FIRST-CLASS TENNIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20823, 16 March 1931, Page 12

FIRST-CLASS TENNIS.

THE WILDING SHIELD.

AUCKLAND'S EASY VICTORY.

DEFEAT OF WELLINGTON

[BY TELEGRAPH. — PRESS ASSOCIATION.] WELLINGTON, Sunday.

The Auckland tennis team defeated Wellington yesterday for the Wilding Shield. As on Friday, the weather was perfect. The gate-takings constituted a record for Wellington. Auckland won by 9 matches to 3.

Auckland having won four ni.jtclies to two on tho first day's play, Wellington faced a formidable task yesterday, having to win five of the six matches to be played. The outstanding performer of the series was I). G. France, who defeated tho New Zealand champion. Detailed results of yesterday's play are as follows, Wellington players being mentioned first:—

Singles.—D. G. France beat A. C. Stedman, 5—7, 6—o, 6—4; A. L. France lost to E. L. Bartlcet, 5—7, 6—4, I—6; R. McL. Ferkins lost to N. G. Sturt, 6 —3, I—6, 2—6; N. R. Smith lost to H. Morrison, 6—l, 4—6, 5—6.

Doubles.—D. G. and A. L. France lost to Stedman and Sturt, 6 —2, 3—6, 8 —10; Ferkins and Smith lost to Bartlcet and Morrison, 4—6, 5 —7.

SOME EXCITING CONTESTS

PERFORMANCE OF A ICELANDERS

[BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN C'OURESPONDENT.] WELLINGTON, Sunday.

Having won four matches to two on the first day, tlio Auckland team had played itself into practically an assured position for possession of the Wilding Shield, and yesterday's play saw Auckland win five of the six matches, (hereby raising its total of successes to nine. The only matches the challengers lost wero the leading men's singles each day and first doubles on the opening day. The outstanding player of the contest was Don France, whose defeats of Bartleet and Stedman on successive days entitled him to rank as the leading singles player of the North Island, if not of New Zealand. His duel with Stedman yesterday was productive of fine tennis, and kept the gallery continually excited. Stedman played his usual attacking game, with hard driving down the lines, varied nicely with pretty cross-court shots, maintaining steady length. ( Stedman took the first set. France also drove splendidly, and it appeared that the two succeeding sets would be keenly contested. However, Stedman drove too hard in the second set, added to which France went to the net, where his work was almost perfect. The deciding set was similar to tlio second. Stedman fought hard, but lie had lost the accuracy which characterised his exhibition in the first set. France's steadiness and consistency secured liirn a well-earned victory.

Tho fate of tlio shield had already been decided when Bartleet and Lcn Franco went to the court, and tho players did not take their match as seriously as otherwise would have been the case. In each of the first two sets France established a lead, but Bartleet won the first sot, although he lost the second. In tho third set his placing was altogether too good for his opponent. The Aucklander's service was as deadly as over, while his volleying and. placements were superb. After losing the first set to Ferkins Sturt completely outplayed the Wellington man. Sturt started badly, but was right on his game subsequently. Smith showed up splendidly in the first set agairyit Morrison, driving deep and hard into the corners. He followed in to the net to place the ball well out of the Aucklander's reach. In tlio succeeding sets, however, Morrison's strong driving to the corners left his opponent standing at the net. Smith did not win a single game in tho deciding set.

The doubles between Stedman and Sturt and the France brothers produced liighclass tennis. Stedman's driving was inaccurate in the first set, in which Don France was the outstanding player. The Aucklanders combined better in tlie second set, Sturt angling beautifully with low volleys, while perfect lobbing was a feature of Stedman's display. These tactics had the Wellington men continually on the run

Tlie final set was most exciting and had the spectators continually on tenterhooks. The France brothers led 4—l and 5—3. The Auckland pair drew level, five all, then the games alternated until Auckland gained the lead by 9—B and won the eighteenth game. Bartleet's serving, volleying and lobbing were altogether too much for Ferkins and Smith, who tried hard all the way against a more experienced opposition. INTERPROVINCIAL SHIELD. AUCKLAND DEFEATS TARANAKI. [BY TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION,] NEW PLYMOUTH, Saturday. Jn a tennis match for the Interprovincial Shield to-day Auckland defeated Tarunaki by 10 matches to 8. The. contest was a keen one. One combined match in which Taranaki was leading was unfinished. OTAGO V. CANTERBURY. ANNUAL FIXTURE COMMENCED. [I!Y TELEGRAPH.—PRESS ASSOCIATION.] DUNEDIN. Saturday. The Otago and Canterbury Tennis Associations commenced their annual contest to-day in brilliant weather. The results are as follows (Otago names first) : , Combined Doubles.—Guy and Miss Partridge beat Dyrnond and Miss Sherris. 6—2, 6—4; T'oddy and Miss Ballantyne beat A'Court and Miss McDonald, 6—3, 6—2; Pearco and Miss White beat Fisher and Miss Johnston, 4—6, 6 —l, 9—7; Jensen and Miss Calvet beat Anderson and Mrs. Miles, 6 —4, 6—3; Pollock and Miss Cox lost to Arnold and Miss Quill, 2—6, I—6; McDougall and Miss Pattison beat Patterson and Miss Wake. 6—3, 7—5. Ladies' Singles,—Miss Calver lost to Miss Quill, I—6, 2—6; Miss Cox beat. Mrs. Miles, 6—5, 6—5,