PLAINS TENNIS TOURNAMENTS.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4847, 1 July 1925, Page 2

PLAINS TENNIS TOURNAMENTS.

Sir, —In my last letter I gave the experiences some of the Patetonga players had with umpires and linesmen. Now 1 would like to inform, the tennis players of tlie Plains, what they would have to put up with if they had the misfortune to have to enter a protest, as Patetonga had to do.

To start with, the secretary notified the delegates, from this end that there wpuld be a. meeting of the Tennis Association in the Ngatea Hall at 11 a.m. Two delegates from this end set out at 8.30 a.m, to attend, and after riding for two hours through mud and slush arrived to find-no one else present. After waiting for an hour or more the secretary informed them that they would go along to the hall and make a start, as by that time Mr Scott, would be there. So it appears the secretary was waiting for Mr Scott to help him out, which he did with no credit to himself or his followers, of which I will tell you later on.

Though there were several strokes that, could be protested on the Patetonga Club deckled upon two which they could prove without any trouble, ■but they were doomed to be disappointed, as circumstances were too strong for them. The first item was the linesman leaving his post without permission from tlie umpire, thereby Patetonga players losing a point. Now, this is where Mr Scott plays his trump card. He informed tlie delegates that why the linesman (D. . Valentine) left, the line was because a Patetonga spectator abused him. I now challenge. Mr Scott, Dr. Valentine,' or the secretary to say that I spoke a word or disputed one of Dr. Valentine’s decisions: and, what is more, the only time I spoke during the match was when another spectator for theri side gave two wrong decisions, and when questioned said lie thought they were playing singles. Now, if Mr Scott’s version of why Dr. Valentine left the line is correct, it could not have been on account of my' abuse to him. He must hijve taken exception to my disputing a spectator when the ball was inside the double lines.

Tlie next stroke in dispute was when a player ran into the net and the secretary, who was umpire, (lid not count the stroke against her. He admits the player hitting the net, and it is amusing how he tries to explain it. He says she played the ball and tlie opponents played it before she, hit the net. I think the secretary ought to give a demonstration of how it was done, and charge so much. I am nitre it would draw a crowd. It would be better than any cross-word puzzle. The stroke in question never went near either of the opposing players ; it was hit across the court, and lobbed on the outside lines, within a few feet of the net post, and bounced riglit off the court, so he must have great imagination to describe it as he does. I do not think he convinced himself how it was done, for he said, “any how, the umpire’s ruling is final.” No doubt the umpire has a lot of power, but I do not think his ruling should be final if it was against the rules. If it is so, tennis players on the Plains will have a lot to put up with in the future. The Only Patetouga Spectator,