LAWN TENNIS NOTES

Manawatu Standard, Volume LV, Issue 80, 2 March 1935, Page 2

LAWN TENNIS NOTES

The match against Hawke’s Bay at Napier has been postponed till 16th , inst. As Manawatu is playing AVairarapa at Carterton 011 the 9th, and Wanganui at Linton street on 23rd, this means three representative matches on consecutive Saturdays. The Wairarapa ladies are much stronger than in previous years, and with Hcdder, who has been the Wairarapa No. 1 for several years, nowin third place, it looks as though tlieir men are also stronger. There have been 6ome very good matches on the Linton Street courts during the week. Mrs New- challenged Miss Wilson for seventh place on tlie association ladder. Miss Wilson started by winning tlie first three games. After that the play was very level and she took tho first set 6 —3. In the second set she took the lead in the ninth game, and with the score at 5—4. 40-love seemed to have the match in hand, hut she lost the next five , games in succession, hitting the ball into the net each time. With the game at 5 all, Mrs New serving, the score was love-40, but again Mrs New won the next five points to lead at 6 —5. Eventually Miss Wilson won a hard match by 10 —8. Another good match was in the club championship between Misses N. Graham and N. Astle. They met twice last season when Miss Graham beat Miss Astle in throe sets in the final of the Waipawa tournament. In an inter-club match Miss Astle just got home 10—8. These two are very equai and opinions differ as to their merits. In the club ladder Miss Astle is next above Miss Graham, but in the Manawatu ranking list the position is reversed. In the first set Miss Graham held the lead up to 5 —4. Then Miss Astle equalised and took the lead at 6 —5 and Miss Graham with a run of three games took the set at B—6.8 —6. In the second set there was only one ir it, Miss Astle winning at 6 —l. The third set was again hard fought. Again Miss Graham led at 5 —4 and Miss Astle equalised at 5 all. Miss Graham took the next two games for the set at 7 —5 and the match by £ sets to 1, but Miss Astle liad a majority of one game. Neither is good on the backhand. Miss Graham makes some good shots hut misses far too many easy ones, while Miss Astle. whose backhand is merely defensive is far more reliable in her returns. Both volleyed well at times, but Mis: Graham is much tlie better overhead. There was a capital match -in tIK. men’s doubles when Fox and Beckett met G. Johnson and Cope. In tin first set the latter pair forced the pact" and won 6 —3. At this point they looked certain winners, but the more experienced pair pulled themselves together and took the second set 6 —3. In the third set they had matters cl' their own way and won 6 —l. It looks as though they will meet O’Brien and McLachlan in tlie final. There was an unexpected result in the sixth round of the men’s single? when Tapp boat C. D. Graham, 6—2 4 —6, 6 —3. Allowance must be made for 'the fact that Graham was far from well, but it was the last day allowed for the round to bo concluded, so thaf he had either to scratch or play. Nevertheless due credit must be given to Tapp who is only 17, and with J Cope, also 17, is one of the hopes of Manawatu tennis.