Another table tennis 2nd?

Press, 4 August 1976, Page 40

Another table tennis 2nd?

By

BOB SCHUMACHER

If the pattern, which has developed in recent years involving the Canterbury junior boys’ table tennis team is repeated in the national final at Petone on Saturday, the province will have to be content with second placing. Canterbury won the title in 1971, was runner-up the next year, regained the title in 1973, finished second in 1974 and was again successful last year. The task facing Canterbury on Saturday is a formidable one, but the team proved against Otago when winning the South Island final that it has the ability to rise to the occasion.

Only one change has been made in the team. Stuart Armstrong, Richard Dixon and Michael Hamel give Canterbury an experienced nucleus, and the improving Riccarton junior, Guy Halliburton, has gained the fourth position ahead of Stephen Adamson.

Armstrong, the country’s third-ranked junior, will be making his third appearance in the final. He has been inconsistent during the season, but has shown a pleasing return to form in the last fortnight.

Dixon came into the team for the first time last year, but did not nlay when Canterbury beat Wellington in the

final. The fourth-ranked Canterbury junior had his most important success 11 days ago when he won the South Island under 18 singles. The 16-year-old Hamel has had an outstanding record in tournaments. A strong attacker on the forehand, Hamel beat Dixon in the final of the Canterbury under 18 championship and won the Otago under 21 and under 18 titles. Halliburton is ranked seventh — two places behind Adamson — in the provincial junior seedings. But he has improved immeasurably in recent weeks; he had wins over Hamel and Dixon in the A grade inter-club and was runner-up to Dixon for the South Island under 18 title. Auckland and Wellington will both present strong challenges. Auckland has Roger Catton, a former North Island junior champion, and David Jackson, who has had a great run of success in northern tournaments.

Marlborough, which won the title for the first time last year, should give the South Island another success in the girls’ championship. The second and seventh ranked New Zealand juniors, Debbie Looms and Stephanie Bing, are gifted players, and the third member, Mary-Jane Gardiner, attended the national coaching school this year.