NEW ZEALAND LAWN TENNIS CHAMPIONS

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 110, 3 February 1930, Page 13

NEW ZEALAND LAWN TENNIS CHAMPIONS

C. ANGAS WINS MEN’S SINGLES LADIES’ SINGLES TO MISS D. NICHOLLS D. G. FRANCE AND C. E. MALFROY WiN THE MEN’S DOUBLES MIXED DOUBLES WON BY N. R. C. WILSON AND MRS. N. THOMSON (By “Forehand.**) The Fortieth New Zealand Lawn Tennis Championship Tournament was brought to a conclusion on Saturday on the Wellington Association Courts at Miramar. The weather was fine but a southerly wind required hard hitting against if the players would preserve a good length, and very careful handling when they had it with them. The attendance was large. The standard of the play in the finals was very good and there were times, especially when rapid volleying exchanges occurred in the men’s doubles with all four contestants at the net, when sections of the crowd'would become very excited. The applause, even if it came sometimes in the middle of a rally, was quite impartial. The people were there to see good tennis, and they applauded definitely when they saw it. THE CHAMPIONS The following are the champions for the 1929-30 season:— Men’s Singles: C. Angas (Christchurch). • Ladies’ Singles: Miss D. Nicholls (Petone). ? , Men’s Doubles: D. G. France and C. E. Malfroy (Wellington). Ladies’ M. Wake and M. Andrew (Christchurch). Mixed Doubles:. Mrs. N. Thomson and N. R. C. Wilson (Wellington). Boys’ Singles: W. G. Robertson (Timaru). • Girls’ Singles: Miss I. Morrison (Christchurch). . Boys’ Doubles: W. G. Robertson (Timaru) and M. Ferkins . , (Wellington). Girls’ Doubles: Misses I. Morrison (Christchurch) and C. Longmore (Wellington). ' Mixed Doubles: Miss I. Morrison (Christchurch) and M. Heenan (Mid. Canterbury). Anthony Wilding Memorial Cup (for ' most points): Wellington. • ;

In view of C. Angas’s display against D. E. Malfroy in the semi-final, when, In justice to him it must be said, he Iras a sick man, few gave him a chance of beating D. G. France, Wellington’s hope In ihe final. But Angas is both a very fine player and a courageous one. His match against N. R. O. Wilson, in the midst of which his first' signs of illness appeared, and the next day against Malfroy, afforded sufficient proof (if any were needed) of the possession of that latter quality. When on Saturday he stepped on to the court against France for the final, he was quite a different man. It was the same Angas who had carried all before him in the North Island championships at Wanganui—not the shadow of the Thursday and Friday. Right from the 2 first service to the last he showed in his match with France that he was out to win, and France knew, as also did the spectators, that here was an opponent not to be trifled with. France had need to be at the very top of his form to win.-' But his opening in the first game (when he started with a double fault), and his play right through it was anything but reassuring. Angas swept through the set with the greatest of ease, taking six games in a row after losing the first through errors on his backband. Right from the start France indicated his method of attack. It was to get to the net at every opportunity, and at all costs, and the cost, was to be too great. In the first set he gained the net position often enough, but. he either netted bis volleys or failed to kill them. He made the mistake of volleying across eourt instead of punching the ball straight down in front of him. Angas would run across and put the ball down the line../ There were times, too, when France would be just too far back and would net the volley as he tried to drop it short. The length, too, that Angas ■ was keeping forced France into errors on the backhand. Angas was letting nothing by. He tried for everything that looked at all possible, and played all his shots carefully yet confidently. The second set was to see a great change. Angas did not fall away sb much as France came on. Long, raking drives to Angas’s backhand, or cross court to Angas’s forehand paved the way for the inevitable advance to the net. And this time France was not to be denied. His movements were quicker-—almost panther-like —his' strokes were decisive, indicative of the determination and keenness within. For that set Angas was outplayed. Times without number he was unable to get within yards of the ball. At other times he merely scratched at it. He could not drive past France at the net. and he could' not lob him. France was smashing with great accuracy and power, and placing’ those smashes with fine concealment of direction. The few times that Angas followed to .the, net after being brought in to a short drive when France was playing against the wind, France would leave him standing with a drive the direction of which was concealed until the ball had been struck. Could France keep the tfirific pace up? was the question everyone was asking. Could his physical condition kept up with his act of splendid courage?—l do not think his tactics could be called rash. Almost any other man in the tournament than Angas would probably have been rattled by the severity of that attack. Not so Angas. He remained cool and confident, biding his time. He persisted with his cross-court' drive at a sharp angle from the forehand court, which was going out or which France volleyed for a winner. The wisdom of this persistency was to be seen' as the match progressed. In the third and fourth sets, which Angas won for the match, this shot was to fall within the line, beating France completely, <jr to compel France to play it at his feet. He would vary this shot with deep drives to France’s backhand, and himself take the net. From there his volleying was as sharp and decisive as Franco’s at its best had been. France when he got the net volleyed into it, probably through overtyixiousness. He was failing particularly below, the level of the top of the ue. In baseline duels France was kept chasing from sideline to sideline.'Against'the wind he was driving with al) his force and making no impression on an opponent who was never looking likely to lapseiinto mistakes. Very often, too, Angas caught France on the wrong foot. When France had the wind with him he drove out. If he came to the net Angas beat him, with well-timed lobs. Force as he might, all hope of assuming the attack had definitely gone from France, and it resolved itself into a question of merely how. many games he could win before the end. France was tiring, and Angas was getting even stronger, and in the last two sets he had not a weakness. He had handled both his strokes and the wind conditions with consummate skill. The victory was well deserved, and a new and a worthy champion find arisen to take his place in a long list of great players. Miss D. Nicholls Achieves. The outstanding feature of the singles final was not so much the victory of Miss Dulcie Nicholls, but the splendid courage of Mrs. W. J. Melody. That Miss Nicholls would win was, I think, generally conceded. That Mrs. Melody would take a set from her was, I think, hardly anticipated. Miss Nicholls baa proved

this year that she Is definitely* superior to any other lady player in New Zealand. Her victories are many and all of them ln most decisive fashion she won the North Island championship, the Manawatu championship, and the Wellington championship. Her victims included Mrs. Melody, Mrs. R. P. Adams, Miss Myers, Miss M. Gibson, Miss M. Andrew, Mrs. W. A. . Scott, Miss B. Knight, all players of New Zealand class. She had brought to the court in all her matches a superb confidence, and a strength of game to support and justify that confidence.' But Mrs. Melody is a fighter all the time, and she goes for every ball if it is possible of being got to. In the first set on Saturday she dealt with Miss Nicholls’s severe drives confidently, and placed from sideline to sideline with length to keep Miss Nicholls moving and cleverly varied her game .with unexpected short ones and attacking from the net. Unable to master the shoot of the ball from Mrs. Melody’s, heavy-cut drives Miss Nicholls fell into errors in the net, or lilt far over the backline in the endeavour to pull the ball up. This was especally so on the backhand, and was most marked when she was playing ngninst the Wjnd. ’ Then in the succeeding sets she found' her game. Standing well back she allowed the ball to shoot towards her and then hit it firmly, placing from side to side so that it was Mrs. Melody who was now doing the running. Most parti'cularly, also, did Miss Nicholls attack’Mrs. Melody’s backhand. Mrs. Melody maintained the rally for two or three strokes with it, but her returns were purely defensive. In the end she either never reached the net with the ball, or it was so far inside the service line that. Miss Nicholls had no difficulty in killing it. In the first set Mrs. Melodv was given chances to run round herbackhand and play her favourite’long skimming drive. Now she was being given no chance. Io run round was to run herself out of position, and she had then to look on and see the ball clip the other swehne. or, if she ran to it, it was only to hit the ball in the net with a desperiL x- YT a thonj "k'l<ly bad position. Miss picholls was improving with each successive game. Her drives were severe, ntwin 'I as accurat e, she varied at will length and pace, and mixed plain tho VG rinc n /' ' OPS ’ and Wt Straisht down the line or cross court in a way that was'most bewildering to her opponent. Her.service wah such as to give her the of the attack right from the start. Mrs. Melody kept going, but she JR 1 ® b f lng < o llt r out Played and before the end was finding shots going to places on .the court where she had no possible chance ot getting to them, and often ftn P ,V n oo n and , watched them, knowing full well how hopeless it was to try ami. chase them. This state of affairs was contributed to by the fact that Mrs. Melody, as she got tired hit WterVT nn ! bacl< bands (especially the , latter) too short. Too many were just over .the service line, and quite a few Inside it. Although beaten, Mrs. Melody had reason to feel proud ’of the fight she pion UP ’ SI ’ C WCnt dOW “ t 0 a real cham - The Men’s Doubles. The final of the men’s doubles between C Mali ' roy ai) d N. R C. Wilson—A. Stedman, produced some thrilling tennis and - high-class play For le tl>« a i S i^ C ln the way of finesse. 7' tJ ‘ e ball to come to one or other of the four for a ground stroke was nearWlys) the signal f or it to be hit j ]a a (] . /? etC '.H Vaa very Irttle defensive play in the vojleying and none at all overhead -ine greater mistakes in the vollevih" were due to the volleyer being too' far back from the net. Very frequently the server was caught when following in by a hard drive to his feel. All four showed, sound control in evading the man at the net on this stroke. There was scarcely any attempt to lob over the bead of the man at the net in returning service. The few lobs that were tried were sent up by the pair who at the time was playing against the wind. The strongest player of the four was Wilson and the weakest was .Stedman. This latter statement must be qualified with the further statement that be was weak only because the other three were so ofteii brilliant. Stedman is not generally regarded as a doubles player and in the fast play from the net he found himself hurrying his strokes, a thing fatal to his type of play. Wilson served, drove, and smashed and volleyed at limes like a man possessed, and boro well the mistakes of his partner, whom he realised was every inch a tryer and doing as well as could be expected against a splendid combination, especially from the net. Malfroy and France worked more as a doubles pair because they understood each other's play, and at the net they presented a formidable front, but Malfroy was played more accurately than France. They dealt with all attempts to pass them or lob them, with determination. It was when the server was coming in to his partner at the net that most mistakes' were made in that combination for both Wilson and Stedman were driving hard and accurately, the ball dipping fast when it cleared the net. But in the end it was the better teamwork that carried the day. Wilson left, too many open spaces when be want to

the support, as he frequently did, of his partner. , iVirs. Thomson’s Wonderful Play.

lu the mixed doubles Stedmau and Mrs. Adams got into the semi-liual by playing one set and three games, their opponents then retiring. Then they were beaten by Miss Marjorie Macfarlane and A. E. Sandral. The latter is probably the cleverest mixed doubles player in New Zealand. This pair had the day before beaten Miss D. Howe and A. L. France, and in the morning of Saturday had also beaten Miss D. Nicholls and P. Howell. Mrs. N. Thomson and N. R. C. Wilson, who, in the morning, had beateu Miss M. Andrew and J. Parker, easily defeated late in the.afternoon Mrs. W. A. Scott and A. G. Wallace, who were cold with the long waiting and unable to get going at any stage of the first set, and but little better in the second. The stage was then set for the last act of the day, the mixed doubles final between Mrs. Thomson and Wilson and Miss Marjorie Macfarlane and Sandral. It provided a brilliant exhibition. Wilson, as though sensing the fact that a third set in the dark would mean defeat, set out on a policy of annihilation with great determination and concentration from the start. With few exceptions he smashed brilliantly, giving the opposition no chance, and he served well. He was not too consistent with his volleying, mainly because he was unable to get in quite close enough, Sandral generally getting to the ball in time to play a lob or a short, quietly played, sharply angled ground stroke. With all his strong play Wilson would have been hopelessly beaten had be any other partner than Mrs. Thomson. She knevx Sandral’s play from beginning to end, and Sandral knew that she knew it. In mixed doubles Sandral wins points, games, sets and matches by the wonderful manner in which he can quietly turn the hardest drive, volley or smash so that it falls well inside the service line and bounces out of court parallel with the net. All other lady opponents (and men, too) were left helpless when Sandral played this, his favourite, stroke. Against Mrs. Thomson it was to .prove his Undoing. ,!.• 1, Never have I seen anyone think so quickly or run so fast as Mrs. Thomson did in this match. She was sailing for the position almost before the ball had left Sandral’s racket. When she got to the ball which oftentimes was close up against the stand running outside the sideline, she did not play blindly. Sandral never knew where she was going to put the ball and so she scored ace after ace. On these occasions Miss Macfarlane, who rendered valuable assistance to Sandral from the backline, could be of no assistance to him. Sandral had made the trap, and Mrs. Thomson sprung it with Sandral as the victim. It was fine to watch his appreciation of Mrs. Thomson’s cleverness as she accomplished his undoing. But Mrs. Thomson did more than outplay Sandral in this way. She stood in to the net when Wilson was serving and her interceptions were swift and won by their angles. Hard drives when she was on the backline she lobbed deep so that Sandral was forced back time and again. Miss Macfarlane made many fine drives from the backline to make openings for x Sandral at' the net and she loljbed veil.' Her weakness was in volleying. In the first set Sandral and Miss Macfarlane led 5_3 -with Sandral’s service to follow, but he was forced into errors by the opposing combination. It was tue ” n " est game, too, played hy Mrs. Thomson lor the last two seasons. Two Promising Boys. 1 The final of the boys’ singles between W. G. Robertson (Timaru) and «. R. Lees (Auckland) showed that the future of tennis is in good hands. Both bo vs gave a fine exhibition of deep and hard driving, backhand and forehand, Robertson winning in the third set, after losing the first because he was much more aggressive. After a baseline duel he showed he was not afraid to go to the net, and his smashing was a thorn in Lees’s side. The limitations of Robertson’s overhead, however, were great. He volleyed and smashed always in the one direction, that is, outwards from his body. There were times when Lees anticipated this and sent up deep lobs on the backhand. Some of them Robertson buried, but others beat him completely. Lees when he came* to the net luicLvery little success, putting the ball mainly in the net. He did not get in close enough for successful volleying. Both boys had a fast service, Robertson being the supcrior in this respect, but there were far too many double faults’. In the first set, through nervousness, Robertson made a multitude of nets. There was little hesitation on thq part of either in playing their strokes, there being a desire always to force the opponent into errors by ggvere driving to the lines rather than to manoeuvre for position nnd wait for linv special type of ball. The spectators thoroughly enjoyed the game, which demonstrated the boys were champions in the making. Boys’ Doubles. W. G. Robertson and M. Ferkins beat M. F. and R. R. Lees by virtue of more sustained driving, added to fine headwork by Robertson, who put the brake on Ferkins whenever he exercised his penchant for excessive hard-hitting, which was very often in the first set. R. R. Lees was the best of the losers. Robertson made many good smashes and volleys. The winners led s—o in the first set, and their opponents crept up to 5 all. A Bright Mixed Doubles. A willing mixed doubles final was seen when Heenan and Miss Morrison were arrayed against Robertson and Miss Eliot. In the first set Miss Morrison was right off her beautiful forehand drive, but afterwards all four played a mixed doubles game that would put many an adult game in the shade. A very pleasing feature was that when the girls were at the net they stood their ground in the rallies, and did not, as do the majority, retreat to the service line. Miss Eliot showed more cleverness than any of the other three for the way in which she varied drives and volleys with lobs. Miss Morrison in the second and third sets volleyed well and made many fine passing drives, or by their severity forced the opponents into error. While Robertson was more deadly overhead, Heenan showed himself a better volleyer. For this purpose he was helped by the openings made by Miss Morrison’s powerful driving. The winners had a better understanding of each other’s play.

DETAILED RESULTS The following are the detailed results:— MEN’S SINGLES. Final: C. Angas (Christchurch) beat T>. G. Franco (Wellington), o—l, 3—6. o—j ■ 6—l. LADIES’ SINGLES. Final: Miss D. Nicholls (Wellington) boat Mrs. W. J. Melody (Wellington), 3—o, 6— 3, 6—l. MUN’S DOUBLE’S. . 1 Final: D. G. France nnd C. Mtilfroy (Wellington) beat N. K. C. Wilson (Wellington) and A. Stedman (Auckland), S—o, 7— 5, 3~6, 7—5. MIXED DOUBLES. Third round: Miss M. iMacfarlano and A. E. Sandral (Wellington) beat Miss D. Nicholls (Wellington) and P. Howeil (Maori Association), 7—5, 9—7; Mrs N Thomson and N. K. C. Wilson (Weliington) bent Miss M. Andrew (Christchurch) and J. B. Parker (Wellington), 6—3, 6—3. Semi-finals: Miss Macfarlane and Sandral beat Mrs. R. P. Adams and A. Stedman, fi— 2 , 7—5; Mrs. Thomson and Wilson boat Mrs. W. A. Scott (Timaru) and A. G. Wallace (Taranaki), 6—o, 6—3. BOYS’ SINGLES. Final: W. G. Robertson (Timaru) beat R. R. Lees (Auckland), 3—6, 6—2, 6—3. BOYS' DOUBLES. Final: W. G. Robertson (Timaru) and M. Ferkins (Wellington) beat R. R. nnd M. F. Lees. JUNIOR MIXED DOUBLES. Final: Heenan (Mid-Canterbury) and Miss I. Morrison (Christchurch) beat W. G. Robertson (Timaru) and Miss M. Eliot (South Canterbury). NEW ZEALAND PLATE. Final: R. McL. Ferkins (Wellington) beat J. B. Parker (Wellington), 6—3, 4—6, 6—l. New Zealand’s Official Ball for twenty years—Ayres’ Championship Stitchless Tennis Ball. Why? Ayres’ last longer. Perfect in flight. Greater resiliency puts less strain on the gut. British and best.—Advt. Racquets repaired and restrung. N.Z. Sports Service, Ltd. (McGirr Bros.), Burlington Arcade. —Advt. CHAMPIONS ALL.—Borotea. Brynon, Boussus—players who have patronised Watson’s. 31 Hunter St., for restringing.—Advt.

Ranby being second, Mann third, and Wilkinson fourth. By the end of the third lap Ranby was very close upon the heels of Tonks, and Maun had pulled out. In the fourth lap Ranby leaped ahead and finished first, with Toliks second. Second semi-final; W. Harvie, 1; A. Phillips, 2; H. Mangham, 3; Kilmister, 4. Time, 89scc. It was Harvie’s' race from the start, and he had an easy win. Positions remained the same all through the race. Mangham had several tries to get ahead, but was unsuccessful. Final: Tonks, 1; Ranby, 3; Phillips, 3; Harvie, 4. Time, 92 4-ssec. Tonks captured the lead from the start, and maintained his position throughout the race. Yt the end of the first lap Ranby was second and Phillips third. In the next lap Phillips fell, and did not start again. Itanby finished up fairly close behind Tonks. , SPECIAL MEETING ON WEDNESDAY.. In view ot the faet that Miss Fay. Taylour is paying only a brief visit to Wellington before competing on other tracks in New Zealand, a special meeting has been arranged for Wednesday night at' tho Kilbirnie Speedway. There is no doubt about Miss Taylour’s wonderful skill and daring as a “cinder-shifter,” and there should be even better evidence of her brilliance on Wednesday night, when she will appear in special contests. The Australian and New Zealand riders, who have been showing much improved form of late, will all be taking part, and judging by the programme which has been mapped out there Is every reason to look forward to contests of a thrilling and exciting nature. At least four of Australia's prominent riders are entered, and there is a big entry of New Zealand competitors. Another announcement regarding the special meeting is made elsewhere in this Issue. • KILMISTER’S TIMES LOWERED PEARCE BREAKS AUCKLAND TRACK RECORDS. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Aucldand, February 2. A fine display ot cinder track riding was given by F. Pearce, holder of the world's record for one lap of a quarter-railc cinder track for 2$ h.p. machines, at Western Springs Speedway last night. Riding a Norton machine, Pearce broke both existing track records, which were made by Kilmister, of Wellington, a month ago. Pearce’s time for one lap was 20 4-ssec., which is l-ssec. better than the previous record. He covered four laps, equal to one mile, in Imfn. 25sec., beating Kllmister’s record by 2 2-ssec. Both new records were made during races, and not in special attempts when alone on the track. Subject to the Auto Cycle Union officials being satisfied that Pearce’s machine is of . the stipulated capacity, his records will be officially recognised.