Close scoring in club table tennis

Press, 26 April 1983, Page 35

Close scoring in club table tennis

The most remarkable aspect of the opening round of play in the A grade club table tennis competition last Wednesday evening was, with one exception, the close scoring recorded. Three of the four contests were decided on a countback of games, and even that did not separate Lansdowne and Riccarton I, which finished on 14 games each.

Predictably the only team to record a convincing victory was the defending champions, Avonside I. It easily overcame Riccarton 11, 10-2. Riccarton fielded a young side, with Mark and Steven Lockhart making their winter A grade debuts.

With the final doubles match remaining, Riccarton I trailed Landsdowne, 6-5, and 13-12 on games. However, the wily John Armstrong combined with the top-scoring A reserve grade player, Nigel Maynard, to beat Pam Shadbolt and Tony Sargent in three games to pick up a point. Avonside II had no such problem. It was already assured of the win before the final contest, as it led, 65, and an uncatchable, 16 games to 14. All three players won two singles matches each.

Avonside 111 provided perhaps the upset of the round with a win over Linwood, 16 games to 13. This was in spite of losing the first two doubles matches. The only player to record three singles wins was Michael Hamel, who beat John Richards, the province’s top-ranked player last year, in three games.

Linwood could have picked up a point had Steven Dixon and Steven Adamson beaten Richards and Martin Kelly in straight games in the last doubles contest. However, once the Avonside pair had won the opening game, 21-13, Linwood was beaten.

Points: Avonside I, Avonside 111, Avonside II 2, Lansdowne, Riccarton I 1, Riccarton 11, Linwood, Dallington 0. Avonside I 10, Riccarton, II 2

Singles.— H. Thompson lost to P. de Boer, 12-2, 14-21; beat M. Lockhart, 21-17, 21-16; beat S. Lockhart, 21-17, 21,11: M. P.

Burrowes beat M. Lockhart, 21-11, 21-16; beat de Boer. 2114, 4-21, 21-19; beat S. Lockhart, 21-14, 21-12. M. S. Burrowes beat S. Lockhart, 21-16, 21-16, 21-10; beat de Boer, 2117, 21-9; beat M. Lockhart, 2110, 21-11. Doubles.— M. P. Burrowes and Thompson lost to de Boer and S. Lockhart, 12-21, 21-19, 15-21; S. S. Burrowes and Thompson beat M. and S. Lockhart, 21-10, 21-18; M. P. and M. S. Burrowes beat de Boer and M. Lockhart, 21-13, 21-16.

Avonside 111 16 games, Linwood 13 games

Singles.— J. Richards lost to M. Hamel, 21-11, 15-21, 13-21; beat S. Dixon, 21-13, 31-29; beat S. Adamson, 21-5, 21-9. M. Kelly beat Adamson, 21-14, 2117; lost to Hamel, 21-18, 9-21, 17-21; beat Dixon, 21-19, 21-11. T. Hanrahan lost to Dixon, 1221, 20-22; beat Adamson, 21-13, 21-17; lost to Hamel, 6-21, 1521.

Doubles.— Kelly and Hanrahan lost to Dixon and Hamel 21-15, 19-21, 18-21; Richards and Hanrahan lost to Adamson and Hamel, 22-20, 12-21, 17-21; Richards and Kelly beat Adamson and Dixon, 21-13, 2527, 21-11.

Landsdowne 14 games, Riccarton I 14 games Singles.— M. Prisk beat N. Maynard, 21-14, 21-8; lost to J. Armstrong, 17-21,19-21; beat A. Albaster, 21-14, 19-21, 21-17. T. Sargent beat Alabaster, 14-21, 26-24, 21-17; lost to Maynard, 14-21, 17-21; lost to Armstrong, 18-21, 14-21. Miss P. Shadbolt lost to Armstrong, 21-18, 9-21, 16-21; lost to Alabaster, 13-21, 14-21; beat Maynard, 21-9, 2118.

Doubles.— Prisk and Miss Shadbolt beat Maynard and Alabaster, 22-20, 21-13; Sargent and Prisk beat Armstrong and Alabaster, .21-12, 21-19; Miss Shadbolt and Sargent lost to Armstrong and Maynard, 21-16, 13-21, 16-21.

Avonside II 16 games, Dalling-

ton 14 games Singles.— L. Stewart lost to Mahmud, 17-21, 18-21; beat D. Kalin, 18-21, 21-151, 21-18; beat R. Jonenburger, 21-18, 21-10. M. Warren beat Jonenburger, 2118, 21-8; beat Mahmud, 21-18, 21-16; lost to Kalin, 11-21, 21-16, 15-21. B. Wilson lost to Kalin, 14-21, 23-21, 15-21; beat Jonenburger, 25-27, 21-18, 21-11; beat Mahmud, 12-21, 21-19, 21-18. Doubles.— Warren and Wilson lost to Kalina and Mahmud, 18-21, 21-14, 16-21; Stewart and Wilson beat Jonenburger and Mahmud, 21-19, 2117; Stewart and Warren lost to Jonenburger and Kalin, 14-21, 19-21.