It all came down to the final set as Urban TTC snatched a fourth place finish from Fusion in the SBL Premier Division. Ormeau, Ormesby and North Ayrshire also secured a top four finish, with a thrilling weekend of action deciding the final standings before the league was split into two.

Urban’s young squad showed incredible spirit to overcome the visiting Fusion trio of Shaquille Webb Dixon, Lorestas Trumpauskas and Larry Trumpauskas. They away side took an immediate stranglehold of the fixture, with Lorestas Trumpauskas beating Connor Green before Webb Dixon won in four against Alim Hirji. It left Fusion two up heading into the doubles and what followed could easily have seen Fusion run away with the tie and secure a top four finish. However, the fightback began for Urban as James Hamblett and Joseph Hunter teamed up for the doubles and won in five.

Two more five-set thrillers followed as Hunter fought back against Trumpauskas (10-12, 9 -11,11-6, 11-2, 11-8) before Green gave the home side a 3-2 advantage as he beat Webb Dixon 10-12, 9-11, 11-6, 11-2, 11-8. It was a remarkable turnaround that set up a tense two final matches. Lorestas Trumpauskas beat Hunter in three to ensure that the final league positions would be decided by the game going on alongside between Alim Hirji and Larry Trumpauskas. Hirji would be the hero for Urban as he fought to a 11-6, 6-11, 11-4, 12-10 victory and a fourth place in the league for the team.

On Friday evening Ormesby had made sure they would finish ahead of North Ayrshire as they beat the Scottish outfit 4-3. It meant the teams finished second and third in the standings respectively. David McBeath was named player of the match as he continued his incredible run of form that has seen him lose just one of the ten games he has played for the north-east side. He also combined with Graeme Barella in the doubles to beat NATTC’s Martin Johnson and Colin Dalgleish. With the tie poised at 3-2 to the home side Thomas Rayner beat Main in three before Dalgleish overcame Barella to leave the final scoreline at 4-3.

Ormeau rounded out the weekend with a more comfortable victory on Sunday as they overcame Brighton 6-1. Having lost just one of their six matches they will go into the mini league as a favourite to be crowned champion. Damien Provost picked up his first player of the match award beating Joseph Langham-Ferreira and Callum Evan in his singles ties. Xavier Dixon beat Jordan Wykes and Evans on a fruitful afternoon for Ormeau’s squad. Wykes got the only win on the board for the home side as he fought back to beat in-form Oriol Monzo in five.

Fusion, Brighton and BATTS all finished with 10 points and in fifth, sixth and seventh in the league respectively. They will play each other to decide their final league positions.

Fixtures will be drawn shortly for the last rounds of the SBL Premier Division as the race to the championship hots up. You can watch all matches from the league again on Table Tennis England’s online platform TTE.tv.

Photo credit: Michael Loveder

Results:

Ormesby 4 North Ayrshire 3

David McBeath (ORM) bt Chris Main (NA) 3-0 (11-2, 11-1, 11-8)

Martin Johnson (NA) bt Graeme Barella (ORM) 3-2 (10-12, 11-7, 11-9, 9-11, 11-6)

Graeme Barella/David McBeath (ORM) bt Martin Johnson/Chris Main (NA) 3-1 (11-4, 4-11, 11-3, 11-6)

Colin Dalgleigh (NA) bt Thomas Rayner 3-2 (11-3, 11-4, 8-11, 10-12, 11-6)

David McBeath (ORM) bt Martin Johnson (NA) 3-0 (11-2, 11-4, 11-6)

Thomas Rayner (ORM) bt Chris Main 3-0 (NA) 3-0 (11-5, 11-7, 11-9)

Colin Dalgleish (NA) bt Graeme Barella 3-1 (8-11, 11-9, 11-4, 11-4)

Urban TTC 4 Fusion 3

Lorestas Trumpauskas (URB) bt Connor Green (FUS) 3-1 (10-12, 11-7, 11-9, 11-7)

Shaquille Webb Dixon (URB) bt Alim Hirji (FUS) 3-2 (6-11, 11-4, 7-11, 11-5, 11-9)

James Hamblett/Joseph Hunter (FUS) bt Joshua Bruce/Lorestas Trumpauskas (URB) 3-2 (8-11, 3-11, 11-7, 11-5, 11-9)

Joseph Hunter (FUS) bt Larry Trumpauskas (URB) 3-2 (11-7, 10-12, 11-8, 8-11, 11-6)

Connor Green (URB) bt Shaquille Webb Dixon (URB) 3-2 (10-12, 9-11, 11-6, 11-2, 11-8)

Lorestas Trumpauskas (URB) bt Joseph Hunter (FUS) 3-0 (11-4, 11-8, 11-6)

Alim Hirji (FUS) bt Larry Trumpauskas (URB) 3-1 (11-6, 6-11, 11-4, 12-10)

Brighton 1 Ormeau 6

Xavier Dixon (ORM) bt Callum Evans (BRI) 3-2 (11-5, 6-11, 11-9, 11-13, 11-6)

Damien Provost (ORM) bt Joseph Langham-Ferreira (BRI) 3-1 (11-7, 11-4, 7-11, 11-5)

Xavier Dixon/Oriol Monzo (ORM) bt Jordan Wykes/Callum Evans (BRI) 3-1 (9-11, 11-4, 14-12, 11-3)

Jordan Wykes (BRI) bt Oriol Monzo (ORM) 3-2 (7-11, 11-8, 7-11, 11-8, 11-4)

Damien Provost (ORM) bt Callum Evans (BRI) 3-0 (11-8, 11-5, 11-8)

Xavier Dixon (ORM) bt Jordan Wykes (BRI) 3-1 (11-8, 11-7, 6-11, 11-4)

Oriol Monzo (ORM) bt Joseph Langham-Ferreira (BRI) 3-1 (8-11, 11-3, 11-7, 11-4)