F. J. Perry beating H. W. Austin with a fast return at the exhibition by international tennis players at Basford this afternoon.
International lawn tennis stars appeared in exhibition games at Basford Tennis club to-day, under the auspices of the Staffordshire Lawn Tennis Association.
The exhibition opened with a singles match between F. J. Perry and H. W. Austin, both wellknown Davis Cup players.
The other players who appeared were G. P. Hughes and C. M. Jones, the winner of the Sutton Tournament as recently as Saturday last, Miss K Stammers, who is ranked jointly with Miss Dorothy Round as Britain’s No 1 woman tennis star and Miss Lyle.
A large crowd of tennis enthusiasts from a wide area witnessed the attractive programme, and although play was not due to begin until 3.0 p.m., the crowds were assembling as early as 11.45 this morning. Adequate arrangements were made for the spectators by Mr. F. T. Jacks, the Secretary of the Staffordshire Lawn Tennis Association, and by his co-officials.
The Basford hard courts were in excellent condition, and the raised seating accommodation over the sunken courts gave the spectators ad admirable view of play.
The exhibition opened under brilliant conditions with a singles match between Perry and Austin, Perry winning the set at 10-8 after a beautiful exhibition of tennis. Austin began well and took the first two games, the second one without dropping a point, this being against the service. Perry took the third game, in which he displayed much of his old aggression, two untakable returns being features. Perry levelled at 2-2, and showing a willingness to come up to the net, placed some brilliant forehand drives. Perry took the lead for the first time at 3-2, but Austin, playing at the top of his form, in the next game drew up to 3-3 by some immaculate tennis.
Austin went ahead again to lead at 4-3, exhibiting brilliant backhand shots, but Perry, always at his best when in arrears pulled up to level again at 4-4.
Perry’s hard hitting turned the scale in his favour in the next game, in which he continually placed the ball with unfailing accuracy on the baseline and finally caught Austin on the wrong foot, to lead 5-4.
Austin was consistent and levelled again at 5-5, led at 6-5, but Perry’s brilliant smashes in the next game enabled him to take the score to 6-6.
The score went to 7-7, and then Perry did some superb retrieving from both corners of the court to lead at 8-7. Austin got to 8-8 by means of some beautiful tennis, and then Perry, who had an ability to pull up at almost any stage, went ahead at 9-8, and took the set at 10-8, showing wonderful agility about the court.
North Staffordshire was the centre of interest in the lawn tennis world today, when Britain's leading players visited Basford to give exhibitions.
The visitors were Fred Perry, the world's champion; H. W. Austin, the outstanding stylist of recent years; G. P. Hughes; a first-class doubles player; C. M. Jones; Kent's leading player; Miss Kathleen Stammers, who now ranks jointly with Miss Round as Britain's No. 1; and Miss Nancy Lyle, another member of the Britich Wightman Cup team.
The party also included Miss Freda James, another English international, who did not take part in the event, and Mrs. Austin, who before her marriage was Miss Phyliss Kongstam, the film star.
The exhibitions, which had been arranged by the Staffordshire Lawn Tennis Association, had a dual object. It was arranged in connection with the coaching scheme of the Association and in aid of the hospitals in Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford and Wolverhampton.
The opportunity afforded of seeing such a galaxy of talent had never previously occurred in Staffordshire and, as the event was favoured with brilliant weather, there was a huge crowd of enthusiasts at the Basford club.
Prior to the exhibition, the tennis stars were enteretained by the Staffordshire Lawn Tennis Association to luncheon at the North Stafford Hotel, Stoke.
Lord Harrowby, patron of the S.L.T.A. who was accompanied by Lady Harrowby, presided, supported by the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Stoke-on-Trent (Alderman and Mrs. J. H. Dale), the Mayor and Maroress of Newcastle (Alderman and Mrs. S. Myott) and the High Sheriff of Staffordshire (Mr. H. Downing) and Mrs. Downing.
Others present were Mr. J. Fielding-Taylor (president of the S.L.T.A.), Mr. and Mrs. H. T. Heatley, Mr. B. Mawdesley (President of Basford Tennis Club) and Mrs. Mawdesley, Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Bullock, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Shirley, Mr. and Mrs. F. J. Alsop, Mr. and Mrs. A. P. Ford, Mr. F. T. Jacks (Secretary, S.L.T.A.), Mr. J. A. Moore (Coaching Secretary S.L.T.A.), Mr. C. C. Bullock (Match Secretary S.L.T.A.), Mrs. A. J. Lewis, Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Mitchell, Mr. A. Donald Harber, Mr. J. H. Domenet, Mr. A. C. Swann (Assistant Secretary S.L.T.A.), and Mr. H. H. Dickin.
Mr. J. Fielding Taylor, in a welcome to the players, said that lawn tennis had become such an important international game and such a very healthy form of recreation, that the Lawn Tennis Association were making every effort to improve the general standard of play. Those efforts are being supported strongly by the Staffordshire Lawn Tennis Association and is was with that object in view that they were operating the coaching scheme-which the L.T.A. inaugurated some years ago-promoting inter-club championships, junior championships and various other competitions.
In arranging the exhibition between their visitors to-day, they had also thought it would be a further education to the young players in the county, besides being of considerable assistance to the hospitals. As a result of the effort, he was hoping that fully £150 would be raised. He continued:
It is the greatest day in the history of lawn tennis in Staffordshire. No eulogies can possibly flatter the achievements of Mr. Austin, Mr. Hughes and Mr. Perry, first in their chase after the international Davies Cup, and since then, for the past three years, in defence of the trophy.
Our lady visitors have all done a great deal to uphold the prestige of Great Britain in international lawn tennis, and Miss Lyle and Miss James have only recently returned from a tour of South Africa.
Among the apologies received were those from the Earl of Lichfield and Sir Francis Joseph.
Reading a letter from Sir Francis, Mr. Taylor said that the president asked him to present the visitors a little gift of pottery as a memento of their visit. Sir Francis wrote, "Our pottery is equal to their tennis. There is nothing to beat it."
The gifts of pottery, which consisted of musical mugs, were presented by the Earl of Harrowby.
The order of play in the exhibition was Miss Stammers v. Miss Lyle; Fred Perry v. H. W. Austin; Perry and Austin v. Hughes and Jones; and Perry and Miss Stammers v. Hughes and Miss Lyle.
Evening Sentinel 11th May 1936
Courtesy of The Sentinel News & Media