Great Britain’s European Games ended in disappointment in Krakow today as the men’s team was beaten 3-1 by Romania in the last 16.

With the exception of Liam Pitchford, who beat Ovidiu Ionescu in match two, the players never really got going or put their opponents under pressure.

Teenagers Darius Movileanu & Eduard Ionescu got Romania off to a perfect start against Paul Drinkhall & Tom Jarvis in the doubles.

After losing the first 11-3, Drinkhall & Jarvis turned a 0-6 deficit into a 10-9 lead in the second, but were unable to convert the game point. They raised hopes of a comeback by taking the third, but the Romanians clinched the match in the fourth.

Pitchford enjoyed a routine 3-0 win over Ovidiu Ionescu, who took an injury timeout in the second game and never looked like getting close to the GB No 1.

At 1-1, the match was delicately poised, but Romania accelerated away as Eduard Ionescu beat Drinkhall in three and Ovidiu Ionescu did likewise against Jarvis.

Results

Men’s Team
Round of 16
Romania 3 Great Britain 1
Darius Movileanu & Eduard Ionescu bt Paul Drinkhall & Tom Jarvis 3-1 (11-3, 12-10, 5-11, 11-8)
Liam Pitchford bt Ovidiu Ionescu 3-0 (11-7, 11-2, 11-6)
Eduard Ionescu bt Drinkhall 3-0 (11-7, 11-3, 11-4)
Ovidiu Ionescu bt Tom Jarvis 3-0 (11-8, 11-5, 11-6)