LAWN TENNIS

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 31, 6 February 1932, Page 18

LAWN TENNIS

By "Drive"

NATIONAL MEETING

WELLINGTON'S WEEK

THREE TROPHIES WON

The New Zealand lawn tennis meeting at Auckland could scarcely have returned a bigger dividend to Wellington, considering the size and quality of the field engaged. This: city won the Wilding Memorial Shield, it retained the. Nunneley Casket in easy fashion, it gained the Wilding Memorial Cup, for best performances in the championship, made a-clean sweep of the junior and intermediate singles, and took the mixed doubles and half the men's doubles in a final which saw three Wellington-players engaged. In addition, perhaps the most notable feat by a New Zealand player in the series of matches was Miss D. Mcholls's defeat of Mrs. Molesworth in the test. Our men players revealed themselves not quite good enough in the senior singles, while the Australian ladies dominated, the women's events. ' Angas's Victory. The final of the men's singles championship between Angas and Barnett provided disappointing tennis, according to an. Auckland commentator. This was not surprising seeing that both had had exhausting, singles and doubles matches the previous day.' It was also the tenth day's play practically in buccession for both, and the strain was obviously telling on them. In addition to this the strong wind blowing down the court made hard hitting inadvisable. The consequence was that right from the start the contestants adopted- steady ta«tics, and there were many long games.. The match, was played for the most part from the base lines, Angas advancing to the net much more frequently than his opponent and meeting with a good deal of success in cutting off many of Barnett's fine returns. The games see-sawed up to 5-all when Angas ran out for set. In the early stages of the second set Angas was not allowed much peace, being kept almost continually on the move by his opponent, who drove first to one corner and then the other. Barnett had set point off his own service at 5-2. Leading at 5-4 he had set point four times before Angas drove out. Even Battle. ' The third set was very even, every point having to be hard earned. The tennis was similar to that in the first two sets, and the games were level at 4-all. This was an important stage of the match for both, but Angas's ability to vary his play more than his opponent stood him in good stead. ■ With a lead of one set Angas played more confidently in. the fourth set, whereas Barnett lost his wonderful accuracy. In attempting to hit harder he either found the net op drove out. Angas won two love games in this Bet. The ladies' singles final was responsible for some of the most brilliant tennis seen during the tournament. It was believed that Mrs. Molesworth's experience and steadiness, combined with a command of practically all shots would prove much for her young opponent, but a big surprise was in store. - . Eight from the outset Miss Hartigan drove magnificently to the base-line corners, concentrating principally upon her opponent's backhand. The sting she put behind her returns of Mrs. Molesworth's strong service made: the spectators gasp with amazement and admiration. Nothing like it for consistent strength and"accuracy had been seen during the tburnament, not even from men players. Each player dropped her service until 2-all was called. That was the last game Mrs. Molesworth won in the first set, as she found it impossible to return with any consistency the powerful deep drives of her ■ opponent. Jirst Time. : Mrs. Molesworth won her service for the first time in the opening game of the second set. With dazzling serving and driving Miss Hartigan drew level with the less of bat one point iv the second game. The third game was a love one to Mrs. Molesworth off her own service, but again Miss Hartigan evened the score, and then she assumed the-lead, never to lose it. ' "' ' ' At the conclusion of the match Mrs. Molesworth hastened to the net to embrace and kiss her young rival, who had given a display as brilliant as anything seen from a lady player at the courts for many years. The crowd was not slow to appreciate the merit of the winner's performance, and she was accorded another reception as she and her opponent walked from the court. Wilson was the dominant player in the final of the men's doubles. He and Stedman forced the attack throughout the match, Wilson scoring most of the points with unplayable' smashes, although Stedman at times won applause with beautiful forehand drives to the corners. Stedman's overhead work was also good, although he was overshadowed by his partner. A. L. France seemed listless and made' • many mistakes, D. G. France doing more than his share on. attack and defence; He was frequently active at! the net, while he was. fairly safe at the back of the court, although he was forced into'a number of errors by Wilson's powerful driving. - :: Taking the Net. At the start of the first set Wilson and Stedman went to the net as.often as possible, Wilson making many •'kills.'* Stedman was.not so prominent, although he troubled the Franoe brothers with some beautiful drives and smashes down the centre of the court. Wilson and Stedman took- the first set at 6-2. ■ ■;.-,. . During the second set Stedman and Wilson made many errors, while D. G. Prance frequently passed both when they rushed the net with well-placed drives, his overhead work also being much improved. A. L. Franco was playing better tennis than he had previously displayed, and the brothers won a prolonged set at 10-8. Wilson was still erratic in the third set, while Stedman served several double faults. The pair settled down' soon, however, and took the set, 6-4, D. G. France playing finely in opposition. At the opening of the fourth set Wilson was hitting exceptionally hard, but he made many errors, and after he and his partner had led, 2-1, France and France ran ahead to 5-3. In the next game they held set point but failed, and Wilson and Stedman again took the attack, both playing hard to finish the set by winning four games in succession. The semi-final in the mixed doubles between Stedman and Miss Hartigan and Morrison and Miss Valkenburg was productive of interesting but not brilliant tennis. Stedman went to the net whenever possible, while iss Hartigan played her usual strong driving game. Miss Valkenburg was solid on the baseline, but did not get many opportunities to use her favourite net strokes. Morrison was inclined to be patchy, missing many fairly easy shots and then making wonderful recoveries front almost impossible positions.

li. S_. Smith, -who was seriously injured in a motor-cycle accident in Auckland, which. resulted in the death of his fiancee, is well-known as an Auckland cricket representative. He fills the Tole of wicket-keeper when.