Kiwi Team Beats Aussies To Make The Final - early results & brief

The New Zealand junior men’s table tennis team has managed to hold on for a win against Australia in the semifinals of the teams event at the 2012 New Zealand Junior Open on the ITTF Global Junior Circuit in Auckland.

The home team featured two of New Zealand’s senior players, Kevin Wu and Roger Rao who had recently played at the world champs in Germany. They both won their singles over Erny Tsao and Dillon Cathcart in five and four games respectively to gain a handy lead. However after taking the first set in the doubles they then dropped the match in four. Wu, 17 was then beaten in five games before Rao, 15 came out and despatched Tsao in straight games for the victory.

In the final they will be looking for revenge as they face the combined team of a Thai player Max Poungsri and another Kiwi, Bryn Lindsay who beat New Zealand B 3-1 in their semi. On day one of the teams event Poungsri won both his singles and teamed with Lindsay to defeat the Kiwi A team 3-1.

The players continue with the individual singles matches over the weekend and the finals on Sunday evening.

New Zealand Junior Open World Circuit Event Results:
Junior Men’s teams semifinal:
New Zealand A  bt Australia A 3-2.
(New Zealand names first)
Kevin Wu(New Zealand) bt Erny Tsao(Australia) 11-9 10-12 10-12 11-5 11-9, Roger Rao bt Dillon Cathcart 11-4 8-11 11-7 11-5, Wu/Rao lt Tsao/Cathcart 11-6 3-11 6-11 10-12, Wu lt Cathcart 9-11 11-9 5-11 12-10 8-11, Rao bt Tsao 11-3 11-5 13-11.
Thailand/New Zealand combined bt New Zealand B 3-1
(Thai/NZ names first)
Bryn Lindsay lt Thom Nguyen 6-11 3-11 14-12 5-11, Max Poungsri bt Daniel Lowe 11-4 11-7 11-5, Lindsay/Poungsri bt Nguyen/Lowe 11-7 11-4 11-6, Poungsri bt Lowe 11-4 11-5 11-9.