LAWN TENNIS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 68, 21 March 1931, Page 22

LAWN TENNIS

BY "Drive"

WILDING SHIELD

DON FRANCE'S VICTORY

WAIRARAPA MATCH

Don Prance's wonderful form was tlie bright spot in the loss of the Anthony Wilding Memorial Shield, which Auckland regained last week-end after many season^, with a score of 9 matches to 3. Against Bartleet, Don Prance showed that he had always something in hand, and it was only his refusal to press his advantage which allowed the match to go to three sets. Onco Bartleet took the second sot he was obviously in the grip of a better player who could win whenever ho wished. That earnest of Franco's form was fulfilled on the second day when ho beat A. C. Stedman, one of the fiuost players and liardest hitters in New Zealand. Even Alec. "Wallace could not muster tho pace and deadliness of Stedman's forehand, and at times, when ho was playing at top speed and with his eye well in, Stedman rained unplayable shots on his opponent's court. Tho extraordinary strength and accuracy of these shots simply electrified the onlookers, for the Auckland boy not only has the all-im-portant ability to hit but a high standard of control of his most forceful shots. When Stedman was fairly launched on those bursts of his, Prance was helpless and the Auckland first man was remarkably superior. Speed and Skill. But the hitting, could not continue all the time; Trance met speed with skill, placed Stedman on the defensive, and kept him there throughout the second set. The first sot had been Stedman's from the moment when, after an early slump, he started to overhaul his adversary, but tho third sot saw Trance reveal what a splendid attack lie has. It was only in this set that he was able to take up his old offensive net game and play in the consistently aggressive manner which he has accustomed the onlooker to expect. It was splendid tennis by two fine players and even in the very throes of defeat Stedman threatened to come back. Incidentally, Don Franco gained Wellington's only wins. Len France's score against both his formidable rivals, Stedmau and Bartloet, was highly creditable. The Wellington man looked liko being dangerous to Stedman, for he took the first set and ho had two fine chances when ho held a double lead of 4-0 in tho opening sots against Bartleet, only to lose the match. France did not play up to tho standard of his performances against Barnett and Patterson a few weeks go, but ho pursued a workmanlike course which completely threw Bartleet off his length for two sets and came near to winning the match. E. ML. Forking justified his claim to inclusion by losing his match against M. M. Morrison less through inferior play than through mistakes in tactics and by taking a set from N. G. Sturt. He did not ever look as if he would beat Sturt once the first game in the second set was over, but he did look as if Morrison was not safe against him, and Morrison has had much more experience of big matches in recent years than Ferkins has received. Might Have Won. Morrison also was playing with great accuracy and was very dangerous at the net, so that Ferkins had nothing given him by errors. Had he been willing to force the pace against Morrison as he did against Sturt, the Wellington player must have taken the second set and possibly equalised in tho first after conceding a long lead. M. It. Smith also showed that he was a player of possibilities, though ho could not be expected to hold his own against the men ho met. Smith could not beat a player of Sturt'a stamp unless ho wore caught off his game. Against Morrison, Smith played very cleverly and had he not faded in the middle portion of tho second set he might have got through. While his attack lasted he had Morrison badly beaten, breaking up his driving, refusing to allow him to score by pounding the backhand, and volleying with success at the net. Had Smith been able to continue these tactics, he would have won despite Morrison's evident decision to change his game and hit out more. In the doubles, the rubber was marked by the wonderful recovery of Stedman and Sturt against the France brothers, who had five times been within a point of match. The form of Stedman was steady all through, and towards the close of the contest Sturt improved until he was probably the finest player on the conrt. His great sense of doubles play was directly responsible for the win, for up to that point the Frances, using the lob with deadly effect and combining much better, had usually been the dominant pair. Typical of the Sturt was the manner in which, with a chance of victory at 9-8, he served his way through tho opposition. Wairarapa Match. The match with Wairarapa, which is to bo played at Miramar Grounds today, will "give tho ranking committee another chance to look over tho Wellington players in action. All tho younger players will be there, the notable exceptions being tho Frances ami N. X- C. Wilson. The ladies arc chosen from among Wellington's lesser stars, also, but tho cpmbinatiou should be effective enough to give Wairarapa a good game. Thero aro some fine players amongst the visitors, and tho contests will not be one-sided by any means. To Meet Again. H. Dyinond is to play C. Augas. in tho final of tho United Club championships in Christchurch. The semi-final between Dymond and Patterson was a good match, especially in the early stages, according to the Christchureh "Star." Each of the first sets was closely contested, with Patterson getting the decision, 7-5 and 8-6. Both were driving well and following in their better drives. To watch them it appeared that their styles were so exactly alike that it was merely a question of who could last the longer. Dymond won 5-7, 6-8, 6-4, 64, 6-3. He now receives it chance to repeat the gnuie ho played against An gas in tho Now Zealand championships, when ho led by Uvo sets lo one. Easter Tournament. Entries for the Easter Tournament at 'Miramar Grounds wll «'ose i^'h' s°°n now, and players will bo well advised 1o arrange their partners and fill in! their forms without further delay*