The Hastings Table Tennis Association Watts Cup Final between Academy 'A' and Bexhillians 'B' was staged at Hollington Y.C.C on Thursday 25th April and showcased six of the best players in town.
In the opening doubles Academy pairing Rose Rainton and Dave Butler got off to a 'flying start' against Bexhillians duo Nathan Darby and Ryan Heselden, beautifully attacking their way to a comfortable first set lead. Fortunes quickly changed though as the Bexhill boys found their style and consistency with precision blocking and penetrating aggression to take the next three sets to 7, 6 and 7.
In match two local legend and 16 times Hastings champ Paul Barry (Bexhillians) faced talented teenager Matt Davis (Academy) in what turned out to be an epic battle. The youngster displayed superb agility with lovely flowing combinations of chop, top spin and sweeping attack to surprise both Paul and the crowd as he comfortably took the first set 11-5. Never one to 'roll over' the ace veteran's trademark style of vintage push blocking and super quick smashes to alternate wings diffused Matt's game a bit and Paul took the next two sets to 7 and 6. But in another exciting twist the youngster (over 40 years Paul's junior) went up a gear with terrific movement and play to take the 4th set with no one knowing now how the final set might pan out. In the end experience won the day as Paul's incredible consistency made sure he kept 'a buffer' of 2 or 3 points throughout to edge him over the line 11-8 to conclude a fabulous game.
Next up were 23 times local Ladies champ and European Veterans ladies doubles winner, Hastings hero Rose Rainton against rising young star super consistent and highly ranked Ryan Heselden. Both came out displaying their full array of wonderful shots in the opening salvo with Rose's fabulous high long loop to both wings being absorbed and countered by Ryan's rapid blocking and beautifully angled attack as they went 'tit for tat' to deuce before the game favoured Ryan 13-11. Buoyed on by being one up Ryan then stamped his confidence and style on the game to take the next two sets and victory.
Dave Butler (a former 2 or 3-times Hastings champion) and Paul squared up for the fourth match having had scores of encounters over the years so they knew each other’s games inside out. This one though proved a little frustrating for Dave as he powered forward with his 'springy legged and huge arc' massive loops Paul absorbed almost all that came his way with wonderfully accurate angled bat pushing and punching the ball to all corners of the table he was able to run out a three straight winner.
Bexhillians were now 4-0 up so Academy had to somehow get a win to stay in the match (contested over a best out of 9 format). So up stepped young Matt to take on current Hastings champ and fabulous flamboyant shot player Nathan Darby with most of the crowd thinking the latter would probably emerge victorious. What a terrific game ensued as both players gave their all exchanging volleys of close table spinning attack with incredible retrieving shots from all over the court, to the delight of the riveted crowd. There was nothing between them as they battled to the 5th set before Matt managed to 'nose in front' to win it 11-6.
Academy had now pulled one back to 1-4 in the match but still had so much do to stay in contention for the cup. It was now up to Rose and Dave to try and beat Nathan and Paul in the next doubles. Alas it was not to be as the Bexhillians pair ran out straight set winners to seal the overall match by 5-1 to claim a wonderful victory and the Watts Cup title. The crowd showed their appreciation with rapturous applause for the players for serving up such a high quality and entertaining match.
The trophies were presented by HDTTA President Paul Hyland and the tournament organizer Pete Harding was thanked for all his hard work and commitment in making the event another great success this year.
Mike Funnell
Many thanks to Mike for making this report available to the club website!
Holders Bexhill F retained the Hastings League Minor Trophy with a 5-1 win over Division 2 rivals Hastings Academy B in the final of the competition.
Contests between the two teams are normally close encounters and the opening doubles stuck to the script with Pam Winter and Brian Busbridge (Bexhill) scraping past Andy Furnival and Terry Dean (Academy) 11-9, 11-7, 7-11, 5-11, 11-9. After a good start by the Bexhill pair, Furnival took control of the third and fourth games with some controlled hitting off the Bexhill serves. The fifth game was more closely contested but the Bexhill pair held their nerve at the finish.
Things looked better for Academy as Graham Deeprose took the first game against Tina Beaney 11-1, but the Bexhill No. 1 came back to take the next three 11-5, 12-10, 15-13.
Furnival then provided the Academics with a much-needed lift with a victory over Winter 11-3, 11-7, 10-12, 11-8. The Bexhill player got into the contest in the last two games but was unable to repeat her excellent win in the league.
From this point, Bexhill took control, not losing another game, with Busbridge first beating Deeprose 11-7, 11-5, 12-10 before Beaney beat Dean 11-9, 11-2,13-11 despite Dean coming back well in the third.
Bexhill’s top doubles pairing of Beaney and Winter gave Bexhill a winning 5-1 margin with a win over Deeprose and Dean 11-4, 11-7, 11-8 which also ensured a cup double for the club.
Pictures of both winning Bexhill teams at the presentations are available on this site through the 'Gallery' menu. Please click on the image to include the full squads.
