Tem Eradhun helps Sawley Tested to ground-breaking whitewash win over Charnwood Gladiators

THERE’s no argument over the player and team of the week in the Loughborough and District Table Tennis League.

Ever popular Tem Eradhun, taking part in his fifth season, won his first set and helped Sawley Tested to an equally ground-breaking 6-0 victory over Charnwood Gladiators.

The teams started their Division Four clash having claimed only five points between them from 20 winless matches. Yet that pales into insignificance compared with the importance of introducing new players, particularly adults, into the sport.

The Loughborough League, like most other local leagues, largely consists of experienced players, who have been part of the furniture for decades, plus talented youngsters, mostly from Students and Draycott, who will have shorter stays in the league as they improve their game.

But finding adults willing to give competitive play a whirl is much more difficult and that’s why Tested and Gladiators are greatly appreciated.

It’s a tribute to Tem that he has taken a large number of defeats on the chin and continued to work at his game with a great deal of genuine enthusiasm.

He is also known as one of the most sporting players so his double over Jacob Jarman 7-11 11-8 11-8 13-11 and John Bryson 11-6 11-5 11-0 was well celebrated with his team and club mates afterwards.

It was also a great night for Jeremy Fisk, a more recent newcomer to the sport, who also recorded his first two successes by 11-5 11-2 12-10 and 11-7 11-5 11-3 respectively.

And Adrian Keen got in on the act by taking part in doubles victories with both Tem and Jeremy.

Hopefully the moral of this tale will be that persistence will also pay off for the Gladiators squad which is a blend of youth and experience in Zak Winterton, Mike Clarke as well as Jacob and John.

The return match at Quorn will realistically provide their team of newcomers to table tennis can put some more points on the board.

Zak is the only one to win a singles so far whilst Mike and John picked up their other set in a doubles, also against Unicorn Egrets.