TABLE TENNIS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 303, 18 September 1936, Page 3

TABLE TENNIS

Wellington Club Wins Senior Championship In the final of the A grade inter-club table tennis competition between Wellington and Economic, both teams were at full strength, and, as a result,, there were some spectacular and exciting games. The teams were:— Wellington: Boniface, Kennedy, Congreve and Hayvice. Economic: Burke, Roberts, Dennis and Burnette. Wellington took the lead after the first few games, and from then on were never headed, running out winners by 13 games to seven. They thus won the senior championship for the second year in succession. emulating the feat of the Government Life team, which won the senior championship in 1933 and 1934. Boniface and Hayvice. two members of the 1935 winning team, were particularly congratulated. One of the best games of the evening was between Boniface and Burke, the present Wellington champion and Auckland c'hampion in 1934 and 1935. Burke plays a consistent attacking game, combined with a sound defence, while Boniface, against this type of player, is content to chop defensively until a high ball offers itself on his forehand, when his best shot, a strong forehand drive, is used, more often than not aceing his opponent. The game consisted, as expected, of hard hits by Burke, chopped back by Boniface. The latter was more consistent than his opponent, and ran out a fairly comfortable winner. The surprise of the night was provided by Hayvice in his game against Burke, a very keenly contested game being won by Burke, 32-30. Boniface was the most successful player, winning four singles and one double. Burke having the next best performance, winning three singles and two doubles. Auckland Representative Match. The match of the season as far as Wellington players are concerned is to be played next Monday, when Auckland meet Wellington in St. Paul's schoolroom, Sydney Street. Three matches have been played, Auckland having two wins to their credit, and Wellington one win. Naturally the Wellington players aie out to win this year’s match and thus square the series. Each team will consist of six men and two women. The selection of the Wellington team is sure to contain some surprises, aud there are about twelve players all considered worthy of a place. A good line on the men’s team can be gained by the New Zealand championship draw, just published, which contains four seeded players from Wellington and four from Auckland. Tne Wellington players are Burke, Boniface, Bell and Hayvice, and these seem fairly sure to be selected. For the remaining two places the following are given consideration: Longmore, Kennedy, Pyle, Osbaldiston, Hughes, McFarlane, and Roberts. Among the women the likeliest appear to Tie Misses Strang, Tustin, Walsh. Sturrock and Williams. From reports received the standard of play in Auckland has improved considerably. and several new names figure among the selected. Two of these, Boyes and Cantlay. are stated to be spectacular players. aid with the presence of Cheal and Paton, the present national champion. Auckland will be fielding a very strong teams