Interesting Table Tennis Competitions

Southland Times, Issue 24153, 15 June 1940, Page 16

Interesting Table Tennis Competitions

By

SPIN

The four competitions conducted by the Southland Table Tennis Association are now in a very interesting state and as competition is keen in all grades some excellent games should be seen before the season closes. In the women’s A grade, last year’s winner, St. Mary’s, was beaten by United and these two teams are now level at the head of the table. In the men’s A grade the defeat of Star by Union has left Star and St. Mary’s level. In the women’s B grade Southern and Star are unbeaten. In the men’s B grade Star A and Union are leading, closely followed by Begg’s. The enthusiasm of the players in all grades has been particularly noticeable this year and augurs well for the future of the game. The defeat of S. Robson by T. Breayley will create more interest in the Hollander Cup competition which is awarded to the player with the best average for the year in the men’s A grade. Robson is leading at present but is closely followed by Breayley, J. Marriott and D. Hamilton.

The programme for the Southland; table tennis championships has now been completed and players should receive their entry forms early next week. Any players who have not paid their affiliation fees should note that until the fees are paid they are _ not eligible to compete in the championships.

WOMEN’S A GRADE MATCHES The most important match in the women’s A grade competition was that played between the two leaders, St. Mary’s and United. The previous match between these teams was closely contested and it was expected that another close game would eventuate. United, however, proved too strong all round for St. Mary’s and won by the decisive score of seven sets to three. Miss M. McGrath (St. Mary’s) again was successful in beating Mrs J. Marriott, this time having a comfortable win in straight games. Miss J. Deegan (St. Mary’s), although losing to both Mrs Marriott and Mrs L. Colbert, took both players to three games and played well throughout the evening. United and St. Mary’s are now even in the competition but Rata and Star are both capable of springing a surprise and ma; cause an upset before this round is completed. Rata and Star had an interesting match but the former team was stronger all round and won by six sets to four. Mrs A. R. Macnee had another successful night- and did well to beat both Miss T. Ferns and Mrs S. Robson. In the latter game Mrs Macnee had a very hard flight and she eventually won by 21 to 19 in the third game. Mrs Robson’s driving was particularly good in this game and it was only Mrs Macnee’s excellentlj’ placed shots that secured her the win. Mrs M. Blackie (Star) won her two singles but Miss E. Hartley ran her very close in her second game.

WOMEN’S B GRADE Souther: again was successful in beating United in the women’s B grade but on this occasion instead of sets and games being equal and the match being decided on points Southern won by the comfortable margin of four sets. Miss Downey (United) was the outstanding player r.d she again won her two singles. Miss Murray (United) did well to beat Mrs O. Paton after three hardfought games.

Alliance A had a close match with St. Mary’s and was successful by six sets to four. Mrs Hind (St. Mary’s) again played well to win her two singles matches. For Alliance Miss Moore and Miss Sharman both won their singles games. Star A still remains unbeaten and it had little difficulty in beating Woodend by nine sets to one. The only successful Woodend player was Miss Stevens who has shown good form this season. Miss S. Ferns (Star) again played well and won her two games by a comfortable margin. Broad Smalls proved too strong for Star B, winning every set. Miss Fitzgerald was again the outstanding player but Miss Orr also did well. Miss Mabson (Star) only began playing recently and she is showing a great deal of promise. She should soon hold the best players in this grade. MEN’S A GRADE The main feature of the men’s A grade matches was the defeat of Star by Union, the score being 15 games to 21. For Union T. Breayley won his eight games and F. Laing won five games. Breayley was in brilliant form in his matches, his driving and retrieving being of a high standard. His wins over S. Robson and J. Loudon were well deserved. Laing is a penholder and, considering that he has not been playing this year,. he did very well to take five games. J. Watson (Union) showed improved form to take four games. Jara was too strong for Meteor and won by 27 games to 9. For Jara A. Booth was playing consistently and won his eight games while A. Roberts also did well to win six. For Meteor H. Sayer, although not playing as well as a ’month ago, did the best for his team to win four games. Southern found St. Mary’s too strong for them and the latter team won by 29 games to seven. While this was a big margin, the individual games were closely contested in the majority of cases and the final result could have been much closer. J. Marriott won his eight games and E. Coupe won seven. For Southern S. Wilson and O. Paton played well. MEN’S B GRADE In the men’s B grade Star A had little difficulty in beating St. Mary’s,

the score being 27 games to nine. For Star A. Cullen and R. Anderson each won seven games and R. Cocker won six games. A. Waddick was again the most successful St. Mary’s player, winning five games.

Union had a hard match with Star B but won by 20 games to 16. For Union Fearns won seven games and Hardy six, and for Star P. Dalton did best to win seven games. It is pleasing to note that Begg’s has decided to continue playing and it had a comfortable win by 18 games over Woodend B. For Begg’s the outstanding player was G. Twemlow, who won eight games. J. Robertson did well for Woodend to take five games. Woodend A has been showing improved form of late but Southern, which earlier in the season was playing C grade, gave a great match and eventually Woodend only won by the narrow margin of four games. M. Terry (Woodend) is showing good form at present and he won all his games. For Southe-n W. Young and M. Morrison both won five games. Rovers was a man short against Star C and as a result lost by 12 games to 24. For Rovers C. O’Toole won seven games. For Star E. Greenwood, who is improving rapidly, won six games and W. Stewart also won six.