TABLE TENNIS: The new season kicked off with the annual Dickie Moore Cup, staged at Northgate and attracted an entry of 18 players.

Group A with five players was hotly contested, Paul Wright junior took top spot but dropped a game against Arron Kemp and Lewis Carby. Lewis took a game off Arron but could not prevent him from gaining the runners-up spot.

Group B saw Curtis Beales with some excellent play take the top spot especially when he played Paul Wright Snr which he won forcing the latter to a play-off for second place with Peter Littleboy. Peter went through.

New-comer Tadeusze Macicoca played well, winning against Charles Hacon and taking one set from Peter.

Ernie George did not drop a set in Group C, Josh Baxter also qualified. Gavin Brewer had to scratch from Group D leaving Mike Wood to go forward followed by Alex Harley.

Quarter-finals pitched Arron against Alex which he won 5-11, 11-4, 11-9, 11-5. Paul beat Mike 11-7, 11-8, 11-2. Ernie beat Peter 11-3, 11-3, 11-3. Josh beat Curtis 9-11, 11-8, 11-9, 11-7.

Ernie played a good semi-final taking out the promising junior Arron by 11-2, 11-7, 11-8. Paul was the victor over Josh.

In an excellent final Paul took first blood winning 11-9, Ernie fought back with a deuce win of 12-10, Paul piled on the pressure and won the third 11-7. Ernie was back to the wall and at 10 all hit two superb shots to take the game 12-10. The fifth was a ding-dong battle with excellent rallies, each player going for the kill but two slight errors by Ernie let Paul in and he ran out the winner 11-8 to become the new champion.

Prizes were presented by the president Edna Fletcher, who congratulated all the players on an entertaining tournament.

Would Northgate players please note the new fees that apply, which should be paid by October l.