Warner Shield
Cheltenham Table Tennis Association hosted the Warner Shield competition at Hillview Community Centre an event that turned out to be a spectacular display of Table Tennis.
The competition was resurrected last year by Janie Kirby, chairman of the Gloucester Table Tennis Association in an attempt to revive the inter association competition which had been absent for many years.
The competition was made up of seven different events, qualification for each event was decided by virtue of which league players regularly competed in, and where they played in both, it was decided by historical/traditional allegiance.
The Gloucester and Cheltenham teams and the Warner Shield. (Photo by Jo Pigott)
Under 18 Singles
Dominic James got Cheltenham on the score sheet by beating Ben Roberts. James dominated the game winning in three straight sets leaving nobody in any doubt why he is currently ranked number one in the junior boy’s county rankings. Roberts battled away until the very end, and gave a very valiant performance.
Cheltenham 1 – Gloucester 0
Division 3 Singles
John Goodchild kept up Cheltenham’s winning way by beating Neil Dowding in four sets. During the match there were several magnificent rallies, however Goodchild took advantage of Dowding suffering from an attack of nerves and stole the game.
Cheltenham 2 – Gloucester 0
Division 2 Singles
With Gloucester now trailing two games to nil Colin Bruton was determined to seize back some Gloucester pride. The display of tactical table tennis was a delight to see, from both players. Bruton clinched the first set, only for Chris Lane to fight back and convincingly win the second. Both players continued to battle away, neither giving any points away. Bruton took the third set, whilst the crowd could only watch in amazement as the rallies just went on and on, whilst the passion and sweat poured out of both of them. However after a team talk after the end of the third set, Lane went into overdrive winning game four and five in style.
Cheltenham 3 – Gloucester 0
Doubles
Brothers Mike & Robert Harvey then took on the almighty doubles partnership of William Dawe and Russell Hayward. This was very much a game over aged and experience getting the better of two much younger players. The Harvey boys put in a brave display of shots and caught Dawe and Hayward out on several occasions, but there was never any doubt that the power of Hayward and the tactics of Dawe would over come anything and everything that the Harvey boys had to offers. Dawe and Hayward were triumphant in three straight sets.
Cheltenham 3 - Gloucester 1
Over 55 Singles
Pete Wood and Chris Pearce took to the arena in this master’s age group match. All the pressure was on Gloucester’s Pearce who had to win this game to keep Gloucester in contention on this competition. Wood started off strong clinching the first set, but Pearce was focused and determined not to let Gloucester down. In this very tactical match there was and excellent display of an attacking style of play against a defensive style, with the attacking Pearce winning the next three set and winning his game.
Cheltenham 3 – Gloucester 2
Ladies Singles
Choi Sze To who is ranked at number 25 in England then took on Ann Barnes from Gloucester. Despite the odds being heavily stacked against Barnes, she never showed and fear and attacked every she could, however she could not overcome the magnificent demonstration of shots from To who won in three straight sets.
Cheltenham 4 – Gloucester 2
Men’s Singles
Knowing that Cheltenham had already retained the Warner Shield Darren Griffin was playing for the pride of Gloucester against arch adversary Dave Harvey. Harvey took the first two sets with easy and it looked as if Griffin was going to be crushed three sets to nil, however which is own personal pride at stake, he focused his mind and took the next two sets. Going into the fifth and final nail biting set, it was anybodies game. Both battled to the end, with Harvey emerging victorious winning 11- 8. Harvey and Griffin are two of Gloucestershire’s finest players who provided the Warner shield spectators to some exhibition style table tennis.
Cheltenham 5 – Gloucester 2
Cheltenham retained the Warner Shield in this fantastically friendly and entertaining Town verses City night of Table Tennis.
Article by Lesley Slack
Photo by Jo Pigott
| 
