The third set provided some excellent tennis, Hewitt serving out at 6-5 and winning the match with an ace.Considering that Philippoussis has also been absent since March, courtesy of his dodgy knees, his 6-4, 6-0 victory over Sluiter was an equally creditable performance. There were plenty of mistakes but also some cracking rallies. Both men preferred to play from the back of the court and at times the quality of their retrieving was exceptional.There were no breaks in the first set and Malisse won the tie-break 7-3. There is nothing like an English summer to set the Australian pulse racing. Their cricketers arrived on Sunday full of confidence as they prepare to defend the Ashes and, at Queen's Club in London yesterday, their two most successful tennis players of recent years took their first steps back to fitness en route to Wimbledon.
Hewitt, the No 1 seed at the Stella Artois tournament, was given the most testing of work-outs by Xavier Malisse, beating the Belgian, 6-7, 7-5, 7-5, after more than two and a half hours, while Philippoussis brushed aside the challenge of the Dutchman Raemon Sluiter, losing only four games.Hewitt, who beat Tim Henman here in the 2001 and 2002 finals, has been out of action with toe and rib injuries and took his time to settle against Malisse, who on his day can be a match for anyone. Replacements: S Byrne (Ireland), G Jenkins (Wales), B Kay (England), M Williams (Wales), G Cooper (Wales), J Wilkinson (England), G Henson (Wales).Referee: K Deaker (New Zealand).. The British and Irish Lions registered their second victory in New Zealand but once again head coach Sir Clive Woodward was left with as many questions as answers. The side contains few certainties for the opening set-to with the All Blacks - Martin Corry, the captain, probably stands alone in this regard - so any misfires here will be costly.TARANAKI: S Ireland; S Tagicakibau, M Stewart, C Woods, L Mafi; S Young, C Fevre; A Penn, A Hore, G Slater, S Breman, P Tito (capt), J Willis, C Masoe, T Soqeta; Replacements: P Mitchell, H Mitchell, J Eaton, R Bryant, M Harvey, B Watt, J King.BRITISH AND IRISH LIONS: G Murphy (Ireland); S Horgan (Ireland), W Greenwood (England), O Smith (England), D Hickie (Ireland);C Hodgson (England), C Cusiter (Scotland); G Rowntree (England), A Titterrell (England), J Hayes (Ireland), D O'Callaghan (Ireland), D Grewcock (England), M Corry (England, capt), L Moody (England), M Owen (Wales). World Cup notwithstanding, he is a player unfulfilled.Not that he would admit as much in public. "I've had a couple of knocks - I suppose you could describe what happened to me in South Africa as a knock - but I've been dealt some very good cards in my rugby career and have no regrets," he said.
"I'm delighted to be on this tour and my entire focus is on being a part of a winning squad. If we win the Test series and my role turns out to be one of bag carrier .. well, I'll take that In fact, I'll snatch your hand off. I think I can bring something to this off the field, as well as on."The inside-centre debate is likely to exercise the minds of the coaches for some days yet. Yet despite the brilliance of his form on both trips, he has yet to don the red shirt on Test day. Injury scuppered him in Springbok country - he very nearly died after being dumped on his head during a match with the Free State in Bloemfontein - and he was crocked in less dramatic circumstances shortly before the start of the serious business with the Wallabies. Will this Taranaki team, who count such luminaries as Graham Mourie and Dave Loveridge among their predecessors, offer similar resistance? The Lions expect nothing less. "This part of the world produces fantastic players in abundance," the World Cup-winning centre from Harlequins, Will Greenwood, said yesterday. By common consent he was fortunate to be selected for this venture.