WELLINGTON LEAD

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 139, 8 March 1941, Page 13

WELLINGTON LEAD

Wilding Shield Tennis Against Canterbury

WOMEN ALSO AHEAD

Spectacular Play By R.

McKenzie

First day’s results in the interprovincial tennis match between Wellington and Canterbury yesterday left Wellington leading by four matches to two in both men’s and women’s events. T. he men s contest is for the Wilding Shield, now held by Canterbury, but the Nunneley Casket, held by Wellington, is not at stake in the women’s matches.

Conditions were good, with warm sun and a light southerly breeze, but the courts at Miramar were on the heavy side after overnight rain. Play will conclude this afternoon. Results of the day’s play arc (Wellington names given first) : — Men. R. McKenzie beat C. Angas, 6-1, 9-7. N. V. Edwards beat R. G. Pattinson, 7-5, 6-4. E. A. Roussell lost to H. A. Barnett, 0-6, 2-6. D. G. France lost to C. Penfold, 4-6, 5-7. Edwards and McKenzie beat Barnett and Penfold, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3. Roussell and France beat Angas and Pattinson, 6-4, 2-6, 6-4. Totals: AVellington, 4 matches, S sets, 67 games; Canterbury, 2 matches, 6 sets, 69 games. Women.

Miss J. Beban lost to Miss T. Poole, 6-1, 0-6, 2-6. ' Miss F. Fernie beat Miss H. Elsoin, 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. Mrs. .Kennedy lost to Miss K. Armstrong, 2-6, 1-6. Mrs. Green beat Miss J. Senior, 6-3, 6-2.

Misses Fernie and Beban beat Misses Poole and Armstrong, 3-6, 6-2, 9-7. Mesdames Green and Kennedy beat Misses Elsom and Senior, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. Totals: Wellington, 4 matches, 9 sets, 72 games; Canterbury, 2 matches, 7 sets, 69 games. McKenzie Impressive.

Highlight of tlie day in the Wilding Shield matches was McKenzie’s brilliant burst of form against. Angas. In the first set it was all McKenzie and Angas was never given a chance to. get going. McKenzie placed fast drives with precision, passed Angas with beautiful placements when the Canterbury man advanced to the net, was decisive overhead and controlled his low volleys shrewdly. Above all, he concealed tlie direction of his shots Jill the last split second. Not till McKenzie had collected the first two games of the second set did Angas begin to find his feet. He drew level and, with the game now going at a pace more to his liking, it looked as though the experience of the visitor might worry the younger McKenzie out of the verdict. However, though McKenzie’s game had by now lost something of its early dash and though he doublefaulted twice at critical moments, once to give Angas the lead, 6-5, tlie AVellingjon man did not crack under tlie strain and finished off the match with a snappy volley after a sparkling rally. Barnett in Ids Element. Not. much time was taken up by the Barnett-Roussell match. AVitb the court receptive to spin, Barnett had conditions to his liking and never at any stage was he in danger of defeat. His heavily-sliced backhand was a potent weapon, the ball breaking sharply and some of his shots admitting of no answer at all. In other departments of the game’Barnett was giving nothing away. Pattinson Fights Hard. Edwards started briskly against Pattinson, coining into the net after deep drives and cutting off the returns for winners. But Pattinson was never overawed, defended doggedly, and took the offensive himself when opportunity offered. With the handy lead of 5-1 Edwards appeared to be put off by a wrong decision wmch gave his opponent a game, after which Pattinson went on to even the score at 5-5. Edward# took the set after a struggle, and in an even second set just managed to keep ahead, though Pattinson was a tryer to the end, and scored with some clever tosses. There was nothing very spectacular in the France-Penfold match. Stroking smoothly, though not fiercely, Penfold was on the wliole the steadier, France making too many errors. Penfold occasionally scored with a dainty drop shot. Men’s Doubles. On paper Edwards and McKenzie looked a stronger combination than Barnett and Penfold but, in a match which was not highly-exciting, they did not lor . a long time seem to be the winners, inking as much of the play on his side of tne net as possible, Burnett proved a hundlul for the AVellington pair, volleying very reliably from close in ami smashing hard anything loose. Penfold, for the most part gave him quietly efficient support, with the AVellington pair doing good and indifferent things by turn. In the early part of the match the efforts of the canterbury pair to keep the heavier armament of their opponents quiet succeeded, but when Barnett dropped his service to give AVellington the second set, the match gradually swung in the home sides a There was much good doubles play and some long rallies, marked by splendid recoveries, in the match in which F ranee anil Roussell beat. Angas and Pattinson. Tlie AVellington pair struck form auieklj and, with fine play, ran through the first set. In the second they lapsed . badly, taking only two games. In the third they led 3-0 and had game point, when I< ranee hit a ball which was flying out. lhen it was Canterbury’s turn, and they went to a 4-3 lead, but the AVellington pair were equal to the occasion and ran out winners, with France scoring with several pretty shots in the dying stages of the match. Miss Poole’s Recovery. Miss Poole, who was suffering from a cold smote lustily but wildly in the early stages of her singles and, with Miss Bel’an covering the court well and scoria" with service aces and placements, the set speedily went to AVellington. From then on, however, Miss Poole struck form, and Miss Behan’s game started to deteriorate. Aliss Poole settled down to her usual aggressive tactics, went to the net frequently, and had little trouble in taking tlie second and third sets. Aliss Fernie lost the first set to Miss Elsom. hut thereafter, stroking more cleanly and accurately, she seemed always to he in a winning position. Aliss Armstrong swung backhand anti lorehand drives from corner to corner with such regularity and impeccable length that Mrs. Kennedy was never given a chance to do more than try to get them back, and the match was over in straight sets Mrs. Green’s all-round game was too strong for that of Miss Senior, who made a good many errors. Women’s Doubles.

The top doubles between Misses Beban and Fernie and Misses Poole and Armstrong looked a foregone conclusion during the first set, which Miss Poole dominated from the net with solid overhead play and daring interceptions. A change came over the scene thereafter as the Wellington pair played to thwart iueir opponents’ efforts to control the game ■from the net. and the third set developed

into a dour struggle which Wellington ultimately won. One of the deciding factors in the .win of Mesdames Green and Kennedy was the overhead play of Mrs. Green. Today's Matches. The programme Cor today is as follows :— Court No. 1: 1.30 p.m.: Barnett v. France; 2.30 p.m., Angus V. Edwards; 4 p.m., Angas and L’attinson v. Edwards and McKenzie. Court No. 2: 1.30 p.m., Roussell v. Penfold; 2.30 p.m., Pattinson v. McKenzie; 4 p.m., Harnett and Penfold v. France and Roussell. Court No. 3: 1.30 pan., Mrs Kennedy v. Miss Elsom; 2.30 p.m., Miss Senior v. Miss J. Beban; 1 pan., Misses Poole and Arm strong v. Mrs. Green and Mrs Kennedy. Court No. 4: 1.30 p.m., -Miss K. Arm strong v. Miss F. Fernie; 2.30 P.m.. Miss T. Poole v. Mrs. M. Green; 4 p.m., Misses Senior and Elsom v. Misses Fernie and Bohan