The 2015 Junior Combination Tournament organised by the Clacton & District League saw success for the team of Morgan Harvey, Chris Simson and Jordan Webb.
In the final, they triumphed 3-2 over the trio of Tom Wilkin, Woody Fitzpatrick and Maci Harvey. Fittingly, the match went to a nailbiting decider between the No 1 players, Harvey (+1) edging it 11-7, 8-11, 11-4, 8-11, 11-5 against Wilkin (-3).
Webb, one of the four non-League juniors invited to play in the tournament, played a vital role, staying unbeaten in both his singles and doubles match in the final. The first doubles match was particularly poignant with Morgan Harvey on opposite sides of the table to his younger sister, Maci.
It was a first tournament success for Harvey and Webb but Simson, who had tasted victory in both 2010 and 2012, became only the fifth player in the 30-year history of the tournament to take a Junior Combination trophy on three occasions.
Both semi-finals were also tightly-fought affairs, both going the distance. In the first of these, Harvey’s side won 3-2 against the talented Sam Hume, Harry Beezer and Liam Harris threesome. Simson stayed unbeaten in his singles and doubles matches, as did Liam Harris for the losers, with a particularly close (+1) 14-16, 11-7, 9-11, 11-9, 11-9 win over Webb (-1).
In the second semi-final, Wilkin’s team faced Kelvin Olano, Jonathan Found and Kayleigh Stratford. Fitzpatrick excelled to stay unbeaten for the winners, as did Stratford for the losers. But it needed a 3-2 (11-9, 14-16, 11-3, 12-14, 11-8) victory for Wilkin (0) over his Brotherhood team-mate Kelvin Olano (0) in the deciding tie to seal his side’s place in the final.
The 12 juniors played with typical enthusiasm and energy, with all four non-League juniors from the Monday-night coaching sessions impressing on their first tournament outing.
Final results: Chris Simson (+1) lost to Woody Fitzpatrick (-1) 2-3 (11-13, 11-9, 11-8, 5-11, 7-11); Morgan Harvey/Jordan Webb (0) beat Tom Wilkin/Maci Harvey (0) 3-0 (11-7, 12-10, 11-3); Webb (-1) beat Maci Harvey 3-1 (7-11, 11-8, 11-7, 11-7); Morgan Harvey/Simson (+1) lost to Wilkin/Fitzpatrick (-1) 1-3 (7-11, 11-13, 11-8, 10-12); Morgan Harvey (+1) beat Wilkin (-3) 3-2 (11-7, 8-11, 11-4, 8-11, 11-5).
The Consolation Doubles, played on a round-robin basis, produced three tight five-setters but it was the greater experience of Sam Hume and Harry Beezer which eventually triumphed.
Consolation doubles results : Kelvin Olano/Liam Harris (0) beat Jonathan Found/Kayleigh Stratford (0) 3-2 (11-7, 3-11, 11-5, 8-11, 11-7); Sam Hume/Harry Beezer (-10) beat Found/Stratford (+2) 3-2 (4-11, 11-6, 9-11, 11-8, 11-5); Hume/Beezer (-10) beat Olano/Harris (+2) 3-2 (9-11, 0-11, 11-9, 12-10, 15-13).
For the record, Iain Vine (in 1985, 1986, 1988 and 1989) has won the Junior Combination Tournament on four occasions whilst Lawrence Rutter (1979, 1981 and 1982), Gary Cattermole (1989, 1991 and 1992) and James Denyer (2007, 2008 and 2010) have all won it on three occasions. Vine won three of his four trophies as the No 1 player in the combination. Cattermole is the only one to have won his three trophies as a first, second and third player. Chris Simson, who now joins this elite group of players, is the only one who hasn’t won the trophy as the No 1 player.
* In Round Four of the Handicap Knock-Out Cup, the only all-Division One clash saw Brotherhood B defeat Walton C 5-3 in a typically hard-fought see-saw encounter. Walton took an early 2-0 lead before Brotherhood fought back to lead 3-2. Walton levelled at 3-3 but then came the crucial seventh tie which Martin Edwards (-1) took 3-2 (13-11, 9-11, 14-12, 6-11, 11-8) against Graham Buxton (+1) in a match where edges and nets played a vital part in the eventual outcome. David North was unbeaten in singles for Brotherhood, as was Gavin Price for Walton.
First Division Windsor Eagles had an easier time against Division Two side Brotherhood E, easing into the semi-finals with a 5-1 victory. Tony Edmonds’ (+2) 3-0 (11-0, 11-9, 11-9) win over Phil Smith (-8) was the Brotherhood side’s only success.
Nomads Leopards of Division Three put an end to the cup hopes of Second Division Windsor Harriers. Ferdy Rodriguez and Isabel Barton (-6) scraped the opening doubles 13-11 in the fifth against Harry Beezer and Tom Collins (+1) but after that the Leopards proved too good, taking the tie 5-2 without too much trouble.
The Leopards are the first Division Three side in seven seasons to make it to the cup semi-finals. These will be played during week beginning March 30.
* In Division One of the League there was a top-class performance from Gill Locke who took all three, including the notable scalp of Kevin Gowlett, in Nomads Panthers’ 7-3 success against Walton A.
There were two each for Nomads’ John Monk and John Poysden, although Poysden needed a final set to beat Colin Dearman. Dearman and David Binns shared a fine 11-6 in the fifth doubles victory against Monk and Locke.
Windsor Condors were 8-2 winners against Windsor Kestrels, Paul Woolnough’s treble including an 11-7 in the decider success over Graham Bunce. The closest match of the evening saw Dave Martin of the Kestrels defeat Annabelle Rodriguez 12-10 in the fifth.
There were no matches in Division Two but, in Division Three, Nomads Lynx kept up the pressure at the top with a 9-1 victory over Windsor Ospreys. Peter Miller and Mike Hillier were unbeaten, whilst Debra Found got the consolation point for the Ospreys with an unexpected win over Brian Friday.
Doug Green took three, and Keith Clubb and Laurie Farrugia two each, as Nomads Bobcats overcame Nomads Wildcats 8-2. Farrugia had a close 3-2 (11-7, 5-11, 10-12, 11-9, 11-7) win over Paul Dale whilst Andrew Cawley, who took the losers’ two points, had an equally close 3-2 (8-11, 10-12, 13-11, 12-10, 11-7) victory against Clubb.
Three for Mike Monschau and two for Jackie Bunce were central in Windsor Penguins’ 6-4 victory against Windsor Kites. Chris Simson won two for the Kites, and Carl Hubbard and Mick Simson one each.
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* Players with e-mail addresses should note that all future communication with them will be done electronically. Therefore, they are reminded they should keep their details up-to-date on the Table Tennis 365 website. Communication with all other players will be done by post. If there any queries, please contact League Secretary Lyn White.
* Information about the League’s 2015 Closed Championships have been sent to all eligible players. The Tournament takes place over the weekend of April 18-19 at the Coastal Academy Sports Hall. Entries can be made on line or sent by post to Tony Oswick or Peter White. The closing date for entry is Sunday March 29.
RESULTS
Knock-Out Cup Round 4
Brotherhood B 5 Walton C 3
Windsor Eagles 5 Brotherhood E 1
Windsor Harriers 2 Nomads Leopards 5
Brotherhood D v Walton C (result not to hand)
League
Division 1
Nomads Panthers 7 Walton A 3
Windsor Kestrels 2 Windsor Condors 8
Division 3
Windsor Ospreys 1 Nomads Lynx 9
Windsor Penguins 6 Windsor Kites 4
Nomads Bobcats 8 Nomads Wildcats 2
Tony Oswick
March 9, 2015