Bartleet Two to One

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 552, 3 January 1929, Page 13

Bartleet Two to One

EXCITING TENNIS FINAL

Malfroy Fighting Hard

M A LEROY was fighting hard against Bartleet in the final of the singles championship of New Zealand. The Wellingtonian took the first set and was ahead s—i and 5 —3 in the second and third but he lost both.

The Aucklander took the serve and netted twice and double-faulted to go down o—4o. Malfroy drove nicely 10 take the game and, obviously nervous, double-faulted with his serve. He took the second game, with angled volleys, and returned beautifully with his backhand in the third game. Bartleet missed an easy smash, and Ids shots lacked confidence, Malfroj’ working on to his backhand. The Welling tonian was twice within a stroke of the third, but Bartleet collected it with the help of two aces and a well-angled spi ash. Outings cost Bartleet the fourth game, Malfroy driving nicely to lead 3 —l. The Aucklander led 40—30 and had vantage on the fifth, but Malfroy won on mistakes and Avith tAvo splendid cross-court. drives. Down I—4. Bartleet out-placed his opponent with his forehand, and twice needed a stroke before he added his second game. Losing his service after winning only one stroke—an ace—the Aucklander droA’e to the corners to lead 30—15 and 40—30, but“Malfrov’s net tactics kept the game out of the fire for four deuces until he served a double. The games noiv being 5—3 in Malfroy’s favour, Bartleet tool® his serve to *ls, Alalfroy missing his returns, but the Wellington man’s service Avent to love and the first set Avas lost. So far Malfroy’s \*olleying had turned the scale, and Bartleet had lost his first set in the tournament in the eA r ent. HARD DRIVING

Hard driving began the second set, and the first game, Bartleet serving, went to several deuces before the Aucklander took it. Malfroy was kept running hard in the second, which he also lost, and Avas behind o—2. The Aucklander was much nearer his true form, and his accurate driving Avas beating the other man at the net. Bartleet took his serve after three deuces, to lead 3—o. Tavo double faults almost cost Malfroy the fourth, hut he broke his duck’s egg Avith nice volleys. Serving beautifully, Bartleet ran to 40—0, but was caught at deuce with shrewd cuts. He took the game, to lead 4—l. There were good rallies iu the sixth game, Malfroy collecting it AA-ith shrewd short stuff, and Bartleet Avent down, o—40, on serA’ice, and missed thecae ]ine, to lose the game. Malfroy 1— 3 *. The Wellingtonian evened on his ser\-ice to 4-all, and Bartleet Avas behind on his serve, 15—30, 30—40, and vantage out three times, but he fought strongly, driA-mg from corner to corner before the game Avas lost, and the Wellington man was head 5—4. His service, however, he lost to love, and the games were 5-all.

His back against the wall, Bartleet Avon his service to 15. and Malfroy Avas passed at the net, to give the set to Bartleet. THE THIRD SET Each man took his serA’ice at the beginning of the third set, Malfroy’s angled volleys again going nicely. Then the Aucklander lost his serve in a lighting game, Malfroy making some surprising recoveries and passing the other man at the net. Down o—3o and 30—40 on his service, the YVellingtonian again went to the net most effectively and took the lead 3—l, finishing the game with an ace, after two vantages-out. Helped by a net-cord shot, Bartleet made the score 3—2. The Aucklander fought for the sixth. recoA-ering some hard line shots and eA r ened the score, but his serA’ice was lost to let Malfroy ahead 4—3. A liickv half-A-olley finished the eighth for Malfroy, and he needed a game to make him two sets to one. But Bartleet took serA’ice to loA*e and the score was 4 —5. In the crucial game Malfroy seized a double and missed, lines by a whisker, to go down 15—40. A* lob over his head made the game 5all, and Bartleet aced him tA\-ice to Avin a loA r e game and lead 6—5. Malfroy serving well, retaliated in kind to make the score 6-all. Malfroy ran his legs off in the next game, but got oirry one point. The Aucklander placed wonderfully to pass Malfroy in the last game, taking it to loA’e and Bartleet was tAvo sets to one: