LAWN TENNIS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 33, 8 February 1930, Page 22

LAWN TENNIS

•V "HUKA"

ANGAS CHAMPION

SEEDED PLAYERS' SUCCESS

THE SINGLES REVIEWED

The 40th New Zealand Championships have been won and lost, and, taking the tournament as a whole, the standard of plar was good, comparing more than favourably-with that shown at the last three, or four national meetings. The courts were true, the players being able to go for their shots without any fear of false bounds, and they were fast enough for most of the players nearly all tho time. Had tho weather been any hotter, the lawns would possibly have been too fast tor all except the more experienced players. 'Some difficulty was experienced on the first and second days in getting sufficient umpires, as it was not holiday time, and tho usual tennis umpiring enthusiasts were all at work, and later on in the week good umpires were not inclined to take- the chair owing to remarks passed about their previous umpiring. Mr. Lougton, of Canterbury, did more umpiring than .-tnyone else,% and always answered tlia call with a smile. " Quito a number of old-timo players were seen during tho tournament looking on at the various events, and there wore many pleasant reunions. Enthusiasts from Xaranaki, Auckland, Otago, Canterbury, and elsewhere who had mef-as far back as 1905 were to be seen chatting over old times and enjoying reminiscences of past events, as well as being amused at the things done by tho more modern players— items that were not on tho "programme" in days of long ago. Some onlookei* wanted to know why players should bo allowed to take a rest during their matches, and ouo added that it was. not done at Wimbledon. The reason is that the International Federation left it to any of its affiliated associations to decide whether there should bo any rest, and it is permissible for any such association to say how long the rest may be, provided it does not exceed ten. minutes. An endeavour was made some time ago at a meeting of tho New Zealand Council to abolish the rest altogether, but l by a small majority, the following rule was carried: —"Players aro entitled to a rest of ten minutes in a match after the third set for men, and when women and juniors tako part after the second set, otherwise play shall be continuous from the first service until the match be completed. Players can dispense with the rest by mutual agreement. Hampered by Rain. Playv was declared off on Wednesday, owing to a downpour over night, soaking tho courts, which was unfortunate, as the dayi was otherwise perfect for play. The last day hampered the management yi little in getting the mixed doubles through, but even that would have, been overcome had there not been some prolonged matches on Saturday morning. Mrs. Thomson and Wilson had to play two mixed doubles»in succession, while Wilson played in the final of the men's doubles, and then played the semi-final and final of tho mixed doubles without leaving the court. The tournament was well managed by the secretary, Mr. D. Murray Kean, with Mr. G. G. Hodgkins, as assistant, and the Tournament Committee also helped considerably. Men's Singles. ' Little need be said about tlfe play or players' until the final. eight in the fourth round ara considered. 'Alox Wallace, who has been playing at New Zealand meetings since 1905, had a close run from E. H. Orbell, but stayed the distance better than Mb opponent and won the fifth'set, 6-0: Len franco had a hard five-set match with Phil Howell, of the Maori Association, and each had scored 25 games apiece, with four sets gone. Franco .won 7-5, 9-7, 5-7, 4-6, 6-1. Howell should bo well pleased "with his performance at his first pakeha tournament. E. llowcll, brother of France's opponent, ■ also played well, but like his brother lacked tournament experience, and was I beaten by B. Howe, 1-6, 10-8, 6-4, 6-4;' 23 games to 22. . Lees also stirred up Stedman to a four-set match,, the former winning the first set 6-3, but Stedman took the next three, 6-3, 6-1, 8-6. In the fourth round Don France had j Stedman's measure after the ■ first set, I and outplayed him with pace both off the ground and overhead. Stedman can afford to wait, and the more big tennis he gets, the more will his game' improve. Seay also had Len France under control after the first set. Malfroy was kept on the move_ to win 6-4 in ea«h set against' Lampe in the. third round, but Sturt in '"Ijhe . ourth round gave Malfroy, a big shake up. _ The Aucklander cracked on the pace in all departments of the game with the endeavour to win in three sets straight, and he was nearer doing it than many realised, for Malfroy just edged out. a winner. When Wilson met Angas the courts were not quite as fast as on succeeding days, and Wilson made the mistake of playing too close in. Angas, who played steadily, returned many of Wilson's "apparently winning shots, and the latter was caught out of position. ' ■ , Both semi-finals of tho mon's singles were good matches, but of totally different types. Don France's game against Seay saw both players attacking .hard from the start. At first France held command, but Seay's effort in the second set put him on top. It was just a case of pace and attack being such as to force one player to defend. The local player had taken some of the sting out of Seay's play by the time the third set commenced-— not much but sufficient to give him command, besides which'Seay being a left-hander suited France's game. On the day France's gamo was too forceful and accurate, both off the ground and in the air, for the Canterbury player. Angas and Malfroy played a sparring match, it was a case of- Angas asking for pace from-Malfroy, and the latter working all he knew to bring the pace off the Cantorbury player 's_ game. There was cleverness on both sides although the spectators were expecting only fireworks from both players. With two sets in Angas appeared to have the measure of his opponent, when leading 5-4 in the third set. Over-eagor-ness by Angas to end it in straight sets gave Malfroy his chance, not only to oven the games, but win tho set at 7-3. After the rest Malfroy had his opponent playing the game he wanted, and ho worked to tire Angas with base-line driving. At'this stage Malfroy was more accurate, and Angas was content to just make him run'as much as possible. Still sparring—two tired players watched one another very closely in tho fifth set, but Malfroy lost a great chance when he appeared to have Angas tired, by making a series of double faults. Angas realised the lot-off, and his gamo improved, but by slipping ho missed an easy sitter that would have meant match. Malfroy again edged to tho lead, and ..both stroked at one another, eager for an opening. There was a hidden cleverness in. the quiet methods of: both players, each eager to win. Change of pace by Malfroy in a driving duel found Angas out, but he -was not to be caught napping twice, and with, studied accuracy he won a match that possibly could have been claimed earlier by the player who had been the first to throw extreme caution aside.