LAWN TENNIS

Hokitika Guardian, 20 February 1933, Page 2

LAWN TENNIS

FINAL OF WEST COAST CHAMPS

MISS COSTELLO fiEAT]S MISS WILD

GREYMOUTH, February 20

The final of the West Coast ladies singles tennis championship was played on the Greymouth Club’s c om ’ts on Saturday afternoon in threatening weather, between Miss Mona Costello (Greymouth) and Mi&s Wild (Hokitika), Th p plav was very interesting and specwere treated to a good exhibition 0 f the game. Both players opened steadily, and the first game went to Miss Wild. Miss Costello, soon settled down, and treated the spectators to some very nice tennis, taking the next four games to lead 4—l. Miss Wild rallied, howcVer, and with some nicely-placed dliots, took the next game to love from her own service to trail 4 2. The next, game also went to Miss. 'Wild and Miss Costello had her load reduced to 4—3. Miss C os t c -l° missed some 'good opportunities for straight out winners by not going into the net with her well-placed drivers to the corners, but eventually won the game after sparkling tennis by both players to lead 5—3. Several long rallies characterised th e next game, each player concentrating oil her opponent’s backhand. Again Miss Costello did not make one excursion to the pet and relied on steadiness to win her Fie vital game. In this she made a great mistake, as Miss Wild waa much the steadier of the two. Instead of forcing the Issue at this stage, she appeared to ibe waiting for Miss Wild to make the mistakes, and eventually lost the game, but still led 5—4. Miss Wild played a beauty 'flown the side line to lead in the next game 30 love, but. Miss Costello completely beat her opponent to trail 30—15.

The score went to deuce but Miss Costello was unable to mak e set point and the game went to Miss Wild, and thus the play was equalised 5 —5. The match was. particularly free from double faults up to this stage, only one had been served by each player. A short one by Miss Wild was properly treated by. Miss Costello in th e eleventh game and the score stood 30 all. Miss Wild was making clever recoveries from Mass Costello’s deep drives. Both players were very careful in this game, the scons several times going to deuce before it was eventually won by Miss Costello to take th e lead once more 6—5. In the final rally of this game th 0 'bull crossed the net 37 times. Mb? 6 Costello dhanged her tactics and appeared to b. e going for winners, and by some vigorous play had’ set point at 40—15. 'She outed th e next ball but (still lead 40—30. The next hall was netted, and Miss Wild made th e score, deuce. The next two points also went to Miss Wild through inaccuracies by Miss Costello, and made the gam e even once more, 6—6. In the 13th game, Miss Wild lead 40—15 from her own service and after another long rally took the gam? and the lead 7—6, This was the first time that Mis 6 Wild hacTTecl after winning the first game. (Miss Costello won the next game after som e bright tennis to e yen once more. The match had developed into a waiting game, each looking for the other to make mistakes, and both seemed to be feeling the strain of a very strenuous game. Some pretty tennis by the Hokitika girl won her the next to load B—7. From Miss Costello’s service, Miss Wild had her first set point at 40—30, only to net a very poor .stroke. Miss 'Costello went into "the net for th e first time, and took th e lead witfli a nice smash. ,'She also won the next to equalise once more. With the score at B—B, Miss Costello, the fresher of th e two, with al nice diiive to the icorner, caught Miss Wild on the wrong foot to take the gam, e and the lead 9—B. From her own service, Miss Costello put the issue beyond doubt by winning the game to love, and also the >set 10— 8.

Botih players opened cautiously in the first game o.f the 2nd set, but ft eventually went to Miss Costello. Sh e also took the second game, playing very forcefully to lead two love. ‘Miss Wild wag too steady in the next, which she won after being down 15 —30. Haid driving by both players marked the opening of the 4th game and M* s s Costello led 40—15. The next point went to Miss Wild, who also took the next with .a nice placement to even the score. A beautiful deep drive to the corner gave Miss Costello the advantage and after a very long backline duel, Miss Costello won the next point and th e game to lead >3—2. The next game went to Miss C os tello to love from her own service. Miss Costello at this stage of the match, twisted her kn e e and had to retire for a few minutes. With the score 4 2 against her, Miss Wild rallied, and took the next game. Mias Wild appeared, to h e feeling the strain of this gruelling match, and Miss Costello took the game off her opponent’s service to lead 5—3. ‘Miss Costello was match point by winning three consecutive points, but in endeavouring to settle the issue outed two and netted the next and the score stood at deuce. Miss Costello won the next two points, the game and also the match: 10—8; 6—3.

CHAMPIONSHIP DOUBLES. The ladies’ championship doubles provided , s ome very interesting tennis. Tim winners, Misses M. Costello (Greymouth) and 0. Stapleton (Hokitika), owed their success to the fact that their rallying and overhe-d work was far superior to that of their opponents, Misses Wild and Morgan cl (Hokitika). The match, would have been even more interesting (had th e players come into the ne,t more frequently. Tn tins game also some, glorious opportunities were missed, at the net. The score was 6-4, 4_6 ( 6—2, in favour of Misses C <)st <‘Ho and S’fcaplctqu.

LADIES’ HANDICAP DOUBLES

Tn the final of the ladies’ handicap, doubles, Misses Moribund and Wdd .(Hokitika) (owe 5), defeated Mesdames Fletcher and Fuller (Grevniouth) Fc r. 50—26. The losers led early, but they slackened up in their play and the winy/'i's established a big lead winning 50—26. Both Misses Wild and -MortInnd played forceful tennis, Miss Mo it laud in particular, with a tricky twist shot, often outwitting the opponents.