Draycott set for inter-club battle in Handicap Cup final

THE two semi finals in Loughborough and District Table Tennis League’s Handicap Cup could not have been more contrasting but produced the same outcome – victory for Draycott.

It will be an inter-club battle between teenagers and more experienced Draycott players in the final after Dolphins and Dinkies disposed of Sawley Stars and Goons respectively.

The two matches were played at Draycott on successive nights with Dolphins producing a mature all-round performance to see off Stars by 63 points.

The two sides should have been evenly matched with Dolphins having a start of just four points but, after a close opening set between Dylan Ufton and Jack Spencer increased the lead by one, the home team took full control.

Kian Ellis set the tone by demolishing Scott Spencer before Melissa Withers and Mille Noble fought gallantly to take a game off Steve Cooper and John Brindley in the doubles. The tie was effectively over when Ellis beat Jack Spencer 45-29 and Ufton defeated Scott Spencer 44-24.

Nobile and Withers then put the icing on the cake by taking three more games off Brindley and Lee Brookes.

The following night’s game, however, was in doubt until the very last point as John Genovese and Tom Wright were taken to the limit by Andy Crowson and Barry Robinson.

Goons protected their 36-point lead well and were still 29 points clear when Genovese faced Robinson in set five. An excellent performance from the former who triumphed 44 points to 15 left the sides all level going into the last set.

Remarkably, this was still the case after the first three games and Goons had one foot in the final when they led 10-8 in the fourth.

But Genovese and Wright then pulled out the stops to guide their side to a 12-10 win and through by 338 points to 336 overall.