HIGH-GRADE TENNIS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVIII, Issue 44, 20 January 1938, Page 2

HIGH-GRADE TENNIS

STEDMAN AND COOMBE. PALMERSTON~NORTH VISIT. Tlie Palmerston North Lawn Tennis Club’s courts were a Wimbledon in miniature yesterday afternoon when tho New Zealand Davis Cup players (A. C. Stedmau and D. C. Coombe) appeared in exhibition matches along with leading Manawatu players. Several factors, other than the consistently high grado of the play, went to make tho occasion an interesting experience. One was Stedman’s easy style; another was the vast improvement in Coombe’s play since he won the Manawatu championship a few years ago. Both players are making a short tour prior to the national championships, in which Coombe will be defending his title. Before lie went Homo several years ago Stcdman had won tile Now Zealand championship on tho strength of a first-class forearm drive, a steady, but not attacking backhand, and an adequate hut not outstanding equipment of other strokes. To-day he has returned to this country the possessor of a forehand drive easily in world class and ho has" developed ail almost accurate back-hand drive. Coombe was brilliant yesterday in overhead volleys., in particular, and, when the opportunity came, particularly in the men’s doubles, lie rarely missed scoring. He is equipped with an exceptionally dangerous service, but liis placing is not so accurate as that of Stedman, who, in the exhibition singles, often had Coombe on the run.

There was a large crowd present and the players were introduced by the president of the Manawatu Lawn Tennis Association (Mr H. N. Watson), who said that Manawatu had good reason to bo proud of them. Stedman had been born in Palmerston North and had started his tennis here, while Coombe had been Manawatu champion a lew years ago. In the men’s doubles the local pair (R. Chisholm and W. Boddy) did not settle down at first, and the visitors took the first three games with ease. The fourth game, however, went to the Manawatu players, who, in the next two, ran tlieir opponents to deuce, only to be defeated by superior placing. Coombe’s volleys were dangerous and he gave any rising balls no quarter. The visitors won 6—l. The second set likewise found Stedman and Coombe leading 3—o, for Chisholm and Boddy to capture tho fourth. The visitors won the next and the local players came to light again with some really good play to score another game, the final set finishing 6—2. In the singles Stedman showed his superiority in placing. There were soipe good rallies, the ball skimming the net and bouncing low only to be returned with almost uncanny accuracy.

After leading s—l Stedman won the first set 6—4, Coombe making a fighting recovery. In the second Stedman again led s—-1 and took the set and tho match 6—2. Many of the games went to deuce. The mixed doubles match was between Steelman and Mrs R. P. Adams, of Levin (former New Zealand champion) and Coombe and Mrs McNair Thompson, of Levin (former New Zealand doubles champion with Mrs Adams). Bright tennis was again witnessed. Coombe and Mrs Thompson took the first set 7—5, Mrs Thompson being particularly dangerous at the net. In tho second Mrs Adams showed some of her old form and she and her partner won 6—3. The final set was keenly contested, and Coombe and Mrs Thompson, showing greater understanding, won 6—4. Coombe was devastating with his overhead vollevs.

Details of the play are:— MEN’S SINGLES. Stedman beat Coombe, 6—4, 6—2, Boddy beat Chisholm, 6—3. MEN’S DOUBLES.

Stedman and Coombe beat Chisholm and Boddy, 6—l, 6—l. MIXED DOUBLES.

Coombe and Mrs McNair Thompson beat Stedman and Mrs R P Adams 7—5, 3—6, 6—4.