LAWN TENNIS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 48, 26 February 1927, Page 22

LAWN TENNIS

"mv huka" WELLINGTON WINS ANTHONY WILDING SHIELD OLLWIER PLAYS SPLENDID TENNIS COMING EVENTS. Maori Championships of New Zealand, at Wanganui, 16th, 18th, 19th, 2Uth, and 21st April. Easter Tournaments. ' Although the "Wellington team that played at Christchurch last week was considered to be the strongest side that had,ever challenged for the AnthonyWilding Memorial Shield, it.was very nearly beaten by the Canterbury men: A hard gale on the Thursday, night and soft yielding courts for the competition very nearly lost the Shield to Wellington. ' * ' '„

. Don France could not produce the excellent form that he had been showing in Wellington—the heavy courts 'troubling him most. Andrews also was at a disadvantage, but he adapted himself the surface more quickly than France. Wilson quickly found his feet, and as he mostly, plays a rising 1 ball he had nothing to complin about. The courts suited Len France,, and he cut and sliced to his heart's content. The Canterbury men had been well tried out, and knew the courts, as they had been given plenty of practice :on them. Play was not started until the afternoon of Friday, and at the end of the day honours were easy, each side having won three matches apiece, the sets seven all,' and the Canterbury men had a lead of one game,' having scored 67 games to Wellington's- 66. The Saturday matches were most exciting^ as with two gone the matches were even, but Wellington had a lead of one set. Don France, although defeated, had won one . set, and that meant a lot to Wellington. Canterbury won the next match and led by 12 matches to 11. Wellington again evened in matches, and led by one game. The excitement was tense when the last two matches were put on, as Wellington had to^win" one in two sets straight to. bo" safe, and snatch a v vietory on the score in sets. With the'first double finished Wellington led by 6 matches to 5, and 14 sets to 11, and the contest was won, as Canterbury could only win two more sets, and that meant the sets: were in favour of Wellington, 14 to 13. As the centre set went to Wellington ■ in the last? match, the victory was secured by two sets. After the first day's play, the Wellington team. decided to put in some practice. on the Saturday morning, so as to try.and get in touch

with the playing surface, of the courts. The • position was 'serious- for ■ the challengers, and the risk of -tiring" the players had to be faced. Possibly that practice won the Shield, as all the' players were timing better on Saturday afternoon. ' The small band of >Wellington supporters had-- a ' most anxious time, but when Len France and Wilson won their doubles match, the yell that came from a'certain portion of the stand had wondrous, volume.

Wilson started in great style against Ollivier and led 5-1. He had set point several times before getting home at G-i. In the second set Ollivier' went out to break up Wilson's driving, and he enticed him away from the base line on short soft stuff, which Wilson could not score from, nor could he even make his return aggresive and accurate enough to force, Ollivier, into a weak shot. It was a ease of the experience 1 player forcing the more youthful champion into errors which surely sapped his aggressiveness and accuracy. Wilson rushed the net on' the correct shots in the early stages, but 1 -ards the. end of the first set • it could be seen that his rashness in going up to the net, after his weak returns would be his undoing. Andrews was not at all at home in his match against Seay, and the latter with a shade of luck might have won the third set. Seay also did good work against Wilson, but failed at the critical stages in both sets. Seay led 4-love in the first set, and Wilson, with a great burst of speed, scored 7 games to 1. In the next set Wilson took the lead and appeared to,be winning easily, but Seay took all risks, made it 5-all, but failed to clinch his chances in the next two games. Len France was the "rock" in the competition, and the Wellington side could not have won without-him. He fought like a tiger in all his matches, he sliced, cut, andsmiled from start to finish, and as the situation became more serious, so did Ms cutting and slicing become harder, but his smile never failed him, and lieappeared to enjoy every stroke. In the doubles he worked for everything

THE ANTHONY WILDING MEMORIAL SHIELD

but was inclined to take up his position about the service line —a fatal spot against Ollivicr and Seay. Patterson played' the game of- his life against Don France on the Friday, but never looked like continuing his run on the Saturday against Leri France, who sliced and cut him to pieces. Considering jhow the courts slowed up the game, the play was on the whole very good, but would have been much better had the surface been firm. Ollivier was the champion of champions, and his cleverness was outstanding. He put no more pace into his shots than was necessary to win the point, and his short cross-court forehand drive worked beautifully. Don France appeared to have Angas beaten after taking the first set at 0-2, but when in a winning position in the second set he tailed on several occasions to score after having worked for and secured position. The Canterbury player'was a. great trier, and he drove well from the base line with good length and accuracy, but has a lot to learn yet. He is not strong overhead, and will have to learn that it is useless chasing forlorn hopes, which was his ."undoine agamst Len France. Patterson played a great driving game on the first day but-never had a look in with Le n France, on the second day. The attendance on both days was very good, and the' takings at The gate on the Saturday ran well over three figures. The general management of the competition was good, and all details were capably handled by Mr |t. Browning, the secretary of the Canterbury Association. The umpiring and .he linesmen's decisions were satisfactory, but nevertheless there were some errors made, owing to the linesmen not concentrating on their job;.still, for all tliat, neither yside gained any great advantage. Wellington may have had a hard job to bring the Shield to Wellington, but it will be it harder job to take it away from the holders, unless Auckland and Canterbury can unearth some more young players of the stamp ol Sturt and Knott. Patterson and Angas will have :to improve to : vHn in any contest at Wellington, as the local players can give a much better display than they did in the Shield match. - The Shield was presented to the winners by Mri Seay, the president o* the Canterbury Association, on conclusion of Saturday's' play; but fully-75 per cent, of the general public-were on the move home before any announcement was made, and they could not be stopped. The visitors were entertained at a theatre party, and greatly enjoyed the opera, "Frasquita." All the Wellington party, which was increased by the arrival of six ladies and two extra men on the Sunday morning, were the guests of the "lanterbury Association in a motor drive, which took ud the whole _of the afternoon. The run was over the Cashmere Hills and round Lyttelton to Mount Pleasant, where afternoon tea was enjoyedj and then the run was continued and the tircle completed. The: distant view was remarkably fine, Sumner and .New Brighton being admired from the heights, and Lyttelton was gazed at from the trig.. station, which was tramped to from Mount Pleasant. Hospitality was extended by many of the Canterbury people, 'and the visitors had a most enjoyable time. ■ *

Play was resumed on the Monday in the representative match, which Wellington won easily. Both teams partook of lunch together .at. Ballantyne's, and Mr. Goss; the manager-of the Canterbury team, welcomed and congratulated the -winning side. A large and .merry party farewelled the Wellington team at the Christchurch railway station. ' ■.. ■ •:' ; ■ • '■ ■ ■

State Fire yrins. „ • Ga Saturday afternoon a team from the State Fire. Office tried conclusions with a team from the Department of Agriculture, and after a series of interesting and enjoyable games won the match by 11 sets to 7, and 125 games to 105. The detailed scores are as follow, the State Fire players being mentioned first in each case:—Men's singles: Gill y. Andrew, 5-9; Pctrie v. Grant, 6-9; Eoseveir v. Young, 9-4-Kennedy 1 v. Diederich, 9-1; Dawson v. Redman, 7-9; Grimstone v. Reynolds, 9;6. Ladies', singles: Miss O'Flaherty v. Miss Ayling, 7-6; Miss 'Small v. Miss Clark, 4-7; Miss Fitzgibbon v. Miss Hamerton; 7-5; ,Miss Bull v. Miss Mackenzie, 3-7; Miss Foley v. Misa Emerson, 7-1; Miss Harper v. Miss - M'Caf-' frey, 6-7. .-..Mixed doubles: Miss. O'Flaherty and Gill v. Miss Ayling and Andrew, 6-8; Miss Small and Petrie v. Miss Clark and Grant, 8-7; Miss Bull and Roseveir V. Miss Hamerton and Young, 8-5; Miss Fitzgibbon and Kennedy v. Miss Mackenzie and Diederich, 8-7; Miss Harper and Dawson v. ,Miss Emerson and Bedman, 8-4; Miss Foley and Grimstone y. Miss M'CafErey and -Reynolds, 8-3. , • , .].■ ,'■