Selection Problems Resolved

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31080, 8 June 1966, Page 15

Selection Problems Resolved

A MOST uncomfortable situation for the national selectors was solved when M. L. Dunn (Auckland) withdrew from consideration for the New Zealand table tennis team to tour Australia this year. Before Dunn announced his withdrawal, three players had been in the running for selection and none deserved to be chosen at the expense of the others. It was expected that selection would hinge on form shown at the trial at Wellington, as Dunn, A. R. Tomlinson (Auckland) and B. A. Foster (Otago) were almost certain to contest the two positions in the team. Then Dunn announced that, for business reasons, he would not be available to tour and the selection was reduced almost to a formality. In any case, Foster and Tomlinson proved themselves to be the best players at the trial. It was a lucky break for Foster, as he afterwards said he went to Wellington with only a faint hope of selection. Because of their outstanding doubles combination, Dunn and Tomlinson had the front running and it would have required some brilliant singles play on the part of Foster to have cut

out these two. As there is little between the players, Foster would probably have been omitted. In the event, Foster beat Dunn, Dunn beat Tomlinson and Tomlinson beat foster, and this followed the pattern of recent years when none of the three players has been able to establish any permanent ascendency over the others.

The players themselves acknowledge that this is j partly psychological but is ' also partly the result of their different styles. Only one • other player was expected to challenge the dominance of this trio, G. A. J. Frew (Northland), but trial form reduced the prospects of selection to these three and it was fortunate for the peace of mind of the selectors that Dunn withdrew.

Canterbury’s sole entry in the trials, C. W. C. Tilby (University), did not play particularly well and was never in the running. Tilby has not met with unchecked success in the local interclub competition and it seems that on 1966 form he was very lucky to reach the trial.

Not yet has Canterbury thrown up a player to contest top national honours with Dunn, Tomlinson and Foster.