BRILLIANT TENNIS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17454, 31 December 1930, Page 3

BRILLIANT TENNIS

STEDMAN BEATS ANGAS 32 GAMES IN FIRST SET BARNETT REACHES FINAL. (Per Press Association.) i’l HtrSTOU URCI], last, night. The big surprise of to-day’s play at the New Zealand lawn tennis championships was A. O. Stedinan’s defeat of the holder of the men’s singles title, C. Angas, 17 —15, (i —4, (1 —2. Stedman, who hails from Auckland, and is the University singles champion, unleashed a withering forehand drive that, at times, almost swept Angas off the court. The ball simply flew to the corners with lmllet-liko force. The first set was a marathon of 32 games with Angas often leading and lighting gamely for the odd game, but lie was overwhelmed. Tho set lasted 70 minutes, Angas could not do anything but defend in the second and third sets. Stedman’s sustained brilliance and deadly accuracy surprised even his friends, lie is one of the hardest hitters in New Zealand. The lmfteh was played on No. 3 court and quickly drew the crowd from the centre courts. The weather was overcast and cool and the players appreciated it after Saturday’s sweltering heat.

Fast driving with the hall rocking in so hard that it almost shook the racquet out of Angas’ hand, enabled Stedman to dominate the early stages of file first set. The fierce hitting thrilled the spectators, and Angus was mostly on the defensive. Me changed his tactics to use the cut shot, and temporarily upset Stedinan’s game, evened at five-all and led (>—s, 7 —(l, and B—7. Every time Stedman, attacking to the limit, secured the next game. From nine-all Angas won his own service and led 10—0. The 20th game went, to Stedman, mostly with the aid of his lirst service, slightly topped. Angas was down love-40 on his service in the next game, the 21st, but got to deuce, and van-in, and game with brilliant recoveries. Angas kept the odd game until 15 —14. Stedman evened at 15all in the most thrilling duel of the tournament. Then came a, change. Angas dropped his service. Now Stedman increased the pace, swung his service in with groat power, and secured the set at 17 —15. It was magnificent tennis.

Angas opened the second set, taking the lirst game on hik service. Stedman made it 1-all. Angas made it 2—l, and then 3—l, having captured Stedman’s service. For the moment the Aucklander seemed to bo tiring, but he rushed the net in the fifth and sixth, intercepted brilliantly, and the scores were 3-all. The seventh game was fought tenaciously. Stedttinri ran his opponent from corner to corner, and put himself in the lead, 4 —3. When he got to the net after a fierce drive he « was almost impassible. Angas, however, recovered shots marvellously. Four-all was called. Stedman gathered in'the ninth off Angas’ service, and then gritted his i teeth to make sure of the 10th. It (was Ills from 40-love, with'clipping shots that left the titlehdlder standing, often on the wrong foot. Stedman won the set, (I—4. The third set was a’ terrific battle. The spectators now numbered three times what they bad been at the beginning, lured by the prospect of seeing, the champion defeated. From 1ri.ll Stedman captured Angas’ service. He made no race of it in the fourth game to lead 3—l. Again '-be, ‘punished Angas’ service, and the fifth was his for 4—l. Two / neat drop volleys helped him out. Stedman was clearly dominant, and with the score s—l in his favor the match was all but over. Angas served in the seventh and was qown 30—40. He crept up plucltily a,nd obtained the game. Leading’ 5—2, Stodnian served in the eighth and led 40-love. Angas drove out, and Stedman won the'set (I—2, and the match, amid applause: BARNETT'S FINE DISPLAY Another surprise was the defeat also in tho men’s singles semi-final of Noel Wilson, by the 19-yeaikold Canterbury youth, JI. A. Barnett. Wilson did not strike a. good length, and .his famous smash often failed him. Frequently ho volleyed easy ones into the not. Barnett was steady as a. rock and cool as a veteran. Ho proved beyond doubt that bis defeat of Don Franco on tl|o first day was no 'flash in 'the pane Whether ho will trouble Stedman in the final is another matter. General 1 opinion favois tho Aucklander. Barnett took the first get,from Wilson, B—6, after a good deal of hard driving, varied by a few net excursions. Wilson was more enterprising, but after lio had worked up to several fine openings and Mien netted easy ones he partly lost confidence. Barnett’s driving was not as severe, but bad better length and accuracy. Barnett was down 4 —5 and 5—6. in i.lie twelfth game lib served excellently to even the score, mid then, captured Wilton’s service, passing his opponent at the net twice and taking the fourteenth game on his <nvn service from 40 —35 to win the set.

. In somewhat the same fashion Barnett won the second set, but in Ilia third, Wilson was more successful at the net and won it B—6.

jn tho fourth set the games were oven 1,0 4-all. Wilson served and was vanout, hut smashed twice for winners aiiil led 5—4. Wilson’s nob work was now more finished, arid, he was pressing hard, though occasionally outlobbcd. Barnett made it 5-all by getting everything back, but Wilson was not to, bo denied, and won tho set 7—5, it making two sets all. The fifth set was over unexpectedly quickly. Tho young Canterbury boy virtually made no race of it, dropping only two games. He out-thought Wilson, passed him repeatedly, ntld raised tho chalk frequently. Wilson’s overhead and net game were lamentably poor compared with former years, and ho mishit many critical points'. Barnett was his superior’ iti base-line driving. In addition, ho kept cool throughout.

THE LADIES’ SINGLES There should be a good match in tho final of tho ladies’ singles between Mrs. H. M. Dykes, champion of 1927, add Marjorie Macfarlane, champion of ,1928. Both wero extended in tho semi-finals to-day. Mrs. Dykes has a more dashing style, but Miss MarfarTario i_s always difficult to heat, her sui’o driving being u big asset. : There were remarkable chgngo.s of fortune in the l seibi-flba! of tilt) ladies’

singles, between Miss Marjorie Macfarlane and Miss Myers, of Wanganui. The latter led 5—2 in the first set and seemed to have it safe when her opponent began to show improved all-round form. She returned Miss Myers’ best drives with interest and took four games on end, eventually winning tlio set, 9—7. In the fourteenth game deuce was called five times.

In the second set Miss: Marfarlano secured an early lead and was up 5—2. Then Miss Myers evened at 5-all and 6-all, but Miss Macfarlane again proved superior, to win the set B—6, and' the match.

The rallies were not so interesting In tljo other ladies’ semi-final, between Mrs. Dykes and Mrs. Adams. The former bad very little punch in her serve, and scored mostly from delightful side-line placements. Airs. Dykes won after a long-drawn-out three sets, losing the second set. because of errors,'some of them being forced on her bv Mrs. Adams’ better net play and shooting cross-court drives. Mrs Dykes will certainly be hard pressed by Miss Macfarlane in the final. DOUBLES CONTESTS

The women’s doubles championship went to Mrs. W. Melody, of Wellington, and Miss M. Myers, of Wanganui. Their anticipation was splendid and they defeated the Misses MaeFarlaiie in the final decisively; The semifinalists in the 'combined doubles are Mrs. Adams and Don Prance versus Miss Andrews and Seay, and Mrs. Thomson and Wilson versus Miss Wake ami Steelman.

In the final of the 'wouien’s doubles, Mrs. Melody, of Wellington, and Miss Myers, of Wanganui, defeated the Misses MaeFarlaiie, of Auckland; in two sets. It was a 'pOpilltif victory, as the victors have played attractive tennis throughout. The winners led 5 — ; 2 in the 'first set, displaying excellent combination and courteraft. Then tlie Misses MaeFarlaiie showed their usual lighting spirit by catching up to 5 all. Miss Marjorie MaeFarlaiie sent some great winners down tlie side line. Then Miss Myers and her partner rallied and took the set 7—5. They also won the second set 6—3. Miss Myers was repeatedly applauded for her crisp volleying.

The men’s doubles filial lies between Seay and Angas and Prance Bros. It promises to-bo a. five-set struggled The Wellington pair, especially Don France, reached a high standard this' afternoon to defeat Wilson arid Steelman in the semi-final. They were down I—i in the fifth set. Wilson was again very patchy. , Angas and >Seay were far too good for Wallace and Lairipe in the semifinal of the men’s doubles. Their combination was well nigh perfect, and they lost but five games.in three sets.' Seay showed himself one of the most artistic tennis players in the Dominion. His volleying had all the quality of Wallace’s, and double the decisiveness. Angas did some amazing lobbing. The other semi-final in this event was far more thrilling, for the Prance brothers lost the first two sets to Wilson and Stedman, but staged, a great recovery and won the next' three sets and tlie match. The duels at the net wore spectacular throughout, the ball sometimes flashing froni racquet ,to racquet seven or, eight times. Don Prance was outstanding. The others had their bad periods, but he never faltered, smashing, driving, . and .volleying like a champion throughout. Results of the day’s play were as follows: — ... u. MEN ’S SINGLES Semi-finals: Stodman beat Angas, 17—15 6—2, 6—2.; Barnett beat .Wilson, B—6, B—6, 6—B, 5—7, 6—2. LADIES’ SINGLES 'Semi-finals: Miss ;. Marjorie: MacFarlane beat Miss Myers, 9—7, B—6;. Mrs. Dykes beat Mrs. Adams, 6—l, 36 ’ 6_ MEN ’S D’OUB'IES Semi-finals: Angas and Seay'’beat; Wallace and Lampe, 6—o,'. 6—2; Prance and France beat Stedmhri arid Wilson, 4—6, 5—7, 6—3, 6—o, 6—f. . WOMEN’S DOUBLES Final: Mrs. W. J. Melody arid’Miss M ; yors beat the Milses MacFarlariC, 7—5, 6—3. , . COMBINED DOUBLES Third round: Mrs. Adams and France beat Miss Myers and Lhriipe, 1 o—O, 9—7, 6—2; miss Andrew: and Sdiy boat -Miss 'Johnston, and Patterson, 11—9, I—6, 6—4. GIRLS’ JUNIOR DOUBLES Final: Misses N. Dick and T, Poole (Gantefbiiry j bbat Misses N 7 Bltmdiln and Cl Reese, 3—6, 6—3, 9 7. J UNIOR COMBINED DOUBLES

Semi-final: Miss T. Poole and E. Keane beat Miss C. Reese arid A. A. McGibbon, 4—6, 6—2, 6—4.