TEST TENNIS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 903, 21 February 1930, Page 13

TEST TENNIS

AUSTRALIAN TEAM MEETS AUCKLAND brilliant men playing up against the most formidable combination which has come from Australia in recent seasons, an Auckland provinciai tennis quartet set itself to face the touring team at Stanley Street Courts this afternoon. The visiting players, all in the front rank of Australian tennis, are F. E. Kalms. first man for the tourers, C. Sproule, W. Teague and C. J. Donohue. On the other side of the net are E. Jj. Ilartleet, J. T. Laurenaon, N. G. Sturt and A. Stedman, three of whom are ?ast holders of New Zealand titles. Matches began at one o'clock under perfect conditions. Bartleet faced Sproule and Laurenson was matched with Donohue. The young city players, Stuit and Stedman, were called upon to meet Kalms and Teague respectively in their singles tests. Tie importance of the games attracted a large following of spectators. SPROULE V. BARTLEET

Careful tennis marked the opening stages of the Sproule-Bartleet meeting. The Auckland man took points through out-driving by his New South Wales opponent. The Australian, however, delighted the gallery with attractive court covering. After yielding two games, Bartleet. playing with confidence, went through to win the first set. 6 —2, after half an hour’s play. The Australian recovered at once and. fighting strongly, put Bartleet down game by game in the next set. Long-range tennis with a pretty backhand enabled the visitor to bag the set easily. A sustained rally by Sproule decided the set for the Australian to the accompaniment of applause from the crowd. Sproule found Bartleet tiring and in difficulties. In the third set Bartleet had lost his kick and Sproule carried through to wrin 6—o. DONOHOE V. LAURENSON The Australian was more severe with a wider variety of shots than Laurenson, who was erratic and showed a lack of practice against first-class opposition. Donohoe was businesslike and unhurried. He took the first set easily and the second without much trouble. Laurenson was never in the hunt. Laurenson made a surprising recovery in the third set, winning 6—3.