N.S.W. Has Splendid Win In Tennis Test By 10 Rubbers To 2

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22888, 7 March 1949, Page 3

N.S.W. Has Splendid Win In Tennis Test By 10 Rubbers To 2

(P.A.) AUCKLAND. March 7. The unofficial lawn tennis tost match between New South Wales and the New Zealand team ended on Saturday as it had begun on Friday with a splendid victory to New South Wales. In the meantime, however, there had been 10 other matches and the winning of all of these, by the New South Wales team gave it a most decisive victory by 10 rubbers to two. It was the last match of the visitors’ tour and their record in serious matches of the tour at Wellington, Lower Hutt, Christchurch and Auckland was unbeaten.

Features of Saturday’s play were the success of the leading New Zealanders, J. E. Robson and R. S. McKenzie, in de. feating O. W. Sidwell and D. Rocavert in the final of the doubles match, opportunities lost from inexperience by several New Zealanders, and the vigorous and skilful play of Sidwell, R. R. McCarthy and J. Matthews in the singles matches. Two of the four singles matches went to three sets and the New Zealand junior champion M. A. Otway had an exciting chance to carry his match with Rocavert to the final set when he led 5-2 in the second set. He had two set points in each of two game* and at 5-4 led 40-15.

J. A. Barry had good fortune to take the second set from Matthews by means of a net-cord on the (inn! shot but in any case deserved the set for his good fight after being 0-2. Barry’s weakness in the macth was on his volleys. If he had been even in normal form with the shot his chances of success must have been bright. McKenzie played some of the best tennis he has ever shown in Auckland against McCarthy and ought to have won in straight sets. He ran away with the first with cleanly hit and powerful shots to the sidelines and a higher measure of accuracy on the many backhand to backhand rallies between them in the second. While he maintained his rather slow pace he had very slightly the better of the match, but towards the end of the set his trace of anxiety to win showed in a slightly faster pace of! which McCarthy drove with accuracy and power on both hands.

Sidwell lost seven games to Robson in two sets and up to 3-all in the second set was held pretty well. At this stage he became more enterprising.

McCarthy and Matthews in the doubles were too strong and versatile for Otway and Barry, but in the final match Sidwell and Rocavert lost to McKenzie and Robson. It was quite the most entertaining match of the two days. McKenzie was the outstanding player of the four and Robson found his best touch. Rocavert was prone to error and Sidwell, while frequently outstanding, was not especially reliable on his service.

Results (New South Wales players names first):

Singles.—O. W. Sidwell beat J. E. Robson (Otago), 6 —3, 6 —4; R. R. McCarthy beat R. S. McKenzie (Wellington), I—6, 9 —7, 6—l; J. Matthews beat J. A. Barry Auckland), G—3, 6—B; 6—2; D. Rocavert beat N. A. Otway (Auckland), 7—5, 7—5. Doubles.— Sidwell and Rocavert lost to Robson and McKenzie, 6—4, 7—9, 3 —6; Matthews and McCarthy beat Barry and Otway, G—o, 6—2.