WILDING SHIELD

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 145, 16 March 1931, Page 10

WILDING SHIELD

High-class Tennis AUCKLAND’S WIN Wellington Outplayed By 9 rubbers to 3, 21 sets to 11, and 167 games to 134, Auckland defeated Wellington on Saturday for the Wilding Shield, “the Davis Cup event of New Zealand,” as Mr. C. G. White termed it, when presenting the shield to Mr. E. L. Bartleet, manager and captain of the Auckland team. The weather on Saturday was again perfect, and the courts on the Association grounds at Miramar could not have been bettered. The gate takings constituted a record for Wellington. Trailing by two rubbers to four on the first day’s play, Wellington faced a heavy task on Saturday. To win five of the six rubbers played proved, indeed, an impossible task, although Wellington’s third and fourth players produced a higher standard of play than they did on the Friday. The outstanding performer of the series was D. G. France, who, by his defeat of the New. Zealand champion, showed that he is the best player in New Zealand to-day. Following are the detailed results, Wellington players being mentioned first: — Singles. D. G. France beat A. C. Stedman, 5—7, 6—2, 6—4. A. L. France lost to E. L.. Bartleet, - R. McL. Ferkins lost to N. G. Sturt. 6* —3. I—6,1 —6, 2—6. . N. R, Smith lost to M. Morrison, 6 —l, 4—6, o—6. Doubles. D. G. and A. L. . France lost to Stedman and Sturt, 6—'2, 3—6, B—lo. Ferkins and Smith lost to Bartleet and Morrison, 4—6, 5—7. Hard Driving. The match between D. G. Franc? and A. C. Stedman was worth going a long way to see. Stedman is easily the hardest driver in New Zealand, and no one has been able to deal with his shots this season as France dealt with them. Although he possesses a strong and accurate backhand, Stedman prefers to run round and drive the ball hard on his forehand. He never defends. He attacked France all the time, and the errors he made were the inevitable concomitants of one who always forces the pace. France is the finest volleyer in New Zealand, but by sheer speed Stedman drove past him, beating him either across court or straight down the line. As he hits so hard, and therefore requires a heavy ball, Stedman made the mistake of not asking for new balls at the opening of the second set. Throughout that set he nearly always overhit by one or two feet. That, and France's fine net play, were to prove the deciding factors in Stedman’s ultimate defeat. He fought magnificently, but lost the sure touch that was his in the first set. The Bartleet v. A. L. France match was a most unsatisfactory one. The shield having already been lost to Auckland, it seemed as if both players were out to make one another chase all over the court. The game was most casually played, Bartleet imitating whenever he could France’s screws and drop shots. In each of the two first sets France established a 4-love lead, only to have Bartleet equalling and ultimately, win one of them. In the third set both were very tired men. Bartleet, however, was placing better than France, and was more inclined also to try for balls out of his reach. Bartleet, who has the finest service in’New Zealand, served well throughout. There were times when both players brought off fine volleying placements. Sturt Superior. Seven years ago Ferkins and Sturt fought a great final in the New Zealand junior championship., Ferkins winning after Sturt had led 5-love and had match point in the second set. On Saturday the position was reversed, Sturt showing himself, definitely the better player. Ferkins started brilliantly, and Sturt very badly. While Ferkins drove hard to the badly. He found himself, however, in the next two sets, and, although Ferkins played many fine strokes, he was placed on the defensive. Smith played a magnificent first set against Morrison. Following in oil his deep, hard drives to the corners, he volleyed the’return to the opposite corner, leaving Morrison helpless. Nor could Morrison get his forehand driving going, netting low down. In the second and third sets Smith seemed inclined to hit for winners when he ought to have defended. He tried also to play heavily spun shots. In all this he failed. No longer was he able to get close enough to the. net, and was nearly always caught at his feet or passed clean by Morrison’s drive to the forehand corner, or he was lobbed. He had given of his best in the first, set, and he could not hold the pace. High-class Doubles. ■Very high-class play was shown in the doubles between the France Bros, and .Stedman and Sturt. The outstanding player was D. G. France, who made wonderful returns. Next to him came Sturt, who excelled in low. sharply-angled volleys. Stedman held his service well, but. his driving was not always accurate. His lobbing, however, was perfect, and was a powerful factor in giving Auckland the victory. A. L. France was patchy, although at his best he effected numerous beautiful volley placements. Ferkins and Smith, particularly Ferkins. played well against Bartleet and Morrison, but Bartleet was far too clever for them in his volleying and lobbing, while the Wellington pair had great difficulty with his service. ANOTHER AUCKLAND WIN By Telegraph—Press Association. New Plymouth, March 15. In the tennis match for the Interprovincial Shield on Saturday Auckland defeated Taranaki in a keen contest by ten matches to eight. One combined match, in which Taranaki was leading, was unfinished. WIN FOR OTAGO Dunedin, March 14. In the inter-provincial tennis match Otago defeated Canterbury, winning 18 matches. 39 sets and 346 games. Canterbury won six matches, 19 sets and 258 games. BAPTIST TOURNEY A large number of entries from various Baptist Churches was received for the tournament, which was held at Miramar on Saturday. The results are as follow:— A Grade. Men’s Single®.—Final: J. Taylor (Petone) 6, beat J. McFarlane (Brooklyn), 3. Women's Singles.—Final: Miss P. Taylor tl’etone) 0, beat Miss K. Harry (Vivian Street). 1. Combined Doubles.—Final: Miss F. Harry and T. Elliott (Vivian Street) 6, beat Miss T. Carey and A. Edridge (Pcton,e). 4, Men’s Singles.—Final: J. Baldwin (Berhampore) 6, beat T. Roberts (Lyall Bay), 3. Women’s Singles.—Final: Miss D. Palmer (Island Bay) 6, beat Miss G. Olifent (Lyall Bay) 5. Combined Doubles. —Final: Miss N. Summers and T. Olifent (Lyall Bay) 6, beat Miss E. Fossette and A. Carter, 5. Team Results. The teams results were:— A Grade.—Petone (14) beat Vivian Street (12); Brooklyn (4) beat Lyall Bay (2); Berhampore (0), Island Bay (0). B Grade. —Lyall Bay (14) beat Island Bav (6); Vivian Street (6). beat Berhampore (4); Brooklyn (4) heat Miramar (0). Restringing and repairs to Tennis Racquets. N.Z. Sports Service, Ltd., Burlington Arcade.—Advt.