TENNIS NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3750, 12 February 1907, Page 3

TENNIS NOTES.

During the past week tennis enthusiasts have had some good games to watch. The semi-final and the final in the Men’s Singles were two close finishes and Bainbridge thoroughly deserves his win. The final between Bainbridge and Chisholm was a back line game from start to finish, and public interest in the game was very keen when the score stood 49 all. The next stroke decided the match. The handicappers are to be congratulated on their handicapping. The.final in the combined was fought out between Macdonald and Mrs Robinson against Gordon and Miss McMillan, and though both were on the same mark the game resulted in a decided win for the former pair, who had been leniently treated by the handicappers.

The final in the Ladies’ Singles will be played on Wednesday next between Miss Wanklyn (owes five) and Miss Hilda Collins (receives five). This will be a good game to watch, but it is doubtful if the former lady can give her opponent a start of xo in 50. A great deal of notice has been taken lately of the strict' umpiring of one of the members of the club. Members should be aware that strictness in umpiring will do more in making members familiar with the rules of tennis than any amount of reading. It seems at times that this particular umpire might have given a less stiict reading ot the rules until members had got a little more conversant with them. If any of our members are able to take part in the approaching tournament in Wellington at Easter they will appreciate then the of the umpiring. For the guidance of the members 1' quote some of the much discussed rules.—

Rule 12—A fault must not be volleyed i.e. taken before it touches the ground, even though the ball be clearly outside the service court.

Rule 20—Either player loses a stroke it the ball in play touch him, or anything that he wears or carries, except his racquet in the act ot striking, or if he volley the ball (unless he thereby makes a good return) no matter whether he is standing within the precincts of the court or outside them ; or if he touch or strike the ball in play with his racquet more than once consecutively ; or if his racquet (in his hand or otherwise) touch the net or any of its supports while the ball is in play ; or if he volley the ball before it has passed the net. Rule 17 says if a ball touch the net or post, provided that it passes over either and drops into the court it is a good return. In rule 33 it says if the ball in service strike either the striker out or his partner, the server wins the stroke.