N.Z. Tennis Tourney

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 885, 31 January 1930, Page 6

N.Z. Tennis Tourney

SEMI-FINALS IN SIGHT Sturt In Brilliant Form Press Association WELLINGTON, Today. INTERRUPTED by a thunderstorm in the morning the New Zealand lawn tennis championships were later played in bright, windless weather. The feature of the day in the singles was Sturt's magnificent tight against Malfroy (Wellington). It revealed the young Aucklander once again as a player capable of great brilliance.

After an unsteady opening: by both players, with Malfroy playing for Sturt’s mistakes and scoring comfortably, Sturt suddenly found his game and from that moment the match was a precession of brilliant shots by both players, with Sturt steadily gaining greater ascendancy. Malfroy seemed to have Sturt’s measure when rain fell. He was then 7—5 and 2—o, but when play was resumed two hours later Sturt started in with such dash that the result was in doubt until the last set. Malfroy was completely- outplayed for games at a stretch. It’ he served likely balls for aces, they were sent flashing away for winners. If he crowded the net he was passed by shots he did not even see. If he entered upon a driving duel he was usually outpointed by an opponent who was playing for a il possible speed and placement, and had reached it peak he may not attain again in years. The match showed Malfroy as a great, defensive man, and Sturt as a player of genius in attack. Not until Sturt was two sets to one did Malfroy find himself. Sturt’s display was too good to last, and in that set he cracked. Malfroy led 3—o and with a final spurt Sturt took four games in succession. He was 4—3 and 4 o—3o.0 —30. He made an error there. Malfroy fought his way through and the last set was all Malfroy’s. ANGAS BEATS WILSON The thunderstorm came very opportunely for Angas, for within an hour of it he was carried into the pavilion suffering from illness. Had the rain held off ho must have defaulted to his opponent Wilson. That player was not happy at the beginning of their match. He was down 2 —5 and ran to 4—5 just before the rain. When play was resumed he pulled ahead to lead 6—5, and hold live set points which he failed to follow up. However, Wilson struck a patch within the next few games and held the set decisively. Angus was doing all the running and Wilson was frequently forcing him far out of court, but failing to take full advantage of his opportunities. Angas played more and more accurately. Finally it became a test of accuracy, and there could be only one ending to it. Angas, playing more and more confidently, won the match.

Against D. France, Htedraan (Auckland) discovered his nerves, and although he gained many points with careful drives he did not relish the dead courts. France was the more accurate throughout a trying contest which was interrupted when the score was 5-all, but saw France driving and volleying with great precision. Two favourites for the women’s singles. Misses Nicliolls (Wellington) and Knight (Auckland), met in a match which was Miss Nicholls’s all the way. Miss Knight was not very happy on the slightly treacherous turf and moved too slowly to counter the strong hitting which Miss Nicliolls brought to bear against her careful placing. Frequently Miss Knight fell into errors on the backhand and was passed at the net. Miss NieholJs was always very dangerous, no matter how good the shots she was asked to deal with. In the men’s doubles X>. France and Malfroy had a walk-over from L. France and I^ampe. In the other semi-final Wilson and Stedman showed great form against Angas and Sturt. Wilson posted Stedman right on top of the net instead of in the position he generally favours, and the pair were always attacking. They only once looked like losing their grip on the match. That was when, with the first set won, Wilson lapsed into errors. However, he came back on to his game with a rush, and the two hit tlieir |way through the opposition with stinging drives and smashes. The losers resorted to lobbing, but their accuracy was not great enough. Wilson and Stedman, playing like a team, were not to be long dislodged from the net. Another easy win went to Mesclames Adams and Thomson in the women’s semi-final. They have been the only pair consistently to take the net, and against Mrs. Sturman and Miss Lloyd they were always leading and always forcing the pace. Misses Wake and Andrew, on the contrary, had to work hard against Mesdames Melody ancl Scott, who ran into a good lead in the second set and displayed great steadiness. The final of the girls’ doubles saw Jsobel Kobertson and Clair Longmor-? much too consistent for their young opponents, both in driving and volleying. Results were: MEN’S SINGLES Third Round. —A. L. France (Wellington) beat Wallace (Taranaki), 6—l, 6 — l. 6 — 2. Fourth Round T>. G. France ( Wellington) beat Stedman (Auckland), 73, 6—o, 6—4: Seay (Canterbury) beat A. L. France (Wellington), 4-—O, 6—3, 6—2, 6—3; Malfroy (Wellington) beat Sturt (Auckland), 7 —5, 2—6. 4—6, 6—4, 6—o; Angas (Canterbury) beat Wilson (Wellington), 8— 10, 6—2, G—2, 6—4. MEN S DOUBLES Semi-final. Wilson (Wellington) and Stedman (Auckland) beat Angas (Canterbury) and Sturt (Auckland), H —4, 7—5, 6—t; U. G. France and Malfroy (Wellington) beat A. L. Franco (Wellington) and Larnpe ( Wanganui), - G—l, o—o, o—3. WOMEN’S SINGLES Third Round. —Miss Marjorie Macf&rlane (Auckland) beat Airs. Thomson (Wellington). 6—3, 6—4; Mrs. Melody (Wellington) beat Miss Whyte 4 Wellington), 6—l, 2—6, G—3; Miss Kicholls (Wellington) beat Miss Knight (Auckland), G —3, G—2; Miss Myers (Wanganui) beat Mrs. Adams < Wellington), 4—G, 6 —2, 6 —l. WOMEN’S DOUBLES Semi-final. — Mrs. Adams and Mrs. Thomson (Wellington) beat Mrs. Sturman (Wellington) and Miss Lloyd (New South Wales), 6 —3. 6 —l; Misses Wake and Andrew (Canterbury) beat Airs. Melody (Wellington) and Mrs. Scott (South Canterbury), 6 —3, 5 —7, COMBINED DOUBLES First Round.—E. Howell (Rangitihi) and Miss Fleming (Otago) beat Ferkins (Wellington) and -Miss Wood (Marlborough), 6—4. B—6. Second Round. —Stedman (Auckland) and Mrs. Adams (Wellington) beat Morrison (Canterbury) and Mrs. Smith (Wanganui), G—l, 3—l (retired): Gian vi He (Canterbury) and Miss Morrison (Canterbury) won from Griffiths (Auckland) and Miss Whyte (Wellington), by default. Wallace (Taranaki) and Mrs. Scott (South Canterbury) beat Larnpe and Miss Myers (Wanganui), 6 —2, ti —4. PLATE COMPETITION First Round.—Ferkins (Wellington) beat Griffiths (Auckland), G —3, 0—1; 3*. Howell (Rangitihi) beat Purvis (Canterbury), B—G, 7—5.

BOVS’ SINGLES Third Round. —HeertSn ( Mid-Can - i terbury) beat Annett (Waikato), 6—), 6 —l; Robertson (South Canterbury) beat Davys (Wellington), 6 —3. 4—15, C—4; Lees (Auckland) beat. McGibbon (Canterbury), 6—l. 6—4; Oender ( Wellington) beat Morrison (Wellington), G—3, 6 4. GIRLS’ SINGLES Semi-final. —I. Morrison (Canterbury) beat S. Phillipps (Wellington), 6—5, G— 2; M. Howe (Wellington) beat M.* Howe (Wellington) beat M. Eliot (South Canerbury), G—3, 6 —3. BOYS’ DOUBLES Semi-final. —Lees and Lees (Auckland) beat Morrison and Bedford (Wellington), G—-1, 6—4; Robertson (South Canterbury) and Ferkins (Wellington) beat Ileenun (Mid-Canter-bury) and Doherty .(Canterbury), C—S, G —l. GIRLS’ DOUBLES Final. —I. Morrison (Canterbury) and C. Longraore (Wellington) beat M. Eliot (South Can terbury) and M. Howe (Wellington), G —l, 6—3. JUNIOR COMBINED DOUBLES First Round. —Annett (Waikato) and Stella Phillips (Wellington) beat Rush and A. Kean (Wellington), G —o. 3—6, G—t; Robertson and M. Eliot (South Canterbury) beat Davys and D. King (Wellington). 6—3, 6 —2. Second Round. —Ferkins and C. Long-more (Wellington) beat R. R. Lees and Barbara Stedman (Auckland). 6 —3, 6—3; ileenan (South Canterbury) and Isobei Morrison (Canterbury) beat Dickie (Taranaki) and Amy Graham (Wellington), 6 —3, 6 —l: Annett and S. Phillips beat Young and Joan Wallace (Wellington), G —l, 6—3.

MIXED FARE

STURT'S GREAT FIGHT AGAINST MALFROY STEDMAN GOOD IN DOUBLES Special to THE SUN BY “WAYFARER.” WELLINGTON. Thursday. If ever they decide to appoint stipendiary stewards to deal with inconsistent running: at tennis, I say at once, I am not an applicant. Just why men and women play a splendid game one minute and look like the veriest tyro the next has me guessing. Take Mrs. Tt. P. Adams (nee ITowe), in her singles against Wanganui’s hope, Miss Myers. In the first set,, the former kept a splendid length with beautiful control of the ball, both back and fore-hand. Then in the second set, she faded' away and was consistently “outing” by three or four inches, only to get worse in the third. It looked as if she had Miss Myers’s measure, although the Wanganui girl is a game fighter. But —phut! out she went, only to come on in the doubles with her old partner, formerly Miss Ray Tracy, now Airs. Thomson, and get all over the Petone-Sydney pair in the persons of Mrs. Sturman and Miss Lloyd, wlio were badly beaten. Miss Lloyd has quite evidently not struck her form, and she certainly has not struck her length, hence Mrs. Sturman got mighty few opportunities at the ne^. POOR STUFF Talking of Petone, I am quite satisfied that if someone had blown down from Mars or in from Petone, or some such place as that, he would not, had he arrived at the correct time, have known what Ivan Seay and Len France were doing. He might have inferred that they were playing tennis, but he would have been quite wrong. Ping-pong was fast to wliat they were handing out. It was the Christchurch man’s fault, because France was sending up soft, dropping, cut stuff, so poor that Seay couldn't be bothered to try to hit. True, France won the first set, but that seemed to be his reply to the hiding he got last Saturday in the Wellington tournament. By the time these notes are read, we will know all about Don France and Seay and Malfroy and Angas. , . . The latter was lucky to win against Wilson. He seemed ill, and it was only bv solid fighting that he redeemed himself, after losing the first set S —lo. The court was wet, because there has been what the “talkie” people call an “intermission” on account of rain, and a slight drizzle made it very slippery. STURT’S FINE DISPLAY

Sturt put up a splendid performance against Malfroy, but faded away in the last set. Sturt’s drives were skimming the net, while Malfroy s were higher and slower. Some of Sturt’s recoveries were nothing short of marvellous. In the doubles Wilson and Stedman scored a very meritorious win over Angas and Sturt, Wilson’s play predominating. He was smashing splendidly, despite some lapses and lie had good support from his partner. Angas played one of the best doubles I have seen him play, being content to let Sturt have his share. D. G. France and Malfroy, who simply blew A. L. France and Lanipe off the court, will have a tough nut to crack in Wilson and Stedman. MISS WHYTE BEATEN Again Miss Whyte played a great game, this time against Mrs. Melody, and with a slice of luck would have gone closer. She has the courage to crack the ball hearty overhead, as well as off the ground, and she frequently beat Mrs. Melody in a driving duel. But the best game of the day was by the Canterbury girl, Miss Melva Wake, who beat Mesdames Melody and Scott. She played a game out of the box, reminiscent of her game with Miss Speirs last year, when she did the lioness’s share of the work. She drove on both sides, and skilfully eluded her opponent at the net to give Miss Andrew (by the way, she had a partner) a chance to kill, which I must acknowledge she very frequently did, as well as serve very well. Mrs. Scott and Alee Wallace, never having played together before, didn’t let that worry them, and combined splendidly to defeat a strong pair in Miss Myers and Larnpe, the latter of whom strove strenuously, but to no avail, to avert defeat. They will have to go in the mixed event tomorrow to get through. The junior events are well forward, and of them more anon.

INTER-CLUB MATCHES

TEAMS FOR TOMORROW The following teams have been chosen for inter-cldb matches under the control of the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association tomorrow: B GRADE I Campbell Park. —Misses Rukutai, Bull, 1 Leng, Mrs. Arthur-Worsop; Porter, Rostgard, Rukutai, Winger. Unity.—Misses'T. O'Donnell, M. Young, J. Gemmell, U. Smith; T. R. Turei, P. Turei (captain), 11. X. Potter, S. J. Hawkins. Ngataringa.—Misses Daniel, Johnson, Harvey, Mrs. Cox, Miss Waddell (emergency)'; Daggett, Smith, Anderson, Macfarlane, Dance (emergency). Pukeroa.—Mrs. Henry, Misses McCJinly, Stewart, James, Trayes; Syrns, O’Connor, Gourley, Tonson. Vauxhall.—Misses IT." Bailey, K.- Bonner, G. Evans, M. Elwarth; Elwarth (captain), Storry, Ross, Hogan. Otahuliu. —Misses McLaclilan, E. Whiteley, Goodwin, Mourant; Muir (captain), Elliffe, Gardiner, Russell. Devonport.—Mrs. .R. Hogan, Misses M. Mason, S. R. Daines, Mrs. Morrison; P. Mason, A. White, B. Macky, M. Alison. Mount Albert.—Misses E. Butler, E. Burton. Mrs. Marshall, Mrs. Dent; C. Plimmer, G. T. Brebner (captain), E. W. Wylie, G. Coles. The Devonport v. Mount Albert match will be played at Stanley Street Nos. 5 and I*. and not at Devonport, as shown in the draw.

OUTER SUBURBAN TEAMS

A GRADE Papakura.—G. McDonald (captain), G. Smith, G. Sutton, G. Hutchinson, G. Henderson, L. Garlick, Misses Wilkins, Bilkey, Andre, McLennan. B GRADE Clevedon. —Misses Jean McCullough, W. Knight, M. Stephens, B. Wells, A. Dow, Jessie McCullough'; D. Ryburn, S. Bell, W. Alexander, E. Dawe, C. Brown, C. Gore. Mangere East.—Misses B. Key, M. Carland, Mrs. Coghlan, Miss G. Clark, Mrs. Duncan, Miss J. Thomson, F. Taylor, J. Paine (captain), L. Kay, L. Key, J. Key, M. Nash. . Papakura.—T. McLennan, W. Prince, N. Widdowsen, E. Busing, L. Heyde, A. Henderson, Miss Wilson, Mesdames O'Connell, Pethybridge, Messrs. Rliind, Johnstone, Clarke.

PARNELL V. FRANKLIN

The annual match between the Parnell Lawn Tennis Club and the Franklin Lawn Tennis Association will take place at the Parnell courts tomorrow. Following the the teams: Franklin.—Men: A. W. M. Ohlson, L. J. Smith (Waiuku), M. S. Campbell, C. Morrin, W. F. Porter, A. M. Spooner (Pukekohe), R. J. Glasgow, R. X. Johnson (Onewhero). Women: Misses Bryant, Arkle (Waiuku), R. Johns, Mrs. Hatt, Mrs. L. Bayly (Pukekohe), Mrs. Johnson (Onewhero); emergency, Miss P. Zinzan (Pukekohe). Parnell. —Menff A. S. Lamb, C. Chalmers, A. S. Boardman, J. Stallworthy, H. Clay (captain), W. Williams, G. Brown, Stevens. Women: Misses M. Potter, P. Frankham, D. Fitzgerald. Mrs. Herrick, Misses E. Fearnley, E. Gill.

ROTORUA V. TAURANGA

From Our Own Correspondent ROTORUA, Thursday. On Anniversary Day a team of 12 players journeyed from Tauranga to play Kotorua. The home players enjoyed a comfortable win by 17 sets to 7. The games were much closer than the match points indicate, these totalling 186 for the winners, and 136 for the losers. M.r. IT. G. Bennett, presiden tof the lecal club, extended his thanks to the visiting club for having made the visit.