BRITAIN’S LONG LEAD

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 503, 5 November 1928, Page 7

BRITAIN’S LONG LEAD

International Tennis Match

FRANCE SCORES LONE WIN FOR N.Z.

Ollivier and Bartleet go Down Easily

“OUR tennis is too slow; that is the whole trouble. New Vl Zealand, wants to speed up its game, for the days of leisurely strokes are over.” This explanation of the first day’s disaster in the tennis test was volunteered by a member of the New Zealand team, and it may be the right

Certainly the game will have to accelerate mightily to-day (Monday) if New Zealand is to avoid overwhelming defeat. To draw, the Dominion must win five matches, and any bookmaker would let one name one’s own odds against that coming about. Britain stands out on the first day’s play with only one match, the single in which France beat Higgs, against her, and she has lost only four sets in six matches. Badly out of practice, the Dominion representatives, have, of course, failed to show the form they make about championship time. This was only to be expected. A few more week’s play on the grass would have given them the confidence of strokes and made some difference to the score, though no one is optimistic enough to suggest that Britain would have been defeated. THE LONE WIN Of the six matches played during the day, the only two that went to three

in the second and then faded out in the third for some unaccountable reason. Probably the pace of the early sets found out his physical unfitness. Though the scores make the Bartleet —Wilson, Austin —Gregory look an easy affair, it was one of the most spectacular matches of the day. When four hard-hitters get together, sparks are bound to fly, and they did. Britain was too fast, however. The other doubles was not very inspired, France playing a steady game and Ollivier setting applause for an occasional example of his old accuracy. Higgs and Collins know each other’s play and they scored a decisive victory. One feature which the arrangements could not prevent must have been disconcerting to the players. This was the applause coming from those watching one court while a rally on the other was in progress. In the same way the calling of the score, on the introduction of players, during rallies on the other court must have had some unsettling effect. Higgs and France suffered noticeably when Austin and Bartleet were contesting w-hat had been ex-

sets were played on the second court. In each instance New Zealand’s failure was disappointing, as the first set was won in convincing style, only to be followed by almost complete collapse in the second and third. The second court, too, was the scene of New Zealand’s only win of the day, in which France beat Higgs. Unlike Bartleet and Ollivier, who were unable to strike true form, or Wilson, who varied flashes of real brilliance with periods of disastrous carelessness, France kept his game at a consistent level throughout the afternoon. He always had the edge on Higgs in his single, which he won, 6 —4, 7—5; and in the double at the end of the day he made a valiant effort to carry Ollivier through the latter’s unhappy period of recurring errors in the third set. MATCH TEMPERAMENT Hence France stands out as the only New Zealander who held his game to something like its true value. He must be credited with a reliable temperament, not shattered by a quick attack, as was Bartleet by Austin, nor frittering away earlier chances with exaggerated coolness, as did Ollivier against the hard-hitting Gregory. It was hardly possession of a better tennis equipment that allowed France to beat Higgs, as the Englishman pos- i sesses the greater range of attractive strokes. Again it was temperament, however, that came to the aid of the Wellington man. Higgs made many mistakes, and his hard forehand drives crashed into the net with such regularity as to cause him obvious worry. In fact, a lip-reader might have made some interesting deductions. Half-way through the first set France made spasmodic excursions to the net, often with success, as he managed to get the Englishmman yards out of position. Almost as often, however, Higgs passed him down the sidelines or across the court, and France found that it paid him better, on the whole, to wait for the mistakes of his opponent. FIGURE IN WORLD TENNIS “Bunny’* Austin is ranged sixth in the world status by the English critic, S. Wallis Myers, and everyone at Stanley Street courts on Saturday appreciated the potentiality of this 22-year-old, who, seemingly slight in build, gets the kick of a mule into his drives and has splendid control of length and placement. In 40 minutes he had disposed of Edgar Bartleet, who, however, was nowhere near the player he was against the Frenchmen. The Aucklander’s serve was really the only part of his game which went in with last season’s ferocity, though his forehand warmed up at times. The trouble was that Austin would concentrate on Bartleet’s backhand, and that was the cause of the love set. GREGORY TAKES THE CROWD Gregory conquered the crowd. From the start his slashing forehand and backhand had Ollivier wondering. Geoff began with his old, easy, plenty-of-time-to-win game, but he worked hard in the second set. The big Yorkshireman was on his game, and his drives down the side-lines wore pretty to watch—when one could see them. Gathering himself together, he was all out from the first ball, and he leapt into runaway leads in each set. Ollivier tried the corners and lines in vain. Had he not fallen away so badly in the third set, it is probable that Noel ! Wilson, of Wellington, would have notched a second match for New- Zealand. Tie began dashingly against the Scot, Collins, took the first set with a fair margin, followed the visitor hard

pected to be the star single, of the day. Possibly the imperturbable France was : little troubled, but Higgs was plainly • affected. While the second double was in progress,' between Collins— Higgs and Ollivier —France, shrieks of excitement and applause came when Austin and Gregory were staging their fireworks at the expense of Wilson and Bartleet on the next court; but in a doubles pair the moral support furnished by the presence of a partner makes the effect of such interruptions less serious. Results: SATURDAY’S PLAY Singles H. W. Austin (Great Britain) beat E. L. Bartleet (New Zealand), 6—4, 6 —O'. E. Higgs (Great Britain) lost to D. G. France (New Zealand). 4—6, 5—7. J. C. Gregory (G. 8.), beat G. Ollivier (N.Z.). 6—3, 6—2. I. G. Collins beat N. Wilson, 4—6. 6—3, 6—l. Doubles Austin and Gregory (G. 8.), beat Bartleet and Wilson (N.Z.). 6 —2, 6 —2. Collins and Higgs (G. 8.) beat France and Ollivier (N.Z.), 6—B, 6 —l, 6—2. The draw for the play to-day is as follows: 2 p.m.—Gregory v. Bartleet; Collins v. France. 3 p.m.—Austin v. Ollivier, Higgs v. Wilson. 4.15 p.m.—Higgs and Collins v. Bartleet and Wilson: Austin and Gregory v. Ollivier and France. TO-DAY’S PLAY GREGORY AND BARTLEET GREGORY AGAIN Getting into his stride immediately, Gregory took a love game with service from Bartleet, and led 2—o, after four deuces on Bartleet’s serve. The Aucklander seemed to lack confidence and outed a lot. The Yorkshireman adopted Austin's tactics and drove to his opponent’s backhand to take the next game. Bartleet’s serve went in nicely and his forehand connected to make the score I—3. Britain led 4—2 but Bartleet’s serve was again too good. Retrieving hard forehands with his slashing backhand, Gregory played himself to 5 —2 and took the last game and the set with fine driving, after being down 30—40. KAURI AND THE OAK “WE WERE LUCKY,” SAYS GREGORY DINNER TO PLAYERS Confessing that he was not certain whether the kauri was a fish or a bird, Mr. H. A. Sabelli, manager of the British tennis team, said at the dinner given to the visitors that he had received a pleasant telegram from Mr. Rangi Royal, expressing the hope that the kauri might yet overwhelm the oak. The manager said he had replied and hoped that this disaster might]

be averted. The English Lawn Tennis Association wanted to get closer to the Dominion Associations, and this was one of the big objects of the present tour. It valued the support of New Zealand. “We have had an extremely enjoyable time here, and we will leave the country with the greatest regrets,” he said, “and that is not just after-dinner piffle.” The visitors were the guests of the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association at the Grand Hotel, Mr. T. E. Hickson, president, presiding over a big muster of members. Mr. D. Murray Kean, secretary of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association, was also present. FIRST VISIT Mr. Hickson, proposing the toast of the visitors, assured Mr. Sabelli of the loyal support of tennis players in this part of the world. This was really the first British team which had come to New Zealand to play a test match, and, he hoped, the visit would be the forerunner of many more. “We are perfectly satisfied that you have come here to show us good tennis,” said Mr. Hickson. The captain of the New Zealand team, Mr. E. L. Bartleet, said everyone had looked forward to the visit of players whose fame had preceded them. “We have found them, like all British goods, to be the best, and we have been thoroughly trounced today, with one bright exception. It is a pleasure to play against such good sportsmen, and we are not downhearted about Monday.” Dr. J. C. Gregory, captain of the British team, said his side was extremely lucky to have won so many matches. New Zealanders had given the team an extraordinary fine time. He thought it delightful to find that people, born and bred in this country, still called England their “Home.” The visitors were later taken to Dixieland cabaret. Yesterday both New Zealand and English teams played golf at Titirangi.