TABLE TENNIS

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 13, 15 July 1936, Page 19

TABLE TENNIS

HUTT VALLEY NOTES

REPRESENTATIVE TEAM

(By "Net.")

For the first representative venture outside of Wellington this season, the Hutt Valley Table Tennis Sub-associa-tion's selectors, Messrs. K. Longmore, W. H. Day, and S. J. Smith, have chosen a strong team in E. Hughes. G. Tustin, K. Longmore, and A. T. Wood, and Mrs. M. Brennan, Miss K. Tustin, Miss M. Walsh, and Miss B. Strang. The selection will meet with general approval. Of the men, K. Longmore is the logical choice for captain, for he is a player- whose experience in representative table tennis over a lengthy period will prove invaluable to his team mates in their first representative matches. Apart from his experience, Lon'gmore on form this season is entitled' to play first' in the team, for he has twice beaten Hughes this season, once in the Wellington invitation tournament -and once .. in inter-club matches. Longmore has also recorded victories over Tustin, 31-27, and Wood, 32-30,' in inter-club matches. E. Hughes, who will probably play No. 2, has this season changed over to the termis grip (which is incidentally the grip used by all the male members of the team), and his style is now somewhat similar to that of Longmore; Hughes, although the youngest member of the team, has previously played in representative table tennis, having represented Wellington against Auckland at Auckland last season and having also played for Hutt Valley against Wellington. G. Tustin is well known for his consistent chopping, a style of game with which few players are able to deal effectively. His experience in previous representative games should give him added confidence. .The only surprise of the selection is that of A. T. Wood, who last season played C grade, and whose performances this season have shown great improvement. .Playing -. against St. Ronans for Empire, Wood played mag-nificent-table tennis,, and it was undoubtedly on that display that this promising young stylist: won representative honours. Wood has a really good attack on both forehand and backhand, whilst his defence is mostly confined to chopping. For the doubles it is anticipated that the pairs will be- Longmore and Wood and Tustin and Hughes. Foremost among the lady players is Mrs. M. Brennan, who, despite the fact that she has not revealed the form that last; season rnade her Wellington and Hutt Valley ladies' singles champion, is entitled to be considered No. 1 player.. Mrs; Brennan has probably the best record of any lady player in the Wellington Province, having re-presented-Wellington and Hutt Valley on numerous occasions. Miss K. Tustin on present form is the best lady player participating in the game in Wellington and Hutt Valley, her win over Mrs. Brennan (31-24) in. the Wellington invitation tournament last month being a splendid achievement. "Except from an inclination .to move, across ;the table, Miss Tustin is rarely seen at a disadvantage in countering any style. Miss M. Walsh is a steady player whose best attack is her excellent fast placements from side to side. Miss Walsh previously represented the Hutt Valley, and won the Wellington ladies' | championship.for C, D, and E grade players last season. A promising player, Miss B. Strang was a somewhat surprising selection as the fourth lady player in the Hutt Valley team. Miss Strang is a' forceful type of player whose quick footwork allows her more scope in which to place her drives'. At present she is inclined to overdo her drive, which will have to-be'inore consistent if she! is to improve her standard of play. ST. RONANS v. EMPIRE. The St. Ronans v. Empire A grade match provided a good -test for St. Ronans who were lucky to win as they did. A considerable number of spectators, including the president of the Hutt Valley Table Tennis SuVAssociation, Mr. Marshall, and the association's ; selectors were present at the match. . ■ v. ■ ' Easily the ■ outstanding feature was the display given by A, T--Wood (Empire), who, after having K. Longmore down 29-23 and E. Hughes down 30-24, lost both. matches through lack of experience. '. . Until the final point Wood was always the- winner, and the manner in which ■■ he drove Both forehand and backhand was a revelation. Wood's defence was ■ also cleverly varied, the side Spin -being: imparted very effec-1 tively whilst his chopping and topspinning shots were , consistently troublesome. Although Wood won only one match his magnificent display must.have convinced the selectors, who included him in the representative team before such players as L. Ridler and S. ; Blackie. K. Longmore. (St. Ronans) proved himself a tactician against Halligan, who was completely nonplussed when Longmore used a little top-spin in the concluding stages of their match. E. Hughes appears to be modelling his game on that of Longmore, and was not nearly as impressive as his clubmates. Hughes, however, displayed a clever defence while his control of the ball when mixing his spins was excellent. S. Blackie' (St. Ronans) and J. Wall (Empire) : were two players who did not play up to form, Wall in particular being inaccurate. S. Blackie, although he had previously suffered only one reverse this season, was soundly beaten by Wood and Harding, the former's chopping completely crippling Blackie's attack. Apart from his terrific smashes W. Day has few sound strokes. However, once he has settled ■ down and is successful with his early drives, he can: be a most troublesome opponent. In the third-round fixture between St. Ronans and Waiwhetu, the latter team were considerably strengthened by the inclusion of Roberts, an exAuckland player, who also plays A grade in Wellington for Economic. Roberts gave a very good display in his initial match in the Hutt Valley, registering successes over such proved players as Hughes and Blackie. It was surprising to find one of the Corbelt brothers omitted in favour of McCaskill-in the Waiwhetu team, for on performances both the Corbetts have played consistently well. L. Pyne, of St. James, is at present playing fine table tennis and his victory over Roberts was well deserved L. Ridler had little difficulty in recording four wins against Empire No. 2 for whom Halligan and Wood played. Unlike their previous encounter HalUgan arid Ridler's game lasted only seven minutes. G.'.Tustin (Taita) has.of late played well and his consistent chopping was too much for the opposition he met at St. James. In a C grade match between St. Ronans and Empire, played at St Ronans, Mrs. W. Day had the misfortune to lose three of her singles after the match in each case had gone to deuce, one of the games being finally lost to R. E. Mitchell 46-48. G. Arms o£ the Taita Club, is a player who is improving with every match.