SOUTHLAND’S TABLE TENNIS TOURNAMENT IN REVIEW

Southland Times, Issue 23610, 10 September 1938, Page 15

SOUTHLAND’S TABLE TENNIS TOURNAMENT IN REVIEW

By

SPIN

The last two nights of the Southland Table Tennis Association’s annual championships provided some excellent games and the spectators were shown that table tennis is not merely a game of patting the ball to and fro across the table but that it is a scientific sport. Play throughout was of a high standard and with a little more improvement the standard in this centre should be equal to that in most of the centres in New Zealand.

The honours of the tournament go to Morris Friend, the 14-year-old Dunedin boy who not only won the Southland singles championship, but, with Robson, was successful in winning the doubles championship also. In the men’s singles final Friend did very well to beat R. A. Algie, holder of the title, after three very interesting games. This win was the more meritorious as Algie had, off the same mark, beat Friend comfortably in the handicap singles the previous night. Friend’s driving throughout was consistent and this stroke gave him many outright winners. His service was also very troublesome especially to some of the local players who had not met such-, a service before. In the men’s doubles Robson and Friend combined well together, particularly when it is considered that they had not previously played with each other but probably the reason was that both are “pen holders.” Robson and Loudon were to have played together but unfortunately Loudon had the misfortune to sprain his ankle the day before the championships and had to withdraw. Robson and Friend won from. Algie and Foster in straight sets. The’ match, however, was a close one although little combined play was seen. Friend’s driving was not so consistent in this match but with Robson content to place his shots, Friend was able to drive many of the returns for winners. A. R. Algie and Pollock gave Robson and Friend a good game in the semifinals and they were rather unfortunate in not taking one game when in a leading position.

In the men’s singles the greatest surprise -was the defeat of Howe by A. R. Algie in the quarter finals. Howe was given a great chance to win the title but Algie was too consistent for him. Howe has the ability but is too inclined to be

careless with his shots and loses many points through his carelessness. One of the best singles matches was that between Pollock and R. A. Algie and the latter just got home after a very interesting three set match. Mrs Croad won the women’s singles title as expected without much difficulty and she should have a good chance in the Otago championships next week. Miss K. Coughlan, the holder, played well although Mrs Robson and Miss Dixon extended her. The women’s doubles went to that very promising pair Miss T. Ferns and Miss N. Dixon who beat Mrs Croad and Mrs Colbert in straight games in the final. This match proved very interesting and was a victory for the tennis grip against the pen holder. Miss Dixon’s cut drive won many points and these shots when returned gave Miss Ferns the opportunity of driving many winners. Mrs Colbert was the weak link for the run-ners-up, losing many easy shots from her opponents. Mrs Colbert’s style could be improved and she would be wise to change over to the tennis style for the coming season. It is pleasing to see the Star Club with its own colours and the monogram chosen is very suitable. It would be very pleasing to see other clubs adopting their own colours. The. success of the Star Club during the past season has been through the closest attention to practice and other clubs would be wise to follow the lead. During this coming week-end a match'will be played between Star and St. Clair, these clubs being the winners of the men’s A grade in Invercargill and Dimedin respectively. The following players are travelling to Dunedin to take part in the Otago championships and all followers of the game here will wish them success: Mesdames Croad and Robson, Misses Ferns and Dixon, S. Robson, J. Loudon, L. Dobbs, T. Breayley and J. Ferguson. The draw for the championships seems strange. To quote one instance: In the first round of the women’s singles Mrs Croad is drawn to play against Miss M. Bennett. These two women are the two strongest competing, going on past performances, and they should have been the first two to be seeded. The women’s doubles also sees strong pairs meeting in the first round and it is rather surprising that the Otago Association permitted this to happen.