles.—Mrs. Stevens (14) beat Mrs. Crimp (26), 40—34; Miss D. Howe (4) bent Miss Yeoman (20). 40— 31'; Miss Wild (20). beat Miss Tucker (14), 40 —38: Miss Donnelly (14) bent Miss Lapworth (8), 40—31. Ladies’ Doubles.—Misses Donnelly and Kennedy (16) beat Mesdames W. E. Howe and Elias (12), 40 —32.

After thorough tests the Wellington Provincial Lawn Tennis Association has selected Ayres’ Championship Stitchless. Tennis Ball for their championship tournament this season. Insist on Ayres’.—Advt.

A poor tennis player often blames his racquet, rightly. Use a Slazenger, the choice of thirty-six per cent, of Wimbledon entrants last year, and improve your game. Use Slazenger Balls, too, exclusively used, at all principal international contests.—Advt.

RIFLE-SHOOTING

OLD NAVALS CLUB The Old Navals Rifle Club commenced the Hugo Cup competition at Trentham on Saturday afternoon over 800 and 900 yd. ranges. A good light and only a moderate wind made conditions fairly favourable for long-range shooting. At the 800yds. range some good scores were registered. Dep.-Pres. J. Pitt, with 40, was top scorer; Pres. W. Mcßain was next with 43; followed by W. Connibear and F. Monk with 44 each. The shoot at 900yds. proved, as it usually does, even under ideal conditions, that It is still the hardest range, and many a well-directed shot found its resting place in the hill without first of all going through the target. Experts consider that the reason for the majority of "clean” targets at this range is that marksmen creep too far into the black when sighting, thus causing the shot to go over the top At the long range, F. E. Franklyn, Dep.-Pres. P. Goldfinch, W. R. Kelly, Pres. W. Mcßain, registered 40 each; C. Hugo, T. McGill, L, Philpott, 38 each. The highest score off the gun was registered by Pres. W. Mcßain, with 85, and he was closely followed by W. R. Kelly 83, F. E. Franklyn, 82, and Dep-Pres. P. B. Goldfinch 81.

On the whole, the result of the day’s shoot was considered very satisfactory, considering that the programme was altered at the eleventh hour, also, that It was the club's first shoot over the long range this season. The scores are as follow:—

The positions in the first scries with one shoot to go are as follow:—J. Bell, 345; W. R. Kelly, 344; I. Shephard, 343: Dep.Prcs. P. B. Goldfinch, 342; F. E. Franklyn, 340.

KARORI CLUB

The Ka'rori Club fired its second shoot in the long ranges for the championship at 800 and 900 yards, and completed a fortnightly competition. Members found the wind very troublesome, owing to its changing so quickly. At the 800 yards range. Pres. 11. Croxton and H. Boon each returned a 48. an exceptionally good shoot on such a day, followed by D. Hayden 47. At 900 yards the shooting was not so high, the top score being made by H. Frankland 45. with B. Rockel 44. H. Boon wins the fortnightly for handicap men with 178 points, with B. Rockel 170 second.

F. Ching wins the scratch competition with 177 points, and Pres. H. Croxton second with 109 points. B. Rockel. a handicap man, made a good shoot, securing 90 points off the gun, one point above the club standard. The following are the scores: — ■ ■

800 yds. 900 yds. Hp. Tl. E. 15. Topp 43 37 8 88 P. W. Congreve 43 37 8 88 ,T. Bell 38 30 12 80 Pres. W. McBain .... 4.3 40 0 85 W. R. Kelly 43 40 o 85 M. Hugo 42 34 8 84 T. McGill 41 38 4 83 F. E. Franklyn .... 42 40 0 82 I. Shephard 40 35 7 82 W. C'onnibear 44 31 7 82 Dep.-Pres. P. Goldfinch 41 40 0 81 C. Hugo . 33 38 10 81 L. Philpott 30 38 12. SO E. Carter 42 32 r: 79 W. Fettes 33 34 12 79 F. C. Standidge .... 40 30 9 78 E. Woods 32 27 18 77 W. Hodder 32 29 15 70 ,T. . Stevens 38 27 9 74 F. Monk 44 27 1 72 Capt. J. Ross 29 32 10 71 A. Henderson 25 31 15 71 R. Mottrani 42 25 1 08 Dep.-Pres. J. Pitt .. 40 14 9 62 M. O’Grady 22 24 io 50

B Rockpl 800 000' yds. yds. Hp. TI. 46 44 :■ - - 90 D. Hayden 47 40 2 89 H. Boon 48 36 5 89 p Ching 1 45 43 - - - 88 IT Prnnkland 42 45 - ■ 87 Ti Poutnwera .■>••• 44 35 8 87 Bros. H. Croxton .... 48 37 85 ,T Bqrs • 37 42 6 8a L. A. Caldwell ...... 45 37 82 B Tnsknr ........... 38 35 0 82 L. II. R. Boon 40 41 81

H. Dore 39 32 9 80 R. C'augbley .. 44 35 7 79 J. McKelvie .... 41 32 78 A. V. Swatnson 46 32 — 78 G. Boddy .... 36 35 37 6 77 R. Potts 34 6 77 W. .1. Haase .. 36 40 «— 76 J. Grove 3!) 37 —■ 76 H. Keene .... 40 35 —- 75 Dep.-Pres. W. Judd 35 36 — 71 D. Elliott .... 33 26 10 69 L. Swalnson .. ...... 40 14 8 62