Mpundu Crowned Open Singles Champion

In a final packed full of top quality attacking table tennis Ernest Mpundu overcame Valentinas Riauba to win this season’s Open Singles title. Mpundu took a tense first game 12-10 before Riauba hit back to take the next 11-8. In the next game Mpundu played some of the best table tennis of the match to take it 11-5 to go 2-1 ahead and when he took the fourth game 13-11 the match was all over and was Open Singles champion.
Valentinas Riauba also featured in the final of the Open Doubles with his brother Orestas where they were up against Chris Cattell and Farrell Anthony but with Cattell and Anthony firing on all cylinders they soon found themselves 2-0 down in no time at all. The third game was a lot closer but Cattell and Anthony were not to be denied and they duly won it 12-10 to take the title.
Like his brother Valentinas, Orestas Riauba also featured in two finals and his second one was the final of the Plate Singles where he was up against Pete Hodgson who plays in the division below Orestas but you would never have guessed as Hodgson played some great table tennis. Riauba took a tight first game 13-11 but Hodgson hit back to take the next game 11-9. Hodgson really ought to have taken the third game but Riauba somehow managed to nick it 12-10 and then stepped up a gear to take the fourth game 11-3 and with it the Plate Singles crown.
Hodgson’s disappointment at losing in the Plate Singles final soon turned to elation as he added the Division Two Singles title to the Division Two Doubles crown he won a fortnight ago. Hodgson played some commanding table tennis to take a 2-0 lead against Rob Vaughan, but he didn’t have it all his own way as Vaughan won the third game to reduce the deficit. In a tight fourth game that was nip and tuck throughout Vaughan had chances to win it being 10-9 and 11-10 up but it was not to be as Hodgson eventually took it 14-12 to take the title.
In a gruelling 5 set match Steve Lyon retained his Over 50 Singles crown with victory over Helmuth Osborne who more than played his part in very entertaining match. Osborne took the first game 11-8 with Lyon taking the second 11-9 before moving 2-1 in front by winning the third 11-5. Osborne wouldn’t lie down and won the fourth game 11-8 to level the match at 2 games all. In a tense close deciding game Lyon got his nose in front and just managed to keep it there and eventually won the decider 11-9.
One of the most entertaining matches of the second Finals Night was the final of the Division Three Doubles which saw Dean Marsh and Dan Saul pit their skills against two youngsters in Adam Pinches and Roman Rosser. Marsh and Saul took the first two games 11-9, 11-7 but Pinches and Rosser took the third with some brave attacking shots 11-7 but they couldn’t repeat the feat in the fourth game losing it 11-5 to leave Marsh and Saul as Division Three Doubles champions.
Mick Bell and Alan Wilson contested the final of the first ever Over 70’s Singles final and neither player disappointed in an entertaining contest. Bell who plays in the division above Wilson was clear favourite for the title and he soon got into his stride by taking the first game 11-6 and he followed it up by winning the second 11-9. Any hopes of a Wilson comeback were soon dispelled by Bell as he won the third game comfortably 11-4 and with it the Over 70’s Singles title.
Back to league action now and in a re-arranged match Sparken Hill Vultures battled to a 6-4 win away at Manton Sports to clinch the Division Two league title. In a right old tussle that could have really gone either way it was the Vultures that eventually came out on top helped by a Rob Vaughan hat trick of wins over John Lowde, Alan Wilson and Ian Henderson. Vaughan was well supported with James Wormwell beating Lowde and Wilson with Ben Crapper adding a single win over Lowde. Henderson and Wilson took the doubles beating Vaughan and Wormwell, but it wasn’t enough to stop the Vultures winning the match and with it the Division Two league title.
David Hooton Trophy: Sparken Hill Starlings 509 Sparken Hill Ospreys 309
Reg Wilcox Trophy: Worksop Welfare Harriers ‘A’ 483 Manton Tigers 425 Sparken Hill Blue Jays 504 Stanley Street ‘B’ 545