The final of table tennis' President's Cup saw holders Thomas Harrington (+2) and Jenny Wood (+4) come up against strong opposition in Keegan Barstow (+4) and Macaulay Youngson (+4), who ran out the winners.
The first crucial rubber was between Harrington and Youngson with Harrington getting off to a good start by taking the first set 11-7 before Youngson’s dogged determination saw him take the next two sets.
The fourth set provided some long
rallies but Harrington’s shot selection proved the deciding factor and saw him win the set 11-7, before Youngson showed great character to keep his nerve in a tense decider by taking the deciding set 11-8 and getting his team off to a great start.
Barstow then easily won his rubber in straight sets against Wood.
The champions needed a good win in the doubles but their opponents were full of confidence and easily won it in straight sets.
Youngson took his other rubber in straight sets, leaving Harrington to record a consolation win over Barstow. This might have been a dead rubber but it was a terrific duel between two outstanding prospects.
Both players displayed some quick counter-hitting during long exciting rallies, and Harrington just edged it 13-11, 15-17, 11-9, 12-10.
The full article contains 219 words and appears in Scarborough Evening News newspaper.
