THORNDON CHAMPIONSHIP.

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 57, 8 March 1923, Page 11

THORNDON CHAMPIONSHIP.

The final of the Thorndon championship singles was played last evening, when A. L. Prance again met J. C. Peacock, and won the match, 8-6, 4-6, 8-6, 7-5. The match, lasted two and a half hours, and was the best exhibition seen in Wellington this season. The sets saw much the same variety of play as on the previous meeting a few days earlier, both maintaining a position pear the back line, probably because sallies to the net with such accurate placing as may have been expected on eithej side would hardly have, proved profitable. In the net workjthat there was Peacock had the advantage. The more attractive game, from a spectator's point of view, wae played by Peacock, but he could not prevail against Fi-ancei Three of the four sets went to advantage, and many of the ■games went to deuce.

In tho first set one game went, to si* deuces. France reached a- lead of 5-3, but hard driving and beautiful placing saw Peacock assume the lead at 6-5. France then took the next three games. It was in the second set, which he won 6-t after the games were against him 4-2, that Peacock made his best showing, and his driving and placing were a surprise to the spectators. He then won the opening two games in the third set, but France, playing with, his usual accuracy, coolness, jind speed, took the next tliTeo games, and tho set then moved to fiveall. France won the next, and a great fight saw the next" game go to Peacock, but France took the next two. In the final set, Peacock led 4-2, but France ■won the next three, Peacock then again drawing level. France took the next two and the title.