FIRST GRADE MATCHES

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28265, 1 May 1957, Page 6

FIRST GRADE MATCHES

Armstrong Beats Brightwell A feature of the play in the first round of the Canterbury Table Tennis Association’s first grade competition matches was the defeat of the Canterbury and South Island titleholder, V. N. Brightwell (Selwyn) by J. Armstrong (Eagles). The slow table did not suit Brightwell’s attacking game. Armstrong’s defence was good, and he held the initiative throughout. Armstrong was too consistent also for T. R. D. Flint. The Selwyn team of Brightwell, Flint and P. S. Alexander is the same as that which has won the grade for the last two seasons. The most interesting match of the evening was that between Christchurch and Linwood. All members of both these teams are Canterbury senior representatives and a close match was expected. On paper, Linwood had the better team, but Christchurch, mainly because of good doubles play, won by 7 matches to 5. R. W. R. Mercer was in very good form for Christchurch, but he was severely tested by the brothers R. J. Orr and N. C. Orr. Mercer’s defence was very sound. Mercer and Mrs P. Purdon gave a thrilling display of attacking doubles to beat R. J. Orr and N. C. Orr in the decisive match. R. G. Hart (Christchurch) and Mrs Purdon were also in good form in singles matches. They took all their games in three sets. The winning of the three doubles matches won for Christchurch because it won only four of the nine singles matches. High School Old Boys had a comfortable victory from Panthers, with A. C. Ascott playing especially well. In the other match, North Beach was too strong for University. Results were:— Selwyn v. Eagles Singles.—V. N. Brightwell lost to J. Armstrong, 14-21, 17-21; beat K. C. Duns, 21-5, 21-5; beat Mrs J. Shadbolt, 21-7, 21-9. T. R. D. Flint lost to Armstrong, 14-21, 17-21; beat Duns, 21-18, 21-17; beat Mrs Shadbolt, 21-7, 21-7. P. S. Alexander lost to Armstrong, 14-21, 15-21; beat Duns, 16-21, 21-13, 21-18; beat Mrs* Shadbolt, 21-8, 21-10.

Doubles.—Brightwell and Flint beat Armstrong and Mrs Shadbolt, 21-14, 21-17. Brightwell and Alexander beat Armstrong and Duns, 21-8, 21-15. Flint and Alexander beat Mrs Shadbolt and Duns, 21-11, 21-10. Selwyn won by 9 matches to 3. Christchurch v. Linwood Singles.—R. W. R. Mercer beat R. J. Orr, 21-16, 17-21, 21-16; beat N. C. Orr, 17-21, 21-14, 21-17; beat P. B. Spillane, 21-9, 21-14. Mrs P. Purdon lost to R. Orr, 12-21, 21-17, 15-21; lost to N. Orr, 21-11, 18-21, 13-21; lost to Splilane, 10-21, 21-19, 13-21. R. G. Hart lost to R. Orr, 12-21, 21-17, 16-21; lost to N. Orr, 18-21, 21-19, 16- beat Spillane, 21-12, 21-16. Doubles.—Mercer and Mrs Purdon beat R. Orr and N. Orr, 21-12, 21-18. Mercer and Hart beat R. Orr and Spillane, 21-15, 13-21, 21-11. Mrs Purdon and Hart beat N. Orr and Spillane, 21-18, 21-17. Christchurch won by 7 matches to 5. North Beach v. University Singles.—N. B. Radford beat D. D. M. Stewart, 21-11, 21-15; beat J. A. Dowie. 21-ff, 21-18; beat N. R. Woods, 21-9, 21-17. R. L. Hulston lost to Stewart, 18-21, 21-19, 18-21; lost to Dowie, 19-21, 21-17, 21-23; beat Woods, 21-17, 21-16. D. V. Fisher beat Stewart, 16-21, 21-11, 21-12; beat Dowie, 21-10, 21-11; beat Woods, 21-8, Doubles.—Radford and Hulston beat Stewart and Woods, 21-9, 19-21. 21-15. Radford and Fisher lost to Stewart and Dowie, 11-21, 18-21. Hulston and Fisher beat Dowie and Woods, 21-10, 21-18. North Beach won by 9 matches to 3. High Schol Old Boys v. Panthers Singles.—R. M. Radford beat R. T. Frisk, 21-16, 21-17; beat M. A. Cox, 18-21, 21-18, 21-15; beat Mrs J. M. Prisk, 21-13, 21-17. D. Hill beat Frisk, 17- 21-14, 21-14; lost to Cox, 1621, 18-21; lost to Mrs Prisk, 20-22, 12-21. A. C. Ascott beat Prisk, 21-6, 21-17; beat Cox, 21-18, 21-16; beat Mrs Prisk, 21-17, 21-13. Doubles.—Radford and Hill lost to Prisk and Cox, 11-21, 21-19, 11-21. Radford and Ascott beat Prisk and Mrs Prisk, 21-23, 21-10, 21-10. Hill and Ascott beat Cox and Mrs Prisk. 21-15, 21-17. High School Old Boys won by 9 matches to 3.

SELWYN CLUB’S TOURNEY

The first of the Selwyn Table Tennis Club’s monthly champion-of-champions’ tournaments was played this week. Entries were received from all the top players in the province. In the A grade, both the semi-finals were very close, and the final between J. Armstrong and T. R. D. Flint was even. Armstrong’s superior defence won the title. Results were:— A Grade.—Third round: V. N. Brightwell beat D. Taylor, 21-10, 2115; T. R. D. Flint beat M. A. Cox, 21-14, 21-14; J. Armstrong beat Mrs T. May, 21-7, 21-15; R. W. R. Mercer beat V. Armstrong, 21-6, 21-8. Semifinals: Flint beat Brightwell, 21-16, 21-14, 15-21, 13-21, 21-15; Armstrong beat Mercer, 6-21, 21-16, 21-19, 19-21, 25-23. Final: Armstrong beat Flint, 21-14, 21-18, 21-17. Women’s Grade.—Final: Mrs T. May beat Miss N. Bowden, 21-18, 21-13, 21-12. B and C Grade.—Final: M. Ashton beat J. Kyle, 21-16, 21-19, 21-19. Lower Grades. —Final: J. Kyle beat P. Bowden, 21-16, 21-15, 21-14.

Draughts Club Officers.—-The following officers were elected at the annual meeting of the Christchurch Draughts Club: patron, Mr L. J. R. Lee; president, Mr W. Banks, vice-presidents, Messrs W. A. Morris, J, Shadbolt, P. A. Scott, A. Collins, P. D. Ewen, W. Hargreaves; joint secretary-treasurer, Messrs S. G. Smith and A. Amos; auditor, Mr N. J. Walsh.