TENNIS MARATHON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19833, 31 December 1927, Page 11

TENNIS MARATHON.

TWENTY-FOUR GAMES IN SET.

EXCITING LADIES' SINGLES,

[BY TELEGRAPH. OWN CORRESPONDENT.] CHRISTCHURCH, Friday.

The marathon second set between Miss May Speirs, Canterbury, and Miss Marjorie Macfarlaue, Auckland, created great excitement. The set went against Miss Speirs, but although sho was nearly exhausted she rallied brilliantly, raised her game to tho heights and swept on to a glorious victory, four wonderful returns of service giving her a love game and the match. Tho score was 6—3, 11—13, 7—5. Miss Macfarlane too played brilliantly. There were thrilling driving duels at -long range in which the honours invariably went to Miss Macfarlane, who found the lines with uncanny accuracy. Miss Speirs was decidedly superior at the net and had she gone in more frequently she might have won in sequence sets. It has to be remembered, of course, thit Miss Macfarlane excelled in driving down the lines, and in the second set her low shooting drives from corner to corner frequently had Miss Speirs in trouble. The early stages of the game were dominated by Miss Speirs, but in tne second set the going was very even, both driving well to the baseline. Miss Macfarlane at one stage led 3—l, but Miss Speirs took three games on end only to lose the next. The games were even at five all, and level pegging followed until Miss Macfarlane captured the set at 13—11. Miss Speirs was out-played and only her dogged determination enabled her to keep going. In the third set the Canterbury girl tried to change her game, - angling her shots to the sidelines, but this did not pay, and Miss Macfarlane quickly ran to 2—o. With the shadow of defeat looming near, Miss Speirs threw caution to the winds, and, speeding up her game, she forged ahead to lead at A—2. She was not to get away, however, for Miss Macfarlane, fighting with determination, raised her game, and driving for the lines, soon levelled the scores. There were tense moments. First one girl, then the other had the advantage, Miss Speirs' eventually gaining the game a t 5_4. The tenth game saw the Aucklander areing her backhand, and in spite of two daring interceptions at the net Miss Speirs could not come through. The scores again were even at 5 all, and with two great forehand drives after deuce had been called in the next game, Mis 3 Speirs was in front. The twelfth game was sensational in the extreme. Miss Macfarlane had the service, and it appeared as though she would level the scores. This was not to be, however, for in desperation Miss Speirs nut everything she had into a final effort, and amid great excitement she won the game by four aces in succession off Miss Macfarlane's service.