Hong Ming Zhang FROM China put in a superlative performance on Tuesday 8th January defeating Zoltan Hosszu, Matt Spero, Neil Charles, Costas Papantoniu and finally entrepeneur Abdul Wuraola without dropping a single set. If you blink twice you might even think he won the event without dropping a single point so fast was his forehand loop that spectators could barely keep their eyes up with the ball. So fast, so quick and so low, true class.

Exceptional Performance from Euan Liddle

Euan Liddle must be one of the strongest defenders in the UK going on from this performance, is there a better one since Matt Syed has retired? Wang Zheng seeded two in the super league with recent victories over Terry Young in British League as Batts Number One Player (John Holland at Number Four) represents the win of Euan's career. Once upon a time a talented Scottish youngster represented his country at the CommonWealth Games, could the Scottish selectors come calling after hearing about this performance? Performing perhaps better than Scottish Number Two Niall Cameron who was defeated by Super League regulars Hubert Noah and Costas Papantoniou. Papantoniou gets a special mention for also beating John Holland, having a great season beating the missing Lorestas Trumpauskas in a recent British League fixture.

I must just add from personal experience that Fred Dove is improving greatly. Although I'll have you next time mate! Fred also holding a match point against Wang. Unbelievable! Fred Dove a top ten in England player? Well finalist Abdul Wuraola will testify that he went down 3 sets to 1 in Ashford's annual closed tournament in recent weeks. Dove also sensationally defeating Veteran Dave Harvey. It wasn't a great evening for the author in question, although achieving a good start against John Dennison the wrath of Dove and Radford followed succumbing the improving author to 15th place. Clearly Matt Spero's ankle injury was a good excuse to avoid defeat in Round 5. Radford no doubt The National Veterans Champion 20 years ago! Also, the winner of the Essex 4 Star Event in 1971 defeating the England Number Two & Four of the time. The 64 yr old still regularly getting in the top 16 shows us all how it is done!

Youngsters Improving

Billy Deville beat Fred Dove, Matt Spero & only lost deuce in the fifth Neil Charles. Clearly improving and part of the BATTS team taking Division 2 South by storm over coming no less a Mossford Team including Euan Liddle & Matt Spero. Deville defeated top cornwall player Adrian Noott on the 6th of Jan round of fixtures, strengthened by the fact Adrian later defeated Batts Number One & Essex Champion Martin Kubert. Will Martin keep his title after the 12th January? John Holland and Niall Cameron, 1 and 2 seeds for this weekend's Essex Closed both licking their wounds, luckily Costas Papantoniou is not from ESSEX!

Reece Tan defeated Rory Scott. Reece only losing out in Round One 11-9 in the fifth to Jimmy Walsh.

Take a Stand!

I'm going to also take this opportunity to say that the Harlow Super League with the support of the ETTA shows what table tennis is all about. Support the sport, you can do this by writing to this Howard Middleton character (like I have), tell him that his publication "free table tennis" is the biggest load of rubbish you have ever read and that he should stop sending you the publication. My inbox is now less full of trash. By taking a stand and not reading this, the readership and interest will dwindle and perhaps Middleton can find a new subject to moan about, no room for these people in sport in my book. We need to be constructive and improve things with dignity not hang our knickers out to dry in Harlow Town Centre and throw our toys out of the pram!

See you Next Time for more table tennis fun

Cheers

Keith