[visiongallery set=72157631897451071]
Photos: Helen Leech
The newly promoted men’s table tennis 1sts overcome a dogged Liverpool quartet to complete victory this afternoon.
After trading wins with Liverpool for the first six games, York managed to pull out an unassailable lead. At this point Liverpool conceded as a long train journey awaited and they had only pride to play for.
Martin Brown, who had been promoted to York’s top side after playing in the 2nd team last year, first pitted his abilities against Liverpool’s top seed. He was under the cosh from the start and he went down 0-3, his opponent hitting many ferocious winners.
His second game, however, was a tighter affair and he produced some solid table tennis to take two games off the opponent’s third seed but in the end was defeated 2-3.
Yet, in his third game he managed to overcome his opposite number 3-2, both players having to demonstrate a strong defence to keep points going.
However, Liverpool’s second seed proved too good for Martin and he succumbed 0-3.
Anders Hammarback, who led last year’s charge to promotion with an unbeaten record in the league, began this year’s campaign in characteristic fashion, producing some punishing winners to brush aside his first opponent 3-0.
He proceeded to defeat their top seed 3-1, a particular highlight being the production of a beautiful cross court winner from below the level of the table.
With similar ease he annihilated his next two foes 3-0 and 3-1 respectively.
Captain Adam Schober Thomson started slowly and confessed his disappointment at not being able to defeat his opposite number in his opening game. It was a tight affair but he had to concede a 1-3 loss.
His next game, on the other hand, presented something of a return to form as he overcame Liverpool’s second seed 3-0 with some top quality table tennis.
He then snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in his final game, managing to fight back from 0-2 to triumph 3-2 over Liverpool’s top seed.
Liverpool conceded their final game against Thomson as they had already lost the match.
Frank Cheung, making the curious decision to play all of his matches in a black leather bomber jacket, began strongly defeating Liverpool’s fourth seed 3-1 despite the fact he had not warmed up.
He quickly notched up 3-0 and 3-1 victories in his next two matches, taking the jacket off only after he had secured victory on both occasions.
Liverpool also conceded their final game against Cheung for the same reason.
Post match Thomson, after expressing pleasure at his team’s performance went on to add that: “Martin and I delivered enough wins after the rockstars, (Hammarback and Cheung), did their thing”.
A rockstar is perhaps an apt epithet for Cheung given his propensity for wearing a bomber jacket during his performance.