ENGLISH TENNIS TEAM

Evening Star, Issue 21878, 15 November 1934, Page 4

ENGLISH TENNIS TEAM

MATCHES AT MIRAMAR PERRY BEATS HUSHES [Per United Press Association.! WELLINGTON, November 14. The high lights of to-day’s exhibition lawn tennis matches, played at Miramar by the visiting English team and the New Zealanders France and Angas and Miss D. Nicholls, was the singles between Perry and Hughes, which was won by the former, 8-6, 7-5. This was the fourth contest lie tween these two players in New Zealand,, and the first that Perry has won. It was a first-class exhibition, closely fought all the way. The Englishmen combined in a doubles against France and Angas, and won a spectacular match after losing the third set and being pushed to 7-5 in the second.

The Wightman Cup pair, Misses Dcarman and Lyle, played a doubles match with Misses Bound and Nicholls, which was abandoned when the latter pair were leading 4-2 in the third set. A mixed. doubles match between France and Miss Dearman and Angas and Miss Bound was also played, and resulted in a win for the former pair, 6-3, in the third set.

The day was perfect for lawn tennis, the slight southerly wind being no inconvenience, and there was a large crowd present. The match between Perry and Hughes was mainly a base-line duel. Neither player made the net his com stant objective, and on the few occasions when they did go in Hughes was usually the more successful. Perry’s excursions to the net frequently resulted in his netting a volley. Hughes’s ground shots were functioning perfectly. Stroking with a very long fol-low-through, he used undef-spin on the ball at times, and Perry could take no liberties. The champion had to withstand a continual _ attack on his backhand, and was given a minimum of chances to exploit his famous forehand drive. His backhand, however, stood up to the ordeal excellently, and there were some very long rallies, lyth both players seeking their chance to outwit the other with a judiciously placed shot. As a result, the match provided a fine display of stroking, and, though played at a fast pace, steadiness rather than spectacular brilliance was its main feature.

In both sets Hughes established an early lead of 3-0. but could not bold it once Perry had settled down well into bis stride, .though the score was 6 all in the first and 5 all in the second before the winner ultimately asserted bis superiority. Hughes played a splendid mime, matching spin against speed, and Perry had, to exercise astonishing control over liis flatly-hit shots to win.