TABLE TENNIS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23556, 20 July 1938, Page 12

TABLE TENNIS

VISIT OF HUNGARIANS A BRILLIANT EXHIBITION OTAGO PLAYERS EASILY DEFEATED Table tennis of a class not before seen in Dunedin was witnessed in the Town Hall last night when the visiting Hungarian players. G. V, Barna and L. Beliak, rated as world champions, gave a brilliant exhibition of the game before a crowd of 1350 people, a record so far for the tour. Against the local players the Hungarians were never extended and won their Singles and Doubles very easily. The highlight of the evening was, of course, the Exhibition Singles of five sets between the two champions, and the display given by both men was a brilliant one. Sparkling rallies, drives of terrific speed and delicate chop shots kept the large crowd continually applauding, and it was not slow to appreciate the wonderful recoveries made by the players. Barna proved that he is the superior in singles play, but Beliak’s exhibition only suffered by reason of the superlative game of a man who has held the world’s Singles championship on five occasions. Besides being outstanding players, Barna and Beliak showed that they did not lack a spirit of fun, and before their singles they gave an exhibition of trick play that greatly entertained the crowd. They hit balls from round their backs, blew them across the table, played with the edge of the bat, and finally had a few short rallies with first two and then three balls in play at once.

The Otago players who were matched against the champions were, with one or two exceptions, all very young, and in the circumstances they put up creditable performances. Obviously suffering from nervousness, the majority of them did not produce the highest standard of which they are capable, but in almost every instance they settled down after the first set, and provided better opposition in the final stages of their games. This was particularly noticeable in the match in which Barna defeated R. A. Algie, the Otago champion, 21—6, 21—10. In the second set, the local player, who is only 17 years of age, rose to great heights, and on several occasions actually matched his formidable opponent in sparkling and fierce driving rallies. Apart from the Exhibition Singles, this was the best match of the evening. A veteran of the game, J. H Don Miller, who has held the Otago Singles title four times, although defeated by Barna in straight sets, recorded the greatest number of individual points scored against the visitors, going down 15—21, 16—21, The ex-Otago champion, who, incidentally, plays with one hand in his pocket, gave a careful rather than a forceful exhibition, arid made fewer mistakes than any of the other local players. Barna also defeated M. Friend, another young player, who hit hard, although he lacked accuracy, the final score being 21—7, 21—7. Beliak also played three Singles matches, and in none of them was he seriously extended. He beat G. Laidlaw, 1937 South Island champion, 21— 15, 21—10, in a game in which there was some table tennis of a high standard. He also beat A. Algie 21—6, 21— 10, and L. C. Brown 21—5, 21—17, the second set in the latter match being a good one. In the two Doubles matches In which the Hungarians appeared, they showed much better combination than their opponents, their positional play, covering up, and speedy footwork being a revelation. Both the local pairs were outclassed in all departments, and the majority of the points they won came from their opponents’ errors. In the first Doubles match. L. J, Ramsay and J. Foster collected only 12 points in the two sets and N. M. Brown and D. H. Smyth gained only 11. In an exhibition Doubles L. C. Brown and E. C. Stanton defeated G. and C. Claridge in straight sets, and Miss M. Bennett (Otago women's chainpion) played two sets against Miss M. Foster, each girl winning one set. Before the matches the visitors were introduced by the Mayor _ (Mr A. H. Allen), who extended a brief welcome to them. Exhibition Singles The Singles match between Barna and Beliak provided all the thrills of the evening. Against sterner opposition than they had encountered in the Otago men, both players gave dazzling displays. The four sets were played at terrific speed, and the manner in which they picked up the ball sometimes almost off the floor and countered fast drives with even faster returns was littlet short of incredible. Nimble footwork, a quick eye, and plenty of stamina were required for the class of table tennis produced, and the visitors possessed all these attributes. Each man l could stand back several yards from the table, return a terrific drive, and be up at the net to play a shot just over the net without any apparent effort, and although fast moving was necessary, both Barna and Beliak covered the table so well and anticipated returns so brilliantly that they did not appear to hurry in the slightest. Barna is the better singles player of the two, and the score of 22—20, 21—16, 15—21, 21—16 in his favour would seem to be a true indication of the difference between the two men. He is the possessor of a brilliant and generally uritakeable back-hand flick, which, directed to any part of the table, gained terrific speed. He scored many winners with this stroke, which he often angled very sharply, arid he favoured his backhand throughout the evening. He is, however, capable of every other shot in the “ compleat table tennis player’s repertoire, and he varied his play judiciously. Beliak’s game was only slightly inferior. He stood up to Barna’s terrific backhand drives with confidence, and only occasionally was caught napping. He had a keen sense of anticipation. and his defensive play was outstanding, while he. too. could produce a formidable drive when the occasion demanded Results The results were as follows: — Barna beat M. Friend 227,1 —7, 21—7. Beliak beat G. Laidlaw 21—15, 21—10. Barna beat J H. Don Miller 21 —15. Beliak beat A. Algie 21—6, 21—10. Barna beat R. Algie 21—6. 21—10. Beliak beat L, C. Brown 21—5. 21— 17. Barna beat Beliak 22—10. 21—16, 15—21. 21—16 , r „ „ Barna and Beliak beat L. J. Ramsay and J Foster 21—8. 21—4 Barna and Beliak beat N. M. Brown and D, H. Smyth 21—5. 21—6. L. C. Brown and E. C. Stanton beat G. and C. Claridge 21—15, 21—10. Miss M. Bennett played Miss M. Fogarty 21 —16. 15—21.