TABLE TENNIS

Evening Star, Issue 22687, 29 June 1937, Page 11

TABLE TENNIS

OTAGO V. SOUTHLAND The first interproviuoial match for tho season was played between Otago and Southland at tho Y.M.C.A. on Saturday before an attendance of over 100. In the men’s section, of the 58 games played only two were won by Southland, and the Southland ladies won four games out of 63 played. Despite the big difference in the scores it was no indication that Otago won easily, as there were several hard games, often tho local players winning by only two points. The Otago team comprised Miller, G. Claridge, Pollock, Laidlaw, Brown, and Stanton; Misses Bennett, Lock, M. Fogarty, Anderson, Davis, and M. Guy. Southland was represented by Robson, Louden, Smith, Brew, Bray, Breen, and Collis; Mesdames Croad, Robson, Tomlinson, Misses Gerkm, Bickley, Shand, and Mehaffey. In justice to the Southland players a condition that affected materially the result of th© match was that they were playing for the first time with the New Villa ball. This ball had been selected as the official championship ball for New Zealand. It is a lighter ball than the one used previously and allows exploiters of top and under-spin to make pace of the ball extremely variable. The local players have latelv practised incessantly tho open style of tennis play and it was this style that the visitors found difficult to face. The Southland side had a strong average combination and the- experience gained of the new ball and style should improve its play materially, and when the return match as played at Invercargill in August a totally different result may be expected. Robson, the leading Southland player and president of the Southland Association, in particular found the new ball difficult to handle owing to his style of.play. The Invercargill ladies showed great promise, and although beaten there was much evidence of championship fo™On© player for Southland .who shoulci be mentioned as showing distinct uromiso is Collis. For an Invercargill B grade player ho showed great consistency in defence and ability to return many difficult balls. NOTES AND COMMENTS. The present placings on the association singles ladder are:—Miller, ntanton, G. Claridge, Redoes:, Hall, Brown, Harrop, Barclay, Claridge, Everson, C. Claridge, M'Kenzie. The doubles placings are C. and G. Claridge, iVlartindale and. Co.Oj otanton and Brown, Harrop and Barclay, Laidlaw and Pollock, Everson and Claridge, Smyth and Hart, Dobson and Hall. ° . . The positions of teams in the association’s competitions are: — _ A Grade.—Dunedin and Y.M.D. 7 points, Mayfair 5. Y.M.C.A. and St. Glair 4, Friends 3, Pioneer 2, Paramount 0. . B Grade.—Bennett’s 8 points, Dunedin 7. St. Patrick’s and P. and T. 6, St. Clair 5. Locomotive and Boys Division 4, South End I. 3, Ultimate 2 Pioneer and Paramount 1, South End 11. 0. South End I. has yet Uf play Ultimate. C Grade.—Bennett’s and Residents 7 points, Zenith 6, St. Patrick’s I. 5. Averant 4, Chevrolet I. and St. Patrick’s 11. 3. P. and T.. Dunedin, and Fire Brigade 2. South End I. and Chevrolet 11. 0. Ladies’ Grade.—D.S.A. I. 9-points, Paramount I. and Pioneer 7, Red Tri-

angle 6, St, Patrick’s I. 6, Paramount 11. 4, D.S.A. 11. and Dunediu 2, Challenge 1, St. Patrick’s 11. 0. Pioneer has yet to play Paramount 11. The first night of the second round in the A grade disclosed one siirprise. Friends defeating Y.M.C.A., 17-15. Y.M.D. had a narrow win over St. Clair (17-15) in a hard match throughout. The result could easily have been the other way. The games were 14 all when the critical game between Barclay and Robertson was playedl and proved to bo the highlight of the evening, Barclay eventually winning 33-31. Outstanding for Y.M.D. were Barclay, Paape, and Everson, while Ramsay and Algie were on form for St. Clair to win five games each. In the FriendsY.M.C A. match the losers were again forced to play a substitute who won no games. Miller won seven games, losing one to a colt in M. Friend 29-27, Mayfair went down to Dunedin, 10-22. The long chop defence of Brown and l Stanton and the short half-volley tactics of Hall and Symth proved too solid for Mayfair’s attacking players. A fine exhibition of the game was shown when Brown played Laidlaw, each player often defending 10ft to 15ft behind the table. Pioneer had no difficulty in disposing of Paramount, 24-8. Cole for Pioneer won all his games. In the B grade Bennett’s had a narrow win over St. Patrick’s by 24 points, placing Bennett’s in the lead by one point over Dunedin. Dunedin defeated Paramount 28-4 without any trouble. The C grade results still show Bennett’s and Residents equal for top place, each having wins over Chevrolet I. and Averant respectively, 25-7 and 26-6. The end of the first round of the ladies’ grade shows D.S.A. I. leading with 9 points. The match against Pioneer last week, resulting in a win for D.S.A., really decided the winner for the first round. Miss Lock for D.S.A. won all her games. St. Patrick’s I. had a narrow win over Dunedin 17-15, while the other results showed fairly large differences.