TABLE TENNIS TEST

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23558, 22 July 1938, Page 14

TABLE TENNIS TEST

NEW ZEALANDERS OUTCLASSED HUNGARIANS EXERCISE RESTRAINT (Per United Press Association) WELLINGTON, July 21. A large crowd in the Wellington Town Hall to-night saw the visiting Hungarians, Messrs V. Barna and L. Beliak, defeat New Zealand in the first table tennis test by 6 rubbers to nil. New Zealand was represented by K. Cantlay (Auckland), the New Zealand champion, and E. Boniface (Wellington), runner-up in the Singles, and by Cantlay and H, Boyes (Auckland) and Boniface and M Gosling (Wellington) in the Doubles. That the Hungarians, who are world champions, would win all their matches in a decisive fashion, as they have done everywhere throughout New Zealand, was generally expected. The main question was how New Zealand would fare against them. It can be said in the New Zealanders’ favour without in any way detracting from the merit of their performances, that they did as well as they were allowed to do. What Barna and Beliak could have done with them had they chosen to extend themselves was seen when the pair met in an exhibition Singles. They played a game so fast, introduced such a variety of strokes, displayed such sudden changes of length, pace, and spin and were so marvellous in defence that one could not do otherwise than conclude that against the New Zealanders they played with very great restraint. This was plainly seen when in each of the two games Cantlay was within a point of a win and with several points in hand in each of them against Beliak. Introducing a spin thai nonplussed Cantlay and making no mistakes Beliak won both of them In that match the umpire “ dropped ” one game, so that Beliak won four straight games instead of three Results (Hungarian players first):V. Barna beat K Cantlay 21—9. 21—12 21—12: V Barna beat E. Boniface 21—8 21— 21—10- L Beliak beat E Boniface 21—12 21-15 21—12: L Beliak beat K Cantlay 21-15. 21—17 23—2) 22 Barna and Beliak beat Cantlai and Bov?s 21—14. 21—12 21—9; Barna and Beliak beat Boniface and Gosling 21—8 21—14. 21—13; Mrs D. Sutherland beat Miss L. Shirrock 31 —27; V Barna beat L Beliak 21 —19 17—21 21—12. 21—11.