LEICESTER 'S ANDY TAKES HARD BAT TROPHY
Aylesbury's inaugural Hard Bat Table Tennis competition on 6 June attracted players from the Midlands as well as Oxfordshire. Staged at The Elmhurst Centre, the event was intended as a jog down memory lane to the days before the advent of sponge and sticky rubbers when durability was a major requirement as well as skill and judgement. It proved, however, to be a very competitive event.
Local stars Andrew Eggleton and Nick Cresswell sustained Aylesbury's challenge to Leicester's Andy Le Butt and Nuneaton 's Sohail Caratella. Nick played very patiently to outfox Arun Yogi from Bicester over 3 sets in his quarter final and provided stiff opposition for Sohail in the first semi final. Losing the first set 11 – 3, he regrouped and prevented Sohail using his devastating backhand attack to take the second set 11 – 7. The deciding set went point for point in fast rallies with Sohail taking it 12 – 10.
Andrew Eggleton proved too strong for Bicester's Andy Crofts in his quarter final and took on the might of Andy Le Butt in the other semi final. Matching Andy point for point initially, Andrew eventually gave ground to Andy's accuracy and persistency losing out 11 – 6, 11 – 6.
We were set for a thrilling final but with Sohail's style of play it was never likely to last long. Andy maintained his fitness and proved what we all suspected, that he was the best exponent of the hard bat on the night, winning 11 – 4, 11 – 9.
Many thanks to the Organiser, David Ballard, for a very enjoyable evening of table tennis.
Quarter Finals
Sohail Caratella beat Roger Mott 11 – 6, 11 – 6
Andrew Eggleton beat Andy Crofts 11 – 5, 11 – 5
Nick Cresswell beat Arun Yogi 11 – 6, 8 – 11, 11 – 9
Andy Le Butt beat Geoff Loder 11 – 3, 11 – 7
Semi Finals
Sohail Caratella beat Nick Cresswell 11 – 3, - 11, 12 – 10
Andy Le Butt beat Andrew Eggleton 11 – 6, 11 – 6
Final
Andy Le Butt beat Sohail Caratella 11 – 4, 11 - 6
Dave Ballard Presents the trophy to Andy Le Butt