LAWN TENNIS

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 74, 28 March 1931, Page 22

LAWN TENNIS

By "drive" WAIRARAPA BEATEN

PLAYERS IN FORM

STODMAN'S FINAL WIN

Wellington gained, a big win over tho visiting Wairarapa team last Saturday, but it was not altogether duo to tho quality of the local team. Tho Wairarapa side included some fine players, Mrs. M' Master, Mrs. Welhvood, and Miss Welch (who tised to play in Wellington and has improved rapidly since leaving here), all revealing themselves as opponents who would be difficult? to defeat. The conditions completely spoilt any chance which Mrs. M'Master and Mrs. Welhvood might have possessed, but put Miss Welch and Miss Fleming (the fourth player from tho country) on their mettle, and both of them had a singles win, though both lost a set. Miss D. Howe, who mot Mrs. M'Master, was altogether too soundly aware of Mirainar's possibilities <m a-windy day to be trapped into defeat, and her opponent, hitting out very well at times, often found that in her anxiety to attack she had neglected defence. Miss Howe gained many points through bad positional work by tho Wairarapa top player. Hard Work. Miss r. North, while defeating Mrs. Welhvood, had a task of different magnitude, for Mrs. Wellwood was playing her usual hard, attacking game, making full nsc of tho wind, and being much at tho net behind drives of fine length and placement. That Miss North was able to win was due to her excellent, consistent work, for she never failed to make the most of her adversary's errors, and was very hard to force into a mistake herself. Mrs. Wellwood went down after a match j which was -crammed with incident, and saw some extremely fine hitting, but she was defeated by a player who knew better just what the conditions allowed and did it. Miss M. Williams, who lost to Miss Welch after winning the first set, failed in a similar typo of game because she met a player more accurate and somewhat physically stronger. Miss Welch rained drives on Miss Williams's court and the pace of the wind made some of them very fast indeed. Miss Williams fought' as hard as sho usually fights, but the wind handicapped her greatly at tho southern, end, and she conld not get across to the deep, hard shots which Miss Welch sent flying over. It was a stern struggle, but for once hitting paid. Both Did Well. The match between Miss "Fleming and Miss M. East, who played fourth in their respective teams, left tho spectators impressed with the merits ,of both girls. Miss East played extremely wcjl in difficult conditions, apart from :i fatal weakness in. lobbing. Miss Morning revealed such strong shots, and such command of tho court that it is not difficult to believe she has an excellent i'uturo in tho game. Her driving is made in a manner technically perfect, and at the net she volleys fearlessly and with decision. Her net work carried her throngh, for in tho fatal third sot she had the advantage of the wind when leading 6-5 after a long and patient match. Miss Macassoy, who won her match against Miss Bradley, did so by dint of good judgment and full use of the court. Whenever Miss Bradley was given an opportunity she made good uso of it, and her play w.»s that of one experienced and in complete command of the situation. Miss Macassey won by greater activity and superiority of strokes.. Though her game is by no means flawless she is advancing into higher company with each season. Another player to get a good win was Mrs. P. Burke, whose dislike of the wind was as great as that of anybody. Sho defeated Miss Cameron in a match that was never really in doubt, but which saw the Wairarapa girl make- a good recovery in the second set. Mrs. Burke, however, was superior in temperament and general match-play, and in tho third set Miss Cameron's final attack broke down, leaving the Wellington player a good winner. Ferkins Tested. K. ML. Ferkins, in his singles against Hodder, did not gain the decision without a severely disputed first set, iv which in the opening stages it almost looked like Hodder'a match. He was showing better control of the ball than Ferkins, but as the matcK proceeded the Wellington top man added accuracy and pace to Ms game, and he was a good winner. The most pleasing feature of the match was the manner in which Ferkins added speed to his shots, playing one of his fastest games this season. His form is undeniably good, and ho will probably collect more honours this season. M. E. Smith showed himself a better player than Miller, who was affected by the wind and found many of his drives floating far over the baseline. Smith forced his way through the first set, judiciously mixing his game, and then had things very much his own way in the second set, in which Miller appeared resigned to defeat. Smith has toned np his game considerably in the last few weeks. E. A. Eoussell played what was probably the most stylish game of tho day, meeting Taverner and undertaking to go through tho match as if it were a windless day. Accordingly, when Taverner was able to exploit tho wind, he placed his opponent in some nasty corners. But Eoussell revealed the sounder game, though he had to overcome strong opposition, and tho easy-looking score was not gained as simply as might have been thought. Stedman Wins. A keen struggle was expected in the filial between E, L. Bartleot, holder of the Eemuera Club title, and A. C. Stcdnian, Dominion champion, and tho spectators were not disappointed (says the "New Zealand Herald"). For hard driving and interesting play no match has been played in Auckland this season to equal it. Bartleot's fine serving, backed by accurato driving off Sted-1 man's necessarily defensive returns, enabled him to take the set at 6-2. Bartleet continued to .play fine tennis in the second set, with accurato driving oft' both hands. Stedman kept one game ahead to 7-0, when Bartloet, at 15-40, double-faulted. In the third sot, leading at 4-3, Stedman, who was hitting the ball with his full power, broke through and then held service for the sot. at 6-3. Bartleot returned refreshed after the rest period. Although Stedman at no stage eased off in his driving, ho lost si little of his precision, and Bartleet gained Ihc set 7-5. In the fifth set, 'a bad attack of cramp prevented Biirtk'et from continuing, and the club championship went to Slodman, 2-0, 8-6, 0-3, 5-7, 3-1. The ending was unfortunate, but the four sets played were brilliant and full of thrills.