Table Tennis Team Blends Experience With Potential

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31322, 18 March 1967, Page 11

Table Tennis Team Blends Experience With Potential

A STRONG team, in which experience and potential •re blended, will represent New Zealand at the world table tennis championships at Stockholm, Sweden, next month.

The players chosen to make the tour are M. L. Dunn (Auckland), A. R. Tomlinson (Auckland), B. A. Foster (Otago), H. J. Waterhouse (Wellington), T. J. O'Carroll, Mrs N. Trail (Northland), Misses C. E. Johnston (Waikato), D. L. Wade (Bay of Plenty), and Y. M. Fogarty (Otago). Dunn will probably be the No. 1 player on tour, especially after his success in beating Tomlinson and Foster in a recent round robin tournament in Dunedin.

Last season Dunn appeared to be past his best: he made many errors, and his game appeared to have slowed. After his defeat by Foster in the final of last year’s singles, Dunn was ranked No. 2 In New Zealand. Previously he had been No. 1 for many years. Dunn, now 31, has built a brilliant record at the national level He has won the New Zealand singles title on four Occasions and many doubles and mixed doubles titles. He represented New Zealand at the world championships of 1954 and 196 L He is known throughout New Zealand for

his outstanding backhand attacking shot; the shot which caused him much anxiety last season. Tomlinson won the New Zealand singles title in 1959 and 1964 and was Player of

the Year in 1959 and 1966. He combined with Foster to beat Australia in a test series last year; a result which caused a great deal of surprise. Tomlinson (33) is a tall, powerful player who has improved his backhand in recent years so that it is now as dangerous as his forehand drive. After performing with credit at the world championships at Peking in 1961, Tomlinson went on a private tour of Europe and won the Scottish singles title. He has represented New Zealand since 1957.

The 1966 singles champion, Foster, is mainly a defensive player with remarkable ball control. At 27 he is at his peak and this world championship should develop his game further.

Waterhouse (20) and O’Carroll (19) are two of New Zealand’s most promising players and they should gain much from this opportunity. At the last n a t i on a 1 championships Waterhouse was the surprise of the tournament when his over-the-table loop driving and aggressive style severely tested the established players. Waterhouse has astonishingly quick reflexes. Mrs Trail has dominated women’s events for the last seven years. She has won seven singles titles and, with Mrs N. Houlihan (Northland) and G. A. J. Frew (Northland), she has won numerous doubles events. Her game is based on an almost infallible defence and crisp attacking play. She represented New Zealand against Japan in 1960

and Australia in 1963 and attended the 1961 world championships.

Miss Johnston Is a tenacious defensive player who has worked very hard to improve her game in recent years. Her points are won by nagging defence. Miss Wade is an aggressive player who is prepared to go for her shots even in the tightest situations. She performed very creditably at last season’s national championships, reaching the semi-finals of the women’s doubles. At 15, Miss Fogarty is the youngest member of the team. She gained tenth place in the national rankings last season. Miss Fogarty is a hard-hitting left-handed player with the modern type of game. She has had to pay her own expenses to travel. At this stage it is difficult to assess New Zealand’s chances of success, but the win over Australia last year makes the team’s prospects very heartening. The three top men players are very experienced and should perform creditably.