BRILLIANT TENNIS

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 135, 30 January 1932, Page 5

BRILLIANT TENNIS

(Press Assn.

N.Z. CHAMPIONSHIPS SPECTATORS ENTHUSIASM •AROUSED IN BARNETT-' WILSON MATCH ' ' SINGLES SEM1-FINALS •.* 2 ' * r 1 . ' . . '-.t.- ;■ "

— By Telegraph — •'Copj'right),

- AUCKLAND, Friday. There Tyas^A.record att'endance for the fifth day's play in the New Zealand Tenuis Championships. The weather was again most generous, there ^being 'hrilliani sunshine 'uritil latfe'un the afterrioon when it hecame dull, with a cold southerly 'breeze. ' 1 There, were two hrilliant * and exciting games "in ihe semi-firials oi the mehvs singles, Angas and Barnett d'ef eating . Bartleet and Wilson respect•ively, thereby making tlie final ari allCanterbury one. * . Bot|i these matches were keenly contesfed, that between* 'Angas"" "and Bartleet' taking a little over ten minutes the longer. With Barnett and Wilson two sets all and the games seesawing from one a]l to six all, it was little' wonder that the crowd b ecame thoroughiy worked up over the coritest. "There wras 'prolonged cheering and liand clappirig for both victor and vanquished, when Barnett finished the niatch with a Brilliant cross cut short past his opponent's back hand, which left Wilson standing." The crowd hecame intensely interested with the fifth set, deciding "the right of entry to the firtalS. Both players employed def ensive tactics rather than take risks and there were long rallies in the majority of gamesl The players lost their services to five all. Angas v. Bartleet Every game in the mateh between Angas and Bartlett was closely fought and prolonged, four sets octupyxng 24 hours. Angas took the lead at the outset. Bartleet was "playing with restraint and caution throughout the match. Angas varied his game with pretty shots, while he came to the net more frequently than his opponent. Bartleet was content to remain at the hack of the court, making many fast drives down both sides. The Canterbury player, however, showed more steadiness and made many wonderful recoveries. His accurate lohs extricated him from difiiculties at times. The comparatively easy defeat of Miss Valkenburg by Miss Hartigari was a surprise. Miss Valkenburg's chances of winning were regarded as good. She played a sound game, but Miss Hartigan was on the offensive from the outset and made few mistakes. Her powerful forehand and backhand drives kept Miss Valkenburg on the def ensive most of the time, with the result that the latter was unable to use many of her best strokes. Mrs Molesworth's greater experience and court craft were the deciding factors in her ffiatch against' Miss Hall, Avho for the most part was outmanoeuvred, and could not "make much impressiori on her opponent. Men's Doubles Angas and Barnett were unlucky to lose their match against Wilson and Stedman. By superior all-round play and perfect comhination they completely outclassed their opponents. Angas and Barnett were leading 5-2 in the third set. They had a match point at 5-4 in the third set, but a wonderful recovery by Wilson saved fche situation for his team. The contest was productive of some brilliant tennis hy all four, though Angas, Barnett and Wilson were all tired after their exertions in the heat earlier in the afternoon. Wilson collapsed upon returning to the dressing room.