LAWN TENNIS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 53, 4 March 1927, Page 16

LAWN TENNIS

Towards the end of the afternoon it became overcast, but no rain fell at Wilding Park. The light was still good when the last matches were finished, and the visiting team was back to its headquarters in the city before 6 o'clock. E. Browning, the secretary of the Canterbury Association, had a heavy day, as he practically managed the gathering unassisted, and deserves congratulations for his efficiency and tact. He was hampered during one stage of the contest by being unable to get umpires, as the Canterbury officials seemingly all wanted to remain around the stands watching the Angas-Malfroy match. The visiting players were well looked after by the officers of the association, afternoon tea being on practically all the afternoon. The teams exchanged cheers at the conclusion of the match, and a large number of tennis officials and enthusiasts assembled at the railway station' to bid the visitors bon voyage. Merry banter and cheers were exchanged, and the Wellington team agreed that they had had a very fine time indeed. The visiting players were well looked after by the Canterbury Association's officers and tennis enthusiasts, and motor-cars were always at hand to take them to and from the courts; in fact, the visitors were mostly on wheels when going anywhere. The team deserved its win, as all the players followed instructions to the letter during practice and match play, and according to the manager "their desire and will to win a victory for their association and Wellington was always uppermost, and the manager's job was a very happy one."

Misses Tracy and Howe appeared fo have the measure of Misses Speirs and Partridge in the first set, which they won easily, and going on looked like winning in sets straight, but owing to slackening in attack ran into a slump, which the Canterbury pair were quick to detect. The latter pair evened, and then romped home in the third set. Mrs. Melody and Miss Travers had a real ,-joy ride in their match against Mrs. Beale and Miss Wake, and played with splendid combination, quite good enough to have won as the No. 1 double. Misses North and East played for every point in the first set against Mrs. Sharpe and Miss Ferrier, and by sheer aggressiveness took the fihtt set. The Canterbury pair played good tennis to even, but were failing in condition at the critical stage of the third set; and the Wellington pair speeded up to win a great match.

Ladies' Doubles.

In the men's doubles Wilson and Lcn Prance ran away with the first set trom Olivier and Seay, but eased up and allowed their opponents to even. The second and third sets were "go as you please," with Seay coming to light with brilliant patches of play. Ollivier was not concentrating, and both Prauce and Wilson appeared to follow suit. \\ith the score even in the third set, the Wellington pair speeded up and ran out winners. Andrews and Prance were working hard from start to finish against Walker and Angas. The latter pair played plucky tennis and were unlucky not to win in the third set. At times Andrews and Prance took charge but just as suddenly lapsed into a series of errors—mostly on what appeared to be easy winners—and it was only a desperate effort that gave them tho match. Smyth and Malfroy were always just too good for Patterson and Loughnan, but the latter pair fought hard for every game.

Men's Doubles.

Miss M. Spiers played Miss Howe on one of the centre courts, and the latter player did not appear to be at home on the heavy court, but made a great effort at the beginning of the second set, and led 3-love. The Canterbury player was in. great form, and her accuracy alone was sufficient to win Miss Howe's flat drive nearly always landed just outside, and it is an open question which lady would win on a tast, true court. Mrs. Melody never gave Miss Wake a look in, and the latter was kept on the run most of the time. The courts suited Mrs. Melody and, m the writer's opinion, she would have had an excellent chance of beating Miss Speira had they met on one ol the centre courts, as the Wellington player's cut shots were almost unplayable. Miss Tracy did not play up to the form shown at the Thorndon courts and was working hard all the time to hold Mrs. Bealo at bay. The Wellington player appeared afraid to bring her last drive into action after outing a tew, and possibly was troubled with the strange surface. Miss East started with great pace and kept it up right through the two sets. Her aggressiveness never allowed Miss Partridge to find her game, and the Wellington player's win was' full of merit. Miss North's cut shots kept Miss- Ferrier guessing, and as the latter disliked the short stuff—she plainly told her opponent so—the Wellington player was always able to score when her opponent retired outside the base-line. Miss 1 ravers kept a splendid length against Mrs. bharpe, but her drives would have carried more sting on a fast court Nevertheless she played the correct game to win for her association, and was going strong at the end of the match.

Ladies' Singles.

the Wellington manager agreed that he should play in the sixth place. Seemingly Canterbury had the opinion that Angas was a better player than MalIroy who occupied sixth place in the Wellington team, but, as will be told later, this was not so. Don Trance consequently met Ken Walker, and in a match that see-sawed from start to finish the Wellington player struck sufficient brilliant patches to win a great 3-set match. France, when he did get going, played great tennis, but somehow could not overcome the fact that the courts did not suit him, and lapsed into faulty play just when he looked all over a winner. Walker played well, but would have no chance with France on hard courts. Smyth was all at sea in the first set against Loughnan, and blamed the balls, but it was the courts that put him out of his stride. As soon as he started to stand in on the ball he did better, and won the second and third sets very easily. The Angas-Mal-iroy match was staged on one of the centre courts, and was advertised to start at 1.30 p.m., but owing to some of the morning matches running into three sets a late start was made with lunch, but notwithstanding the fact that the lunch hour was not fully taken up, players and officials were unable to get back to schedule time. The public, who had gathered in large numbers evidently to see this one particular match exjiressed their displeasure at being kept waiting in no uncertain manner. The Wellington manager was not advised that this particular match was being put on as something extra special, otherwise he would not have agreed to the order of players being altered. Too much was made of. this match, and it is not in the interest of young players to place such a strain upon them by publicly declaring that such-and-such a match is the star piece of the day. Malfroy lost the first sot at 6-3, but by then had found touch with the court and never looked like being beaten. Before the third set was over Angas was run to a standstill, and Malfroy won without being extended. On a hard and true surface Malfroy can and Has given better displays than he did before the Canterbury public, but his effort was an outstanding one considering that the court was foreign to his style of play. Angas is a trier all the time, but wastes a lot of energy in unnecessary efforts to retrieve shots that have beaten him Experience alone will rectify that failing. J

Tho centre courts at "Wilding Park certainly looked beautiful to the eye, but had the Canterbury players known what tho feelings of the "Wellington Shield team were, after inspectiug and feeling the surface of those courts on tho Friday morning, they would have been more confident in the defence of the shield than they were. Seay, of Canterbury, met Wilson on one of the outside courts, which was faster than the centre courts, and never had a look in. Wilson played a dashing game from start to finish, and easily gave the best display of all-round tennis in the whole of the matches played that day, but as the spectators mostly only watched the games on the centre courts, which wero surrounded by grandstands, few but the most ardent enthusiasts saw his very excellent display of ground and overhead shots. Len Prance played Patterson on one of the centre courts, and when the Canterbury man led 5-love his supporters looked for a win, but Len Franco is never beaten in a set until the other man wins it. He settled down and played a marvellous game, full of patience, but overflowing with accurate cut and sliced shots that would have broken the heart of a champion runner. Ho won tho set 8-6. Patterson was done and was outclossed in the second set. Angas should really have played in the fourth placg, but by, request from Canterbury

"By Huka"

WELLINGTON'S WIN

TENNIS NOT SLIPPING HERE

CANTERBURY'S SPLENDID

HOSPITALITY

South Island Championships, at Christchurch.

North Island Championships, at Miramar. Maori Championships, at Wangauui Otago Championships, at Dunedln. Is .A University Championships, at Auckland

The "Wellington Association's team of six ladies and six men, which played the Canterbury team last we L k at Wilding Park, Christehurch, performed splendidly, and by defeating the Canterbury team by 21 matches to 3 has clearly demonstrated that Wellington tennis has improved -wonderfully of late. For some years past, the Wellington team when visiting Christchurch has always been under the disadvantage of having to play all its matches on the day of arrival, and the players naturally could not bo at their best just after a sea voyage of even one night. On this occasion the match was not played until the day after the team's arrival; in fact, four of the team had been in Christehurch for three days, before the match, beiu-r engaged in the Anthony Wilding Memorial Shield contest. It was intended to give the whole team a practice hit on grass courts the day before the Canterbury match, but as no grasa courts were available on that day it appeared at ono stage as though the practice would have to be abandoned. The Avonside Club, however, very kindly placed its courts at the disposal of the visiting team, and a very useful practice was indulged in for an hour or so. The team played mixed doubles, Mrs. Melody and Andrews and Miss Travers and Smyth showing good form. Miss Tracy and Wilson, and Miss Howe and Len Prance were content with stroke practice. The other pairs—Miss North and -Malfroy and Miss East and Don Prance—took things quietly, as the ladies were still feeling the roll of the boat. The Avcnside Club provided cooling refreshments, which w.ere greatly appreciated. An early start was made with the match on the Monday, nd by lunch time Wellington had won sufficient matches to give a clear victory. The mixed doubles were the opening matches, and the Wellington players won five out o.t the six matches. Miss Tracy and Wilson were too good for Miss Spcirs and Patterson, and although the latter pair took the centre set at 7-5, it was only through a slackening on the part of the visitors. Miss Howe and Len France had the upper hand against Miss Partridge and Ollivier, combination telling its tale. Mrs. Melody and Andrews, on the good form shown previously, were played as Wellington's third pair, and with ordinary luck should have won. Mps. Melody was very aggressive, whilst Andrews was inclined to play safe. The Canterbury pair, Miss \V:ike and Sony, was possibly the best combination of the home representatives, and could easily have been played as first pair.

Both sides were somewhat put off their game owing to the umpire appealing to them as to whether shots were in or out, and both sides on occasion gave the shot to their opponents on such appeals, when really the point was fully earned by themselves. Players when battling in matches for their association should not be called upon to act as line umpires in their own particular match, and the umpire, if unable to give a decision, shouid call a "let."

Miss Travels and Smyth romped all »ver Mrs Bcalo (nee Miss Muntsou) and Angus. . The Wellington lad}' made good openings for Smyth, who seldom failed to kill outright. Miss East and Don Prance dropped the centre set to Miss Ferrier and Ken Walker, but hardly looked like losing in the other sets. Miss East ran like a deer and Franco smashed splendidly in the first and third sets, but appeared to slacken in the second set. Miss North and Malfroy had a run away victory against Mrs Sharp (nee Miss Wlictta) and Louglu;an. Miss North kept the ball well away from her male opponent, and lobbed splendidly. Malfroy cut in most aggressively, and seldom failed to score an ace on those occasions. Andrews played well against Ollivier. having become more accustomed to the heavy court. The matches on Friday and Saturday afternoons, and' the practice on Saturday morning, gave him the necessary experience, and lie played a totally different game as compared with the one he played against OKivier on the Saturday. His shots to Ollivier ' a back-hand had more sting, and were better placed. It has been contended that Ollivier was off his game on Monday, but the same writers' did not give Andrews that let-off on his game on Saturday. So far these two players have met twice, and are even, both having fairly and squarely earned their victories. Until a third match is played, and the winner disclosed, both players should be classified as equal with the advantage to Andrews for having won the national singles. The Canterbury champion had some v"cks of practice on those tricky courts, and if Andrews had had the same he would have been in the, position to have put up a very much better fight.