TENNIS,

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 18764, 31 December 1930, Page 9

TENNIS,

DOMINION CHAMPIONSHIPS. ANGAS ELIMINATED. By Telegraph—Press Association CHRISTCHURCH, December 30. The big surprise of to-day's play at the New Zealand tennis championships was A. C. Stedman’s defeat of the holder of the men’s singles title, C. Angas by 17-15, 6-4. 6-2. Stedman. who hails from Auckland, and is University singles champion, unleashed a withering forehand drive that at times almost swept Angas off the court. The first set was a marathon of 32 games, with Angas often leading and fighting grimly for the odd game, but he was overwhelmed. The set lasted seventy 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. He is one of the hardest hitters in New Zealand. The weather was overcast and cool, and the players appreciated it after Saturday’s sweltering heat. Another surprise was the defeat in the men’s singles semi-final of Noel Wilson by the nineteen-year-old Canterbury youth H. A. Barnett. Wilson did not strike a good length and his famous smash often failed him. Frequently he volleyed easy ones into the net. Barnett was as steady as a rock, and cool as a veteran. He proved beyond a doubt that his defeat of Don France was no flash in the pan. Whether he will trouble Stedman in the final is another matter. General opinion favours the Aucklander. The men's doubles final lies between Seay and Angas, and France and France. It promises to be a five-set struggle. The Wellington pair especially Don France, reached high standard this afternoon t. defeat Wilson and Stedman in the semi-final. They were down 1-4 in the fifth set. Wilson was again very patchy.

There should be a good match in the final of the ladies’ singles between Mrs H. Dykes (champion of 1927) and Miss Marjorie Macfarlane (champion of 1928*. Both were extended in the Semi-finals to-day. Mrs Dykes has a more dashing style, but Miss Macfarlane is always difficult to beat, her sure driving being a big asset. The women’s doubles championship went to Mrs W. J. Melody (Wellington) and Miss M. Myers (Wanganui). Their anticipation was splendid, and they defeated Misses Macfarlane in the final decisively. The semi-finalists in the combined doubles are Mrs Adams and Don France, versus Miss Andrew and Seay; and Mrs Thomson and Wilson versus Miss Wake and Stedman. Two Christchurch girls, Celia Reese and Noeleen Bishop, will contest the final of the girls’ singles. Results to-day were:— MEN’S SINGLES. Semi-Finals. Stedman beat Angas 17-15, 6-4, 6-2. Barnett beat Wilson 8-6, 8-6, 6-8, 5-7 6-2. LADIES’ SINGLES. Semi-Finals. Miss Marjorie Macfarlane beat Miss Myers 9-7, 8-6. Mrs Dykes beat Mrs Adams 6-4, 4-6 6-4. MEN’S DOUBLES. Semi-Finals. Angas and Seay beat Wallace and Lampe 6-0, 6-3, 6-2. France and France beat Stedman and Wilson 4-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-0, 6-4. WOMEN’S DOUBLES. Final. Mrs W. J. Melody and Miss Myers beat Misses Macfarlane 7-5, 6-3. COMBINED DOUBLES. Third Round. Mrs Adams and France beat Miss Myers and Lampe 2-6, 9-7, 6-2. Miss Andrew and Seay beat Miss Johnston and Patterson 11-9, 1-6, 6-4. INTERMEDIATE SINGLES. Final. R. A. Court beat A. R. Cant 7-5, 1-6, 6-3. BOYS’ JUNIOR SINGLES. Final. N. Davys beat A. A. Mac Gibbon 6-0, GIRLS' JUNIOR SINGLES. Semi-Finals. Miss N. Bishop beat Miss M. Howe 6-4, 6-5. Miss Cresse beat Miss T. Poole 3-6 6-2, 6-4. GIRLS’ JUNIOR DOUBLES. Final. Misses N. Dick and T. Toope (Canterbury) beat Misses N. Blunden and Creese 3-6, 6-3, 9-7. JUNIOR COMBINED DOUBLES. Second Round. Miss S. Gillanders and G. C. Reid beat Miss R. Ritchie and Bell bv default. Semi-Final. Miss T. Poole and E. Kean beat Miss C. Reese and A. A. Mac Gibbon 4-6 6-2 6-4. Notes on the Play. Fast driving, with the ball rocking in so hard that it almost shook the racquet out of Angas’s hand, enabled Stedman to dominate the earlier stages of the first set in the semifinal of the men’s singles. His fierce hitting thrilled the spectators, and Angas was mostly on the defensive. He changed his tactics to use a cut shot, and temporarily upsetting Stedman’s game evened at five all, and he led 8-5, 7-6, and 8-7. Every time Stedman, secured the next game. From nine all, Angas won his own service and led 10-9. The twentieth game went to Stedman, mostly with the aid of a fast service slightly topped. Angas was down love-forty on his service in the next (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 15 all In the most thrilling duel of the tournament. Then came a change. Angas dropped his service and now Stedman led 16-15. Stedman increased his pace, swung his service In wltb great poww.

.nd secured the set at 17-15. It was magnificent tennis. Angas opened the econd set, taking the first game. On is service, Stedman made it one all. Angas made it 2-1, and then 3-1, hav-

S captured Stedman’s service. For the moment the Aucklander seemed to je tiring, but he rushed the net in ne fifth and sixth, intercepting brilliantly, and the scores were three all. The seventh game was fought tenacously. Stedman ran his opponent from corner to comer, and put himself u the lead 4-3 when he got to the net ’fter a fierce drive. He was almost ; mpassable. Angas, however, recovered the shots marvellously, and four all /as called. Stedman gathered in the ninth off Angas’s service, and then gritted his teeth to make sure of the enth. It was his from forty-love, vith clipping shots that left the titleholder standing often on the wrong Toot. Stedman’s set, 6-4. The third set was a terrific battle. From one all, Stedman captured Angas’s service. He made no race of it in the fourth game o lead 3-1. Again he punished Angas’s service and the fifth was his for 4-1. Two neat drop volleys helped him out. Stedman was clearly dominant, and with 5-1 in his favour the match was all but over. Angas served in the seventh and was down 30-40. He crept up pluckily and obtained the game. Leading 5-2. Stedman served in the eighth, and led 40-love. Angas drove out, and Stedman won the set 6-2, and the match.

Barnett took the first set from Wilson 8-6. after a good deal of hard driving. Wilson was the more enterprising, but after he had worked up to several fine openings and then netted easv ones he partly lost confidence. Barnett’s driving was not as severe, but had better length and accuracy. Barnett was down 4-5 and 5-6. In the twelfth game, he served excellently to even the score, and then captured Wilson’s serve, passing his opponent ''i the net twice, and taking the fourteenth game on his own service—won the set. In somewhat the same fashion Barnett won the second set, but ■n the third Wilson was more successful at the net and won 8-6. In the fourth set Wilson’s net work was more finished, and won the set 7-5. The fifth set was over unexpectedly quickly, the Canterbury boy dropping only two games. He out-thought Wilson, passed him repeatedly, and raised the chalk frequently. Barnett was superior in baseline driving, and in addition kept cool throughout. There were remarkable changes of fortune in the semi-final of the ladies* sincles between Miss Marjorie Macfarlane and Miss Myers. 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's best drives with interest, and took four games on end, eventually winning the set 9-7. In the fourteenth game deuce was called five hmes. In the second set Miss Macfarlane secured an early lead, and was five-1. Then Miss Myers evened at five all, and six all, but Miss Macfarlane again proved superior to win the set 8-6 and the match.

The rallies were not so interesting in the other ladies’ semi-final, between Mrs Dykes and Mrs Adams. The former had very little punch in her service, and scored most from delightful side-line placements. Mrs Dykes won after a long-drawn-out three sets, losing the second set because of errors, some of them being forced on her by Mrs Adams’s better net play and shooting cross-court drive. Mrs Dykes will certainly be hard pressed by Mrs Macfarlane in the final. In the final of the women’s doubles, Mrs Melody and Miss Myers defeated Misses Macfarlane in two sets. It was a popular victory, as the victors have played attractive tennis throughout. Angas and Seay were far too good for Wallace and Lampe in the semi'mnl of the men’s doubles. Their combination was well nigh perfect, and lost but five games in three sets. f}eay 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. France Brothers lost the first two sets to Wilson and Stedman, but staged a great recovery and won the next three sets and the match. The duels at the net were spectacular throughout, the ball sometimes flashing from racquet to racquet seven or eight times. Don France was outstanding. The others Und their bad periods, but he never faltered, smashing, driving and volleying like a champion throughout