Table-tennis
3rd May, 2013
Two of Leamington’s top juniors stole the show at the weekend’s Coventry League Closed Championships. Lillington Free Church’s Lee Dorning took the Cadets (U15) title by defeating club-mate Timmy Cooper in the Final. The highly prized scalps of Sam Coombes (Rugby) and George Allison (Phoenix) and Cooper for a second time led him to victory in the round robin Junior event. Cooper exacted revenge in the Youths’ Final, beating Dorning in 5. The pair then combined to take both the Junior Doubles and Youth Doubles, overcoming Allison and Coombes in both Finals.
If anything the pair surpassed themselves in the Senior events both reaching the Men’s semi-finals where Cooper fell 1-3 to Martyn Kacani of Phoenix and Dorning to Potters Green’s Ryan Stockham. They also reached the Men’s doubles final, losing to Kevin Pilgrim and Andy Woodcock. Finally, Cooper snatched the Handicap title, beating Paul Calloway in the Final.
Leamington Veterans A suffered their first defeats in Midland Veterans’ League Division 1, falling 3-7 to both Nottingham A and Oxford A. Mark Jackson claimed two against Nottingham, losing in 5 to number 1 Trevor Kerry. Earl Sweeney beat Kerry for the 3rd point. Two from Simon Griew and one from Alan Cotton made up the Spa return against Oxford A. Spa should get third place and helped themselves by overcoming Oxford B 6-4 with Mark Jackson, Phil Paine and Earl Sweeney all winning twice.
In Division 2 Free Church B put themselves in pole position despite losing 3-7 to their D team. Lee Dorning posted an impressive hat-trick and was ably assisted by Scott Delday and Roald Myers who both won two. Luke Spencer won twice for B and steered Michael Ho to the doubles. Rugby C look for promotion too and edged Whitnash A 6-4. Niall Herbert, Paul Lilley and Anshul Satsangi all claimed two with Jon Williams (2) and Paul Riman (1) replying and taking the doubles. Nomads A had a fine win over Phoenix with Andy Davies producing his best form of the season to post a treble. Ian Beasley and Tony Thomas won twice and Davies/Thomas collected the doubles. Paul Calloway won twice for the visitors. Enigmas will probably have to endure another season in the second tier after drawing with St. Georges D. Jimmy Pittaway was the main thorn in their side winning two, Brian Aston and Kevin Finn took singles and Finn/Pittaway the doubles. Gary Jackson and Dong Wei both recorded braces for Enigmas and Steve Proctor won once.
In Division 4 County Council D fought out an excellent draw when visiting Free Church K. Mark Bridgeman and William Hung won two apiece and Pat Woolvin took a 5th point. However, Church’s Jack Green was in fine form to take a treble and the doubles with Olivia Fletcher who won once. K moved up a gear to draw with second placed Free Church I with Olivia Fletcher the hat-trick heroine. Green added one as did Chris Soe. Tom Meldrum (2), Ben Haigh (1) and Josh Wyatt-Smith (1) replied, Haigh and Meldrum taking the doubles.
Eathorpe B overcame Rugby C 7-3 in a match where no player remained unbeaten. Sophie Cooper, Paul Deavall and Michael Rossington won two each, the latter two combining for doubles success. Emma Kilpatrick (2) and Karen Buckby (1) ensured respectability for the young opponents.
