N.Z. junior table tennis teams final

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32678, 6 August 1971, Page 20

N.Z. junior table tennis teams final

The Canterbury junior boys’ and girts table tennis teams will represent the South Island in the national championship final at Petone tomorrow.

Although neither team had any difficulty in qualifying as the South Island finalist, the standard of junior play is on a much higher plane in the North Island, and the clashes with the northern provinces will give a true picture' of Canterbury’s strength. Last year, the Canterbury girls’ team won the New Zealand title for the first time, but its chances of repeating this success, particularly against the strong Auckland side, are regarded by the Canterbury director of coaching (Mr T. R. D. Flint), as a little below 50 per cent

The girls’ team of Misses B. A Taylor, P. A Marks and j. Morris, is the same side that was successful last year. Al three attended this year’s national coaching school for girls, Miss Taylor finishing second, and Miss Marks fourth in the round-robin tournament among the 12 girls. Thia season. Miss Taylor has lost two out of three encounters with the top Auckland girl. Miss A D. Stonestreet, who is ranked second on the national ladder. Auck-

land’s second player, Miss C. Hutton, eliminated the top New Zealand girl. Miss K. Fraser (Central Waikato), in the semi-finals of the North Island under-18 championships, before losing to Miss Stonestreet in the final. If Canterbury is to retain the girls’ championship, it will probably have to win the three singles against Auckland’s third player, and both doubles matches.

Bovs* orosiMCts Led by the Canterbuiy senior representative, M. W. Burrowes, the boys’ team could well improve on its third placing in last year’s contest. Burrowes will be supported by a member of last year’s team, G. J. Rhind, and the much-improved W. Adamson. AU three play a similar jttacking style of game that could prove valuable in doubles matches. However, Hamilton, with the New Zealand senior representattre. R. E. Lee, and an outstanding Junior, B. M. Attwood, in ita team, seems assured of maintaining its supremacy in New Zealand junior boys events.

Short of best Watallan is eight, and racing at a distance short of his best But he has retained the ability to sprint well fresh, and cut some form horses down to size when he started another campaign over six furlongs and a half at the South Canterbury Winter meeting. The Otaki-trained His Ayr, and the Levin-trained Origin will be two more form runners for the north, and Awapuni’s Ayub Khan, which will be one of the smallest horses in the field, might well improve on anything he has shown in lead-up races now