TABLE TENNIS

Southland Times, Issue 22969, 15 August 1936, Page 20

TABLE TENNIS

CHAMPIONSHIP POINTS (By “Ping.”) The table tennis championship tables are as follows:— Women.

Last year's finalists, Lands and Power Board have opened up a big gap in the men's A grade competition and are now equal, six points ahead of the rest of the field. Their meeting on Tuesday next should prove a close and interesting encounter. The B grade competition is in a much more interesting position, five teams being separated by only two points. Although Woolworths at present holds pride of place, its position is not too secure, as several of the teams with six points have played a game fewer. By its win on Thursday night, Star A placed itself in the top position in the women’s competition, but here again the margin between the teams is not great, and changes may occur before the final numbers go up. Southland v. Otago. Arrangements have now been finalized for the return match between Otago and Southland to be played in the club rooms on August 22, at 7.30 p.m. The teams are as follows:— Otago.—Miller, Claridge, Dunbar, Patchett, Strachan and Dawson. Southland.—Robson, Loudon, McBride, Smith, Larsen and Jones with Kenward and Brew as emergencies. The Otago team includes the two top men in the province, Miller and Claridge, while the other four are all graded very highly in Dunedin. On present form the Southland combination is the strongest that could be got together and should uphold the prestige of the province. Each team contains three players who took part in the first match in Dunedin, and three new members. Although Otago has one victory to its credit, there is no reason why Southland should not open its account this time as the players are improving fast and some have already had experience of the northern men’s styles. The Ladders. At its last meeting the association drafted rules for the control of ladder play. These provide that all challenges must be made through the ladder secretary, Mr Croad, and that games must be played within a week. A challenge fee of threepence, payable to the ladder secretary, is to be levied on the challenger. These rules are overdue, and their adoption should straighten out some tangles which have already occurred and prevent any trouble arising in the future. The present position of the ladders is as follows: —

McLean (County A), showed glimpses of his old form when he defeated Brew in the County A-Kelvin A game. The latter seemed to have lost some of the dash which previously characterized his play. Smith and Larsen were off their games on Tuesday and met unexpected defeats. They should have no trouble, however, in being at their best for the representative game. Kenward (Power Board), is perhaps the most improved player in Invercargill this season. His all round play is good and he has a real match-winning serve. Lands A has played one man short in each of its last two games. Although it is strong enough to win with only three men, it is robbing two of the opposing team of its quota of games. Miss Fey Basstian (Rata B) is displaying promising form just now, and should have no difficulty in moving up several places in the ladder. Miss Mae Hartley is also playing very well and should be much nearer the top of the ladder.

P. W. L. Pts. Star A 5 5 - 10 Badminton 5 4 1 8 County 4 2 2 4 Moana B 5 3 2 6 Woolworths 5 3 2 6 Rata B 5 2 3 4 St. Marys 3 1 2 2 Moana A 4 1 3 2 Rata A 4 1 3 2 Star B 3 - 3 - Men’s A Grade. Power Board 5 5 .. 10 Lands 5 5 10 Badminton A 5 2 ■; 4 Kelvin A 5 2 3 4 Alliance A 4 2 2 4 County A 5 2 3 4 Wanderers 5 1 4 2 County B 4 - 4 Men’s B Grade. Woolworths 5 4 1 8 Lands B 4 . I 1 6 Kelvin B 5 3 2 6 Alliance B 4 3 1 6 Moana B 4 3 1 6 Badminton B 5 2 3 4 St. Pauls B 1 1 2 Moana A 4 * 4 St. Pauls A 5 5 — St. Pauls C 1 - 1

Men Women Robson Mrs Ferguson Loudon Miss Croad Smith Mrs Croad Larsen Mrs Colbert Nisbet Miss McDonald Oughton Mrs Robson Brew Miss R. Henry Jones Miss F. Basstian Strang Miss Hartley Ferguson Miss McCurdy Walsh Miss Tansley Henderson Miss Southern