MATCHES AT MIRAMAR

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 104, 30 October 1933, Page 6

MATCHES AT MIRAMAR

EXHIBITION TENNIS

SUCCESS OF VISITORS

Sodden courts, a wintry atmosphere, and a light driving rain greeted the visiting English and Australian tennis players at the Miramar Grounds ou Saturday afternoon. At the hour fixed for the commencement of the exhibition matches it appeared uncertain whether- any play would be possible, but after two postponements, the second made on the advice of the Dominion Meteorologist, the weather suddenly took a turn for the better, and it proved possible to play two doubles. After that the wind, which had risen to almost gale force,, bore rain again, and play ceased until today. The announced programme was modified for the occasion, and the matches played resulted as follows:— F. J. Perry and F: H. D. Wilde (England) beat C. E. Malfroy and D. G. Franco (Wellington), 3-G, G-2, (5-1. D. P. Turnbull and A. K. Quist (Australia) beat C. E. Malfroy and D. G. France (Wellington), 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. D P. Turnbull and A. K. Quist (Australia) led H. G. N. Lee and F. H. D. Wilde- (England), 7-5, 0-2 when play ceased. WHY THEY WON. The matches were a full-dress exhibition of the doubles strength of three nations, made in trying circumstances, but providing an excellent indication of the merits of the different countries in the doubles game. Though the Wellington pair was defeated in each match the result was by no means due to inferior play in tho matches as a whole. In part it was due to superior team-work by the Englishmen and Australians, more vigorous taking of chances, and more consistent racket work. In greater "measure it "was due to the unsteadiness of Malfroy, who was serving poorly and taking large risks when in an attacking position (though defending well when pressed). Malfroy's form in the first match was quite good, but it deteriorated throughout the day until at the end he was not doing himself justice. In the second double France's form also was below his best. The win of the Englishmen was a triumph of tactics. It, was. quickly seen by Perry that he had' made a mistake when accepting the ballsf which. Wilde tossed him in the second game of the set, for that left his young partner to serve into the wind, and both Wilde's deliveries in the first set went to the New Zealanders, the first after a 040 call and the sec-, ond on a double-fault. Thus when the second set began it was arranged for Wilde to open service down the wind, and lie did not drop another:>game for the rest of the match. In addition,; Perry covered his partner , well, strong strokes bringing up kills for the younger man and a flashing service taking Perry through the whole three sets without ever being m real danger of losing his delivery. A FAST PLAYER, * ' Perry quickly revealed himself for what he is: a fast mover and an even faster thinker. His speed of foot is equalled by his rapidity of mind, the manner in which he reads his opponent's intentions before the racket is swung, the unerring way in which, while.moving like lightning towards the ball, he sums up the situation and never fails to put the ball into a gap which may not have revealed itself until the last second of his swing. On Saturday he had the problem of protecting Wilde from the attack which the New. Zealanders determined to concentrate upon him, but the solution of this was largely provided by Wilde himself, for he improved -throughout the match until he was winning critical points with well "judged shots, lobs: of excellent length, lightning returns of smashes, and volleys, straight at him, and well-timed cross-court drives. That concentration upon Wilde, in short, proved a mistake, and wasl one reason for the manner in which the Englishmen moved ahead in the second and third sets. ' A seeoud reason was Malfroy's failure on service; lie won only;, one delivery in the.last two sets, and fell into crops of errors which offset the brilliant work done by France. In the second set the Englishmen were a pointolf a 4-0 lead, and in the third set were ahead 3-0 and 4-1, moving on to 5-1 when Malfroy was passed, double-faulted, outed, and netted in succession for a 'dove game. The basis of Perry's game, it is quite clear, is speed. His shots leave little margin of error, they are struck perfectly flat, except his forehand, which often carries a good deal of 6pin. His service is a fast, sliced shot, delivered to the vacant spot, and very accurate. His forehand is not elegant and is somewhat reminiscent of that of J. van Ryn. It is a forceful, low, and -deadly shot played with great concentration, and almoSt like a push rather than a blow. His smash, like, his service,' is remarkable in that though it is very fast it appears to be swept over by accurate timing rather than punched. His volleying is deadly and his liveliness on the court is evidence of an irrepressible spirit. PROMISING. Wilde showed himself a very promisiug plnyer, his rapidity of foot contrasting' with his dejected air and slow movement; between ' strokes. He is still young, and lacks ,the confidence of experience save' when hard pushed, when he is likely to play brilliantly. , His. tossing was-whatl clinched the .second set for the Englishmen, Winning them the first game and the. last, and his rapid answer to pressure! revealed him as a coming player. ;

Against the' Australians tlio New Zea-i landers did not reach the form they re-1 vealed when playing the Englishmen. The: pace of the match was slower, but the history was much the same, a good beginning and. then a waning of the attack.! Turnbull and Quist soon, showed them-i selves to be a force. Quist, who' took; the court' wearing. shorts, was erratic in: the early games, and his service, thouglr delivered down wind, proved the weakness of the combination, being held, when it was held, usually after a hard fight., slow start gave the New Zealanders the first set after a 3-0 lead. The Australians almost evened the score in the1 sixth game, which went to deuce eight times aiid in which they held six game points. , They were not able to pull up,; however, and the set went to the home' team 6-4. Learning a lesson from the Englishmen, the New Zealanders had changed the order of their service and France was now serving down wind, but the alteration in tactics did not avail much, for it gave Malfroy the full force of the blast to counter and led to the loss of two of his service sanies to love. Moreover, once the Australians settled down it was enrsy to see that Quist was made of the stuff of bril-. liant doubles men and that Turnbull had rugged strength of purpose and speed of shot which made him an ideal partner foi-; a player of Quist's flashes of brilliance. TRIED ALL THE TIME. . Turnbull never let up, he tried for everything; -his extremely severe service was; usually won with ease, even against the; wind, and he' gathered in repeated aces by terrific forehands. Alternating with: these was a slower shot played well inside; the service line, and deadly to the man advancing behind a service ball. Tiunbull; was never beaten and always making an attacking shot. " Allied with this was Quist's spectacular: smashing,. swung, from corner to corner,; and his skilful use of the lob. The Australians revealed a proper appreciation of. the purpose of the toss, and.gained welltimed advantage from it. Behind it they: always rushed the net and often garnered a harvest there. Here Quist was most useful, though he was not in as good form! as Turnbull, and quite often failed against n protracted lobbing defence by the New Zealanders. At the moment when Quist found touch, however, he simply dominated the court from first stroke to last. The New Zealand pair" went very close to being within striking distance of victory i in this second match. The first-set won, they were down 3-4 with Quist serving in the vital eighth game. The score went to 1540 and later vantage out, but attempts to hit outright winners past Turnbull cost

Do as the champions do. Support tho legitimate sports dealers. Members o£ the English team, for their Wellington and North Island exhibitions, arc using rackets strung by Witcombo and Oaldwell, Ltd., and Briscoe, E. W. Mills and Co., Ltd., specialists in sporting., goods. —Advt.