TENNIS.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3596, 31 March 1924, Page 7

TENNIS.

GAME I SET! MATCH! RUBBER TO MISS HODDER. The 1923-24 championship of the Palmerston North Tennis Club was finally decided at Linton street at 3.45 p.m. on Saturday., As a result Bliss Lorna, Hodder retains her title as lady champion of the club Her opponent, Bliss G. Scott, at one stage of the final, appeared likely to carry off the championship, but, after winning the first match of the rubber on Monday last, was defeated in straight sets by Miss Hodder on Tuesday and Saturday. In the “rubber” match Bliss Hodder look the first' service, and won the game. Then by almost faultless tennis the, ex-Otago player got away with three successive games and Miss Hodder was down I—3. Bliss Scott was very accurate -at this stage and had her opponent continually on the run. Miss Hodder, however, was not playing bndly and worked hard to save every possible shot, but was temporarily outclassed. The fifth game was the all-important one, and with the service- Bliss .Hodder took it, and then striking quite her best form wound up . the set, with a. clean-break of five games (the last to “love.”) Set to the old champion, 6—3.

, Bliss Scott opened the second, set at the western end and took the game on her service. That was her last success, Although, there were sonic remarkable rallies, they were only spasmodic and Bliss , Hodder ran straight to game, set, match, rubber, and championship, with the six final games of Uir contest. The score-sheet read 6—3, 6—l, Mrs S. Smith cheerfully carrying out the duties of umpire, in a , cold north westerly. Two Great Rallies. In the fifth game of the second set the last “rest” ran to 25 strokes before Bliss Hodder’s lucky saving shot struck the top of the net, and left Miss Scott standing. At s—l -with ‘Miss Scott dying gamely, a more remarkable rally still took place. Both girls ran each other to every part of the court with clinking strokes, marked both by length and direction. Some of-the “savers” were exceptional. Bliss Scott took the “ace” with the 29th- stroke by means of a really brilliant volley. The ‘‘Two Lives” Principle,

Whoever invented -the method of deciding- the Palmerston North Tennis Club’s championships on the “two lives” principle had a brain wave The idea is an excellent one and gives everybody an- absolutely fair chance.

MANAWATU v. WEST ENIX ANOTHER POSTPONEMENT. The “A” grade 'fixture between Manawatu and West End Clubs is no further “forward.” Set down for decision at the latter’s courts on Saturday week, a postponement was occasioned by the vagaries of the j weather. 1 Meanwhile a transfer to the FitzIherbert street courts was decided on for Saturday afternoon, but’ no better fortune attended the efforts of the executives to get the match off. TAKARO DEFEATS RONGOTEA. A very enjoyable afternoon was spent on the Takaro courts, when Takaro A team met and defeated a team from Rongo'tea by 0 sets and 30 games to 7 sets and 93 games. Results are as follow, Takaro players being mentioned first. Ladies’ Singles.—Miss N. Nocdl defeated Miss Lithgow 7—4; Miss B. Me jFarlane defeated Miss Hobbs 7—3; I Miss J. McFarlane . defeated Mrs Hunt 7—3; Miss D. Ellis defeated Mrs Reid 7—3. Men's Singles.—Mr M. Robijison lost to Mr, F. Edmonds 2—9; Mr D. McKenzie lost to Mr. L. Ziersch [2 —9; Mr Free defeated Mr A. Hunt j 9—6; Mr Dixon lost- to Mr C. Hunt ! 2 — 9. Ladies’ Doubles. —Misses Noedl and B McFarlane defeated Miss Lithgow and Mrs Hunt 7 —3; Misses J. McFarlane and D Ellis defeated Mrs Hunt and Mrs Reid 7 —3. Men’s Doubles.—Mr Robinson and

MrcKenzie lost to Mr Edmonds, and A. Hunt 7—!); Mr Free and Dixon lost to Mr Ziersch and C. Hunt 4—!). Mixed Doubles. —-'.Miss Noedl and Robinson defeated Mips Dithgow and Edmonds 7 —4; Miss B. McFarlane and McKenzie lost to Miss Dithgow and Ziersch 2—-7; Miss .1. McFarlane and Free defeated Mrs Hunt and A. Hunt 7 —5; Miss D. Ellis and Dixon lost to 'Mrs Reid and G. Hunt 6 —7.