MISS NEWTON WINS MAORI TENNIS TITLE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 328, 13 April 1928, Page 6

MISS NEWTON WINS MAORI TENNIS TITLE

AUCKLAND GIRL’S FINE DISPLAY GAINS TWO CHAMPIONSHIPS (Special to THE SUXJ HASTINGS, Thursday. The final of the Maori Women's Single Championship was played cn Wednesday afternoon. The finalists were Miss Delia Newton, the secondary* school champion of Auckland, and Miss Klsie Hale, of Gisborne, holder « . the title for the past two years. The day was beautifully clear and after .the light shower of the night before the ground was in splendid condition Miss D. Newton for such an Immi portant match. Ihe court chosen was No. 2, which is situated in front of the pavilion, and gave the many spectators a fine view of the contest. Both players looked very fit. but in demeanour thev were the antithesis of each other. ~*! ss looked rather anxious, but Aliss Newton appeared quite cool and calm. The challenger began serving and dropped the first game princip; Uv through netting. Miss Hale then served and won the second and Miss Newton losing the third, a.sigh of relief 'mingled with joy could be heard among Miss Hale's supporters, who were scattered in groups here and tnere in the crowded pavilion. But their joy changed when Miss Newton, striking her true form, played with more confidence and gradually crept up and equalised. The score see-sawed until it stood at eight all, after 1 hour and 10 minutes of real hard play. MISS NEWTON GOES AHEAD Then for the first time Miss Newton broke through Miss Hale’s service and made the score 9—B in her favour, and serving strongly, won the next and set at 10—8. That was the turning point in the —— Miss Hale, beginning to feel the strain of the contest, repeatedly erred and succeeded in getting one game only in the second set. In this game Miss Newton showed coolness and courtcraft gen* orally found in much older plaveis, as she has only just turned 18. She played very steadily indeed and had - uss Hale running from side to side lepeatedlv and with the use of her fiat forehand drive, left Miss Hale standing. Partnered by Mrs. P. H. Jones, Miss * ewton also won the women's double championship at Hastings.