MANAWATU TENNIS

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 250, 12 January 1928, Page 13

MANAWATU TENNIS

t m ; STEDMAN BEATS BARTLEET ; MALFROY TAKES TITLE \ (Special to THE SUN.) PALMERSTON N., To-day. L Two finals of the Manawatu cham- ; pionships were decided yesterday, C. E. Malfroy (Wellington) beating A. C. Stedman (Auckland) in the singles, 3—6, 6—3, 6—l, and Lampe (Wanganui) and Malfroy beating E. L. Bartleet and E. W. Griffiths (Auckland), 6—2, 9—7, in the men’s doubles. In the morning Stedman beat Bartleet, the Auckland singles champion, 4—6, 6—4, 6—o. Miss B. Knight (Auckland) will play the winner of Miss Nicholls v. Miss Calver (Wanganui) in the final of the women’s singles to-day. Miss Knight met Miss Myers (Wanganui) in the semi-final of the women’s singles. Miss Myers gave Miss Knight a hard fight to win in three sets, B—6,8 —6, 4 —6, 7 —5. Miss Knight appeared to lack confidence in her forehand, but she was much superior at the net and on her backhand. Her smashing and volleying were brilliant at times. The great game of the afternoon was the final of the men’s championship singles between Malfroy, who had eliminated Barkman (Wapganui) in the semi-final, and Stedman, who defeated Bartleet. After Stedman’s brilliant display in that match he was the favourite. After a three-set battle which was one of the best seen on these courts Malfroy took the title, 3 —6, 6—3, 6—l. The fight was between probably two of the most brilliant youngsters in New Zealand today. Both were strong both on forehand and backhand, while neither seemed much troubled by the other’s service. Malfroy has the greater experience and this won him the match. The first set was Stedman’s all the way. The Aucklander played brilliantly in all departments against his formidable opponent. In the second set, Malfroy settled down to win by steadiness and placement. By judicious use of cut strokes and net play he took the set narrowly, 6 —3. In the deciding set Malfroy wore his opponent down in a succession of brilliant rallies, his service gaining him points. Stedman fought to the bitter end. The final of the men’s doubles saw Bartleet and Griffiths opposed to Malfroy and Lampe. The match opened rather patchily in the first set. Things soon warmed up and the second set saw a splendid exhibition of doubles play. Malfroy and Lampe proved an unbeatable pair at the net. The Wanganui veteran made short work of overhead stuff. Bartleet’s service was stronger than at any previous portion of the tourney, but he did not come in to the net enough. The scores very fairly indicated the difference between the pairs. Bartleet was beaten by Stedmhn’s sizzling drives and accurate placements. The deciding set was disappointing, Bartleet not showing to advantage at all against the beautiful driving of, the younger player, who worked both back and forehand with pace and accuracy.