Riccarton’s surprise victory

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33383, 15 November 1973, Page 14

Riccarton’s surprise victory

When the eight teams to play in the summer A grade table tennis competition this season were selected, it was believed that Riccarton II should have been relegated to A reserve in preference to the two teams that were demoted. In the fifth round last evening, Riccarton II dispelled any doubts as to tile grade in which it should be playing by scoring its second success, this time defeating Selwyn, which was lying equal second. R. W. R. Mercer (Riccarton) paved the way for the 7-5 victory' bv concise defence that forced both W. T. Scoft and V. N. Brightwell into errors. Selwyn’s last hope fo gaining the win vanished when the diminutive S. G. Armstror througli good serving and intense concentration, beat M. Coppen in three sets. Mercer and Armstrong had earlier linked well to win a vifal second doubles contest, also in three. Kaiapoi nearly caused another upset when it led Universify, 6-5, before the final doubles. The students, Yee Chow 80l and Miss F. A. Marks, had to win in straight sets for their team to win by the odd set on a count-back. This they did against Kaiapoi’s fop pair, B. Clark and Miss J. G. Morris. Clark and Miss Morris had kept Kaiapoi in the contest by winning two singles each. Riccarton I moved to a foi,rpoint lead in the competition by

overwhelming one of its strongest challengers, Avonside I. C A. S. Waines supported the New Zealand ranked pair, W. D. Adamson and M. W. Burrowes, very ably, and scored three unexpected wins. Good tacfics and consistency enabled him to upset the nationally-ranked junior, G. J. Rhind (Avonside). With Ung Nan Ming playing for Avonside 11, Wallabies never stood a chance, and its soli success was recorded by N. I Radford. Points: Riccarton I 10, Avonside I, Avonside 11, Selwyn, University 6, Riccarton II 4, Wallabies 2, Kaiapoi 0. Selwyn 5, Riccarton II 7 V. N. Brightwell lost fo R. W. R. Mercer, 16-21, 16-21; beat J. Medley, 21-8, 21-16: beat S. G. Armstrong, 21-7, 21-14. W. T. Scotf lost to Mercer, 15-21, 13-21; beat Medley, 21-16, 21-12; beat Armstrong. 21-8, 21-16. M. Coppen losf to Mercer, 17-21, 23-25; lost to Medley, 21-17, 12-21, 18-21; lost to Armstrong, 22-20, 13-21, 18-21. Scoft and Coppen lost to Medley and Armstrong, 12-21. 21-23; Brightwell and Coppen lost to Mercer and Armstrong, 17-21. 21-19, 16-21: Brightwell and Scott beat Mercer and Medley, 21-17, 21-18. Kaiapoi 12 games, Univarsity 13 B. Clark tost to Yee Chow 801, 15-21, 16-21: beat Miss P. A. Marks, 21-10. 21-18; beat Miss B. A. Taylor, 21-18, 21-16. Miss J. G. Morris last to Yee, 17-21, 17-21; beat Miss Marks, 21-8. 21-16; beat Miss Taylor, 21-12, 22-24, 21-17.'

R. Loudon lost to Yee, 14-21, 15-21; lost to Miss Marks, 14-21, 17-21; lost to Miss Taylor, 10-21, 11-21.

Miss Morris and Loudon beat Misses Marks and Taylor, 21-18, 21-13; Clark and Loudon beat Yee and Miss Tavlor, 21-16, 21-16; Clark and Miss Morris lost to Yee and Miss Marks, 19-21, 14-21. Riccarton I 10, Avonside I 2 W. D. Adamson beat G. J. Rhind, 21-18, 16-21, 21-14; beat M. J. Warren, 16-21, 21-14, 21-10; beat K. F. Duffy, 21-9, 21-18. M. W. Burrowes beat Rhind, 21-23, 21-5, 21-17; beat Warren. 23-21, 21- beat Duffy, 22-20, 21-6. C. A. S. Waines beat Rhind, 12-21, 22- 24-22; beat Warren, 21-19, 21-12; beat Duffy, 18-21, 21-18, 21-19. Waines and Burrowes lost to Warren and Duffy, 17-21, 19-21; Adamson and Waines beat Rhind and Duffy, 19-21. 21-18, 21-19; Adamson and Burrowes lost to Rhind and Warren, 10-21, 10-21. Avonside II 11, Wallabies 1 H. H. • Redmond beat R G. Hart, 21-19. 21-16; beat N. B. Radford, 21-9, 21-7: beat C. D Liddell, 21-17, 17-21,' 21-14. Ung Nan Ming beat Hart, 21-11, 21-12; beat Radford, 21-4, 21-8- beat Liddell, 21-12, 21-13. Mrs T. Mav beat Hart. 21-9, 21-14; lost to Radford, 21-17, 15-21, 17-21; beat Liddell, 21-17, 21-8. Ling and Mrs Mav beat Radford and Liddell, 21-12, 17-21, 21-18. Redmond and Mrs May beat Hart and Liddell, 21-19, 21-16; Redmond and Ling beat Hart and Radford, 21-10, 21-17.