LAWN TENNIS AT BASFORD

Miss Joan Fry's Play in Doubles Matches.

Some interesting lawn tennis was seen at the Basford Club's courts this afternoon when in spite of dull weather and slight rainfall, there was a large number of spectators, principally attracted by the appearance of Miss Joan Fry, the well-known Stone player, who was finalist with Mddle Susan Lenglen in this year's Wimbledon Singles championship, and who assisted the British Ladies team which visited America to retain the Wightman Cup.

The fine rain, almost resembling a Scotch mist, threatened to bring an abandonment of the matches, but as it did not appear to get any worse, the players decided not to disappoint the spectators, and they carried out the programme as arranged.

The programme was that Miss Fry should take part with other well-known Stone and Basford players in mixed doubles and ladies' doubles. In the first of the ladies' doubles, she was partnered by Miss Margaret Wynne, another of the Stone Club's foremost players, who had enhanced her reputation by many tournament successes in the Midlands this year, notably at the Priory Tournament at Birmingham. Both Miss Fry and Miss Wynne took part in the inter-county match between Staffordshire and Warwickshire, at Wolverhampton yesterday, when Staffordshire won by six matches to three. They were opposed this afternoon by Mrs. Heatley and Mrs. C. J. Noke, both prominent member of the Basford Club.

In the mixed doubles Miss Fry was partnered by Mr. E. D. Leigh, also of Stone, with whom she has formerly played in several tournaments, and their opponents in this match were Mr. N. G. Gibbons and Miss M. K. Smith, leading players of the Basford Club, who have also figured prominently in local tournaments.

LADIES DOUBLES

The first match was the ladies' doubles between Miss Fry and Miss Wynne and Mrs. Heatley and Mrs. Noke, and was won by the former pair by 6-4, 6-1. There was an exhilarating struggle in the first set. The Stone pair were leading by four games to one when their opponents rallied and drew level. The fifth game was won by Miss Fry and Miss Wynne, and in the last game deuce was called four times before the Stone pair secured the game for the set. In the second set the younger and more vigorous Stone ladies were easily the better pair and won comfortably at 6-1.

Miss Fry played with all her characteristic vigour, and a feature of her display was her deadly forearm cross court drives, which had both power and pace. She was quick in recovery, and timed her shots beautifully. Her backhand which has been criticised, did not appear to be any weakness to her. She had an excellent partner in Miss Wynne, though both are primarily base-line players.

Mrs. Heatley and Mrs. Noke gave a very creditable display, particularly in the first set. The fine lobbing of Mrs. Heatley was a notable feature.

LADIES DOUBLES

Miss Joan Fry and Miss M. Wynne beat Mrs. Heatley and Mrs. C. J. Noke, 6-4, 6-1.
Miss Joan Fry and Mrs. Heatley beat Miss Wynne and Mrs Noke, 6-1.

MIXED DOUBLES

Mr. E. D. Leigh and Miss Fry v Mr. N. F. Gibbons and Miss M. K. Smith , 6-2, 3-6 (unfinished)

Staffordshire Sentinel, 17 October 1925
Courtesy of The Sentinel News & Media