New name on table tennis singles trophy

Great Yarmouth Table Tennis League

THE Senior Championships produced a new singles champion in Ryan Moore.

But the events started with the Over 40s.

In Group A, Mike Harvey put up a sterling fight against Wally Ladmore, losing the first game 21-17, but had to accept defeat by 10 in the second.

Mike suffered the same fate against Colin Fortescue, losing the first 21-19, and then he could find no answer to the strong play of Eddie Fuller, going down two straight.

Wally emerged as the group winner with an emphatic victory over Eddie, pushing him to the runners-up spot, but Colin Fortescue put up a strong challenge, taking Wally to 14-21, 21-17, 15-21.

Group B produced some hard fought games.

Ray Lee was unlucky with 'net shots' to lose 21-23 in his first game against clubmate Bob Lamb. He rallied and took the next 21-17 but could not keep up the momentum and lost the third, giving Bob runner-up position.

Ernie George played his usual power game and won all his games to attain top spot.

Derek Humphries from Division Two played well and enjoyed the competition against the top players.

The first semi-final saw Ernie run out a comfortable winner over Eddie. Bob put up a strong challenge, winning the first against Wally 21-18, but Wally upped his game and with variation of pace won the next two games to enter the final.

Ernie took the title in three games but only after Wally had pushed him all the way with excellent retrieving and chop shots combined with opportunist hits which often caught his opponent off balance - a very entertaining final thoroughly enjoyed by the spectators.

There was a good entry for the doubles, and players were drawn into two groups. The holders Ernie George and Martin Peek as expected were unbeaten and went forward to the semi-finals.

Mike Harvey and John Smith played well against Ray Lee and Bob Lamb, taking the Division One players to three games. They held on to their battling form when defeating Martin Clarke and Derek Humphries again in three.

With three points, Ray and Bob went forward to the next round. Paul Wright and Paul Jnr were unbeaten and took top position followed by Ryan Moore and Eddie Fuller. Colin Fortescue and Josh Baxter played well to snatch third place.

Ryan and Eddie were drawn against Ernie and Martin in the first semi and went down 21-7, 21-17. The second produced a win for Bob and Ray in a most entertaining game against the two Pauls 18-21, 21-13, 21-16.

Ernie and Martin retained the title with a straight-sets win over Ray and Bob

The singles were held on Thursday and it was pleasing to see four Division Two players and two juniors entered.

The top players were all hoping for victory. Ernie George topped his group closely followed by Ray Lee who had a close match with Paul Wright Snr. The top spot in Group B was decided when Paul Wright Jnr defeated Wally Ladmore in three, but they both progressed through to the quarter-finals.

In Group C, Ryan Moore was unbeaten, pushing Martin Clarke to second spot.

Tom Baxter was the winner in Group D, and in a hard three-setter Bob Lamb defeated Eddie Fuller to go through as runner-up.

Ernie played Bob in the quarters and won 21-12, 21-23, 21-14. Tom was 18-10 down in the third against Ray but pulled the game back to win 21-18. Paul Jnr defeated Martin 21-17, 21-12 and Ryan put out Wally 21-16, 21-18.

In an exciting semi-final Ryan beat Ernie 21-17, 22-20 and Paul Jnr beat Tom 11-21, 21-15, 2-14.

The spectators saw an entertaining final. Ryan took the first game 21-12 but Paul bounced back to win the second 21-13, Ryan upped his game and excellent rallies which kept the two players level until Ryan pulled away at the end to take the third game 21-18 and become the new singles champion.

Edna Fletcher was referee and tournament officer Charles Hacon officiated.

The spring pairs final will be held on Tuesday, March 3l and the town handicap on Thursday, April 2 at 7pm.

The divisional singles are on Tuesday, April 7, (first) and Thursday, April 9 (second).

Please forward entries for handicap and divisional singles to Charles Hacon on 720225.

The League Cup final is on Tuesday, April 14; Under-15s (by September 1) April 16;, youths April 21.

A quiz night will take place on Thursday, May 14 and the general meeting will be on Thursday, May 21.