Table tennis hat trick for Armstrong

Press, 8 June 1979, Page 20

Table tennis hat trick for Armstrong

Stuart Armstrong won his; third successive title this j season when he won the) singles competition at the A| grade table tennis club) championships at the Sei-) wyn Street hall on Wednes-) day evening. Armstrong had already won the Easter and MidCanterbury singles titles this season before he met the unbeaten Michael Hamel in the final on Wednesday. In the quarter-finals Armstrong beat Richard Dixon, but Hamel had a difficult task to overcome a determined challenge from Mark Clasper. Hamel dropped the) second game but led, 20-16,) in the third game. Clasper) fought back to trail, 20-19.’ before Hamel won with a) forehand drive. The fourth seed, Simeon) Cairns, was beaten by the I left-handed John Richards ini another quarter-final while) Bill Scott came very close toi

beating Maurice Burrowes, the second seed, in the other quarter-final. Scott led, 1915, in the first game but failed to capitalise on this advantage, Burrowes winning, 24-22. Scott won the second game easily, and could therefore have won in straight games. Burrowes was too strong in the deciding game.

In the semi-finals, Armstrong had no problems in beating Richards while Hamel gave an aggressive display to beat Burrowes. Hamel seldom had to defend, always getting himself into a position from where he could play his shots. In the second game, he led Burrowes, 18-9, his speed ) around the table and quick ) reflexes enabling him to play some superb shots. The ) first game contained very I few long rallies, most ending i within about eight shots.

Armstrong always held a slight edge in the final. Both players are very strong on their forehand side and pro* duced several scintillating shots. But they were also guilty of some needless errors, particularly in the second game. Armstrong led, 15-10, in the second game but Hamel gamely fought back to level at 16-16. He made two errors to let Armstrong get clear again and that ended his chances. Results. — Singles: Quarterfinals: S. Armstrong beat R. Dixon, 21-19, 21-8; J. Richards beat S. Cairns, 21-10, 27-25; M. Hamel beat M. Clasper, 21-17, 1421, 21-19; M. Burrowes beat W. T. Scott, 24-22, 10-21, 21-16. Semifinals: Armstrong beat Richards, 21-7, 21-15; Hamel beat Burrowes, 21-19. 21-13. Final: Armstrong beat Hamel, 21-19, 21-18.

Doubles. —- Semi-finals: Dixon and Hamel beat M. P. Burrowes and M. W. Burrowes, 21-19, 2113; Richards and Clasper beat Cairns and L. Richards, 21-17, 21-16. Final: Dixon and Hamel beat Clasper and Richards, 21-17, 21-16.