TEST TENNIS MATCHES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19311, 26 April 1926, Page 13

TEST TENNIS MATCHES.

NEW ZEALANDERS !fl" SYDNEY. FAVOURABLE CRITICISM. COMMENTS ON THE PLAY. [from our. owx corbesfondent. ] SYDNEY, April 12. The New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association should be well satisfied with the showing made by its representative team in Sydney. Lack of big match experience and insufficient practice were the deciding factors in the teat match against the best of New South Wales. Stroke for stroke the New Zealanders were equal to their opponents, but they failed when meeting more seasoned and esperienced players. The New Sonth Wales players are great opportunists, and, with their superior knowledge of match tactics, they were able to choose the right time to ring on the changes, with good results. This was very noticeable in the Peach v. Andrews Willard v. Andrews, and Kalms v. Seay matches. Peach tried every possible stroke and method to put Andrews off his drive, and although he failed, Willard benefitted and was forewarned when he stepped on to the court to meet the young New Zealanrler. At first he was surprised, and while Andrews %vas running up a lead of 5—2 in the first set, ho covered twice as much ground as the New Zealandcr, reminding one of Dr. Jimmy Laurenson playing Olliver. But Willard's wonderful recoveries urged Andrews to take risks and then came the reward for his perseverance. Changing his tactics, Willard tried the unexpected, gambling on the inexperience of his youthful opponent, and this want of experience alone robbed Andrews of a great victory. Pace More Than Place. . The New Zealanders fail overhead by going for pace more than place. This was very noticeable in tho doubles. With th;c exception of Wallace and Smyth they played like novices. The Australians u,.e the drop shot and a quick follow-in effectively, but tho New Zealanders play rhe same strokes and use the same tactics as in their singles. The courtcraft of Kalms is wonderful, and Seay and France should benefit by their matches against this player. Andrews and Seay played up to their New Zealand form, while Wallace, as usual, was consistent, but a bad cold prevented him from showing his best. Smyth has not shown any of his speed, but he played good games in the doubles when partnered with Wallace. Franco and Wilson were alternately brilliant and slack, being affected by the humid conditions more than the others. The members of the team have had a valuable experience and have acquitted themselves well. With better weather and more practice they would have made a better showing, but they showed much improvement on the second day of the test match. On both days of the test the courts were slow and slippery, and with only 15 feet back-run, play at times was cramped. Best Match of the Test. The best match of the test was thafc between Andrews and Willard. In this match Andrews fully justified the selectors' opinion in placing him first in the team. Serving and driving hard and true Andrews obtained a lead of 5—2 in the first set. Hero Willard gave a taste of that determination that has made him well-known throughout Australia. He made wonderful recoveries, attacked unexpectedly, and never let up for a moment. If ever a .tennis player gambled on the court, Willard did. Time and again, with set point against him, he took big risks. He caught Andrews at five-all, and then Andrews took tha next game on his service. After that followed the hardest games of the match. Deuce was called four times on Willard's service before he won and made it six-all. Each won his service to eijjht-all; then Andrews dropped his and Wilalrd won the next at 10—8. In the second set the pace was maintained and Willard got a lead of 4—l. Andrews took the next two games, but lost the eighth. Again Andrews took two games, making five-a!!. The score 7—6 was then called, Andrews leading, but again Willard adopted his whirlwind tactics, and won the set, 9—7. This match stamps Andrews as one of the best singles players New Zealand has ever produced. More certainty overhead and a change of service would give him better command of the court. His ground strokes were superior to thoso of his opponets. The Doubles Matches. The doubles matches only confirmed the knowledge that in this branch of the game New Zealand players are weak. They do not cultivate the strokes required and in most cases play their own set game without thought for their partners. Wallace and Smyth were the only New Zealand pair to show understanding of the doubles same, and without detractin" 1 from Smyth's good showing it must be° said that Wallace's knowledge of th® game was the deciding factor in their victory over Willard and Kalms. Their loss to Peach and Baker was due to Wallace's inability to follow the flight of the ball through' the shadows thrown over (lie court bv a near-by gasometer. Little attention is paid to these details over here. On the secon'd day. the best, the doubles were played on the courts in front of the grandstand. The courts were not fit for play, and although the manager of the New Zealand team entered a formal objection the acting referee, without referenco to tho team captains, decreed that these courts were to be used. After a few minutes' plav the courts reminded one of tho saddling paddock at Tronthnm during a winter meeting. But these things are sent to try us. and the young and inexperienced New Zealanders stood the test with smiles. The final scores gave New South Wales the match by 15 rubbers, 32 sets, 27 games, to 6 rubbers, 19 sets, 21 games.