TENNIS VISITORS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 113, 9 November 1933, Page 20

TENNIS VISITORS

LAST APPEAKANCE

ENGLISHMEN AT AUCKLAND

(By Telegraph.—Fress Association.)

AUCKLAND, November S,

Members of tho English lawn tennis team which has been touring New Zealand made their final appearance today prior to leaving for Australia, defeat- j ing a New Zealand team* by five matches to nil.. The weather was fine, and there was an attendance- of a littleover 1000 spectators. Results are: — I'en-y (England) beat Mulfroy (Now Zealand), (5-4, 0-4. AVildo (England) beat Bartlcct (New Zealand), -4-0, 6-2, 0-2. Lee (England) beat Sturt (New Zealand), 0-1, 6-1. Perry and Wilde beat Malfroy and Bartleet, 6-2, 6-2. Perry and Lee beat Malfroy and Sturt, 6-4, 6-3. Tho superiority of the Englishmen is ■revealed in the scoring, as in only one instance was it necessary for a third set to be played to decide a match. Nevertheless, some brilliant tennis was seen, and the spectators secured good value for their money. / Malfroy put up a great fight against Perry, trying hard for every point. His was a very creditable performance. Against a playor ranked second in the world, tho New Zealander made a bravo showing. He ■ frequently had Perry on the run with clover placements both from the baseline and at tho net. The manner in which he mado his service kick and break enabled him to frequently gain the net to cut off many returns. Perry's ability to cover tho court, however, stood him in good stead, enabling him to counter his opponent's attack with brilliant drives down the sidelines with either forehand or backhand. A MAGNIFICENT SHOT. ]t was "in'the seventh game of the second set that Perry treated the public to a sample of.his nimbleness of foot. After returning the ball from the right-hand corner of the. court, he slipped and Malfroy- volleyed to the opposite side. It looked any odds against Perry recovering and getting anywhere near the ball. He not only 'reached it, however, but, with a magnificent backhand shot which skinimed across tho net for a winner ho left Malfroy standing and- tho crowd gasping with amazement. It was one of the greatest shots ever seen at Stanley. Street. - - After commencing well in his.match against Wilde and taking the first set at 6-4, Bartleet faded lamentably and could gain only four games in the next two sets. ... Sturt was outclassed by Lee, who played mostly to the New Zealander's backhand. Lee displayed remarkable' power and accuracy with his forehand drives, which went deep into the corner. Like- Perry, Lee changed tho direction of his attack very cleverly and at the same timo kept it well concealed. • ■ The crowd received tho majority of its thrills during the afternoon from the doubles between Perry and Lee and Malfroy and Sturt. The spectators, who must have felt sorry for Sturt in his singles match, cheered him frequently during the progress of the doubles. Ho rose to great heights at times. Malfroy was also right on his game'/ and the New Zealand pair hit some marvellous winners, frequently bringing forth an exclamation of "shot" from their opponents. ENGLISHMEN'S CONSISTENCY. Greatly to the. delight of the on-j lookers, the New Zealanders won the j first four games. They were playing with fine understanding and forcing I the Englishmen'into mistakes. Perry] had temporarily lost the accuracy which j marked his singles display, as ho found the net and overdrove fairly regularly. Lee also smashed lobs into tho net, his overhead work being his weakest feature. The1 English pair now found their game, however, and they took the next six games in a,.row, and, withthem, the set. Their success, however, was not easily gained, as the New Zealanders made them fight for the majority of the points. Malfroy and Sturt lacked tho consistency of tho Englishmen, and tliis made/all the difference. There was some miraculous ■ volleying, overhead smashing, and half-volleying j by all four, with a little accurate lobbing by way of variation. , The second set was also keenly contestwl. Tho score, was'level at 3 all, and then New Zealand lost a great opportunity of taking the lead through lapses by Sturt. Perry was love-40 oil his service, and yet pulled the game out of tho fire. The visitors won the next two games and th© set and match.