TENNIS TOUR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 March 1939, Page 6

TENNIS TOUR

NEW ZEALANDERS’ VISIT TO SYDNEY

MR H. M. BODDINGTON’S IMPRESSIONS. N.S.W. JUNIOR PLAYERS PROMINENT. “New South Wales is full of prodigies,” said Mr H. M. Boddington of Masterton, this morning, on his return as manager of the. New Zealand junior tennis team that visited Sydney recently. “Tiny tots play tennis there — how they manage it I don't know — but I would not like to play them.” Mr Boddington said he was sure the New Zealand boys would benefit considerably as the result of their trip. The boys ostensibly went there to gain experience against better players and to participate, in what was termed the under-age tournament, which consisted of events for competitors from about 12 years to under 21 years, said Mr Boddington. Unfortunately the tournament was not run on the same basis as tourneys were conducted in New Zealand. The Australian tournament commenced on Saturday morning, there was no play in the afternoon and the contest was continued on subsequent days after school hours, to meet the convenience of the pupils. That meant that the tournament extended over a long period and consequently was long drawn out. The competitors at this tournament included six of the first ten players of New South Wales and that gave a very good idea of the calibre of the players against whom the New Zealanders played. The New Zealand boys met all the leading players in the junior New South Wales —New Zealand match, which resulted as follow, New South Wales players being mentioned first in every case: —

Singles: W. Sidwell beat S. Painter, 6-2, 6-2; D. Pails beat A. S. Burns, 6-2, 6-2; R. Felan beat R. S. McKenzie, 6-4, 6-4; H. Impey beat B. Broun, 6-1, 6-1; R. Barnes beat B. J. Kelly, 6-3, 6-0. Doubles: Pails and Sidwell beat Painter and McKenzie, 6-2, 6-0; Pails and Sidwell beat Burns and Broun, 6-2, 6-3; Impey and Felan v Painter and McKenzie, 9-7; 4-6; 6-6; Impey and Felan beat Burns and Broun, 6-2, 6-2; Barnes and 1 E. Halliday v B. J. Kelly (N.Z.), and A. Felan (N.S.W.), 6-3, 5-7, All these players were under 19. There had been no rain in ,New South Wales since October, said Mr Boddington, but unfortunately while the team was there a real deluge was experienced, 8 inches being recorded in five days. In consequence, no tennis was played during the last week of the visit. The New Zealanders were fortunate .in having Jack Crawford, ex? world champion, to take part in a practice doubles match with them and he also gave them some advice on points of the game. The visitors were fortunate, too, to see three Davis Cup players, Bromwich, Crawford and Quist and an ex-Davis Cup player, McGrath, take part in exhibition matches. Bromwich and Quist met in a singles contest and these two played Crawford and McGrath in a doubles match. Bromwich, incidentally, who was recognised as the first ranked amateur of the world, .was not 21 years of age. These exhibition matches were played on a entontcas court (hard soil imported from France) at night. The courts were illuminated by twelve electric lights, each of 2000 candlepower. It was a most inspiring sight and the matches were watched by nearly 2000 people. The light was quite equal to the best daylight. The leading players were anxious to do all they could for the New Zealanders and if it had mot been for the wet weather McGrath and Gilchrist would also have played against the New Zealanders in practice matches. Mr Boddington said it was fully anticipated that quite a number of leading New South Wales players would visit New Zealand next year to take part in the centennial tournament in Wellington. Gilchrist had expressed a wish to settle in New Zealand. Be was the fourth player of New South Wales and was not 21 years old.