University in national table tennis final

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33241, 2 June 1973, Page 16

University in national table tennis final

University qualified for the final of the New Zealand club teams table tennis championship when it beat Selw'yn, 8-3, in the South Island play-off last evening.

A play-off was necessary after the two clubs had finished level —both losing one fixture —in the South Island tournament last month.

Although the final score might suggest a one-sided contest, it was far from that, and playreached the quality expected in a national teams’ championship final. Yet only four spectators saw the absorbing struggle. University entered the match holding the whip hand. It had met Selwyn in a play off to decide the summer inter-dub title and had scored a convldng victory on that occasion. However, the students received an early set-back last evening when W. T. Scott easily accounted for Wong Chee Kong and V. N. Brightwell beat the New Zealand No. 8 seed, Loke Sim Wong. Brightwell, the national veteran singles champion, was as agile as the best of juniors; he positioned himself well for forcing shots on the backhand and forehand and. after trailing. 17-20, in the second set, regained the initiative to win. 23-21, and the match in straight sets. University levelled the scores when Yee Chow Boi used his spin serve to good effect against H. P. Holt, and Loke and Wong

.Chee Kong won the first doubles after the Selwyn pair, Brightwell [and Holt, had sacrificed a golden opportunity to win in straight games.

Holt kept Selwyn in the running with a deserved victory against Wong, but Yee, assisted by three fortuitous net bounces, and Loke both won their seei ond singles. I Selwyn had to win the second [doubles to retain any hope of success, but Brightwell and Scott, after establishing handy leads in both sets, succumbed to the relentless attacking play of Loke and Yee. The three University players won their final round of singles, but the contest by then had lost most of its impact. Perhaps the most significant point was the precision of Loke s game, and it is unfortunate for Canterbury that this accomplished plsyer will not be available for the representative team this year. Selwyn 3, University t V. N. Brightwell lost to Wong Chee Kong, 19-21, 15-21; lost to Yee Chow Boi, 19-21, 21-23; beat Loke Sim Wong, 21-18. 23-21. W. T. Scott beat Wong, 21-10, 21-15; lost to Yee, 10-21. 21-14, 21-23; lost to Loke, 14-21. 12-21. H. P. Holt beat Wong, 21-19, 21-17; lost to Yee. 18-21, la-21; lost to Loko, 16-21, 18-21. Brightwell and Holt lost to Loke and Wong. 19-21, 21-13, ! 17-21; Brightwell and Scott lost to Loke and Yee, 18-21, 14-21