OVER THE INNET

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 920, 13 March 1930, Page 15

OVER THE INNET

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"DEUCE"

Test Match Reviewed The test match at Christchurch was played under ideal conditions. The two centre courts at Wilding Park were in excellent order. Compared with the Stanley Street courts they are slow. The ball does not gain pace off the ground and keeps much lower. This is due to the lighter soil and to the fact that the courts are completely covered with grass. The Australian team won by 10 matches to 2. Kalms and Sproule gave further proof that they are more than a ‘he Dominion’s leading players. The Australians have not lost a doubles match during the tour. New Zealand tennis players who have studied their tactics should benefit by the fine exhibitions of doubles play given by the visitors. In fairness to the New Zealand team it should be remembered that they did not meet in Christchurch until the day before the test. The selected pairs had not played together previously and as a result were at a great disadvantage against the Australians, who had had a great deal of doubles practise and had worked up a perfect combination. Dominion Men Less Consistent The New Zealanders failed in the singles matches not because their method of stroke production was inferior to that of the Australians, but because they were less consistent and frequently broke down on easy shots after working their opponents out of position. Given the samev opportunities as the Australians have for match play all the year round against players as good as or better than themselves, there is no doubt that the leading players in the Dominion would very soon become a match for Australia’s best exponents of the game. * * * Lack of Tournaments There will be no tournaments of any importance in New Zealand until next Christmas. According to the members of the Australian team, between the end of March and the beginning of June, there will be from 10 to 12 tournaments in New South Wales, at which nearly all the leading players will be competing. There is a great number of very good players in Australia, and the average standard of play is very high. This means that to reach the top a player must cultivate a great variety of strokes to combat the different styles of players which he must necessarily be pitted against. In New Zealand the number of good players is comparatively small and they are more or less isolated in the main centres. They get to know one another’s pla-y so well that their style of game is apt to become stereotyped. Considering the conditions under which the average player in New Zealand learns the game, we have no cause to be ashamed of the showing made by the New Zealand players who have been matched against the Australians in the course of their tour through the Dominion. * * » Kalms Has His Revenge Against France Kalms defeated France in three straight sets and was always master of the situation. France played brilliantly at times, but couid not keep up a sustained attack. Although France beat Kalms in the North Island match no impartial critic would maintain that he could repeat the performance except by striking Kalms on an off day. Kalms did not produce the fireworks which he did in Auckland. This was no doubt because the courts at Stanley Street were faster than those in the South, and he revels in the fast going. * • * Angas's Good Display Against Kalms The game between Kalms and Angas provided the most brilliant match of the series. The New Zealand champion won the first set and was somewhat unfortunate not to even at 5 all in the 4th set after being down I—s.1 —5. Angas made a most creditable showing and the opinion held in some quarters that he was lucky to win the New Zealand title would appear to be quite unjustified.

Sprouie’s Decisive Wins Sproule Avon his matches against France and Angas without the loss of a set. Angas never had a chance against the macliine-like consistency and uncanny accuracy of his opponent. Angas was reported t-o be off his game. Sproule’s style of play has the effect of forcing his opponent into errors and this is apt to give onlookers the impression that the errors are due to bad play. The truth of the matter is that he has such variety and control that he is able to put the other man off his game. In other words, he wins by good shots and not, as is often reported, by the unaccountable lapses of his opponent. France endeavoured to beat Sproule by forcing the pace and rushing the net. Every time he went in on a shot other than one with pace and perfect length lie was invariably beaten by a low drive down the line or across

court. France made the mistake timeafter time of attempting to go in and volley on a slow break service. This was bad tactics, and almost amounted to giving points to Sproule. Donohoe’s Improved Form Donohoo showed a great improvement in the form he displayed in the North. It is not generally known that he frequently beats Kalms and Sproule in practise and has beaten both these players in matches on the other side. He gave a very impressive display in all his matches in the test, especially in his match against Wilson and in both doubles matches. Fie varied his gam© very cleverly against Wilson and never gave him a chance to strike his game. Bartleet Unlucky Against Donohoe Bartleet was competely out of touch in the first two sets against Donohoe and it was not until he was down I—3 in the third set that he commenced to strike form. He won the third and fourth sets after some very exciting rallies and had two match points when leading 7 —6 in the fifth set. One of these points he lost after a very long rally, a smash by Dono hue off a lob which fell on the back line, hitting below the tape and just falling over Bartleet’s side of the net This long live-set match; which was played without any spell, followed immediately by a long set doubles match which finished in the dark, told its tale on Bartleet. He was a tired man on the second day and after another gruelling match with Teague was a very unfit man for the final doubles match against Kalms and Teague. Wilson Erratic Wilson played well against Teague and won in three straight sets. Against Donohoe he played wildly and never looked like striking form. In the doubles matches he was brilliant at times, even more so than any of the Australians. At other times, however, lie would break down on the easiest of shots. He takes the ball off the ground very early and this no doubt accounts for many of his errors, which are mainly caused by bad timing. * * * “A” Grade Inter-Club Final The final between Eden and Epsom and Remuera will be played on Saturday next. Provided both clubs have their strongest team available, a very even contest should result. The Remuera women will meet much stronger opposition than they did against University. The Remuera men will have to improve on their form against University, otherwise their club will have little chance of wresting the pennant from the Eden and Epsom Club.