TENNIS CHAMPION RELATES EXPERIENCES AT TOURNAMENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18985, 3 February 1930, Page 15

TENNIS CHAMPION RELATES EXPERIENCES AT TOURNAMENT.

Suggestions For New Zealand Team To Meet The Touting Australians

C. Angas, the Singles Champion, returned to Christchurch yesterday morning, and he had some interesting experiences to relate to a “Star” reporter last night. “ I did not watch many of the matches at the tournament,” he said,

“ but from what I could gather the standard of play was, generally speaking, quite good. Sturt put up a great performance against Malfroy. He was brilliant in the first two sets, but faded away in the final set.

“ Miss Nicholls is without doubt an outstanding player. She won the North Island, the Palmerston North, the Wellington provincial championships and finished up b}' winning the New Zealand championship. She has a forcible forehand drive which she mixes up with a nice chopped drive. She has a good length and her backhand is very safe. Accuracy, a good pace and good placements characterise her play and she has complete command of the court.

“ There was some very interesting volleying work during the tournament, especially by Wilson, Sturt, Seay, Don France and Malfroy, all of whom volleyed prettily. My own volleying was very useful to me. “ At this tournament I felt the benefit of previous experience at championships. I played more carefully and did not make any of the rash mistakes that have been my downfall on previous occasions. This year my game in strokes is no better than it was last year, but I have tightened up all round, eliminated errors and acquired more of the finer points of the game. One of the main factors in my victory was that I had trained for the event and was absolutely fit for the tournament. If I had not been so fit I would not have been able so easily to shake off the effects of a bilious attack which might have had serious consequences. “Although it did not seem to consist of a great deal of hard hitting my game against Malfroy is the most gruelling I have ever played. Malfroy is a very fine stroke player, possessing all the strokes of a great player, but he must add more pace to his shots if he wants to go much further. Don France, too. could do with a little more kick in his game.”

Regarding the New Zealand team which will be picked to meet the Australian team due in the Dominion in a few weeks time Angas said that Don France was a certainty. For the others it would be very difficult to make a choice from Wilson, Sea}', Sturt, Malfroy and Bartlett, although he would give Malfroy first preference. “The courts at Wellington were good,” he said, “especially the two main courts, which were in good order and played well and true. I doubt, however, if they are quite up to the standard of the centre courts at Wilding Park.

“The wind during the tournament was not as bad as I had expected, but we were probably luckv in striking a SUIBO puu -fopij* STJAV il pOOS in gusts, with frequent changes in direction. Very accurate play was necessary. The stands and the scrim at the back of the courts gave a certain amount of shelter, but when the ball was tossed up in the air the wind played pranks with it. That made accurate lobbing very difficult.” Angas expressed his thanks to Mr Murray for the help he had given him. “But for.- his coaching,” he said, “I would never have reached the standard I have done. He spent a lot of time with me and is responsible for all my strokes. I must also thank Mr G. Oliivier, the professional coach, for the one or two practice games he had with me before the trip. His tips on what to do and what pot to do at a tournament were very useful to me.

“Len France did riot seem to be up to his usual standard this year. Stedman is a promising young player. He undoubtedly had the best forehand drive of the tournament but was very inaccurate with it. Probably he will, improve when he gets more experience in big tennis.”

Asked about the reason for the delay in the mixed doubles, Angas said he understood it was because Wilson, who had just played at 11.30, expressed a wish not to go cn again at 12.30 when his next match was set down. That made play very late.

NO REASON FOR DELAY OF FINALS. PLAYER CRITICISES COMBINED DOUBLES. Interesting comment on the recent New Zealand Tennis Championships at Wellington was made by Misses M. Wake and M. Andrew (ladies’ doubles champions) on their return to Christchurch yesterday. Miss Wake criticised the management of the combined doubles as being unsound, and gave instances of unfairness to competitors. “The combineds drew only a moderate number of entries,” Miss Wake said, “and if the officials had kept this section going evenly there would not have been the rush at the last. I am not complaining for myself, but it seemed to me that there was unfairness to some competitors. It was most probably unintentional, but I could not help noticing it. I can see no reason why the finals should have been delayed, and the combineds could have been over a great deal earlier than they actually were. I think Mrs Scott and Wallace would have been in the final if they had not been playing against time. Mrs Scott, I know, was afraid that she would miss the ferry boat, and this undoubtedly went against her play. “There was another instance, too,” went on Miss Wake. “This was when Noel Wilson, after playing four strenuous sets in the men’s doubles, had to go straight on and play a combined double. He did not leave the court, and had no time for a rest between these matches. There was no excuse for that sort of thing, and there could have been better management, especially as there were times when everybody was walking around doing nothing. Unimportant combineds could have been played on Wednesday, for, although there was heaisy rain up till seven o’clock the night before, the courts were playable. Some of the competitors inspected the courts and said as I say. “For the most part competitors were treated with great consideration, being allowed plenty of time and latitude,” continued Miss Wake. “I think that the officials were too considerate in the early stages, and that was most likely the cause of the trouble when it came to getting the combineds through. The weather conditions had an adverse effect on the standard of play. The Wellington newspapers and the players, too, thought the conditions were wonderful. but competitors from other provinces did not think so. There was a high wind most of the time, and it was also bitterly cold. STANDARD OF PLAY. ‘‘There was a falling off in numbers,” said Miss Andrew, “and the standard

l of play was not quite as high as in other years. This was clue to the weather. The wind was bad in patches, and affected the visiting players. Miss Macfarlane, who is never a good player in the wind, was up against a handicap, and I think she would have done much better if the wind had not been so strong.” Miss Andrew paid a tribute to the New Zealand lady champion, sailing that Miss Nicholls was outstanding.

Referring to the final of the men’s singles, Miss Andrew stated that Angas played well, but France did not produce his best form.

“The junior championships were quite good,” said Miss Andrew, “but in singles both boys and girls made many mistakes. Miss Isobel Morrison is going to be a great player. She has some wonderful strokes, her forehand drive being outstanding. It is accurate and powerful. The Ashburton boy, Ileenan, has a good style, and he ran Robertson very closely in a good display in the semi-finals.”

ANGAS IS THE NEW CHAMPION.

CROWD OF 1400 SEE HIM DEFEAT FRANCE. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, February 2. C. Angas is the new singles champion of New Zealand, crowning a great season's record with a meritorious win oyer that most aggressive and hardhitting player, Don France. Fourteen hundred people saw France miss the ball which gave Angas his first national title in a match in which France trailed all the way and gave a great fighting display. Noel Wilson covered himself with glory in his doubles play with Stedman. He pushed Don France and Malfroy to limit in the doubles final and, but for Stedman's slight nervousness at his first appearance in a national final, might have won. Wilson was everywhere, smashing and volleying with precision and covering Stedman’s lobs as well. That last fact proved their undoing for, had Steelman been left to take his own smashes in the fourth set, it would ha\’e gone the full distance. The combination of the losers was better than that of their opponents, but it was a case of surenesa of stroke against positional play. When Wilson and Stedman were going well they were obviously the better pair, but they made more errors off easy balls. France, apart from one or two lapses, was in great form at the net and Malfroy, who was an uncertain factor in the winners’ play (he doublefauted for game to be down 2-4 in the fourth set, which might have cost them match) played an improved doubles game all round. Wilson was doing two-third of the work and he could not continue to do it against such accurate opposition. The wind, which moderated, allowed France and Malfroy to make some good tosses and that turned the scale in their favour. When leading 5-3 in the final set, with Stedman serving, it looked a good thing for the losers, but both were missing winners and France and Malfroy moved ahead and took the set and the match on a nice stop volley by Malfroy. There was Vfery little between the pairs at any time, and if Stedman had played with more confidence the result might have been the other way.

Wilson went straight on to play two more matches in the combined doubles, winning the semi-final against Wallace and Mrs Scott with ease. He gave a great display in the final, where he and Mrs Thomson beat Sandrall and Miss Marjorie Macfarlane. Sandrall, the Australian holder of the Wellington combined doubles championship, plays a dangerous game, but he had his partner puzzled by the manner in which he cut in at some tftnes and not at others. The combination of Wilson and Miss Thomson told, and they broke through Miss Macfarlane’s service each time for a set. Fine recoveries from sharp angles and powerful smashes abounded in a most interesting match.

In the women’s singles final, two Wellington competitors met, Miss D. Nicholls winning from Mrs W. J Melody in a match which saw Miss Nicholls start nervously, find her feet and then run Mrs Melody round for two sets in a hopeless effort. Miss Nicholls placed her shots much better and was not at‘ all troubled by Mrs Melody’s spin, which she treated with little courtesy. It was one more instance of a player failing to make Miss Nicholls move and doing all the running against her.

W. G. Robertson (South Canterbury) had a meritorious win in the boys’ singles final against R. R. Lees (Auckland). Lees made better strokes, and placed them very well in the opening set, which he took fairly comfortably; but Robertson’s greater physique and stout net attack throughout the next two sets finally won through. Lees was never at home and found the wind a trial once Robertson commenced to hit out.

In the boys’ doubles. Robertson and Ferkins beat the Lees brothers, the latter never finding their game, though they reached 5 all from 0-5 through rash tactics on the part of Ferkins in the first set. The second set was a walk-over for the winners.

RESULTS ON SATURDAY, Results on Saturday were:— MEN’S SINGLES. Final. C. Angas (Canterbury) beat D. G. France (Wellington), 6-1, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1. MEN’S DOUBLES. Final. D. G. France and C. Malfroy (Wellington) beat N. R. C. Wilson (Wellington) and A. Stedman (Auckland), 8-6, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5. WOMEN'S SINGLES. Final. Miss D. Nicholls (Wellington) beat Mrs W. J. Melody (Wellington), 3-6, 6-3, 6-1. COMBINED DOUBLES. Third Round. Sandrall (Wellington) and Miss Marjorie Macfarlane (Auckland) beat P. Howell (Rangitikei) and Miss D. Nicholls (Wellington), 7-5, 9-7. Wilson and Mrs Thomson (Wellington) beat Parker (Wellington) and Miss Andrew (Canterbury), 6-3, 6-3. Semi-Finals. Sandrall (Wellington) and Miss Marjorie Macfarlane (Auckland) beat Stedman (Auckland) and Mrs Adams (Wellington), 6-2, 7-5. Wilson and Mrs Thomson beat Wallace (Taranaki) and Mrs Scott (South Canterbury), 6-0, 6-3. Final. Wilson and Mrs Thomson beat Sandrall and Miss Macfarlane, 7-5, 6-3.

BOYS’ SINGLES. Final. W. G. Robertson ' (South Canterbury) beat R. R. Lees (Auckland), 3-6, 6-2, 6-3. BOYS’ DOUBLES. Final. W. G. Robertson (South Canterbury) and M. Ferkins (Wellington) beat R. R. and M. F. Lees (Auckland), 6-5, 6-0. JUNIOR COMBINED DOUBLES. Final. Ileenan (Mid-Canterbury) and Isobel Morrison (Canterbury) beat W. G. Robertson and Madeline Eliot (South Canterbury), 4-6, 6-1, 7-5. NEW ZEALAND PLATE. Final. R. M’L. Ferkins (Wellington) beat J. B. Parker (Wellington), 6-3, 4-6, 6-1. SUBURBAN TOURNEY. Matches in the Suburban inter-club competition were, played at Wilding Park on Saturday afternoon in brilliant weather. The seventh round of grade A, section 1., was not played, as several players are away on the West Coast with the combined Suburban clubs’ team. Results:— A GRADE. NORTH BEACH v. ST MARTINS. (North Beach names first.) Men’s Singles—W. Peppier beat R. Roberts, 9-5; F. C. Penfold beat A. Goddard, 9-8; H. A. Tregcar lost to A. Roberts, 8-9; K. N. M’Gillivray beat W. M’Kay, 9-5. Men’s Doubles—Peppier and Penfold lost to R. Roberts and Goddard, 5-9; Tregear and M’Giilivray lost to A. Roberts and M’Kay, 6-9. Women's Singles—Mrs M’Gillivray beat Miss Bluett. 6-5; Mrs Cramp beat Mrs Courtier, 6-2; Mrs Penfcld lost to Mrs Thompson, 0-6; Mrs Walsh lost to Mrs Gibson, 1-6. Women’s Doubles—Mesdames Cramp and M’Gillivray beat Misses Bluett and Courtier, 6-3; Mesdames Penfold and Walsh lost to Mesdames Thompson and Gibson, 3-6. Combined Doubles—Mrs M’Gillivray and Peppier beat Mrs Gibson and R. Roberts. 6-2; Mrs Cramp and Tregear beat Miss Bluett and A. Roberts, 6-1; Mrs Penfold and Penfold lost to Miss Courtier and Goddard, 3-6; Mrs Walsh and M’Gillivray beat Mrs Thompson and M’Kay, 6-4. North Beach won by 9 matches to 7.

B GRADE. Shirley beat Yaldhurst by 11 matches

Woolston beat Riccarton by 10 matches to 4. Heathcote beat St Philips by 14 matches to 2. C GRADE. St Mary's beat RedclifEs by 93 games to 88. Riccarton beat Wesley by 9 7 games to SI. Beckenham beat Heathcote by 16 matches to 0. WEST COAST TOURNEY CONTINUED ON SATURDAY. Per Press Association REEPTON, February 1. The West Coast tennis tournament was continued in brilliant weather. Following Were the results:MEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP SINGLES. Final—Patterson beat Johnston, 6-1, 6-2. WOMEN'S CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES. Final—Miss I. Poole beat Miss T. Pole, 6-1, 6-3. MEN’S HANDICAP SINGLES. Second round—Silvester beat Stewart, 50-23; Lockey beat Castle, 60-37; Tillman beat Porter, 50-38; Blackmore beat Jones, 50-43. Third round—Mawkins beat Sharpe, 50-2 S; Mercer beat Lee, 50-36. Fourth round—O’Malley beat Lockey, 60-58; Schadick beat Young. Final—Schadick beat Blackmore, 6040. WOMEN'S HANDICAP SINGLES, Second round —Mrs Instone won by default; Miss Poole beat Miss Lowe. Third round—Mrs Jones won by default; Mrs Instone beat Mrs Holland, 50-41; Miss I. Poole beat Mrs Spicer, 50-30; Miss E. Piske beat Miss T. Poole. 50-35; Miss Taaffe beat Miss Hookham; Miss Lee won by default; Miss Magee beat Miss Wilson. Semi-final—Mrs Walker beat Mrs Jones; Miss I. Poole beat Miss Instone; Miss Piske beat Miss Taaffe, 50-43; Miss Magee beat Miss Lee. MEN’S HANDICAP DOUBLES. First round—Porter and Whittehead beat Lee and Campbell, 50-48; Castle and Blackmore beat Porter and White. WOMEN'S HANDICAP DOUBLES. First round—Misses Poole beat Mesdarnes Rea and Sharp, 50-29. Second round—Misses Poole beat Mesdames Instone and Peske, 50-31; Misses Magee and Flannagan beat Misses Auld and Smith; Mesdames Ford and Walker beat Missfcs Farrell and Walker, 5036. Third round—Mesdames Ford and Walker won by default; Misses Jones and Lee beat * Misses C. Brooks and Taaffe, 50-48. COMBINED HANDICAP DOUBLES. First round—Blackmore and Miss Watt, beat Don and Miss Alborn, 5036; Robinson and Miss C. Brooks beat Castle and Miss King; Auld and Miss Auld won by default; Lockey and Mrs Ford beat Hawkins and Miss Lowe, 5034; O’Malley and Miss I. Poole beat Young and Miss Flannigan, 50-32; Jones and Mrs Jones beat Campbell and Mrs Potter, 50-38; Silvester and Mrs Spicer beat Sharpe and Miss Taaffe. Second round—Robinson and Miss M. Brooks beat Auld and Miss Auld, 5250; Walker and Mrs Walker won by default; Jones and Mrs Jones beat Silvester and Mrs Spicer; M'Carky and Miss Riske won by default.