Waited 21 years to score victory

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32849, 24 February 1972, Page 14

Waited 21 years to score victory

Twenty-one years is a long time to Walt for a victory, so it was understandable the elation of the Dalllngton veteran, R. G. Hart when he beat the thirdranked Canterbury player, J. Armstrong (Rlccarton I), after a marathon three-set match In the eleventh round of the A grade table tennis competition last evening. Hart's win—his first over Armstrong—also brought to an end the remarkable record that Armstrong had compiled in singles Batches this season; he had won s previous 32. Leading 10-6 when they changed ends In the third set, Hart's concentraUon never lapsed, not even during one rally where the ball crossed the net an incredible 233 times before a point was won. It was Armstrong who, surprisingly, made the errors which enabled hts opponent to gain an easy 21-11 win. Steadiness has been the key to Dalllngton’s success this season and this factor was again evident in the side’s convincing 9-3 victory against the secondplaced Rlccarton 11. Competition honours now seem certain to go to Avonslde II Which encountered spirited opposition from the bottom team, Rlccarton I. Avonslde won on a count-back of games. Avonslde 111 moved Into second equal place after disposing Of Selwyn 8-4. For the winner, G. J. Rhind and Mrs T. May both played to their best form. Avonslde I moved off the bottom of the table by thrashing a disappointing Linwood team, 8-4. Points.—Avonslde n 18, AvonSide 111, Rlccarton H 14, Dalllngton li, Linwood, Selwyn 10, Avonslde I 8, Rlccarton I 4. Avonslde 111 I, selwyn 4 G. J. Rhind beat W. T. Scott, 21-16, 24-22; beat R. W. McLachlan, 19-21, 21-3, 21-12; beat G. W. Makinson, 21-16. 21-15. A. G. Renwick lost to Scott, 19-21, 13-21; lost to McLachlan, 22-24, 15-21; beat Makinson, 21-16, 18-21, 21-18. Mrs T. May lost to Scott, 21-19, 18-21, 8-21: beat McLachlan, 12-21, 21-11, 23-21; beat Makinson,. 21-10, 21-18. . . . Renwick and Mrs May beat McLachlan and Makinson, 21-16, 18-21, 21-9; Rhind and Mrs May lost to Scott and Makinson, 18-21, 28-25; Rhind and Renwick beat Scott and McLachlan, 21-19, 18-21, 28-21. Oalllnfton 9, Rlccarton II 3. D. 3. Kalin beat F. H Sargent, 17-21, 11-10, 22-20; beat Miss P. A. Marks, 21-10. 21-15; lost to J. Armstrong, 18-21. 18-21. L. Wilson beat Sargent, 21-18, 25-23; beat Miss Marks, 21-17. 21-13; lost to Armstrong, 21-17, 14-21, 12-21. R. G. Hart beat Sargent, 21-10, 21-9; beat Miss Marks. 21-18, 21-13; beat Armstrong. 21-19, 11-21, 21-11. Wilson and Hart beat Miss Marks and Armstrong, 22-20, 21-15. Kalin and Hart lost to Sargent and Armstrong. 18-21. 21-18, 11-21; Kalin and Wilson beat Sargent and Miss Marks, 14-21, 21-16, 21-17. Avonslde II 18 games, Rlccarton I 14. M. W. Burrowes beat C. A.

Waines, 21-10, 21-11; beat C. J. Tipper. 21-17, 18-21, 21-17; beat W. Adamson, 21-16, 20-22, 21-19. J. W. Yates beat Waines, 21-19, 23-21; lost to Tipper, 15-21, 21-15. 14-21; lost to Adamson, 17-21. 21-19, 15-21. 11. H. Redmond lost to Waines. 21-13, 18-21, 9-21; beat Tipper, 21-17, 8-21, 21-18; lost to Adamson. 17-21, 21-19, 19-21 Yates and Redmond beat TlpJer and Adamson, 21-13, 16-21, 1-14; Burrowes and Redmond lost to Waines and Tipper, 23-21, 11-21, 20-22; Burrowes and Yates lost to Waines and Adamson, 16-21, 21-17, 18-21;

Avonslde I 8, Linwood 4. L. A. Stewart beat Bliss B. A. Taylor, 21-19, 18-21. 21-17; beat P. Baken, 21-19, 21-17; beat L. VaUance, 21-19, 21-16. G. Haszard beat Miss Taylor, 19-21, 21-17, 21-13; beat Baken. 21-18, 21-11; beat VaUance, 21-17, 5-21, 21-12. G. W. Ripley boat Miss Taylor, 21-15, 21-19; beat Baken, 21-17, 21-19; lost to VaUance, 15-21, 21-16, 16-21. Haszard and Ripley lost to Baken and VaUance, 16-21, 19-21; Stewart and Ripley lost to Miss Taylor and VaUance. 11-21. 18-21; Stewart and Haszard lost to Miss Taylor and Baken. 23-25. 22-20, 29-31.