WILDING SHIELD TENNIS

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 147, 18 March 1931, Page 7

WILDING SHIELD TENNIS

Auckland Too- Good for Wellington

D. G. FRANCE OUTSTANDING PLAYER

(By

"Forehand.”)

If‘hopes were dashed to the ground, expectations were certainly realised when Auckland outplayed Wellington to win the Anthony Wilding Memorial Shield, “the Davis Cup event of New Zealand,” as it was referred to by Mr; C. G. White. Auckland’s lead after the first day of four rubbers to two was generally held to be too severe a handicap for Wellington to overcome. Hopes ran high at the commencement of the second day’s play, however, when R. McL. Ferkins won the first set against N. G. Sturt and N. R. Smith the first set against M. Morrison. Both won their sets in

a.- manner which gave currency to the belief that each had a great chance of victory. It was not to be. Ferkins did not fall away so much as Sturt came on to his game; Smith, after his brilliant first set, fell away badly until he was quite outplayed by the steady yet hard-hitting Morrison. Had Ferkins and Smith won their matches the position would have been most interesting. Faith in France Brothers. That ,D. G. France would beat A. C. Stedman, New Zealand champion, was never doubted by keen Wellingtonians. A. L. France was considered to have every chance of beating E. L. Bartleet., That A. L. France and D. G. France would beat A. C. Stedman and N. G.. Sturt in the doubles was considered to be'as certain as that Smith and Ferkins would lose to Bartleet and Morrison. The defeat of Ferkins and Smith in their singles robbed all the subsequent matches of much of their interest—certainly of all their interest as teams’ matches—for the issue of the shield was then decided. Keenly as the spectators followed the D. G. Franc-A. C. Stedman match, they would have followed it even more keenly had it a bearing on the destiny of the shield. Memorable Driving Duels. The match was easily the most outstanding of the series, and following it was the doubles between the France brothers and Sturt and Stedman. Not ■ for many years has there been seen in Wellington. such driving duels as took place in the second and third sets of the D. G. France-Stedman match. Stedman hit with terrific speed all through, and many times the ball flashed past France at the net like “greased lightning.” Stedman paid the penalty of always attacking against one who attacks and defends with admirable skill, and made the majority of the mistakes. These mistakes were generally over the backline. France, too. when he got going, made Stedman chase into the corners, apd Stedman is not so effective in playing a running drive. France very cleverly varied his length and his pace, and sent over a varied assortment of shots. Stedman was never allowed to get settled to any one particular type of game. The inability of most players. to vary their game has been one of the main causes of their defeat by Stedman. The doubles match referred to had many incidents of very exciting play, and with their commanding lead ■ there was little to excuse the Wellington pair for losing. The play never fell below high class, and there were times when it was brilliant, particularly on the part of D. G. France. Auckland’s Strength.

Although Wellington lost the Shield by such a wide margin, it was not disgraced. Its team was the best available; but it merely serves to show that Wellington tennis has not gone forward, but back. For years now Wellington has had to depend on D. G. France, A. L. France, and N. R. C. Wilson, and, while they were resident in New Zealand. E. D. Andrews and C. E. Malfroy. There is no one to take the place of any of those five players. Discount them, and Wellington would be hard put to win any major interprovincial fixture. Auckland, on the other hand, has never been stronger. and is clearly the most powerful association in point of play, in New Zealand. Take the team which won the Shield. A. C. Stedman is New Zealand champion : he is also a fine doubles player. E. L. Bartleet is an ex-New Zealand champion in both singles and doubles. N. G. Sturt is an ex-New Zealand doubles champion, and M. Morrison at various times

has beaten Stedman. Bartleet and Sturt. Is.it any wonder, therefore, that a Wellington team which included two men playing their first Wilding Shield match, did not win? Point Cleared Dp.

There is one fact which, in justice to Bartleet, ought to be cleared up. His previous experiences of Wellington had not been of the most favourable, and it was spread abroad that he had'stated definitely he would not play again at Miramar. That was given as one t of the reasons why he did not defend his title in the New Zealand championship, when ’they were held at Miramar. Bartleet never made any such statement, and he is always ready to play anywhere, provided he is able to afford the time. The lateness at which the tournament was held in Wellington that year rendered it impossible for him to get the necessary leave. Nor would he have been able to play in this Wilding Shield match were it not that he was entrusted by his firm to do business for it in Wellington at the same time. When Mr. Bartleet was returning thanks to Mr. C. G. White, who presented him with the Shield, as manager and captain of the Auckland team, he referred to the good courts. No praise was too high for the courts. It was impossible to conceive of better ones to be found anywhere in ■ New Zealand. For this the credit is due to the groundsmen. Mr. Vaney, and to his assistant. Mr. Parsons. Those courts have been well played on through the season, but. because of the careful attention given them, there was not a bare patch to be seen on them anywhere, and the ball almost invariably came off the surface true. The arrangements for conducting the matches were excellent, but certain of the line umpiring left something to be desired. There was no delay in getting the matches off- . , Most gratifying of all were the attendances. The takings were easily a record for Wilding Shield matches in Wellington, and exceeded even the gate takings for similar matches in Canterbury. It shows that people are beginning to reconcile themselves more to going to Miramar to see good tennis.