Wilding Shield.

Auckland Star, Issue 17, 21 January 1932, Page 8

Wilding Shield.

CANTERBURY Y. AUCKLAND Bartleet Beats Angas —After Losing First Set. With courts hard, fast and true, and the weather brilliant, a tennis carnival which includes interprovincial matches, a test between Australian and New Zealand women's teams, and the national championships opened at tlic btaniej Street courts this afternoon. The semi-final of the Wilding Shield competition, Auckland v. Cauterbmy, was begun, the opening singles being between Bartleet and Angas and Morrison and Glanvillc. . The visiting teams were the guests ot the Auckland Lawn Tennis Association at morning tea at the rooms of Messrs. Milne and Clioyce, Ltd., to-day. Crowded galleries watched the opening matches of the contest. A tricky wind blowing aeross-court frequently upset the calculations of the players, and shots that normally would have clipped the lines were blown out. Smashing was a difficult matter, and even Bartleet, who is usually sound overhead, was missing simple Generally, the standard of tennis was high. Bartleet v. Angas. There were cheers as E. L. Bartleet (Auckland) and C. Angas (Canterbury) walked on to No. 1 court for their eontest. Play opened quietly, both men exercising care until they settled down. Both appeared reluctant to attack, although Angas at times was aggressive. There was at times some pretty play on the part of both men, and, although Angas won the first set at 6-—2, it was not so much winning shots that brought him his points., but the erratic play of his opponent. It was not surprising to see Angas, who was the steadier of the two, take the first set fairly easily, for.Bartleet lived up to his reputation and was slow to settle down. Right from the start ill the second set Bartleet got to work and, forcing the attack with every opportunity, soon had Angas racing up and down the baseline. But the- Canterbury champion played a shrewd defensive game, and although he was kept on the move he was never harassed. The Aucklander, playing with better judgment and forcing the pace, quickly ran up a three-love leail. Angas had trouble in handling Bartleet's service, difficult at any time, but made worse by the crosscourt wind. Playing with great confidence, and going in to volley prettily, Bartleet polished off the set before Angas could capture a game. In this set Bartleet was superior in every department. Bartleet soon had the third set well in hand. Better tactics in the use of a greater variety of strokes by the Aucklander overwhelmed Angas, who was only a shadow of the player he was in the first set. He even lost his steadiness. When he attempted to go in to the net, he was passed with beautiful shots 011 either hand, although, occasionally, he brought off some astonishing recoveries. Serving with the wind, Angas put a tremendous amount of spin on the ball, and Bartleet found difficulty in controlling it. Twice during the set the crowd cheered after brilliant, close-up volleying. But it was Bartleet's day. He was definitely the more forceful player, and the superior tactician. There seemed to be little design in the play of Angas. Bartleet (Auckland) beat Angas (Canterbury), 2—G, o—o,0 —0, 6—2. Glanville (Canterbury) beat Morrison (Auckland), o—6, 10—8, 6 —4.