ANGAS BEATS PAGE IN TIMARU TENNIS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18046, 5 January 1927, Page 5

ANGAS BEATS PAGE IN TIMARU TENNIS.

SPLENDID DISPLAY GIVEN IN FINAL OF SINGLES CHAMPIONSHIP. (Special to the “Star.”) TIMAJR.U,' Januarv ft. Sparkling tennis was witnessed in the final of the Men’s Championship .Singles of the South Canterbury Lawn Tennis Association’s New Year tournament, which was played on the Timaru Club’s courts to-day. The weather was dull, but fine, "and there was an entire absence of wind. Although the morning was an off one, there was a. largo, crowd present, and they were, treated to the best exhibition off singles Pla-3' witnessed during the tournament. Right through tlie tournament C. Angas, the young Christchurch player, lmd put up sound performances, and his exhibition against G. Ollivier, ex-Xew Zealand Singles Champion, whs such a splendid one that the opinion was freely expressed that he would fully extend \ - L. I’ago. (Otago), last year s Champion. These expectations were more than realised to-day, - when Angas defeated Pago in three straight sets. 6-4 6-2, 8-6. ’

was at his very best, and gave a ■ brilliant exhibition. Ho si lowed no signs of nervousness, and the maority of his shots were remarkably true. While ills back-hand was safe. It was not as solid as Page’s, but Pago was made to cover so much ground tiiat he fell away towards the end of tlie second set. He showed a marked improvement in the third, but consistency won out in the long run. and Angas took the set, 8-6. Both were given a splendid reception slid the President of the Club, Mr C. S. Hammond, in presenting Angas with the Cramond Cup, heartily congratulated him on the lino exhibition he had given. Angas started off by taking the first point with a splendid passing shot. He then served a double, and failed to return a lob to the base-line. Ho took the game to 40. However, Page, driving into the net from the base. Splendid placing in the next game enabled Angas to get Page on the run, and he twice beat him with fine passing shots. He was playing a splendid game at this stage, keeping up a very fast pace. Page was playing to the base-line in an endeavour to keep Angas away from the net, but both were exhibiting fine length and pace. Twice Angas made fine recoveries and beat Page in the fourth with a good lob to the base-line. At the end of this game Angas led 3-1. He took tho next to deuce, but Pago succeeded in annexing the sixth. The eignth went twice to deuce, Page giving the advantage with a nice chop. An gas's next stroke, a forehajid drive, was a trifle heavy, and Page took the game, b-3. The next was characterised by a splendid opening rally from the base-lines, Page taking tlie game to 15. He had now won three successive game, and was driving with great accuracy, ills backhand was also very sound, but he broke down on an easy shot and Angas took the set, 6-4.

The pace did not slacken in tho slightest, Angas cleverly -working Page out of position to take points with fine passing shots. His back-hand was not as sound as that of his opponent, whom he allowed to smash severely. Angas took the first two games in tho second set, but threw away the next, after serving a “double.” Driving down the centre, Pago repeatedly went to the not in the fourth, but Angas passed him with ease. Angas took the fifth to 35, and led 4-J. He was on the run in tho sixth, but after working hard, took a. point with a well-placed smash. The game went to douce, then advantage out in Angas's favou. Page was now missing easy shots and his length, which was a feature of his earlier play, became a trifle erratic. Angas’s backhand improved as the game progressed and his passing delighted the crowd. He took the second set 6-2.

It was in the next game that Page began to weaken in his backhand and three times in succession ho found the net with returns from the base. Angas was playing very soundly off tho ground and ho got out of the most awkward of situations cleverly'. Angas led 2-0 5n this set, but Page took the third to 30. The next went to deuce twice and then followed the best rally of the match, Page ultimately scoring with a lino pass. He won the next stroke and the games were 2-2. Page did his best to rattle his younger opponent, but the latter was as sound as a bell and continued to play almost faultless tennis. At the sixth game the pair were level, but tho pace set liad been so fast that both slackened oft considerably. Angas once more established a lead in tho seventh, which he took to 30. Page’s service showed signs of weakening and

’* doubles ” were not Infrequent. He made up for this weakness by some good cross-court shots and he was with Angas again at the eighth, following a. splendid rally. -In tlie next Page placed a beauty down the side and took the game, then leading 5-4. It was the first time during the match that he had succeeded in getting a game to the good. His lead was short lived, however. for Angas took tlie next, which gave him a reasonable chance of taking the match in three straight sets. The next also went to .Angas, but ho was down love-40 in the next, which was the all-1 raportant game for him. Ho failed to recover and Page took the game to love, 6-6. A win in the next gave Angas another chance of victory' and the score in the fourteenth was 15-15. Page smashed the next shot but placed the next into the net, 30-30. A heavy backhand drive saw the match point and a similar stroke almost immediately gave Angas the set and the match, 6-2, 6-4, S-6.