LONDON SPORTING LETTER.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20363, 21 July 1934, Page 17

LONDON SPORTING LETTER.

Perry Disappointed—How He Lost in Paris —Miss Jacobs Aggrieved—Men Beaten at Golf—Boxing Title—Petersen Gains Verdict.

(Special to the “ Star.”) LONDON, June 10.

Fred Perry, England’s No. 1 lawn tennis player, and perhaps the best player in the world, had high ambitions when he went to Paris to compete for the French championship. As the holder of the American and Australian titles, he coveted the championships of France and Wimbledon to set up a record which had never been equalled. But his hopes were dashed in unhappy circumstances. While playing against the Italian, G. Stefani, he went to the net, and, in trying to reach a return, fell and twisted his foot. At the time Stefani led by two sets to one, but there had been much ir the play to suggest that Perry would win in the end. As he lay on the ground, however, I at once realised that he had been badly hurt. He was assisted to his feet, obviously in great pain, but after a few minutes he declared that he would continue. It was patent, however, that he was not fit. He went out for winning shots, but he could scarcely run. When at last the Italian had taken the set, and the match, Perry staggered to the net to shake hands with his opponent and collapsed in a faint. He was carried to the dressing-room, and was attended by a doctor. On recovering at the end of ten minutes, his first question to the doctor was, “ Shall I be able to play at Wimbledon?” Assured on this point, he was taken to his hotel, and remained in bed for several days. In fact, when he returned home at the end of the week, he required assistance in walking. But no bone in the ankle is broken, and it should not be long before he is able to play. It was not a very successful championship meeting from the English point of view. Miss M. C. Scriven, the left-handed girl, retained her title, and showed even better form than a year ago. Her final with Miss Helen Jacobs, the American champion, was not a satisfactory match. It did not start until 6.30, and the light was very bad. With the score at one set all Miss Jacobs appealed against the light, but the French authorities ordered the game to continue. Miss Scriven went to 3-1 in the third set, and Miss Jacobs made a second appeal against the conditions, which were very unfavourable. When the decision was again against her, she seemed to abandon the struggle, and did not win another game. The conditions were the same for both, but I think the American girl had a definite grievance, and that the match should have been stopped.

In view of the fact that J. H. Crawford was again beaten, the prospects of Australia in the Davis Cup do not appear good. Crawford’s opponent was the German, G. \ x on Cramm, and the latter won after having lost the second and third sets. The Australian was within a point of winning in the fourth set, but, having missed this chance, he gradually weakened in the intense heat, and was worn down. Women Beat Men Golfers. The belief that the sexes at golf may be brought to an equality by the men conceding half a stroke a hole is in need of revision. To-day, so much have women players improved, the handicap is much too severe. This was overwhelmingly proved in a match on the Stoke Poges course, when a strong men’s team was overwhelmingly ' defeated. The men, in fact, won only five out of twenty-one matches—one foursome and four singles. It is perhaps a bad time of the year for such a test. The course was hard, and the ball ran a prodigious distance. Under the conditions the advantage which the men obtained from the tee was trifling. Certainly their opponents drove far enough to make light of the second shots. Indeed, in some cases the women might even have been successful on terms. For instance, against Miss Joyce Wethered, who to-day plays rarely, Rex Hartley did the first nine holes in 36, par figures, and was three down. Miss Enid Wilson was even more formidable. Without taking into account her stroke allowance, her score for eleven holes was level fours, and Dr H. R. Martin was eclipsed. One of the men to win was E. F. Storey. He had a score of twenty-eight for eight holes, and yet he defeated Miss Joy Winn by only two and one. Women golfers have lengthened their drives so notably in recent years that, except in wild weather, they are not now far behind their brother players. In the circumstances the method of allowing them to play from forward tees has had to be abandoned. In future, however, I think their allowance will have to be cut down from a half to a third. Half a stroke a hole is definitely too much to concede. Boxing and Boxers. Jack Petersen, the Adonis • of the ring, who claims Norwegian ancestors but who was born in Cardiff and is a true Welshman at heart, regained the heavy-weight cha!mpionship (writes B. Bennison) in his return fight with Len Harvey at the White City. But it was not altogether a satisfactory con-

test. As early as the fifth round Harvey received a smashing blow to the face, and one eye almost immediately was closed. He fought on a halfblinded man for seven more rounds, and then, when he was in a hopeless state, the referee walked to his corner, and kindly putting his hand on his shoulder, said: ” Harvey, that’s enough,” and awarded the fight to Petersen. After it was learnt that, with Petersen naturally playing on the damaged eye whenever there was an opportunity, there was a real fear of it being permanently injured. The unhappy Harvey was also handicapped in a further way that was not obvious to the spectators. It seemed that in the eleventh round Petersen accidentally struck him with the lace of his glove on the other eye, and affected the sight of this. It watered so much that he could catch only occasional glimpses of his opponent through the mist. In the circumstances, it was remarkable how he listed through almost two full rounds without being knocked out. Against a fierce attack he ducked and swayed and avoided many blows, and as he said afterwards, this was only possible through instinct. Up to the time of Harvey’s first mishap there was little to choose between the men. On points they were level. Subsequently, however, Petersen claimed a marked advantage, and undoubtedly showed the best form of his meteoric career. We had known him as a fiery youth with a deadly punch, and ready to take any risk to land it. But now he was more calculating, and it was evident that, since the last ’ fight, he had been at pains to improve his defence. He sought to make openings by using'his left in the traditional and safe style, before bringing his right into play, and he not only looked but v/as a much better boxer. About forty-five thousand people watched th,e fight in the open air at the White City, but, big as the attendance was, it did not realise expectations. It was a cold s(id cheerless night with rain threatenirfg. Now it is said that the two men must meet again. I think, however, that both will require a considerable rest. Harvey at the present time is in bed in a darkened room, and although there is no fear of permanent damage to either eye, I shall be surprised if he ventures into the ring again for several months. Again, in respect of Petersen, the w'qund over his eye was opened once more, and, unless his career is to be cut short, it will require close attention. In addition to the title, the Welshman received £SOOO. Harvey was also guaranteed this sum as well as a small percentage of the receipts. Still, Jeff Dickson, the promoter, would make a handsome profit.