LAWN TENNIS NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 111, 10 April 1934, Page 2

LAWN TENNIS NOTES

The final of the Manawatu inter-club competition was plaved at Levin on Saturday. Palmerston North took down rather a weak team with several of the leading players missing, neither Hankin, Beatson nor Graham being included among the men, and Miss N. Astle and Mrs Beattie being missing from the ladies. Under the circumstances Palmerston were perhaps lucky to win by a narrow margin, though, of course, the asphalt courts were all against players who are accustomed only to grass. Robertson was by no means at bis best, and after leading Worsibld by 5—2, was caught at 8 all and only got home at 10 —8. None of the other men’s singles produced a close match, We.hipeiha na and Ba.rnett winning with a lot in hand, while Johnson was easily disposed of by Bevan. In the top ladies’ singles Mrs Thomson’s courtcraft was altogether too much for Mrs Anderson who could not score a game. In the second place Miss Hume made quite a good show against Mrs Black (Miss Caiver) and though not a stylish player is hard to beat in her class. The rubber between Miss Heard and Miss Kerr was perhaps the best singles of the day. Both played well and Miss Heard just got home at 10 —8. Mrs Potter was always a. bit too good for Miss McDonald. The first of the doubles played '' as that betweeu the top pairs of lathes. In this Mesdames Thomson and Black played with excellent combination and only allowed Mrs Anderson and Miss McDonald one game out of ten. Misses Hume and Hoard just managed to get home 10—8 in the set between the sec ond pairs. Palmerston won both the men’s doubles, and with the mixeu doubles being equally shared this just gave the visiting team the victory. The match in the singles championship of the Palmerston North Glut) between Robertson and Boddy " a ; s won by the former after some interesting play. Buddy, who had just beaten Salmond for the championship ot the Eeilding Club, which some years ago he won on three or four occasions, nas in far better iorni than he has shown ° f ßobertson serving took the first game and Boddy the next three Robertson equalised at 3 all, but Bocld took the next two tor a lead ot o -o and eventually won the set at o • The second set was all square at --all, but then Robertson took the lead and won at 6—3, some o! the play m this sot being very good. The third set was always Robertson’s and he won o o. tie still has two lives and now p ays Hankin, the winner of this match pwjing AVohipeihana. The long spell of fine weather cannot he expected to last much longer and it would ho as well if the playeis made an effort to get their matches off as soon as possible. The two last ladies in the championship Miss M. Rutherford who has won the last, two years, and Airs Anderson, holder of the Manawatu championship, met yesterday and as usual a verv. level match resulted. Mrs Anderson was rather slow ir J striking form and Miss Itutheifoid had matters all her own way m the first set which she won at 6—2 In the second set Airs Anderson led J U. Miss Rutherford took the next _two games, but Airs Anderson led at o—J and took the set 6—3. After an interval they commenced the deciding set. Airs Anderson again took a long time to settle down and when Aliss Rutherford went to 4—o it looked as though she was certain to win the championship for the third time. But the fifth game fell to Airs Anderson, and Aliss Rutherford evidently tiring, Airs Anderson played steadily and won six games in succession, taking the set at o—4,0 —4, and the match by two sets to one. In their previous match Airs Anderson lost a life to Aliss Rutherford after a close contest, so that they have to meet again to decide the championship, and their form has been so level during the season that they will be equally fancied.