LAWN TENNIS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19872, 8 March 1930, Page 16

LAWN TENNIS.

FIRST TEST MATCH. FIVE WINS FOR AUSTRALIA. WILSON BEATS TEAGUE. Play in the tennis Test match, between New Zealand and Australia, began under excellent weather conditions at Wilding Park yesterday afternoon. The teams w<?re: New Zealand —E. L. Bartleet, C. Angas, D. G. France, N. E. C. Wilson. Australia—F. Kalms, C. Sproule, *C. J. Donohoe, W. E. Teague.

France v. Kalms. The' first singles match was between D G. France and F. Kalms.. The first service went to Franco arid the games went evenly at first. A large, portion of the play went on to Kalms' backhand, but, at times, Kalms came across with'some very good short shots. In the fifth game France found Kalms out of position several times. Most of the play was from 'the base-line, but in the final game France was caught close to the net and the set weujt to Kalms, 6-3. In the second set play was similar in nature, and though France started well, he could not keep the advantalms, Kalms winning 8-6. The third set opened with several good services by Kalms, who won the first three games, but France then began to show his form. However, he was unable to gain the advantage, and the set. and match went to Kalms, 6-1.

Wilson v. Teague. The greater portion of the first set was given over to fast, low drives, but Teague showed up in his service, and gave Wilson no chance to use the net. Tho games went to 5 all, and, Teague then re-sorted to base-line tactics, but Wilson was better in his driving and his service, winning the set 8-6. In the, second set Wilson soon had a lead of three games, and Teague was obviously outclassed, being ' tempted into the net and left out of position. In the third set Teague showed, good judgment in passing shots, and brought the score to 3 all. Wilson was placing his shots on Teague's backhand tp his own advantage, but.won the set and match 6-4. - • ;.:..-s. •• : '/ ~'••;■;.

Angas v. Sproule. At the beginning of the game Angas ,was playing close up, but his defence was weak, and he seemed unable to do anything with Sproule's forehand drives. The first set went to Sproule, 6-1. Angas continued to play into Sproule's, bands and, though there was some pretty driving, the Australian was in the lead throughout the set, the final score being 6-2. Things looked brighter for Angas at the beginning of tbe third set, for he played more stead'ily, and occasionally was lucky when the ball trembled on the net. He was hitting more accurately, but Sproule was not extended. The score came to 6 all, and, although play was close, it was not striking. The last two games showed the brightest tennis of the match, and in the final game there were five deuces before Sproule won set and match, 8-6.

Bartleet v. Donohoe. Bartleet at first was extremely disappointing, sending his shots out and into the net, and being frequently out of position, for Donohoe brought in some very pretty shots, low and across the net. The display was not at all remarkable, and Donohoe won the set, 6-3. Bartleet's form did not improve in the second set, arid Donohoe's shots were on the sideline, and continually found Bartleet out of position. The set went to Donohoe, 6-2. After the first game of the third set, Bartleet took opportunity of any holes in Donohoe's defence, and evened the score, 3 all. Donohoe was getting warm, and niijsed an easy passing shot at the net in the eighth game, while Bartleet was playing a very cool game. After a long rally, in which Bartleet was kept moving from side to side, Donohoe sent the ball out over the sideline, and gave Bartleet the sot, 6-4. In the fourth set play, was fairly even, and tho scores were brought to five, all, and then '< to seven all. Bartleet eventually took tho sot r 9-7. The! fifth and last set opened fairly easily,,Donohoe being obviously tired, dropping a number of balls into the net, and being frequently out of position when faced with fast cross-court shots. However, he succeeded in winning .the set 8-6.

Angas and France v. Kalms and Teague. The play .in this match was not ai' first at all inspiring, there being glaring weaknesses in both teams. In the first set the first four games went to New Zealand, though Angas in particular was very erratic. New Zealand won the set 6-3. The. second set was very little brighter, the. Australians, finding considerable holes in their opponents' defence, and winning the set 6-3. The' third was a love set, and the New Zealanders made a very poor showing indeed. Australians 0-0. The final set was much more even; and there was good brisk driving. The score ran to 5-all, and the final point fell to the Australians when Angas put the last ball of a long series of volleys

out behind the baseline. Kalms and Teague won set and match, 7-5. Bartleet and Wilson v. Sproule and Donohoe. In the first set the Australians seemed unable to strike form, Donohoe in particular playing erratically. The ami three games went to Now Zealand, and in the fourth a fast chopped return by Wilson left Sproule well behind. Ane eel went to New Zealand, 6-3. ino second set saw the Australian team work very weak, several, collisions occurring. However, the visitors won the set, 64. A clever cut by Wilson off a return by Sprould to the sideUne found both the Australians well out of position in the second game. " r «? re was a spell of high lobbing, and Wilson and Sproule were particularly not iceable in their ability to «tnrn winning shots from these lobs 1 *"! Sproulo showed up well in bursts of crisp volleying. Play was very even at the end, the set finally going to the Australians, 10-8. The final set was continued in failing light, but good tennis was still played, and in the sixth game there was some good woik with all players close to: thejaet. The Australians won the match with the final set, 6-2. : Kesults: — "" ' __„ SINGLES. W E Teague (Aust.) lost to N. R. C. Wilson !(N.-ZO, 6-8, 1-6, 4-6 F E Kalms (Aust.) bea„ D. G. France (N.Z.), 6-3, 8-6 6-1. C E. Sproule (Aust.) beat O. Angas (N.Z.), 6-1, 6-2, 8-6. _ C J. Donohoe (Auste) beat EL. Bartleet (N.Z.), 6-3, 6-2, 4-6, 7-9, 8-6.

DOUBLES. Kalms and Teague (Aust.) beat Angas and France (N.Z.), 3-6, ff-3, 6-0, 7-5 Sproule and Donohoe (Aust.) beat Bartleet and Wilson, 3-6, 6-4, 10-8, 6-2., To-day's Programme. Following is to-day's programme, to commence at 12.45, Australian players mentioned first:Court No. I—C. E. Sproule v. D. G. Court No. 2—C. J. Donohoe v. N. E. C. Wilson. ' To be followed by W. E. Teague v: E. L. Bartleet. F.'e. Kalms v. C. Angas. C. E. Sproule and C. J. Donohoe v. C. Angas and P. G. France. F E. Kalms and W. E. Teague v. E L. Bartleet and N. B. C. Wilson.

VISITORS ENTERTAINED. TRIBUTES TO THEIR PLATfi A dinner was given at the Jpnited Service Hotel last evening by the New Zealand Lawn Tonnis Association to the members of the Australian and New Zealand teams. ' In proposing the health of the Australian team, the chairman, Mr William Goss, said that every Australian visit had been a complete success and had done a great deal of good for New Zealand tennis. Each time New Zealand had sent a team to Australia they, had been well received. • The present team were a fine body of men, all of them being good sports. They had a fine repertoire of. shots and could teach New Zealand players a great deal. The captain, Mr Kalms, in particular, had showed, something of his former brilliance, while' every member of the team exhibited amazing powers of endurance. It would be a good thing, con-, tinued the speaker, if it would be possible 'to arrange that New Zealand players visit Australia one year alnd the Australian team visit New Zealand the following year. He thought that th« Australians carried too many guns for our men, the difference being sufficient to give them Victory on the day's play. Australia and New Zealand had" a great deal iji common, and < every* thing should be done to encourage reciprocity in sport as well as in everything else.; - . \-. . Replying on behalf of the Australian team, .Teague, manager of the team, .said they,, thought very fortunate, in''being able to visit New ZealandV Thiff *ras the first'time a team representative of the whole iof Australia had come to New Zealand. The Australian Association would like to see a New Zealand team in Australia early next year and to see them take part in the Australian Championships. No efforts had been spared on the hospitable way New Zealanders had entertained them. They Sad' had the pleasure of meeting, the New Zealand representatives on the courts, and he paid a splendid tribute/to the fine manner in. which they played, i v Mr F. E, Kalms, i captain of the tralian teamv endorsed his ..colleague's remarks, thanking all • concerned for the hospitable way in which they had been entertained while in New Zealand.

In proposing "The New Zealand Team," Dr. H. T. J. Thacker (DeputyMayor) said he had a very difficult job, not being a tennis player. He believed that in New Zealand there were a number of players who would be well up to Davis Cup standard if they were shown more of the finer points of the game. He advocated more frequent and longer visits from,/ Australian teams, pointing out the benefits to the standard of play in New Zealand. A six .months' stay in New Zealand would not be too long and would do a great deal for New Zealand tennis. ". v

Replying on behalf of the New Zea* land team, Mr E. L. Bartleet, the captain, said they had done rather badly on tho day's play, but it was a redoubtable side they had been up against. Public and players alike would, he continued, have been very disappointed if the Australian team had not won, as they had a great reputation for always sending across a particularly strong team. He paid a fine tribute to the high standard of play and fine sportsmanship of the visitors.' v Other toasts in the list were^—"The Management Committee for Test Matches," proposed by Mr C. J. Donohoe and replied to by Messrs P. R. Harman and R.Browning; "The New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association," proposed by Mr W. N. Seay, replied to by Messrs G. Gore and D. Murray Kean; '"The Ladies," proposed by Mr E. C. Sproule, replied to by Mr N. R. C. Wilson.