THE SHIELD GAMES

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 12, 16 January 1933, Page 13

THE SHIELD GAMES

There was never any drama in the fate of the trophies, ior in both series of matches Wellington had won a majority of games before the afternoon had gone very far. Nor was the tennis aa brilliant as that seen on the opening day of the series. Malfroy had comparatively little trouble with Stedman, whose play was more rugged than accurate, while his movements were slow, his forehand not functioning, and his service erratic. It was definitely Stedman's oil day, and he lost three of his four service games in the first set and blundered through most of the match. Malfroy, an elert, fine strok?:. maker, and a careful planner, was always in the ascendant. He led from the beginning, retrieved a lost service game with} the aid of two double faults by Stedmari, and at 4-2 scored four successive points, picking \\p a 5-2 lead after being down 15-40. That game was'the crucial stage of the whole match, for Stedman lacked the vim to take the chance of saving the set. At moments only did Stedman show the form he had exhibited on Friday. ' One of those moments was when he moved up' to 3-all in a game shimmering with brilliant shots which completely baffled Malfroy. That was one Stedman. The other was the man who allowed the very next game to slip from him in five successive lost points after Malfroy had 'keen 040 on his service. A GOOD MATCH. Tire meeting of D. G. France and Stiirt provided more interesting tennis. France was the more vigorous and spectacular tacker. Sturt was stroking indifferently iv the opening set; far too many of his backhand shots were finding the net, and he was missing chances which should have been converted into earned points. But France also had his lapses; if Sturt failed three times to hold service, France did the same. And it. was not always the server's fault, for both men were returning the opening ball brilliantly, and after that key stroke the othsr player was often?on the defensive throughout the rally.-France began his net attack end in the ninth game he paid the penalty of rashness in.the net approach, being passed twice, and losing the game. In the following game Sturt had two set points at 40-30 and at "van in after three deuces, but the net campaign of France, with fine, volley succeeding fine volley, saved the game and made the score 5-all. France was showing great activity, cutting off returns by lightning movements, and Sturt was revealing great judgment in passing 'shots, in taking the offensive whenever France made a weak'return. Sturt lost his next service game, and France served strongly to set point and rushed the net. Sturt drove hard and France let the ball go. It fell near the baseline and the chalk flew, but the umpire gave the set to France. There was much' comment, but the ball was probably inches out though near enough to raise the dust on the line. STURT'S SET. The second set was definitely Sturt's. He revealed his better form in a long service game which he had to win to be <i-aIJ. He took this game after the most intense fight of the whole match. Both players scored brilliant aces and, aided by the fact that France lost service three times, Sturt moved on to capture the set 6-3. The third set was a long, hard grind for the winner, for he was serving in the even games: and was obliged to win to equalise the.score, but France's form' was revealed in the very second game, which, he won from 0-40, scoring three aces, and in the sixth, when he again made three brilliant placements in five points. The break came in the eighth game when Sturt was serving. He was 0-15 and there was a long pause by a linesman before a first fault was called. Sturt was completely put off and doublefaulted, and France, trying hard now because he had let Sturt escape with the sixth game after being 040, made sure of a 5-4 lead. That was sheer luck, and luck entered the match again at the very last point when France, beaten by Sturt's drive to the sideline, flung himself at the ball and touched it back at the net sufficiently for it to, trickle over and fall dead on the other side. WILSON'S ESCAPE. Wi'son was forced to work hard to avoid defeat at the hands of Morrison, and just managed to escape. The Wellington man won the first set after, being 0-3, and was beaten from the very beginning of the second set, but made sure of the third. The match waa never really in doubt after the second set, for Wilson was playing better tennis than on Friday, was missing fewer opportunities as play progressed, and showed increased control and power of service. Morrison's fast forehand was a prolific points-gatherer, but he was inclined to break down on the'other wing. It was a very creditable feat by a man who is now rapidly escaping from a bad patch of tennis. Ferkins, ou the other hand, was soundly defeated by Rowlands, who began shakily but when he settled down hit very hard. Few could deal with Rowlands when he is in the mood, and his great activity and cleverness in protecting his rather weak backhand gave him the match. At one stage it seemed as though Ferkins would break his attack, but the Auckland man increased the pace and by taking four successive games saved the set after being 3-5. In the doubles both of the Wellington pairs were so superior that they had little trouble at all. Stedman was worried and slow, and Sturt was missing badly— at one period he netted eight consecutive volleys. France and Malfroy were deadly, calm, confident, and forcing the pace all the time. In the other match Ferkins and Wilson were never in danger and emerged with a straight sets win. THE NUNNELEY CASKET. The Auckland team revealed improved form in the Nunneley Casket games, dividing the six matches played and being within a set of Wellington's total for the day. The contest between Mrs. Dykes and Miss Macfarlane was the outstanding event of the afternoon. Both were playing ' a free, fearless game, swinging the ball about well, though revealing singularly little length in their shots for long stretches.. Miss Macfarlaiie was using ;a forceful forehand to good effect, but her placing was a shade iess neat than that of the Wellington Number One, and this turned the scale in the long run. Mrs. Dykes appeared the fitter and the faster, aud she mingled short shots with longer

ones in a manner that caught Miss Maciariane- at ■•••unexpected- moments.- -Miss Maefarlane.started badly; dropped her service :ganje,_a«d.had to make'^great efford to pull up to 4-all after being three games .aowvn.,; r That"effoi'f;cost her the first set; tor.the^sound Mrs. Dykes increased the pace .of-, her play and hit her way straight through. ,-Mjleh, the same thing happened "Vthe;; second set. Miss Macfarlane was f™"!'"" the:,odd games and was down 1 : 3., She pul]ed.np:to;3-all by steady play, but slumped'there and1 lost the next two games and-.-was-CWO;in the.next.- By con^ centratei:effort she-won the next two points, but' on the third .Mrs. Dykes hit a net-cord shot which, just climbed over and gave, her the match. ■':. : 'No one gave Miss Howe: much chance against Miss Knight, and by the manner in- which the Auckland player: took the first set to .love it looked' as.if the match would soon'be over.; Miss Knight's more severe game, and her better placing and spectacular net play, were all. in her favour. But in the second set Miss Howe's patient recoveries told and Miss' Knight was thrown off her game. rMiss Howe led 4-1, and though her opponent took the next four games, the- Wellington player hung, to her well and finally took. the set It was a long, rdbur/strugglej and Miss

Knight was glad of the rest which enabled her to recuperate-and get,back to her old hitting-form. After- the resumption she was, .never ■ much and; was very aggressive. .':'': '. * DECIDING SET; Miss Ramsay^s chops were too ~ severe tor Mrs. France," who wag "sent "fanning all over the court -by them and finally broke down. The, Aucklander made a spectacular recovery in the'first set, in which her opponent led'-fi:2,- and then lost five games in a row to the heavily":Bpun shots of her opponent.. Both girls, were allowing A a wide margin, of error and. tlie play was^n'ot very,spectacular, but it was a lesson in patient match-wirining tactics; In the first set Mrs. France was making the pace, but; after the set. was lost, she was forced oi'the defensive and could do] no more than return her adversary's shots and wait for an error..' And the spin on . Miss Ramsay's shots often forced the first! error from Mrs. France. ; Miss Whyte, and ,Mrs..Napier, both with a free- hitting style,. had' a. short, sharp match-, in which Miss Whyte ,was ; the more accurate and ,in which, the players' were so alike in style that, it was often difficult to realise which had struck the ball .last. Miss Whyterwas ; -,driying ticularly', well on^theibacktiaridiVand -her

volleyuig was firm and sure. Mrs. Napier betrayed less ability to make her opponent move, but was playing ,yery pretty; forehand drives. , It^was .the. old story of the-, slightly more accjirate.; player coming through with the crowning; shVt time after, time. .[''■■■"- -' .:-.. ; :.' ':' -■'.' ■'"J .-'■" ' I

In the doubles the .top Auckland pairj Miss Macfarlane :and/: Miss Knight, had things very'much their own way against Mrs. Dykes and Miss Howe. -The Wellington players were nevet able to wrest the net from their opponents; - and the solid volleying;and smashing of the northerners gave them a.:distinct:advantage from the i first. ; Wellington!: had; no hope in this | match, in whieh;;Miss. cKnight^a. net playj severe ■ and ...safe, i- ytea c .^admiyable and. in which Mfes'Macfarla'ne ,W9's;.?always fore? ing,:th"ej?acer; ''."-^ ">'i'^'"-, c~:r y ; ' , In. the other 'double':Mrs.'Trance and Miss Whyte ran. up a 5-0 lead 'against Miss Ramsay and Sirs. Napiery:\and:. then lost thenest six games, but; won the set 8-6. The second set was a "good fight, but the local players were the steadier. Greater speed and safety :6ff the.-ground;made the difference, the- Wellington,' pair teaming I well and managing to break the Auckland combination tinie, after ; time. . ~ .