OVER THE NET

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 890, 6 February 1930, Page 6

OVER THE NET

By

"DEUCE"

All Titles Change Hands Not one title was retained by the previous holders at the meeting - just concluded. Most of the new champions belong to the younger generation, and the names of Angas, Malfrov, Miss Nicholls, and Miss Andrew will no doubt appear frequently on the roll of champions in the next few Angas a Worthy Champion All those who witnessed the games at the championship agree that Angas richly deserves his title. He was trained to the minute, played all his shots well, and displayed rare judgment and courtcraft. His victory in the final was decisive. Only once during the tournament was he hard pressed. This was in the fifth set, against Malfroy, when the latter led 6—5. Angas, however, remained unperturbed, and, playing with uncanny accuracy, won the match by taking the next three games. On at least, two occasions during this match it looked as if the fates had decreed that it was not to be Angas’s year. He had match point when two sets in 5 —3, and 40 —15 in the third set. He played a fast drive deep on to Malfroy*s back-hand, and took the net. MaJfroy’s return passed Angas wide of the court, and Angas made no attempt to cover it. To his surprise, the heavy wind carried tho ball between two and three feet sideways, and it landed on the line. Later, when Angas had a “sitter” for the match, he slipped and fell. TVellingtonians considered Don France invincible on his home ground. He has been knocking at the door on more than one occasion, and had he been good enough to beat Angas. his win would have been very popular in tennis circles. He is always the same on the court—cool and imperturta.ble. Unlike some players, it is impossible to gauge from his demeanour whiqh way tho. game is going should you arrive on the scene in the middle of a match. Miss Nicholls Champion When a mere girl, it was predicted that Miss Nicholls would one day be the New Zealand champion. She has always impressed the critics with her clean, hard hitting. She has been disappointing in the last few years, but she has at last carried all before her, aud won her title by sheer merit. How the Aucklanders Fared Miss Macfarlane reached the semifinal, and was beaten after a hard struggle by her old rival, Mrs. Melody. It was blowing very hard at the time, and Mrs. Melody’s heavily sliced drives both with and against the wind were a nightmare to Miss Macfarlane, and so would they be to all players who play a free hard-hitting game. Once the wind starts playing tricks with the ball, it makes it very difficult to time tho shots correctly, and as a result, a hard hitter is apt to become very inaccurate. Mrs. Melody deserves every credit for the great uphill fight she made, and for the way she directed her shots to the breaking up and ultimate rout of Miss Macfarlane’s usual solid game. * * * Sturt’s Brilliant Spell In tho second and third sets and up to the time he was leading 4—3 and 40 —30 in the fourth set against Malfroy, Sturt played brilliant tennis, and was more than a match for Malfroy. Had he been able to sustain this brilliancy but a short while longer the game might easily have gone his way. At this important stage, however, he lest his accuracy, could do nothing right and faded out of the picture. It must be remembered that he did not have the advantage of hard tournament play before the meeting, like the other leading players. He was in Auckland up to within a couple of days of the commencement of the tournament, and as we all know Aucklanders have had little opportunity for practice this season.

Stedman a Doubles Finalist Stedman put up a better fight against Don France than the scores indicate. He struck France at the top of his form, and the latter revelled in the hard hitting which characterised the game. .Partnered by Wilson, they beat Angas and Sturt, a very formidable pair, in the semi-final. Stedman played well in the final against Malfroy and France. The wonderful experience he has had in match play in the last month should benefit his game a great deal. Miss Knight was beaten in two straight sets by Miss Nicholls. She was expected to do much better after the form displayed by her in the Auckland championships. The scores would appear to be an indication of the strength of Miss Nicholls’s game at tho present time. Promising Young Country Player R. Lees, of Matata, reached the final of the boys’ singles. He won the first set against the champion, Robertson, and led 3—o in the second set. Robertson then played very aggressive tennis, and was brilliant at the net. It provided one of the best junior finals ever witnessed at the championship meeting. Lees took a set off Robertson and led 4 —o in the fourth se.t. He shows great promise, and only needs the opportunity for hard practice to give him a position among the leading players. Australian Championships By defeating Crawford in the semifinal and Hopman in the final. Moon is certain to gain a place in the next Davis Cup team. Although he has not the brilliancy of Crawford, he possesses deadly accuracy, especially with his side-line shots. Visit of Australian Team Tennis enthusiasts are looking forward to seeing good tennis during the visit of the Australian team, which is due to arrive in New Zealand this month. It is to be hoped that the leading players will be able to make the trip, as it will give our picked men a great experience, and will be an impetus for them to get into their best form. Hitherto the teams sent across' have been comprised entirely of New South Wales players, and the New Zealand team in recent years has had overwhelming victories. If Australia’s best men outside the Davis Cup players are available, a keen contest should result, with the odds in favour of the overseas men. C and D Grade Championships These competitions have proved so popular that they will no doubt become an annual fixture. The finals will be played this week, and will create a great deal of interest among the outer suburban club players. Ladder Competitions Owing to the intervening tournaments and the great number of club matches to be played, challenges have not been so plentiful. Turner and Hubble reached second place on the doubles ladder. Bartleet and Robson staved off their challenge for the top position, the scores being 6—4, 3 —G. 6 —4.

TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

TWO MORE FINALS

The championship tournament committee of the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association has arranged for the semifinal of the combined event to be played before Saturday next. The players taking part will be Misses 3D. Newton and P. Miller, and W. 11. Entyvistle and A. C. Johns. The final, in which the winners of the above match play Miss Whitelaw and A. K. Turner, will be pla.yed at 1-30 p.m. on the Eden and Epsom courts on Saturday next. The final of the men’s doubles will be played on the Remuera courts next Saturday, commencing at 3 p.m.

OUTER-SUBURBAN TOURNEY

Following are the results of the outer suburban and C grade lawn tennis championships played at Stanley Street yesterday: Women’s Singles.—Semi-final: Miss Solomon beat Miss Bryant, 6—2, 2—6, 6—l. Miss Solomon will play Miss James in the final.

Women’s Doubles.—Semi-final: Misses Cutforth and Waters beat Misses Mackie and James, 7—5, 6—l. The winners will play Misses Harle-Giles and Thompson in the final. Men's Doubles.—-Semi-finals: Wood and Tonson beat Bar foot and McElroy, 6—3, 6—2: Dixon and Tutt beat Stephens and Plant, 3—6, 6—4. 6—3.