TENNIS TITLES CHANGE

NZ Truth, Issue 1206, 10 January 1929, Page 14

TENNIS TITLES CHANGE

Standard of Play Improved In Championship Finals

(From "N.Z; Truth's" Special Auckland Representative)

Another championship tournament has been added to the history of New Zealand tennis, and' many new heads have been crowned. There were some surprises, the greatest being the de- '' -..feat of Miss May Speirs, the title holder. IN defeating Miss. Speirs, Miss Mariorie MacFarlane presented Auck-

la;nd with: a victory that. was hardly expected,' and as soon as {the decision' was made,/ northerners' hopes of an'nexing'•■ the: "WiWing. „Shielcl,>. fo^ ; the greatest number of points, rdn high. MVliss MacFai'lane played the game of her life. It was not hard, attacking play that won her the match, but she' excelled at the baseline, playing well thought 1 out shots .;':■• ' '■ - " ' : ■ all the time. , I ; ' .

Mi s s MacFarlane . had ;• a.'..\difficult task to wear hero p p on en t down* and that she was- fully aware of the fact was seen by her mode of attack. She was sure arid steady on the back line, arid Miss Speirs seldom seriously troubled her. ■ ' ' '. " ■:'.■■ ■'■■? '■ '■ ■ •• . ■ " - ; ;'. - ■ ,■••■'■

As it was, Miss Speirs contented herself with, adopting a careful attitude, but if she hoped; to- win by;. Miss MacFarlane's faults, she was disappointed. Canterbury lost another hope with the retirement of Geoff. Ollivier front the amateur.'game, and E. L. Bartleet's win Ayas no surprise to Aucklaiiders. The final match against Malfroy was no gift for; Bartleet, howeyer,i and- he

NotEnou^¥iin

was troubled time and again by the Wellington player's .; fine length and placement./ " ■ : ■.■\.; v: ■•■ ■■ .It wasa match full of interest, and Malfroy scored frequently, by , clever smashes at .the net. He played a harder smashing- game than did Bartle'et, who was content to play deeper, smashing -\. only when success seemed assured

The final of the men's doubles, when Bartleet, and Laiiren,son met Angas and Len. Prance was brim full of .interest, and provided an excellent -conclusion

to '.the'; tournament. ..■' i ', ■'.'.-../■■ ; • . ,/ /The 'match was well above the "■ .'■' standard previously shown/ and. the net play -by- all four was the most exciting .ever staged m a , Dominion tournament. The players, were well on form,, and' Charlie: Angas provided the crowd with, all the thrills it . could wish for. The match was m doubt up to the finish,; but Bartl^et and L«aurensori had just the necessary finish and combination 'when they settled down that made the pace too hot ibr. the other pair. The ; match went to .five : games with the crowd )pn tip-toe' with excitement .all the time. . .; . ■ , ; ;-. - : -.•,•-• '■- >;■'■• : -' J >