MANAWATU TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Manawatu Times, Volume LIX, Issue 7375, 29 January 1934, Page 5

MANAWATU TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIPS

Palmerston Pair Win Doubles Title BODDY AND SWAINSON TO FIGHT SINGLES FINAL The weather was favourable for the continuation of tho Manawatu Tennis Association’s district tournament at the Linton street courts on Saturday. As a result of the games played, the men’s doubles have been completed, while the championship and handicap singles have progressed to the finals. ' The doubles championship was won by Robertson and AVeipeihana, of tho Palmerston Club, who defeated the Pahiatua pair, Swainson and Bush, in a three-set final. The finalists in the championship singles arc AV. Boddy (Feilding) and Swainson, who eliminated Robertson, and the final of the handicap singles will bo contested by Bush (Pahiatua) and Bennett (Palmerston).

Results of Saturday's games are as under: —

Men’s Championship singles. Semi-final. J. G-. Swainson (Pahialun) heat D. I. Robertson (Palmerston), G—s, 5—G, G—3. . Swainson meets Boddy (Fcilding) in the final. , Men’s Championship Doubles. Pinal. Robertson and Weipeihana (Palmerston) beat Swainson and Bush (Paliiatua), 5—G, G—4, G—*l. Men’s Handicap Singles. Quarter-finals. Bush beat Hankiu, 11—9. Ralfc beat 0 ’Bricn, 9—7. Gavin beat Worsfold, 14—12. Barnett beat Macpherson by default. Semi-finals. Bush beat Ralfc, 9—5. Barnett beat Gavin by default. Comment on the Play. The first match to be played was the championship singles to decide whether Robertson or J. G. Swainson was to have the honour of meeting W. Boddy in the final. It proved to be a threeset match, and Swainson won after Robertson had won the first set by a decisive margin. Robertson has not played much tennis this summer but against Swainson he was not much below his best form. Swainson collared the opening games but after that Robertson, who had got the pace of the court, took charge and six games in a row gave him the set. The run of the play suggested that Robertson would win in straight sets. Swainson, however, is never so dangerous as when required to fight an uphill battle, and he played a characteristic game to take the second set. Robertson ran to a 4—l lead in the third and deciding set, but Swainson tightened his belt a notch, drew level, and went on to win the set and match despite a burst racquet. It was a delightful game to watch and no one was more pleased with the result than Robertson, who had nothing but praise for the veteran’s play. The Game. Swainson served first and when Robertson passed him three times, it looked like a game to the Palmerston North man. Swainson hit the band with tho next, and the ball, luckily, went over. Tho Pahiatua man took the next four points and the game. Robertson was taking time to settle down and Swainson broke through his service and led 40 —lovo in the next. Robertson, with solid, driving drew level and took the next two points and the game, the score being 2—l in Swainson’s favour. Robertson won his service after deeue had been called, Swainson being forced into errors. They were driving particularly well but excursions to tho net were badly timed and usually expensive. Robertson was playing steadily and with drives to the corners, ho collared Swainson’s service to lead 3 2. He continued, tho good work, varying his pace and length to take the next three games and the set G—2. Robertson broke through Swainson’s service at the opening of the second set. Swainson retaliated by taking the next and he won his own scr\ice to 10, Robertson being forced into errors by the pace and variety of Swainson’s attack.. Robertson led 30—love in the next. He then netted a couple of drives. He won the next point with a sharply angled drive but followed with a double fault. Deuce was called five times before Robertson won the game and tho score was 2—all.- Swainson was aggressive in the next game. With drives deep to the corners won the first three points, he dropped the next when he outed a volley but ho took the game to lead 3—2. Robertson served well to take the next game to 30 Swainson won his to 30 but Robertson made it 4—all in a game remarkable for some fierce driving by both men. Swainson trailed "liis man in the next game but with a well placed serve and accurate volleying, he regained control to lead 5—4, dropping one point off his own service. ' Swainson led 40—30 in the next game, but Robertson put one across court, and ( volleyed tho return for a winner. Swainson took the next two points, the game and the set, the winning point coining when he drove Robertson behind the back lino and volleyed the hard return to the corner, Robertson making a valiant but ineffective effort to get the ball up. Robertson trailed 15 —40 in the noxt game but drew level with a couple of aces and he took the game. Swainson kept him well back in the next, and took it to love, the score being I—alL Robertson won tho next two games without much troublo to establish the commanding lead of 3 —l.- Robertson was serving particularly well and tho next game increased his lead. Swainson took his servico to 15, waiting for Robertson to make the mistakes. Swainson then made one or two excursions

to the net and ho broke through Robertson’s service, the score being 4—3 in Palmerston’s favour. He outdrove Robertson in tho next game and they were 4—all. Swainson’s racquet had gone by this time, two strings down the centre being broken. Robertson took the next game but Swainson, who was going well, took the following two and led G—s. Swainson, serving, led 40— 15 in the next game. Ho went to the net to volley for the point that woqld have given him tho match but he netted, and Robertson drew level. Swainson took the next two points and the match, 2 —G, 6—5, 7 —5.

The Doubles. The finalists in tho doubles were Robertson and Weipeihana and Swainson and Bush, and a hard-fought match resulted, the Palmerston Pair winning after losing the first set. Tho first three games went against the service. Swainson won his to break the sequence, Pahiatua leading 3—l. Robertson won his service to love, the Pahiatua men outing the returns. Bush was volleying -well in the next game which he won to love. Weipeihana, however, started well in the next and his pace forced the opposition into errors. Palmerston won the game and the score was 3 —4 against them. There were some great volleying duels in the next game which was clinched by Palmerston when Robertson scored with a winner down the side line and Weipeihana with a sharply angled volley. The tally was 4—all. Robertson won his service to 30 and Palmerston led 5—4. Bush them won his service after dropping the first two points, the score being s—all.5 —all. Pahiatua broke through Weipeihana’s service to 15 to take the first set G—s.

The first three games went with the service in the second set. In the third, Bush serving, Pahiatua collared the net and although they smashed repeatedly, Palmerston made some great recoveries and t’lierc were exciting rallies before Bush clinched the argument. Weipeihana won liis service after deuce had been called, Robertson doing effective work at the net. The score was 2 —all. Swainson and Robertson won their services and it was 3 —all. There were some splendid rallies in the next game with Pahiatua at the net and Palmerston going hammer and tongs along the back line. Palmerston broke through the service to lead 4 —3 at what proved to bo the vital stage of the match. Weipeihana then dropped his service and Palmerston made desperate efforts to get the next game. Pahiatua tried equally hard to save it. They fought for every point, Palmerston taking the game after deuce had twice been called. Robertson led 5 —4 and he took his service to 15 and the set G—4.

The Palmerston men were going along steadily now and they were making tho most of every opportunity to kill. They broke through Bush’s service and when Robertson won his to 15, they led 2—love in the third set. Swainson dropped his service after deuce had been called and Weipeihana won his, Palmerston leading 4—love. Bush stopped the rot, winning his service to 15 but Palmerston were not to be denied and Robertson and Weipeihana took the next two games, .the set 6—l, and the match.