TENNIS.

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXII, Issue 12253, 8 April 1935, Page 7

TENNIS.

GISBORNE; CLUB SINGLES. BULL DEFEATS. SHOE LAND. FAST FIVE-SET FINAL. Showing a return to his form of a few years back, N. H. Bull defeated A. Sborland in the final of the men’s singles championship of the Gisborne Lawn Tennis Club on Saturday. The match went the full five sols, Bull winning 7—d, O—K, G— 2, o —7, 6—3. Both players gave a splendid exhibition of fast tennis, though, naturally, there were periods when the standard dropped. On the other band, however, there were many brilliant periods and both men made ninazinrr recoveries when appearing hopelessly beaten by a shot. There were some particularly thrilling exchanges at the net and the driving of both was of a high standard, taken all through.

Shorland, opening with the service, took the first game and Bull, though serving four doubles, took the next after deuce had been called three times. Bull then broke through bis opponent’s service, winning the game with a cross-oilrt half volley, and iollowed by taking his own service vo 30. A fine recovery at the net gave Bull the next game and he led 4—l. Shorland then spurted, taking Bull’s next service game, then his own alter one great rally at the net and again capturing Bull’s to make the score 4 all. 'Phis last game was the best to that stage—the men had one fine volleying duel and later Shorland three times recovered alter Bull had smashed. Shorland was down Id—4o in the ninth game, but recovered well to eventually take the game with a hard kill of n short lob and a lob to the hackline. Bull evened to 5 all and won Shorlnnd’s service for the loss of only one point. Bull again won his service and so took the first set 7—d.

• The second set saw the games go with tho service in the first throe games, Shorland then leading 2 1. The fourth game, Bull serving, was a hard tussle and deuce was called six times. The seventh point produced the host tennis to that stage, both men making remarkable rccovei ics , Bull, with an almost open court, twice missed the line by inches later and eventually lost the game on a foot fault. Shorland made the score 4 —l when he took the next game, once passing Bull beautifully at the net. Each won bis service game for the loss of a single point and Shoiland led 5—2. Bull won on service to 15 and also won Shorland’s next after the latter twice had set point, ai lob right on the back line deciding the issue. Bull' again won bis seivicc, evening at 5 all, and then took Shorn land’s after two deuces.. A heavy southerly wind sprang up at this stage and the players occasionally were at fault in their judgment. Shorland won against the service, C all, and then took his own to love, winning the third' and fourth points with two fme angled volleys from close in. ■ After one deuce, mainly through solid smashes. Shorland won the next game and the set 8 6. • tn the third set, Bull captured the first two games, the -second on his own service to.. 15, while Shoi ant took the third. Deuce was called three times before Bull won the fourth game and then he won agams the service to love. Shorland had one point only in. the next and Bull led s__l. Each won on service and the set went to Bull at 6 2. Shorland. lost the first two points in the fourth set, but then won 100 in a row to annex tlie first game. Bull won on service and also took Shorland’s for the loss of one point, Bull was 40—15 in the fourth but Shorland again won four successive points to even the games. 0 then took the next two games to | ea( j 4 2, but Bull won against the service, took bis own to love and then Shorland’s to 15, securing the | ea( ] a t s—l. Shorland won a. love ganio against the service, took the next after deuce four times and ■> clinched the set at 7 5. ■ Both moil- were tired for tlm final set and Bull opened by winning a love game against the service. Sborlaiid won against tho service for the loss of a point and then took a love game on his own service, to lead - *• Bull then won on service'to love, but scored only' one point in the fifth

game, Shorland then leading 3—2. j Serving, Bull was love—3o, hut took • the game without further loss, the j score then becoming three all. Bull j led 40—In on his opponent's service j and eventually took the game after ' one deuce, while he made the score j 5 3 by winning the next. Sliorlaml j led 30—love in the ninth game, but Bull took four points in succession to. win game, set and match, 7—•:>, j 6S, fi—2, o—7, 6—3. ;